Difference between revisions of "Berserker"

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Berserkers are individuals who wear skins imbued with the spirits of animals and use them to gain enhanced battle prowess through a frenzy known as the berserkergang. They are closely associated with the [[Aesir]] god [[Odin]], but they also have mysterious and misunderstood connections with the ancient [[Shifters|Shifter]].
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Berserkers are fearsome warriors who wear skins imbued with the spirits of animals, using them to gain enhanced battle prowess through a magical frenzy known as the berserkergang. Generally, though not always, they wear only this skin into battle, going without any armor or shirt. They are closely associated with the [[Aesir]] god [[Odin]].
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==History==
 
==History==
The berserkers are an enigma when it comes to the relationship between men and shifters. After cursing the Shifters and later gaining the wisdom of the [[Well of Mimameidr]], Odin felt guilt over his actions and saw the error of his ways. He can imbue some minor Shifter-like power to his followers, but he can only allow so much before the individual is lost to the curse he and the other gods of men bestowed upon the Shifters many aeons ago. Not even the wisest god of all can truly control the same ancient power as the Shifters once held. Even today, there are many tales of legendary heroes carrying into battle the spirits of animals such as wolves and bears, including kings and other revered individuals, even if their story ends with them becoming a monster and nobly exiling themselves from their civilization.
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The true history of berserkers and how they came to be remains unknown. However, followers of Odin - as most berserkers are - claim that Odin acquired an ancient wisdom from the [[Well of Mimameidr]] and created the berserkers for mysterious reasons. Some claim he did so out of guilt for some past errors, once he gained wisdom to see beyond his previous ways. Regardless of his reasons, he imbued a great but terrible magic in those he called berserkers. Yet not even the wisest of gods could truly control the magic he bestowed upon the berserkers. Even today, tales of legendary heroes carrying the spirits of wolves into battle often end in tragedy: they will lose themselves to the rage, becoming monsters, often nobly exiling themselves from their civilization.
==Animal Skins==
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The skins worn by the berserkers, ulfhednar, and other raging warriors are, through an ancient ritual, blessed by Odin. The skin itself is imbued with the chosen animal spirit, which lends some of its strength to their chosen wearer (who themselves have to undergo a ritual that bonds them to their animal skin, making animal skins not interchangeable among other individuals), so long as they give in to their bloodlust and initiate the berserkergang. An animal spirit can only be instilled into the skin of that same animal, such as a wolf skin for a wolf spirit or a bear skin for a bear spirit.
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For ages, the berserkers took on exclusively the spirit of the wolf, wearing wolf-skins and imbuing themselves with incredible power. However, over time, even the wild men of the North became increasingly fearful of the wolf's power. Thus, Odin allowed his followers to turn to other animal spirits, as well, creating a wider variety of berserk warriors.
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==Rite of Passage==
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All berserkers must undergo a rite of passage in order to attain animalistic power. The nature of such rites remain shrouded in mystery to outsiders, but it is believed to involve hunting and skinning a specific beast to gain its power. Through blessings of Odin and the savage beast itself, the berserker is then bonded with that skin and that one animal. Even when not wearing his skin, he is not entirely human, though his power is considerably less without his magic pelt.
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===Berserkergang===
 
