Barnaby is remarkably thin and wiry for a barbarian, possessing a narrow frame that looks more suited for accounting than axe-swinging. He has messy, dirt-streaked brown hair and wide, intense eyes that constantly scan for threats. He wears scraps of a rusted military uniform and leather straps that are far too loose, often having to pull up his belt mid-stride.

Barnaby is aggressively confident and relentlessly optimistic. He firmly believes he is a titan of war whose true strength is simply waiting for the right moment to emerge. He speaks in a booming, theatrical voice and tries to flex whenever possible, even if it causes him to strain a muscle.

Barnaby spent five years in the mess-hall of the 4th Royal Regiment, technically a soldier but primarily a potato-peeler. During a chaotic skirmish where his unit was ambushed, Barnaby tripped over a bucket and fell into a weapon rack, which he interpreted as a tactical charge. The sheer terror of the event caused a surge of adrenaline that he mistook for the legendary barbarian rage. After the war ended, he was honorably discharged for his total lack of martial competence, but he left convinced he was the army's greatest secret weapon. He now travels as a freelance adventurer, looking for glory. He carries a greataxe that is significantly heavier than his total muscle mass, viewing every struggle as a test of his inner warrior spirit. He often recounts his 'heroic' deeds at camp, which usually involve him successfully lifting something without fainting.