More doings of Dirshan, the six-foot-five barbarian last seen in Sword for the Empire (1978). This time the honor of his clan takes him back to his homeland, where dark powers are stirring up clan against clan and all of them against a potentially valuable western ally. A mysterious sorceress appears to announce that all of these goings-on signify the return of the evil and long-banished Ayal, eaters of human flesh. Even the most determined members of the lore-and-gore contingent are bound to find this one beefwitted above and beyond the call of duty.