Berk

Description

Weapon Proficiencies: Short sword (specialized), dagger, punching/wrestling (specialized).

Nonweapon proficiencies: Blind-fighting; Etiquette (he rarely uses this talent these days); Heraldry; Survival.

Equipment

The only equipment Berk carries is a dagger of fair quality, which is an article from his past, and a bag with a few coppers in it. He still owns a short sword, also from his past, but he hides this under his sleeping cot in his apartment.

Combat/Tactics

Berk rarely fights with weapons, and it would take a very strong threat to force him to do so. Instead, he uses his immense girth and weight to overbear his opponents and pin them down, usually attempting to smother them into unconsciousness. Berk will fight for personal matters of honor, and will protect his friends, but will generally avoid a fight for any other cause, even other noble ones.

Special Abilities

Berk is an amazing arm-wrestler and gains a +4 bonus in all such contests.

Appearance

Berk is a greatly obese man, nearly bald, with light-brown, reddish hair growing only on the sides of his head above the ears. He keeps his hair cropped very close to his scalp. Wherever he is, Berk is usually drinking, eating, sweating, and being generally obnoxious.

Personality

Though his mannerisms are raw and uncensored, Berk is generally easy going and has a boisterous laugh that he uses often. Mostly quiet about himself and his past, Berk can usually be made to open up after a few tankards of ale are poured into him. At these times, he usually speaks woefully of his past, degrading himself in the process, though he never provides specifics, such as where his hardships occurred or who was involved.

Locales Frequented

Berk can almost always be found at the Pitt (see the Establishments section of Book1: Places of Interest).

History

Berk was once a respectable mercenary who hired himself out to protect those in need. He failed to protect his charge once, who was killed while Berk should have been protecting her, and he was unable to bear the shame. He traveled far from where the incident happened to end up in his current town, where he constantly frequents the Pitt. Almost every evening, Berk can be found at the Pitt, drinking through the night. He always sits at the same table and becomes irate and confrontational if someone is sitting at his table when he arrives. Once, a person Berk confronted challenged him to an arm-wrestling match for rights to “Berk’s” table. Berk promptly and quickly beat the man. It is now a great event at the Pitt to challenge Berk at arm-wrestling. In fact, he has made something of a lucrative career (by his standards) by taking bets. So far, he has never lost. Usually, Ringer will take bets against newcomers to his tavern, always counting on Berk to win.