Way of the Berserk

Culture

RAIMENT

Clerics of the Prince of Turmoil wear no formal uniforms. However, every cleric must wear a red shoulder sash. Whenever they survive a battle, they add a black hash mark to the sash. A tiny axe symbol represents ten battles. These clerics take this adornment very seriously and it is never falsely marked.

Tenets of Faith

ADVANCEMENT

The Way of the Berserk has no formal church order. However, the Brothers in Blood do recognize personal achievements in battle and the loose church hierarchy is based solely on the sash described above. Therefore, a relatively low level cleric who fought in many battles may be more respected and powerful within the church than an adventuring cleric who has gained much experience in fewer battles.

They have no official titles, since they have no formal church. Honorary titles include Crusher (for killing a single extraordinary opponent), Slaughterer (for attaining a victory over huge swarms of dangerous enemies) and Slayer (for killing an opponent while unarmed or at another serious disadvantage).

Followers of the faith are prohibited from cutting their hair, although grooming (such as brushing or braiding) is allowed. Having your hair cut is a violation of the faith, and no distinction is made for the act being willing or imposed.

Worship

SACRIFICE & FREQUENCY

Weapons, armor and banners of defeated foes both before and after battle.

PLACE OF WORSHIP

All battlefields are considered places of worship, and temples are erected on the sites of famous battles. Altars are commonly found near military barracks. Without any formal church order, the Way of the Berserk has no regular services. When a worshipper meets a cleric, he asks for guidance.

Priesthood

Brothers in Blood

In battle, clerics of the Battle Rager are whirlwinds of destruction and many consider the Brothers in Blood to be the ultimate in fighting clerics. This is due to their rigorous physical training, their mastery of martial weaponry, and their ferocity in battle. However, individuals rarely follow a plan and do not work well with trained troops in combat. Additionally, clerics of the Red never retreat once engaged in battle.

The training of a cleric of the Red is like the forging of a weapon. There are three training phases for the Brothers in Blood. They are: the Stoking, the Forging and the Whetting. The Stoking involves intense religious training in which the initiate learns how to tap the berserk madness of the Blood Boiler during battle. They also learn to cast spells during battle. The Forging subjects the initiate to rigorous physical training that increases the strength, agility and endurance of the cleric. Initiates also learn how to receive punishment without yielding. The Whetting teaches the initiate how to use the sword or the axe in a lethal fashion. This helps provide them with the courage necessary to face any foe.

Clerics of the Fearless One are children of battle. They often seek employment in mercenary bands or elite guerrilla units, but never with an organized army. They will also join a group of adventurers as long ample opportunity exists to display their prowess in battle. It is well known that they dislike paladins.

One ritual of note among the Brothers in Blood is called the Dance of the Blade. Brothers place bladed weapons on the ground. A barefoot and blindfolded cleric must wildly dance among them. If the cleric can do this and remain uncut by the blades, the Brothers believe the Fearless One will guarantee the cleric victory that day.

A quirk of these clerics is that they are obsessed with understanding the emotions of victims at the instant of death. They will often pause before killing a foe simply to ask, “How does it feel to die?” Some say that a clever answer may spare your life. Others have taken advantage of this lapse to escape death.