Ah, the berserks! If fantasy has taught us anything, it’s to never stand in front of a furious, muscular, huge warrior wielding an axe.
It also taught us that they are feral, savage people. Etymology confirms that vision: berserk, from Old Norse berserkr, is formed from *bera, “bear” (the animal) and serkr, “shirt” (serkr spawned shirt, in fact).
So there you have it, berserks were frenzied warriors so badass that they coated themselves in literal bear shirts. Think of it next time you consider playing a boring wizard.
Sources: [1]
Originally published in The blind mouse.