Foreground Growth for Cairn, part 1: Berserkers

These orders allow PCs to gain additional abilities and resources in a classless and levelless system like Cairn. As a general rule, an order shares its secrets with a donation of 1000gp, or if they believe you align with their cause.

Berserkers

Cause: "Unshackle the beast within"

If they deem you a worthy friend of their tribe, the Berserkers can teach you how to access your primal Rage.

While Raging:

• Your melee attacks are enhanced
• You have an Edge on your STR Saves: reduced failures, enhanced or automatic successes
• You don't Save vs Critical Damage

Your Rage lasts as long as you deal or take damage. When it ends, you are deprived until you have a night of sleep. If you Rage while deprived, you gain 1 Fatigue.

After you’ve learned Rage, you gain additional abilities depending on how many worthy foes you bested. To commemorate their fallen opponents, Berserkers etch their skin.

After 3 kills, learn Reckless

While Raging, roll an additional d12 on a melee attack. Take the highest as the damage dealt to the opponent, while the lowest as STR damage against you.

After 7 kills, learn Cleave

When Raging, instead of enhancing your attack, you can make a Blast attack.

After 10 kills, go back to the tribe to choose a Totem Animal. In addition to the abilities granted by your Totem, you can speak with animals.

• Bear: Reroll your STR on 12+d6, take the new result if higher, and gain 2 additional inventory slots
• Eagle: You can see tiny details at a great distance, make impossibly long and tall jumps, and gain an unbreakable grip strength.
• Wolf: You have an Edge when trying to avoid detection, and you heal d6 hp if you witness an ally getting harmed during a fight

Once you have your Totem, you become a tribe member and gain the right to challenge the chief in a duel (5 hp, 15 STR, 14 CHA, d8 runic sword, rage, reckless, random totem). If you win, you become the chief of a Tribe of Berserkers (1 hp, 15 STR, d8 axe, rage)