Berserkers of Jomsburg
Dagorhir
The Berserkers of Jomsburg is a group within the game of Dagorhir, a full contact sport known as a battle game. Throughout the game, melee combat is simulated by use of foam covered weapons and slight to heavy roleplay is used by players to portray factual and fantasy characters in a medieval setting.
Dagorhir uses a rule book called the “Manual of Arms” which can be located at www.dagorhir.com. Berserkers also follow that rule book in addition to this one and it is highly recommended that all members read both manuals before attending events or practices.
History of the Berserkers of Jomsburg
At the turn of the first millennium (1000 C.E.) the second and third crusades of the Knights Templar, the warriors of the Catholic Church, were short on men. The Church gave them a hefty purse to hire mercenaries, and so the Templars bought the services of many groups of such mercenaries throughout Europe and Asia. Amongst these mercenary groups were the Jomsvikings, one of the most renowned and elitist groups in Northern Europe and Asia.
In the Jomsvikings tradition, there were many sects known as units that would be deployed from their northland home in the city of Jomsburg. These units would report to the highest bidder for the services. On many occasions recorded in history, Catholic lords would be amongst these bidders as they sought the highly trained and skilled fighters of the Jomsvikings.
The particular group of Jomvikings that the Knights Templar bought had a somewhat long and arduous history. The unit was started only recently by a man named Dirk apBrawn who was known for his strength and stealth. During one raid in Southern Europe, apBrawn stumbled upon a young boy who hailed from Germany. The boy had survived the arrows and infantry combat that apBrawn had laid upon the boy’s city, and the young lad had actually laid traps that killed several of apBrawn’s own men.
ApBrawn saw potential in the boy and offered him a rare opportunity: If the boy could defeat him in a single combat duel, the lad could lead apBrawn’s men and take over the unit.
The boy chose as his weapon a large axe that he could barely lift while apBrawn chose his own sword. The duel began with apBrawn swiftly attacking the boy who was able to deflect the blows with the handle of his axe, as he was not able to lift it all the way.
The fight progressed and the boy grew more tired until, in a spurt of energy and strength, he lifted his axe and swung with all his might. He caught apBrawn on the face and wounded the other man. This took all of the boy’s energy, however, and he fell to the ground in defeat. ApBrawn put the point of his sword on the boy’s throat, and then offered a hand to help the boy up.
ApBrawn allowed the boy to live and become a member of the Jomsvikings, training him specially. The boy progressed through the ranks of apBrawn’s unit, gaining both strength and experience.
One day he challenged apBrawn to a duel, gathering the attention of the entirety of the unit. As all the men gathered in a circle among the fighters, the younger man slew apBrawn with a single stroke. True to the Viking way, the man took lead of the unit who was in the paid service of the Knights Templar, leading his men where the Templars commanded.
Rights and Responsibilities of Berserker Members
Each member of the unit has the following rights:
Each member of the unit has the following responsibilities:
Structure
The Berserkers of Jomsburg honor all members who contribute to the unit. We believe in equal opportunities for members to rise in rank within the unit. There are three different routes a member of the unit can take, called castes. Each caste has separate qualifications and equipment that is required to advance within it. Each member is guided into choosing the best caste for themselves. The caste system is not a class system; it is simply a way of dividing members by their skillset. No caste is above or below the others; each caste provides different skills to the unit and is purely based on personal interest and choice.
This excerpt has been taken directly from the Berserkers of Jomburg handbook. More information about structure, camp rules and ranking can be acquired by reading the handbook, the entirety of which can be found here.
The Berserkers of Jomsburg is a group within the game of Dagorhir, a full contact sport known as a battle game. Throughout the game, melee combat is simulated by use of foam covered weapons and slight to heavy roleplay is used by players to portray factual and fantasy characters in a medieval setting.
Dagorhir uses a rule book called the “Manual of Arms” which can be located at www.dagorhir.com. Berserkers also follow that rule book in addition to this one and it is highly recommended that all members read both manuals before attending events or practices.
History of the Berserkers of Jomsburg
At the turn of the first millennium (1000 C.E.) the second and third crusades of the Knights Templar, the warriors of the Catholic Church, were short on men. The Church gave them a hefty purse to hire mercenaries, and so the Templars bought the services of many groups of such mercenaries throughout Europe and Asia. Amongst these mercenary groups were the Jomsvikings, one of the most renowned and elitist groups in Northern Europe and Asia.
In the Jomsvikings tradition, there were many sects known as units that would be deployed from their northland home in the city of Jomsburg. These units would report to the highest bidder for the services. On many occasions recorded in history, Catholic lords would be amongst these bidders as they sought the highly trained and skilled fighters of the Jomsvikings.
The particular group of Jomvikings that the Knights Templar bought had a somewhat long and arduous history. The unit was started only recently by a man named Dirk apBrawn who was known for his strength and stealth. During one raid in Southern Europe, apBrawn stumbled upon a young boy who hailed from Germany. The boy had survived the arrows and infantry combat that apBrawn had laid upon the boy’s city, and the young lad had actually laid traps that killed several of apBrawn’s own men.
ApBrawn saw potential in the boy and offered him a rare opportunity: If the boy could defeat him in a single combat duel, the lad could lead apBrawn’s men and take over the unit.
The boy chose as his weapon a large axe that he could barely lift while apBrawn chose his own sword. The duel began with apBrawn swiftly attacking the boy who was able to deflect the blows with the handle of his axe, as he was not able to lift it all the way.
The fight progressed and the boy grew more tired until, in a spurt of energy and strength, he lifted his axe and swung with all his might. He caught apBrawn on the face and wounded the other man. This took all of the boy’s energy, however, and he fell to the ground in defeat. ApBrawn put the point of his sword on the boy’s throat, and then offered a hand to help the boy up.
ApBrawn allowed the boy to live and become a member of the Jomsvikings, training him specially. The boy progressed through the ranks of apBrawn’s unit, gaining both strength and experience.
One day he challenged apBrawn to a duel, gathering the attention of the entirety of the unit. As all the men gathered in a circle among the fighters, the younger man slew apBrawn with a single stroke. True to the Viking way, the man took lead of the unit who was in the paid service of the Knights Templar, leading his men where the Templars commanded.
Rights and Responsibilities of Berserker Members
Each member of the unit has the following rights:
- The right to have a safe and enjoyable Dagorhir experience.
- The right to have knowledgeable and uncorrupted leadership.
- The right of respect from all other members.
- The right to access to the official information regarding Dagorhir’s equipment and fighting styles.
- The right to an encouraging environment to nurture their creativity and hone their own skills.
Each member of the unit has the following responsibilities:
- The responsibility to provide accordingly to the unit in terms of time, energy and skill.
- The responsibility to respect the other members.
- The responsibility to learn new information which can include but is not limited to skills, trades and such knowledge from other members.
- The responsibility to teach others new information which can include but is not limited to skills, trades and such knowledge.
- The responsibility to provide a safe and fun experience for others.
Structure
The Berserkers of Jomsburg honor all members who contribute to the unit. We believe in equal opportunities for members to rise in rank within the unit. There are three different routes a member of the unit can take, called castes. Each caste has separate qualifications and equipment that is required to advance within it. Each member is guided into choosing the best caste for themselves. The caste system is not a class system; it is simply a way of dividing members by their skillset. No caste is above or below the others; each caste provides different skills to the unit and is purely based on personal interest and choice.
This excerpt has been taken directly from the Berserkers of Jomburg handbook. More information about structure, camp rules and ranking can be acquired by reading the handbook, the entirety of which can be found here.