===Berserkergang===
Berserkergang is a maddened state that offers the berserker enhanced strength, speed, and stamina, but in return he loses himself to the animal spirit and enters an enraged, bloodthirsty frenzy. Berserkers in rage will even attack their own allies. It is said that, while under berserkergang, warriors display extreme feats of strength and endurance that no ordinary man could hope to achieve. Raging berserkers are stronger and faster than a normal man, feel less pain, and are capable of enduring far more hardship. During their rage, they can even survive wounds that would be fatal to an ordinary human. However, once their frenzy has worn off, the berserker is exhausted and drained, physically and spiritually. If they attained mortal wounds, they often die from them after their berserkergang is spent.
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"Berserkergang" refers to the maddened state that gives the berserker enhanced strength, speed, and stamina. In return, he loses himself to the animal spirit, entering a bloodthirsty frenzy. In this rage, they may even attack their own allies, going to mad as to bite their shields and howl and roar like beasts. Such sights and sounds strikes fear like little else can in the hearts of their foes, particularly the [[Achaeans]]. In berserkergang, warriors can perform feats of extreme strength and endurance unachievable by ordinary Men, even surviving mortal blows, shrugging off even steel and flame as if it does not hurt them, and fighting even after being filled with arrows. Legends whisper of berserkers bearing animalistic features should their rage continue too long, such as growing fangs or even claws - or fur. Should this begin, it often cannot be reverted, and the berserker will transform into a true monster, never to become human again. It is said they can become different monstrosities dependent upon their animal spirit. Some say this is how [[Bjarnhamr|bjarnhamar]] came to be, and wolf berserkers live under constant threat of becoming terrifying [[Werewolf|werewolves]].
===Shapeshifting===
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While berserkers are still fairly common among men of the North, Odin’s blessing is only for those who have the discipline to wield it wisely. Berserkers who give in to their rage too often and too deeply become closer to the animal spirit inhabiting their blessed skins. Any berserker can become forever lose their humanity if they continue to give in to their berserkergang and persist in wearing their animal skin at all times. What kind of creature the berserker becomes depends on what kind of skin they are spiritually connected to. However, berserkers become [[beastfolk]], save for the ulfhednar, which will become [[Werewolf|werewolves]]. Their animal skins merge with their bodies, their spirit now merged with the spirit of the animal, and they will never change back into a human form. Despite what some tales claim, there is no way to “cure” a transformed berserker. Many mighty warriors have been exiled from their homeland, whether or not their name is still spoken of with respect, due to becoming a monster.
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However, following this rage, both the body an soul of the berserker becomes drained. If they attained mortal wounds, they often die once the rage passes. If they survive, they must rest for quite some time before seeing battle again, lest they die in their weak and exhausted state.
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==Types==
 
==Types==
===Berserks===
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===Wolf===
The most common type of berserker, and from whence berserkers get their name, is the warrior who dresses himself in the skin of a bear. The words “berserk” and “berserker” themselves come from “bear skin,” as the warriors imbued with the spirit of the bear are the most well-known of their kind. If a berserk bonded with the spirit of a bear undergoes a transformation, they become [[Verrbjorn|bear-folk]] and are doomed to their beastman form for the rest of their lives, never undergoing any sort of transformation back into a man.
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Most common and still the most legendary of all berserkers, wolf berserkers wear the skin of a wolf they slew. The spirit of the wolf is the most powerful and most dangerous of all beasts. They are incredibly difficult to control. As a result, though wolf berserkers perform feats far beyond their other animal-skinned counterparts, it has become more common for berserkers to choose animals other than wolves. Even the mighty men of the North deeply fear losing themselves to the wolf spirit - and becoming werewolves.
===Ulfhednar===
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The ulfhednar are warriors who wear wolf skins and carry the spirit of the wolf into battle. Wolf spirits are the most powerful animal spirits, but they are also the most difficult to control. As a result, many berserkers choose bear spirits over wolves, since giving in to the berserkergang with a wolf spirit can be a very dangerous proposition. However, a warrior imbued with a wolf spirit can perform the mightiest and most dreadful feats of all. Should a wolf warrior lose themselves to their animal spirit, they will become a dreaded werewolf.
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===Bear===
===Other===
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Some berserkers choose to take up a less dangerous animal spirit instead of the wolf, and the most commonly chosen among those today is the bear. Imperials have acquired the misconception that bear berserkers are the most common of their kind and the basis of the berserker legend, thanks to bear-berserkers becoming more common in recent eras as warriors avoid the dangers of the wolf. Some legends claim that bear berserkers can still lose themselves to their animal rage if pushed hard enough, however, but they do not become a creature so cursed as a werewolf, nor is it as easy for them to lose themselves to the bloodlust.
While bears and wolves are the most famous animal spirits for a berserker to bond with, it is not impossible for a berserker to bond with certain other animals. Raven, boar, and even ram berserkers exist, with each of them performing incredible feats of superhuman power. However, not all animal spirits can bond with a berserker: Odin will only bless his warriors with an animal spirit if they are from the land he rules, Northrim, and if he feels they are a worthy spirit to bestow upon one of his followers.
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===Other (Raven, Ram, etc.)===
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Though far less common and known than wolf- and even the more recent bear-skinned berserkers are warriors that take up other animal spirits and skins. These include but are not limited to boars, rams, and even ravens. These spirits vary in power and ability, many offering less incredible physical capability in exchange for a more easily resisted and tamed bloodlust. However, not all beasts can bond with a berserker, as Odin will only bless his warriors with the spirits of animals both from his homeland and that he finds worthy.
  
