Although similar groups have been found around the
world, berserker generally refers to the small class of Nordic peoples who could be found preforming inhuman feats on the battlefield. When in combat a berserker would fight nude and/or completely unarmored, sometimes taking the skins of bears, wolves or other beasts to heighten his appearance. Uncontrollable
rage is the signature of the berserker. To enter this
rage many would have pre-battle ceremonies in which they would consume
alcohol, and
work themselves up into a violent, bloodlusting mood through
dance and similar actions, and then often take psychoactive
drugs to make them, in combination with the mighty
rage, immune to pain and personal
hurt. As a result, these fierce warriors would not back down when injured or against overwhelming odds, and be completely numb to pain and the killing that they were doing. This is a lethal combination, and makes the berserker a plausible candidate for creating the werewolf myth, let alone a terrifying addition to the ancient battlefields of Europe and Scandinavia.
It is known that these specific warriors known as berserkers were often intense followers of the
god Odin and other members of the Aesir, and would engage in religious ceremonies invoking these forces to imbue them into an insane, unmatched frenzy before battle.
With a mighty
swing of his rough axe, the blood-covered skyclad Berserker pounded through the lines and formations of living flesh and blood, screaming as a dozen men fell to his
blade, unwavering in his savage assault when blades and arrows pierced his own
skin.
