Bard Talent Tree
The Bard talent tree is distinguished by three disparate traditions — the Path of the Wise, the Path of the Trickster, and the Path of the Fair — each representing different philosophies and attitudes towards the craft. Player characters are not prohibited from pursuing multiple paths, but generally bards choose to excel in a single tradition.
Skald
Prerequisite: Persuade Expertise 1, Lore Expertise 1
Experience Point Cost: 200
You gain the Tradesman and Vagabond talents in any barbaric land.
PATHS
Player characters are not prohibited from pursuing multiple paths, but generally bards choose to excel in a single tradition.
BardTS_1.1 THE PATH OF THE FAIR
BardTS_1.2 THE PATH OF THE TRICKSTER
BardTS_1.3 THE PATH OF THE WISE


BERSERK TALENT TREE
The lands of the North are famously home of a particular type of warrior called the berserk, an untamed fighter who throws away any sense of caution or self-preservation in battle, even growling like a fierce beast and shrugging off wounds that would fell any other mortal.
Berserker
Prerequisite: Melee Expertise 1, Lore Expertise 1
Experience Point Cost: 200
You can accept 1 point of Vital Fatigue to become Enraged. While Enraged, you gain 1 bonus Momentum to all Melee and thrown Ranged attacks. Anyone facing you gains Momentum equal to your bonus Momentum, and in your Berserk frenzy I, (your GM), may spend 2 Doom to have you attack an additional character within Reach. (This character might even be an ally!) While Enraged, you must make every effort to attack or charge an enemy every round. You cannot use the Acrobatics or Parry skills in Reactions and you can’t fall into any defensive formation such as a shield wall. I may apply a penalty of two steps of Difficulty to any skill test outside those used to attack an opponent. To end the Enraged condition, you must make a Dire (D4) Discipline test. The Difficulty decreases to Daunting (D3) if you have killed an allied player or non-player character in the last round.

Courage of the Bear
Prerequisite: Berserker
Experience Point Cost: 200
While Enraged, you can substitute Melee for Discipline when determining Courage Soak. If you do not possess the Courageous talent, you gain Courage Soak equal to Melee, but must make a Dire (D4) Discipline test at the end of combat or gain 1 Trauma.

Fierce Visage
Prerequisite: With Wild Abandon
Experience Point Cost: 600
All your melee attacks gain the Fearsome Quality when you are Enraged.

Warband
Prerequisite: Fierce Visage, War-shirt, With the Wolf ’s Eyes
Experience Point Cost: 400
Having learned all the secrets of the berserkergang, you can now form a warband (called “mannerbund” by Nordheimer). You can prepare a ritual draught made of potent herbs and mushrooms prior to battle (requiring 2 Resources), for you and any group of warriors familiar to you, of a number equal to your Command Expertise. All who consume the draught gain the Berserker talent for the duration of a battle, and they can form a Squad around you. All members will gain a Courage Soak 2 while in that squad, though this does not stack with existing Courage Soak. Any member of the warband with a higher Courage Soak will use that value instead. I will determine the exact length of a battle, with it generally lasting the duration of a raid, a ship battle, or a massed combat, versus a single encounter.

War-shirt
Prerequisite: Courage of the Bear, Craft Expertise 1, Survival Expertise 3
Experience Point Cost: 400
As you are recognized by your kin, you are visited by one of the Wise — whether a skald, witch, or witch-priest — and you are taught the craft of the war-shirt (called “serkr” in the tongue of the Nordheimer). When Carousing, you can spend 3 Gold to engage in a ritual hunt and from that hunt create a personal talisman in the form of a leather tunic that provides a multitude of protections.
  • Soak 2 for the torso and arm locations.
  • +1 Courage Soak, with a minimum of 2.
  • The Difficulty of any sorcery attack against you — whether a spell, the effects of a spell, or the attack of a Horror or Undead — is increased by one step. These protections are totemic and personal, unique to you, and the war-shirt is the equivalent of heavy clothing to anyone else wearing it, with none of the special properties listed above.

Wild Fury
Prerequisite: Berserker
Maximum Ranks: 2
Experience Point Cost: 200
When Enraged, you can increase the bonus Momentum generated by 1 for every rank of Wild Fury. It is entirely up to you whether you activate this talent in full or part.

With the Wolf’s Eyes
Prerequisite: Berserker
Maximum Ranks: 3
Experience Point Cost: 200
No fool, you have learned to recognize allies from hated enemies, even when gripped with the berserker’s rage. For every rank of With the Wolf ’s Eyes, the Doom required to force you to target an ally increases by +1.

With Wild Abandon
Prerequisite: Wild Fury
Experience Point Cost: 400
Your ferocity is horrific to behold. You may spend 2 Momentum to make a Display as a Swift Action. Unlike regular Swift Actions, the Difficulty of this Display is not increased by one step.