With respect I disagree. Calling lightning down in an area makes a lot of sense to me but channeling through your hands to a target doesn’t feel like the sorcery of Conan to me. At least not without some sort of conduit like some enchanted gloves of power or somesuch. Another idea for a defensive spell might be a localized tremor that knocks everyone in the sorcerers vicinity down while they stay standing since the can ready themselves for the ground to give out. Maybe it keeps them down for a few seconds letting the sorcerer set up behind them for a combo attack or something.

Set be with you.