Barbarian

A Stoic Life

Barbarians are those who make their living in rugged lands far from the more civilized lands of Vrashyn. Regardless of their alignment, Barbarians rarely live in harmony with the systems around them, instead extracting what they need to survive. Lacking the comforts of urban life and, at times, the basic necessities of life, many barbarians make a living as brigands. Ever the terror of the traveler, brigands use their capacity for violence and intimidation honed by years of rough living to take from others what they cannot produce themselves. Other Barbarians live deep in the unconquered wilds of Vrashyn. Unlike the Druids and Rangers who also call these places their home, Barbarians stand apart from nature, taking what they will and, in the rare case where they show remorse, seek religious forgiveness rather than altering their behavior. The quest for domination is, more than anything else, the motivation of the Barbarian.

Barbarian Origins

Though Barbarians can be found in all corners of Vrashyn, they tend to hail from the area between The Rime and the kingdoms of the Elves and Satyrs. They are especially common in Erek, The Outlands, and among the Hobgoblin Clans.

Erek

Human and Half-Orc Barbarians from Erek tend to be the calmest of their kind, if one could ever call a Barbarian calm. Adapted to a society where scarce resources make winning a fight almost as dangerous as losing, they prefer to intimidate their enemies rather than fight. Living in a society where spirit worship is a driving force in everyday life, they usually revere their ancestors and/or animal spirits. The far more violent Orcs are a different story entirely.

The Outlands

There is no place more populated--overrun, some might say--by Barbarians than The Outlands. Nothing is more offensive to a Barbarian than the laws and constraints of civilized society, neither of which can be found in The Outlands. Rather than standing apart from local communities as they do in most places, a Barbarian who demonstrates their physical and mental prowess can expect to command the respect and admiration of their neighbors. Many townships are watched over by Barbarian cults whose members serve as the military, political, and religious authority in these villages.

The Hobgoblin Clans

Apart from a small class of shamans and warlords, Hobgoblin society is essentially composed entirely of barbarians. Hobgoblins are raised from childhood to fight for the glory of their clan and protect the usually meager possessions of their families. All Hobgoblin children are expected to be proficient in one or more of the traditional weapons of their people before their second decade of life. This lifelong emphasis on martial skills makes Hobgoblin Barbarians among the most feared warriors in Laivra.

Subclasses

Barbarians use the normal list of primal paths presented in The Player's Handbook. The passages below outline how these subclasses tend to fit into the world of Vrashyn and hopefully serve as inspiration for character creation.

Path of the Ancestral Guardian

This path is common throughout Vrashyn. In societies where Barbarians are common, these ancestral guardians are most likely powerful leaders and warriors in their clan or community. In other cases, biological ancestors are more likely revered.

Path of the Battlerager

This path is exclusively for Dwarves, mostly those from Rhovra. Battleranger dwarves serve as the most formidible line of defense for the communes of Rhovra. Many among them long for a return to the time when Dwarves valued military might and political influence over mining and community solidarity.

Path of the Berserker

This path is most often chosen by people who are exposed to near-constant war, especially Hobgoblins, Orcs, Bugbears, and Lizardfolk, to give them a terrifying edge in battle.

Path of the Storm Herald

This is a particularly common path chosen by those who live near The Rime and The Scathe, especially in Erek, Reptyz, and the Dragonborn Settlements, where the elemental influences of The Scathe or The Rime are felt most strongly.

Path of the Totem Warrior

Totem Warrior Barbarians are most common in societies that have a deep connection with nature. They are numerous in Erek and in Wood Elf communities across Vrashyn.

Path of the Wild Soul

Except in specific and unusual circumstances, this path is only available to creatures with fae ancestry. In the Elf and Satyr kingdoms, they play an important military role, using their magical and martial prowess to deal significant damage to enemy magic users. Many among the Motusi Order of Reymotus are Barbarians on this path.

Path of the Zealot

Because most religions have a deity dedicated to war, this path is common across Vrashyn. Exactly how common varies with the society's devotion to war. For this reason, Hobgoblins and Orcs favor this class far more than Halflings or Firbolg.