The Berserker bands

Seven bands of fighters roam the lands, each master of one Way of melee. Swear to one and you learn its techniques.

Meeting a band

Every half hour or so of exploring you will meet one: hunting a beast, marching, or camped around a ring where their people spar. The bands are the Bearshirts (Bear), Wolfskins (Wolf), Reavers (Axe), Lindenwall (Shield), the Spears, Anvilfell (Hammer) and the Knucklebone Brawlers (Fist). A name that pops over a sparring fighter is a technique you have now seen. Strangers can watch, wager and join a hunt; only the sworn can learn.

The Proving and the oath

At a camp the ring-warden offers the Proving, a first bout against a whelp. Bouts are never to the death: both sides yield at 15% health. Then the chieftain offers the oath. Swear it at a lit fire to receive the Oath-Ring, an arm ring you cannot lose, and the Red Gift. You may return the ring: rank goes, techniques stay.

Ranks

Whelp, Blooded, Sworn, Champion, Saga. Renown comes from bouts, hunts, trials and deeds and is yours across all your worlds. At Blooded you are given the War Horn, which calls the bands from far off.

Learning techniques

Each technique of the first four tiers can be had two ways: pay its flat price and land it three times in a drill, or win a free lesson bout against a member who uses it on you. Higher techniques ask a deed first, and each Way's two capstones are never sold. A first-tier technique also has an Edge, a refinement won in a honing bout. See all techniques.

Fury and Berserk

Landing and taking blows fills the Fury bar. At full Fury press F: you roar and go Berserk for ten seconds, with more damage, free swings and no knockback, but you cannot parry, guard, drink or cast. Then you are Spent for a few seconds.

Beast shapes

The Bear and Wolf Ways teach shapes, and a shape needs a worn pelt from a beast you hunted. Fury holds the shape. The greater shapes are twice your size and cannot pass doors.

The technique bar and the War-Book

Prepare up to eight techniques on keys 1 to 8. Shift+K opens the War-Book with the trees, prices, deeds, bands and trophies. For every hero, a tap of Space is a short dodge and a long hold a longer one, up to three tiles.

The Thing, Great Hunts and feuds

Every five days five bands gather for holmgangs, trials and a tournament. Each band also keeps a Great Hunt, a named beast haunting the land. Kill a band member outside a bout and you are at feud: pay wergild, or settle it in a holmgang. From Sworn, a beaten warrior may offer to walk with you for a day as a shield-sibling.