 
[[Category:History and Culture]][[Category:Magic]]
 
[[Category:History and Culture]][[Category:Magic]]

Latest revision as of 20:11, 21 January 2024

Berserkers are fearsome warriors who wear skins imbued with the spirits of animals, using them to gain enhanced battle prowess through a magical frenzy known as the berserkergang. Generally, though not always, they wear only this skin into battle, going without any armor or shirt. They are closely associated with the Aesir god Odin.

History

The true history of berserkers and how they came to be remains unknown. However, followers of Odin - as most berserkers are - claim that Odin acquired an ancient wisdom from the Well of Mimameidr and created the berserkers for mysterious reasons. Some claim he did so out of guilt for some past errors, once he gained wisdom to see beyond his previous ways. Regardless of his reasons, he imbued a great but terrible magic in those he called berserkers. Yet not even the wisest of gods could truly control the magic he bestowed upon the berserkers. Even today, tales of legendary heroes carrying the spirits of wolves into battle often end in tragedy: they will lose themselves to the rage, becoming monsters, often nobly exiling themselves from their civilization.

For ages, the berserkers took on exclusively the spirit of the wolf, wearing wolf-skins and imbuing themselves with incredible power. However, over time, even the wild men of the North became increasingly fearful of the wolf's power. Thus, Odin allowed his followers to turn to other animal spirits, as well, creating a wider variety of berserk warriors.

Rite of Passage

All berserkers must undergo a rite of passage in order to attain animalistic power. The nature of such rites remain shrouded in mystery to outsiders, but it is believed to involve hunting and skinning a specific beast to gain its power. Through blessings of Odin and the savage beast itself, the berserker is then bonded with that skin and that one animal. Even when not wearing his skin, he is not entirely human, though his power is considerably less without his magic pelt.

Berserkergang

"Berserkergang" refers to the maddened state that gives the berserker enhanced strength, speed, and stamina. In return, he loses himself to the animal spirit, entering a bloodthirsty frenzy. In this rage, they may even attack their own allies, going to mad as to bite their shields and howl and roar like beasts. Such sights and sounds strikes fear like little else can in the hearts of their foes, particularly the Achaeans. In berserkergang, warriors can perform feats of extreme strength and endurance unachievable by ordinary Men, even surviving mortal blows, shrugging off even steel and flame as if it does not hurt them, and fighting even after being filled with arrows. Legends whisper of berserkers bearing animalistic features should their rage continue too long, such as growing fangs or even claws - or fur. Should this begin, it often cannot be reverted, and the berserker will transform into a true monster, never to become human again. It is said they can become different monstrosities dependent upon their animal spirit. Some say this is how bjarnhamar came to be, and wolf berserkers live under constant threat of becoming terrifying werewolves.

However, following this rage, both the body an soul of the berserker becomes drained. If they attained mortal wounds, they often die once the rage passes. If they survive, they must rest for quite some time before seeing battle again, lest they die in their weak and exhausted state.

Types

Wolf

Most common and still the most legendary of all berserkers, wolf berserkers wear the skin of a wolf they slew. The spirit of the wolf is the most powerful and most dangerous of all beasts. They are incredibly difficult to control. As a result, though wolf berserkers perform feats far beyond their other animal-skinned counterparts, it has become more common for berserkers to choose animals other than wolves. Even the mighty men of the North deeply fear losing themselves to the wolf spirit - and becoming werewolves.

Bear

Some berserkers choose to take up a less dangerous animal spirit instead of the wolf, and the most commonly chosen among those today is the bear. Imperials have acquired the misconception that bear berserkers are the most common of their kind and the basis of the berserker legend, thanks to bear-berserkers becoming more common in recent eras as warriors avoid the dangers of the wolf. Some legends claim that bear berserkers can still lose themselves to their animal rage if pushed hard enough, however, but they do not become a creature so cursed as a werewolf, nor is it as easy for them to lose themselves to the bloodlust.

Other (Raven, Ram, etc.)

Though far less common and known than wolf- and even the more recent bear-skinned berserkers are warriors that take up other animal spirits and skins. These include but are not limited to boars, rams, and even ravens. These spirits vary in power and ability, many offering less incredible physical capability in exchange for a more easily resisted and tamed bloodlust. However, not all beasts can bond with a berserker, as Odin will only bless his warriors with the spirits of animals both from his homeland and that he finds worthy.