Warrior

Whether a hulking brute or an artful fencer, a raging berserker or a keen strategist, a warrior is first and foremost someone who gives battle. Some fight alone and some lead others; some rely on skill and some on power, but all devote their lives to warfare.

Warrior skills aren’t neatly grouped in skill paths like the other archetypes, but more of a selection of skills to suit different fighting styles: use of the call Strength; attacks to disarm, daze or pierce armour; terrible blows with long weapons; stalwart defence with a shield; berserk rage. Warriors can also build their bodies up to take more punishment and learn to make better use of armour. Generals can make inspiring speeches and learn keen tactical acumen.

Advice for Warrior Characters

No warrior would be without some weapon skills, of course; and it’s advisable to supplement the basic skill with some of the special attacks in the below list, such as Disarming, Strikedown Blow or Strong Blow. Body Development as a minimum is a must, and most warriors will learn at least Medium Armour. Iron Body, Iron Will and Resist Magic offer defence against magical attacks, given warriors are unable to counter spells in armour.

Blacksmith will give a warrior a keen eye for the quality of their weapons and armour – and the skills to repair them after the battle. Warrior-mages might combine spellcasting skill (with the Armoured Caster skill) with more martial training.

Warrior Skills

Berserker

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Greater Body Development	6	Body Development	Permanent
Exceptional Body Development	10	Warrior Archetype and Greater Body Development	Permanent
Swift Recovery	6	[Warrior Archetype and Greater Body Development	Permanent
Heroic Charge	6	Fearlessness	Stamina
Berserker*	12	Warrior Archetype and Heroic Charge	Stamina

Juggernaut

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Carry Others	6	Body Development	Stamina
Restrain Others	8	Warrior Archetype and Carry Others	Stamina
Greater Body Development	6	Body Development	Permanent
Exceptional Body Development	10	Warrior Archetype and Greater Body Development	Permanent
Swift Recovery	6	Warrior Archetype and Greater Body Development	Permanent
Breaker	6	Body Development	Stamina
Juggernaut*	12	Warrior Archetype, Breaker and Greater Body Development	Stamina

Defender

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Armour Proficiency	6	Light Armour	Permanent
Through Defence	8	Warrior Archetype and Armour Proficiency	Stamina
Carry Others	6	Body Development	Stamina
Restrain Others	8	Warrior Archetype and Carry Others	Stamina
Defender	6	Small Shield	Stamina
Stalwart*	12	Warrior Archetype, Great Shield, Body Development and Defender	Stamina

Duellist

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Armour Proficiency	6	Light Armour	Permanent
Through Defence	8	Warrior Archetype and Armour Proficiency	Stamina
Duellist	6	Small Shield or Two Weapons	Stamina
Aficionado*	12	Warrior Archetype and Duellist	Stamina

Leader

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Battlefield Insight	6	Intuition	Stamina
Strategic Insight	6	Warrior Archetype and Battlefield Insight	Stamina
Inspiration	6	Iron Will or Fearlessness	Stamina
Rallying Cry*	12	Warrior Archetype and Inspiration	Stamina

Magical Warrior

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Armoured Caster	8	Light Armour and any spellcasting skill	Stamina
Arcane Champion*	12	Warrior Archetype and Armoured Caster	Stamina
Armour Proficiency	6	Light Armour	Permanent
Through Defence	8	Warrior Archetype and Armour Proficiency	Stamina

Armour

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Medium Armour	2	Light Armour	Permanent
Heavy Armour	2	Medium Armour	Permanent

Resistances

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Immune to Fear	6	Fearlessness	Permanent
Immune to [Body Effect]	6	Iron Body	Permanent
Resist Exalted Magic	6	Resist Magic	Once per day
Resist Terror	6	Fearlessness and Warrior Archetype	Once per day

Warrior Study Paths

Like scouts, most warriors pursue further Training in their archetype skills, learning to use their skills more often or to greater effect, rather than individual Research; but innovative and dedicated warriors will find routes for exploring new powers.

Study paths include the following:

Strength

Might makes right, they say; or at least it does for those who pursue this path. With training or research, warriors can draw on the Strength call more often or for longer – masters are said to be able to wield it permanently – or add spectacular effects, hurling their opponents around or shaking the ground with their might.

Precision

The elegant duellist can further develop their command of the single blade beyond the Disarming skill, piercing armour more readily, scratching their opponents’ foreheads to cause them to bleed into their eyes, cutting straps on their opponents’ armour. Some are said to pursue these techniques to a near-mystical degree, piercing even magical defences.

Destruction

In the hands of a seasoned warrior, greataxes and longspears are things of terror. Beyond Strikedown Blow and Crushing Blow, devotees of these weapons can research attacks to smite their foes and shatter their bodies, shear through shields and even smash stone walls.

Defence

The shield is, for many, a greater tool than any weapon. Beyond the Immovable Shield skill, warriors can learn to hold their ground even against magical assault; those also trained to Defend Others can learn to extend their defences to those behind or around them.

Berserk

The berserker abandons all self-preservation to terrify and destroy their enemies. With training, they can enter their battle frenzy more often, or for longer; with research, they can gain great strength or inflict terrible blows in the throes of their rage.

Leadership

Generals and Warleaders make battle with their minds – and with the inspiration they give those who follow them. Beyond Rallying Cry is a route to spurring the warrior’s soldiers to greater feats; and beyond Strategic Insight is research into not just anticipating but manipulating the battlefield, plotting the disposition of traps, siege engines and troop movements to decide the outcome before a single soldier has taken the field.

Magical Warrior

Those who wield both spells and blades walk a line between two worlds. Dipping often into the magician archetype, this warrior improves on the Armoured Caster skill, casting spells more often or in heavier armour – and there are more secrets open to them, channelling magics through their hands and blades, finding the weaknesses in magical opponents’ defences and shrugging off the effects of enemy magics.

Example Warrior Characters

Berserker

Born in a harsh, dangerous land, the berserker has dedicated their life to a god of war and fury. Let others pray in the temple or the sacred grove – the berserker makes their worship in battle. Heedless of their own safety, they throw themselves at their enemies without reserve.

Skills: Body Development (6), Fearlessness (4), Heroic Charge (6), Two Weapons (3), 1 unspent point

Description: Runes and tattoos around the face and arms; furs and two one-handed axes.

Duellist

The child of a wealthy merchant in a major city, the duellist devoted their life to the study of swordplay. They sneer at warriors trudging under layers of armour and bristling with weapons – the beauty and precision of a simple blade is enough for them. Joining the warband to travel the world, they are always seeking an opponent worthy of them.

Skills: Confusing Blow (6), Disarming (6), Light Armour (2), Scoundrel (5), 1 unspent point

Description: Green skin with grey highlights and a single horn; light, fashionable clothes including leather armour and a cape, a single rapier and a dagger.

Monster Slayer

Driven to revenge for loved ones lost to vampires, the monster slayer is an implacable foe of all undead, training to wield both magic and the blade to defeat their terrible quarry – and honing their mind to throw off the vampires’ famed spiritual powers.

Skills: Armour Proficiency (6), Iron Will (3), Light Armour (2), Spiritual Spellcasting (6), Two Weapons (3)

Description: A long scar on the face; rugged, practical clothes with pockets for tools and charms, a prominent holy symbol and two swords.