Common Traits (CBarbH)

Regardless of their homelands, skills, and character kits, most barbarians share a set of common traits. Though a player isn't required to incorporate all these traits into his character, he should think carefully before setting them aside. In à sense, these traits define the barbarian as much as his ability scores.

Outsider[]

No matter how many years a barbarian spends in the outworld, no matter how many friends he makes or how many adventures he experiences, he remains an outsider. He will never feel completely comfortable in civilized settings, nor can he be fully at ease around his outworld companions. At times, he may be overwhelmed by the cultural differences between his homeland and the outworld. The strange devices frighten him. The bizarre architecture leaves him wide-eyed. The behavior of outworlders disgusts, amuses, and intimidates him. He may never accept outworlders as equals; he has a hard enough time accepting them as the same species.

Lover of Nature[]

A barbarian considers himself an integral part of the natural world. Just as a bird belongs to the sky, as a stone belongs to a mountain, so does the barbarian belong to his homeland. He delights in the freedom of the outdoors, the companionship of animals, the warmth of the sun on his shoulders. He accepts that nature can be both kind and cruel; he luxuriates in her bounty and weathers her hardships the best he can. Little wonder, then, that a barbarian views cities in much the same way as an outworlder views prisons: restrictive, dreary, and deadening.

Uneducated[]

By no means are barbarians ignorant. Most have mastered an impressive set of survival skills. Many are exceptional hunters and warriors. Nearly all have taken part in the development of rich cultures, Still, in an outworld sense, barbarians are uneducated, lacking in the fundamentals that outworlders typically take for granted. Most are illiterate, less likely to stare at the words in a book than to nibble on the pages. They have a primitive aesthetic sense; poetry makes their eyes glaze over, concerti put them to sleep. They find all but the simplest mathematical concepts incomprehensible. They have virtually no understanding of outworld sciences; engineering is meaningless to someone who believes a drawbridge is alive. In theory, a barbarian can learn anything. In practice, he resists most attempts to educate him. He has little interest in knowledge for its own sake. He may consent to learn how to fish with a pole, but likely walks away if lectured on how to tell the depth of the water.

Crude[]

When it comes to manners, a barbarian has more in common with a monkey than a nobleman. A barbarian considers an outworlder’s preoccupation with etiquette ridiculous, his obsession with protocol absurd, his interest in hygiene a waste of time. Why use a spoon to eat soup when you can scoop it up with your hands? If a merchant cheats you, why not smash him with a club instead of arguing? And what's wrong with dirt?

A barbarian says what he thinks and behaves as he likes. If an aristocrat resembles a pig, the barbarian tells him so. If a friend puts on weight, the barbarian compliments him on his impressive stomach. He changes his clothes when they rot and fall apart, not when they smell. He wipes his hands in his hair, shares bones with dogs, and belches when he’s full.

Simple[]

A barbarian’s life centers around the basics: eating, sleeping, and protecting himself and his allies. He focuses on his immediate problems and concerns; long-range planning seldom extends more than a few weeks into the future. He responds to his passions more than his intellect, motivated by hunger, fear, lust, and anger. Small things fill him with joy: a fresh coconut, a perfectly formed flint arrowhead, a dip in a cool pond. He values a fur tunic more than a diamond necklace, an uninterrupted night's sleep more than a citation from a king.

Generally, outworld examples of affluence and accomplishment don’t impress the barbarian. He has no desire to live in a castle, let alone build one. He prefers fresh water to fine wine. Expensive clothing makes him itch. Nor is he particularly interested in power or fame. He measures the worth of a man by his skill with a spear, not by his titles or the size of his estate.

Reverent[]

A barbarian follows the tenets of his faith not only to secure his place in the afterlife, but also to fend off dangerous spirits. He takes taboos and superstitions seriously, no matter how ridiculous they may appear to outworlders. To most barbarians, the spirit world is as real as the physical world. Benevolent deities grant spells to clerics and combat success to fighters. Vengeful entities bring sorrow, bad luck, and death.

Honorable[]

Most barbarians have a strong sense of right and wrong, and conduct themselves accordingly. A lawful barbarian is honest, selfless, and courageous, willing to lay down his life rather than go back on his word. If he vows to vanquish the dragon that killed his brother, he will do so or die trying. If he promises to care for ambandoned bear cub, he will go hungry rather than deny the cub food. He is compassionate to the weak, loyal to his friends, and unforgiving to his enemies.