Warrior Lore

Seasoned Fighters can follow many paths in this World: some are drawn towards religion, joining the armies of the Church or the Temple, while others are drawn into the wilderness, living as Rangers or Barbarians. Many, however, never leave the Path of Might, and stay with the discipline of arms. They are the Warriors, and their strength can either keep the strife of this dark Age at bay, or unleash it in a tide of blood and carnage.

Luck and raw talent can often carry a young Fighter to victory, but experienced campaigners soon realize that skill and discipline are far more important. Hundreds of hours of practice and brutal sparring lead Warriors to a mastery of weaponcraft that none can match. Weapon Mastery combines absolute familiarity with a specific weapon with a knowledge of anatomy, so that a skilled Warrior can perfectly place his blows, devastating his opponents. Even the mightiest of foes cannot hope to stand for long before the savage onslaught of a skilled Warrior.

Conflict, it seems, is as common in the Age of Strife as air, and Warriors will therefore always have a place in our troubled World. Some pledge themselves to a cause, defending a Guild or community, or fighting in endless crusades against their chosen enemies. Some do not concern themselves with morals or politics, and instead follow whomever can pay them the most for their strength. There are others, however, who are not content to follow, but instead must lead. These become master generals, commanders of entire legions, or carve out kingdoms for themselves in storms of blood and fire. Some believe that Cambruin's heir and successor is among these War Lords, and that eventually a conqueror will restore peace to the sundered World. Others think that the ambitions of the greatest Warriors will doom the World to an eternity of war and destruction. Only one thing is certain: countless wars are raging, and the Warriors are able and eager to fight them.

Some do not concern themselves with morals or politics, and instead follow whomever can pay them the most for their strength. There are others, however, who are not content to follow, but instead must lead. These become master generals, commanders of entire legions, or carve out kingdoms for themselves in storms of blood and fire. Some believe that Cambruin's heir and successor is among these War Lords, and that eventually a conqueror will restore peace to the sundered World. Others think that the ambitions of the greatest Warriors will doom the World to an eternity of war and destruction.

Only one thing is certain: countless wars are raging, and the Warriors are able and eager to fight them.

Promotion Narrative

The Magi and philosophers have a saying: "History is writ in blood, using battlefields for pages." Never have I heard truer words. From the times before the First Dawning there have always been those who have pitted their strength against their foes, overcoming adversity through force of arms. Ours has always been a Warrior's world, and history is filled with examples of the warrior's creed: the Kngiths of the Petty Kingdoms, the archers of the Waste Nomads, the mercenaries who follow the War Lords, even the Great Berserks of the Frozen North are all Warriors at heart -- no matter the particulars of their craft. Whether they fight for a cause, for glory, or for the simple love of slaughter, they fight. That is enough.

Warriors are men of action: we depend upon our strength and toughness to survive. There are many who dismiss us as dull-witted sluggards. Our path is the easiest, for the Warrior lacks the faith and devition of a Priest, the long, arduous study of the Wizard, or the Thief's cunning and craft. Try telling that to the fencing masters of Mellissar, who have trained eight hours every day with their blades since their fifth birthday, or the yeomen of Ghand, who legends say can fire twenty arrows from their longbows of yew in the space of a minute. Steel has a discipline all its own, and a Warrior is capable of feats of arms that can be as potent as any magic. Besides, when the forces of Darkness or Chaos come calling, who is it that they run to? Warriors, sure enough. We are the ones who face the Darkness head on, and always standing the greatest risk of death.

Luck and raw talent can often carry you to victory, but skill and discipline are far more important. After you've died a few times and taken the Black Road home, you'll know I'm right. It takes hundreds of hours of practice and sparring to become a master of a weapon, to truly earn the title of Warrior. Weapon Mastery is far more than familiarity with a weapon: it's also knowledge of anatomy, knowing where to hit is as important as knowing how to swing. There's more to learn as well: how to not be hit, using blade or shield or speed to keep your enemy's blade at bay. There's also the lore of armor: how to don it, move in it, and use it to survive in the thick of the fight. It's a lot to learn -- think you're up to it?

You're going to hate me at first ... but that's an excellent way to begin.

See Also

• Warrior