Barbarian

Despite the advanced form of civilization that dominates many of the established kingdoms of the known world, there are still many wild and outlying areas consisting of unexplored and untamed regions along with cultures that hold firm to the traditions and beliefs of their past. Some of these regions are quite vast, populated by proud and powerful people who incorporate some elements of artifice into their culture and brutal fighting style and others are small regions inhabited by simple rustic people who are satisfied with their way of life and see no need to change. Needless to say, Barbarians can easily emerge from these locations.

Human, Beastman, Orc and Half-Orc barbarians typically emerge from the vast realm of Dran and its regional affiliates. The nation of Dran is well known for its brutal warrior traditions and mercenary warlords and rugged way of life. The distant northern reaches of The Wintergarde, which lies north of the Stormgarde-Myrddion border, have been known to produce barbarians from among the snow folk and elk hunters of the high north. Dwarven barbarians sometimes emerge from among their Stonesmasher and Skyhammer clans. Halfling barbarians ride the lengths of The Vast as outriders, side by side human barbarians from the Phurai Dae tribes of horselords and nomads.

For Barbarians the power of their rage can take on many different forms and it is up to the player to decide on its nature. Many Barbarians rely upon totemic powers and relations to the spirits of the worlds. For other barbarians it may be natural talent and training and even other barbarians may have mystic traditions. Rage can take the form of the Barbarian seemingly growing in size and muscularity, or their skin seemingly hardening like tree bark or stone or the ground rumbling as they walk. We encourage players to freely play with the high Fantasy aspect of the theme.

Barbarians also often exist among the mercenary thugs, criminals and malcontents that make the depths of The Desolation their home coupled with simple rustic tribes or monstrous races that are simply trying to survive there and exist in solitude. Humans, Orcs and Half-Orcs are most likely from there though the occasional Lizardfolk enclave also results in some curious lizardfolk berserker warriors.

Bludgun harbors Ogres, Bugbears and other monstrous races well suited towards this mentality and way of fighting. By and large the elves do not take well to this particular brand of training and fighting, but the Wild Elves who dwell on the outskirts of the Periantha or who roam the edge of The Vast may produce barbarians of this nature. Beyond these well-known lands, other stories of strange and unusual origins of barbarians also rise up in taverns. Stories abound of human children stranded in distant alien lands such as the wilds of Jammur or the jungles of the Jade Islands or the countless mountain domains of The Roof of the World. Here they are saved and raised by sentient wild animals or savage humanoids resulting in another source for Barbarians.

Barbarian Options: The Emblem of Ea has included a number of feats and prestige classes from released books and have invented a number of feats of our own that work well for the barbarian.