The sweltering southern jungle had been the barbarian's most unfamiliar enemy, having come from lands far to the north in search of the fabled star-jewel. Krynn was stripped nearly bare with only soft leather sandals covering the bottom of his feet and a single loincloth hanging from his waist. His large battle sculpted frame was golden under the unforgiving sun and glistened with a permanent sheen of sweat courtesy of the humidity. His blond mane hung to his broad shoulders and was held from his storm grey eyes by two thick braids in front of his ears.
His heavy broadsword was sheathed and strapped to his back while on his chest hung a simple talisman against evil, made for him by his grandfather who served as the village shaman.
The resting place of his prize was a tower carved from a large cliff face, conveniently strewn with vines that would lead him to the entrance at the top. His large hands gripped the thick vegetation and hauled his bulky frame upward with the lithe grace of a mountain cat, never slowing until he reached the top.
Under the iron and stone patchwork of the tower's domed ceiling, the barbarian saw the iridescent glow of the star-jewel and licked the lips of his clean-shaven face. Then his view was obstructed by a tall obsidian jungle native, holding a long curved sword in one hand while the other was held out with fingers splayed as if in warning to the north man.
The native was leaner than the barbarian and 6 inches taller but his muscles were no less defined and shimmered like living night as he silently moved toward his foe.
The barbarian hesitated as he took in the sight of this chiseled and hairless warrior that moved toward him as if out of some dream where the night and stars had birthed a god. The ebony skinned warrior wore only a necklace of teeth and beads besides his loincloth that, instead of hanging loosely in front of him like the golden manned foreigner, was wrapped tightly around his hips and groin, imprinted by the thick meat beneath it. He drew his sword as he shook the arousal from his mind, remembering that this was his foe that sought to keep him from the jewel.
With both hands he brought down his weapon in an overhead strike. The native with apparently little effort parried the blow as he danced around the barbarian and delivered two counter strikes.
The first was blocked but the second cut him above his right pectoral. It bled only a little and was merely a love bite from the curved sword that, although smaller than the broadsword, had proven strong enough to absorb the barbarian's brutal attack.