SWORD PLAY was the first book.  It introduces Sunbright Steelshanks, a barbarian used as a pawn in two wizards' bet.  But the fighter proves more canny and unkillable than they suspect.

The trilogy was my first chance to write for TSR, now Wizards of the Coast.

I was promised a trilogy IF I could write the first book in 16 days over Christmas. I did, and it came out surprisingly well.

I had more time for the second and third books, which have more depth but the same amount of action.

Click the pics for full-size covers.

Question on the
Fate of the Rengarth Barbarians

I proposed a second trilogy about the further adventures of the Rengarth, but WOTC passed.  Basically, they became horse barbarians, like the Mongols, only benign.  By riding (instead of walking), they could range further and explore new lands.  This was especially important because the arctic region was receding as the land grew warmer.  (Remember they would occasionally bump into "thunder lizard" dinosaurs and wooly mammoths, but they'd become rare.)  Ranging farther meant they became like Vikings on land, sometimes raiding, more often trading, and of course, marrying strangers.  So the tribe grew and prospered, whereas if Sunbright hadn't returned to lead them to a new land, they would have dwindled to extinction.  Exactly where they ended up, I'm not sure, and hoped to detail with the help of WOTC editors, perhaps tying it into some latter-day tribe.

BTW, another advantage, and reason they would survive, is because they were a) primitive, and b) adaptable (with some arm-twisting).  Part of the theme of the series was how the "unlearned" barbarians and Sunbright could grow and prosper even as the over-complicated and decadent Netheril Empire literally shattered to pieces.  I thought that was a nice touch.  Adapt and survive, specialize and die out.

What the statement overall meant was, they would continue, not die out, thanks to Sunbright and Knucklebones.  By golly, those two fought hard enough, they deserve that reward.

That's all I know.  I didn't invent the Rengarth.  They're detailed in one of the Far North RPG modules: especially the one with the Larry Elmore cover where a giant is about to roast a female barbarian.  Don't remember the title.  I don't have that book any more, gave it to my son (I think), but if you're really curious, you might look there.

I hope that satisfies your curiosity.  And again, thanks for writing.

Clayton Emery

In Realms of the Deep, a collection of stories, forces from undersea attack the surface world.

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Click to read the story.