I've read a few of John Jakes' Brak the Barbarian stories now. I am liking them better than the portion of the Thongor stories I have read. Perhaps it is the writing. I don't know. I do think Brak is a fairly silly name though. Perhaps created simply for the alliteration?
I thought Brak was a pretty cold-hearted bastard at first. I still think he is but now I'm a bit confused. In one story he throws the evil female antagonist to a horde of just escaped male prisoners who she was largely responsible for incarcerating and enslaving. Fortunately, the author ends the story without describing the particulars of her fate. However, in a second story he does not strike down an evil female antagonist who is taunting him by stabbing him repeatedly with a dagger in preparation of killing him. She does this because she knows he won't slay her because of his "code of honor." I just don't quite get it. I guess I'm just not barbarian enough to understand.
Here are the Brak's BoL stats as I envision them so far. I'll update his profile as I learn more.
Brak
Barbarian from the Icy Northern Steppes
Attributes: Strength 3 Agility 1 Mind 0 Appeal 0
Combat Abilities: Brawl 1 Melee 2 Ranged 0 Defense 1
Careers: Barbarian 2 Hunter 1 Slave 0
Lifeblood: 15 Hero Points 5
Boons: Hard to Kill, Plains Tracker
Flaws: Distrust of Sorcery
Gear: Sword d6
Edit: Apparently Brak was the title of some African kings. So there is a historical precedent for the name.
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