Bersark
Among the tribes of the norsemen are legends of warriors whose fierceness is so profound that it physically transforms them unto primal raging beasts. The most familiar of these warriors are known as Bersarks, which roughly translates into the phrase “bear shirt”. Those that embody different creatures are known by other titles (such as the Ulfhednar, or “wolf coat”), but these are less common. Regardless of their totem animal, their behaviors, traits, and powers are of similar nature.
Bersarks live for battle, they are addicted to it and it triggers a euphoric madness that has been known to blind them to the reality of foes and friends. They are formidable combatants, notorious wading thorough battlefields by hacking huge swaths through the ranks of whatever stands before them. Norse society has mixed feelings about bersarks, and many are stigmatized for their apparent lack of humanity.
Bersarks typically come from the ranks of martial classes, barbarians or fighters, but bersark spellcasters are not uncommon.
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements: To qualify to become a Bersark, a character must meet the following requirements:
Alignment: Any chaotic
Base Attack Bonus: +5 or better
Base Fortitude Save: +6 or better
Feats: Power Attack, Weapon Focus (any bludgeoning or slashing weapon)
Class Skills: A Bersark’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
Class Features
Weapons and Armor Proficiency: The bersark is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all types of light armor and shields. Armor penalties are applicable for any armor heavier than leather.
Rage (Ex): Rage is the essence of the bersark. At first level, a bersark gains the ability to Rage like a barbarian as described in chapter 3 of the Player’s handbook. If the bersark already has Rage as a class ability, he gains an additional daily use of the ability.
Berserkergang Ability (Ex): When a bersark rages he undergoes a terrible transformation, the release of animal instinct culminating with extreme anger and violent insanity brought on by battle or physical stress. The transformations that occur during the Berserkergang is slightly different for every bersark. At 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th level a bersark may choose from any of the following options, however some of them have prerequisites as noted in their descriptions.
Beast Hide (Ex): A berserk with the Bestial Transformation ability can further enhance the toughness of his hide. For the duration of the berserkergang, he gains a +4 natural AC bonus. The bersark can also attempt to increase this bonus at the expense of his sanity. The bersark does this by declaring his desired natural armor bonus at the start of his rage. For the duration of the rage he gains the desired AC bonus however, maintaining sanity requires a Will save (DC 20 + the total desired bonus). The maximum natural armor bonus he can attain is +10 (DC 30). If he fails, the bersark loses all control of his sanity and attacks the nearest living target (friend or foe) until either he or his opponent is dead or subdued. If his insanity attack lasts for longer than his natural rage ability, the recovery time is increased to1 minute of rest per each round the rage was extended, during which time the bersark is considered fatigued.
Bestial Howl (Ex): While raging the bersark can usher forth an unsettlingly primal howl that leaves opponent’s Shaken for 1 round. The opponent can negate the effect with a successful Will save (10+ Bersark PrC level). Using the bestial howl is a move equivalent action.
Beast Size (Ex): While berserkergang, the character can increase in size by one increment. (for example, a medium creature can grow to the shape of a large creature). The bersark gains all the appropriate modifiers for the size increase for the duration of the encounter. Beast size is a full-round-action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
Bestial Transformation (Ex): During the berserkergang, the characters physical features become more prominent and primal. He undergoes a thickening of the brow, and his lower jaw elongates. Body and facial hair lengthen by several inches and turn coarse and black. Overall, his appearance is feral and frightening and he gains a bonus to Intimidation Skill checks equal to his Bersark class level.
Bite Attack (Ex): A bersark with the bestial transformation ability gains the bite of a vicious animal. During the bersark’s transformation, his jaws grow huge and terrible and his teeth grow into gaping fangs. For the duration of the berserkergang, the bersark gains an additional bite attack that does + 1d6 damage.
Extreme Fierceness (Ex): During the berserkergang, the bersark ignores the pain of his wounds and can fight below zero hit points without suffering any penalties. At the expense of his sanity, a bersark can fight through his death throes, and the most brutal of them are said to have strangled opponents with their own entrails. If the bersark makes this choice, he is automatically slain at the end of his rage, When the bersark is reduced below –10 hit points he can make a Will save (DC 20 + the amount of damage suffered below –10 hp) to keep fighting until his rage subsides. The result of this action causes him permanent loss of 1 Wisdom (provided he is able to be brought back from the dead).
Bersark Bonus Feats: Bersarks learn feats that complement their raw and unbridled fury; they gain bonus feats at 2nd, 5th, and 8th levels. Bersarks can choose from any of the following bonus feats: Cleave, Die Hard, Endurance, Great Cleave, Improved Bullrush, Improved Sunder, Toughness.
Attempt Additional Rage (Ex): At 3rd level, the bersark can attempt to rage an additional time during the day, but places his sanity at risk in the process. Retaining sanity during an additional rage requires a successful Will save (DC 25). If he fails, the bersark loses all control of his sanity and attacks the nearest living target (friend or foe) until either he or his opponent is dead or subdued. If his insanity attack lasts for longer than his natural rage ability, the recovery time is increased to 1 minute of rest per each round the rage was extended, during which time the bersark is considered fatigued. The berserk can attempt more than one additional rage per day, however the Will save to retain insanity continues to increase by +5 per attempt (1st additional rage DC 25, 2nd additional rage DC 30, 3rd additional rage DC 35, etc).
Heighten Rage (Ex): At 6th level, a bersark can increase the power of his physical abilities during a rage, though he places his sanity at risk by doing so. At the start of his rage, the bersark declares a desired bonus between +1 and +5 to be applied to both his Strength and Constitution. For the duration of the rage he gains the desired ability bonus however, maintaining sanity requires a Will save (DC 20 + the total desired bonus). If he fails, the bersark loses all control of his sanity and attacks the nearest living target (friend or foe) until either he or his opponent is dead or subdued. If his insanity attack lasts for longer than his natural rage ability, the recovery time is increased to1 minute of rest per each round the rage was extended, during which time the bersark is considered fatigued.
Prolong Berserkergang (Ex): At 9th level, a bersark can extend his rage beyond its normal duration, however his sanity becomes more threatened with each additional round he rages. In order to attempt to extend his rage, the Bersark must make a Will save (DC 20) to retain control of his actions. If he is successful, he can extend his rage for one additional round. If he fails, the rage is still extended, however the bersark loses all control of his sanity and attacks the nearest living target (friend or foe) until either he or his opponent is dead or subdued. A bersark is allowed to make successive attempts to prolong his rage, however the DC for each successive attempt increases cumulatively by +2. For example, the Will save for extending a rage for three additional rounds is DC 24 (20 + 2 +2). The recovery time for an extended rage is 1 minute of rest per each round the rage was extended, during which time the bersark is considered fatigued.
