Berserker

Bear-Warriors of the Wastes

Origin: Darraknoir (ritualised)

Lifespan: 250 years on average, can live upwards of 500 years

Pros:

• Transformation into a bear

• Enhancement: Strength

• Magic: Ice

Cons: 

• Require rituals in order to keep their spiritual balance

• Sensitivity to loud noises and heat

• May suffer from attacks of unbridled rage

Origins

The Berserkers’ connection to their ursine heritage extends far beyond physical traits, embodying a profound spiritual and cultural relationship with an ancient totemic lineage. Emerging from the isolated and unforgiving Bleakspire Wastes—a land characterized by relentless tundras, jagged peaks, and biting winds—these warriors developed a unique way of life centered around their devotion to the Great Bear Spirit. This powerful entity symbolized resilience, strength, guardianship, and a harmonious existence with the natural world.

According to their oral traditions, the Great Bear Spirit selected the Berserkers' ancestors during an age of chaos, when marauding warbands and ferocious beasts terrorized the Bleakspire Wastes. The Spirit bestowed upon them the ability to channel primal energy, transforming them into bear-like forms during moments of dire necessity. This transformation was never regarded as a curse but as a sacred gift—a divine intervention that provided a lifeline to communities under constant threat from the brutal wilderness and encroaching enemies.

For centuries, the Berserkers thrived in harmony with their environment and their spiritual patron, creating a society that valued mutual respect, collective strength, and a deep connection to the natural world. Their way of life, however, would eventually face a catastrophic upheaval, threatening their very existence.

The Berserkers’ peaceful existence was violently disrupted by Zarrakiel, the Archdevil of Wrath. His infernal armies, known as the Laughter of Wrath, descended upon the Bleakspire Wastes in a storm of fire and blood. Entire villages were destroyed, and the once-pristine landscape became corrupted by infernal taint. Even with the blessings of the Great Bear Spirit and their unparalleled ferocity, the Berserkers could not withstand the overwhelming power of Zarrakiel’s forces. Faced with annihilation, the Berserkers embarked on a desperate exodus, guided by their shamans through treacherous terrain in what would become known as the Red Exodus. Their journey took them across frozen peaks, desolate valleys, and hostile territories, all while the infernal armies pursued them relentlessly. The snow, stained red with the blood of their kin, bore silent witness to their harrowing escape and the immense cost of survival.

Many of the Berserkers were captured during the exodus, their sacred gift of transformation corrupted by Zarrakiel’s infernal magic. These enslaved warriors—dubbed the War Bears—were forced to serve in his army, wreaking havoc in his name. It was not until the war on Earth that many of these enslaved Berserkers would break free, shaking off their chains and rediscovering their connection to the Great Bear Spirit. Their defection marked a turning point, as these defected soldiers became instrumental in the resistance against Zarrakiel’s forces.

Some Berserkers who escaped enslavement found sanctuary on Earth by traversing a mystical rift. They settled in the Badlands—a barren, windswept region reminiscent of their lost homeland—where they established hidden communities. These settlements became havens for their traditions and culture, serving as a bastion against the encroaching influence of Zarrakiel’s corruption. The trauma of displacement and their experiences as defected soldiers left an indelible mark on subsequent generations, fostering a culture of vigilance, adaptability, and profound distrust toward outsiders.

Among the Berserkers are descendants of the enslaved War Bears—those whose ancestors were subjugated by Zarrakiel and forced to fight against their kin. These individuals carry the scars of that dark history but also possess invaluable insights into the Archdevil’s methods. Their resilience and knowledge have become essential in devising strategies to combat lingering corruption and safeguard their communities from external threats.

Traits

Their bear-like transformations grant immense strength and resilience. Berserkers heal quickly and possess heightened senses, making them formidable in battle. However they can be quick to emotion, and when heightened too far, can easily become consumed by the beast inside. This has been known to prove helpful in times of war but can easily become a hindrance to the great bear. 

Weaknesses

Sensitivity to loud noises and strong scents can incapacitate them. As people accustomed to cooler climates, many have difficult times in extreme heat and can easily become exhausted if they spend too much time in high temperatures. They also require rituals to maintain their spiritual balance, as the trauma of their exile continues to haunt them.

Culture

Being a great warrior has always been at the forefront of Berserker culture. Protecting family, clan, or community even before the subjection from Zarrakiel, Berserker prided themselves on being protectors. Ceremonial battles and tests of strength were common among clans to prove one's self as a capable member of society. 

Berserkers are also family focused. When they find the people they are about, they become instantly protective, willing to stand up for anyone in a fight regardless of their caste, if they take you in as one of their own you are part of the family. 

It is not uncommon to find Berserker shirtless in freezing temperatures, as a people accustomed to the snowy and icy regions of the world, they prefer these climates to maintain the beast inside. During particularly emotional times of strife, some Berserker clan members would submerge themselves in icy lakes or deep banks of snow to calm themselves to quell their anxieties.

Those that suffered under the subjugation of Zarrakiel’s army carry with them the burdens of war can find themselves haunted by great battles and magical corruption that used their gifts for evil. However, once escaping to the Badlands many of these grizzled warriors searched for the solace of community and to reconnect themselves with the Great Bear Spirit and the heart of what Berserkers once were. These folk typically require more consistent rituals to rebalance themselves lest they fall to the rage that Zarrakiel corrupted. 

More Information

Magical Proclivity

Powerful warriors blessed by a great spirit, it is common to find those that call themselves Shaman among Berserker clans. Those with deep connection to nature, the great bear spirit, and sensitive to the emotional balance that Berserkers must maintain. Other Berserkers have a natural inclination toward ice magic, along with powerful enchantments that allow them to push their strength beyond its normal limits for a short while. However these enchantments can cause their bodies to become exhausted after extensive use. 

Those with magical talents that were forced to serve under Zarrakiel were sometimes able to utilize blood magic. Whether they used to to power themselves or harm others was up to those that corrupted them. But regardless, after breaking free from their corruption, there are whispers of those that can still harness that magic.