Berk Bonus Species: Skeeros

Demon Squirrel by SeaWhisper

Every Berk resident knows to be on the lookout for attack squirrels, with good reason. But just as sheep must have a shepherd, so do attack squirrels have Skeeros. Maybe the Skeeros are more like sheep-dogs. Sheep-squirrels. Squirrel-squirrels. Skeeros are squirrel-people who keep packs of attack squirrels.

Berk Bonus Factions: Canadian Berserkers, Hermits, Yoga Zombies, Streetfood Vendors, Graffiti-Bots

So what's next for Berk? I intend to write a novel set in Berk for National Novel Writing Month, but there is half a month between now and then. I realized after September ended that there were several things I still wanted to get down in writing about Berk before starting my novel. It feels like there is a lot more in my head than in the posts. I know I'll never be able to get it all in writing, or even really figure out what exactly I imagine, but I'll try to get some bonus posts up between now and November, and maybe a few short stories to take the setting for a "test drive."

Lumberjacks at Work, by the awesome Scott C.

A Berk Legend: The Song of The Steve

Image from apple.com

Now listen, young Gipsters, and I'll tell you the story,
Of the man who planted the seeds of our glory.
He lived long ago, yet blesses us today,
Bringing us wonders to show us the way.

Sample Adventure: The Beloved Company, Continued

I will be sending out the continuation of this adventure via email. Let me know if you'd like a copy!

Sample Adventure: The Beloved Company, Part 1

Man, didn't those old D&D modules have great covers? Image from Wikipedia

Will you brave the dangers to explore the Beloved Company, rumored to hold technological treasures? The Beloved Company building is located above a nest of Yoga Zombies, so looters stay away from it, but perhaps it contains dangers more diabolical within its wall. This adventure is intended for 3-5 player characters.

Notorious Villains of Berk: The Steve, Queen Raider MacRaider

The Steve appears to a faithful believer. Image from examiner.com

If you thought Kittenbot 3000 was scary, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Well, okay, Kittenbot 3000 is pretty scary. You might want to take off that yarn sweater before heading out into the Deep City. Kittenbot 3000 may attack you anyway, but at least it'll be a little less ironic. Because, y'know, kittens and balls of yarn.

Notorious Villains of Berk: Xander Bonaparte, Berkeley, Kittenbot 3000

I wasn't sure what picture would work for this post, so I found this cool picture on Wikimedia Commons

As if the good citizens of Berk didn't have enough to worry about, what with gangs of raiders, mutant animals, and feral mutants living all around them, there are a few especially nasty characters around who would like nothing better than to see Berk destroyed forever.

Berk Sample Character: Professor Clanky, Robot

Robot design by Onorio D'Epiro; image is from onoriodepiro.blogspot.com

Name: Professor Clanky
Species: Robot
Faction: None (joint Librarians/Brofessors affiliation)

Berk Sample Character: Felix "Noobsniper666" Mansetti, Former Gibson

Felix only wishes his bike was in this good condition. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Name: Felix Mansetti
Species: Human
Faction: Freelance (formerly Gibsons)

Who's Who in Berk - Faction Leaders (Brofessors and Redwood Deputies)

If you showed this picture to a Brofessor, he or she would have trouble recognizing the ruined and half-rebuilt campus of the post-post-apocalypse. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Nobody really runs Berk, of course. The city is in constant danger of being wiped out by raiders, mutant creatures, and worse, so there is not much time to create much of a ruling body. Recently, the city has had a bit more breathing room, thanks to improved coordination between the various factions and a united effort to send adventurers after the raider bases and mutant lairs. This has given the faction leaders a chance to meet on occasion to coordinate how best to defend the city. Whether this is the start of a new Berk or just an opportunity for the factions to annoy each other in new ways remains to be seen...

Who's Who in Berk: Faction Leaders (Librarians and Russian Werewolves)

This town ain't gonna run itself. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

If you were to ask the average passerby on the street in downtown Berk who runs the town, most people would point to the Library and tell you that the Chief Librarian is in charge. Any nearby Russian Werewolves would hotly contest this, as Berk is a conquered territory run by the General of the First Vladivostok Werewolf Aiborne. If a passing Brofessor were to hear the exchange, he or she would quickly point out that the the Professor of the University is in charge. To make everyone happy, these posts will try to describe the various faction leaders.

Berk Sample Character: Annie "Oakleaf" Dell

There's more where these came from. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Name: Annie Dell
Species: Ent
Faction: Redwood Deputies

Berk Locations: Cyberdome

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Gibson gangs may be semi-nomadic, erecting temporary camps and moving on when they have picked an area clean. Other Gibson gangs are completely nomadic, living out of RVs and trailers that follow the main pack. Yet others have permanent residences of sorts in the Unsettlement and strike from there. No matter where a Gibson lives, though, he or she has a second home at Cyberdome.

Sample Berk Character: Horatio Wilberplorp, Cuttlefolk of the Sepia Society

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Name: Horatio Wilberplorp
Species: Cuttlefolk
Faction: Sepia Society

Sample Berk Character: Aleksander Kolyarov, Russian Werewolf

Image a composite of images from Wikimedia Commons

Name: Aleksander Kolyarov
Species: Russian Werewolf
Faction: First Vladivostok Werewolf Airborne

Sample Berk Character: Sericea Nix, Librarian Researcher

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Name: Sericea Nix
Species: Human
Faction: Librarian

Berk Species Profile: Ents

Ancient Tree and Jackdaws by Zhou Wenging. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Residents of Berk have a reputation for being easy-going and carefree, and a large part of that is because of the Ents. Ents are philosophical plant people who have practical views on life. They enjoy collecting things, learning, and sharing their wisdom. Ents love their town, and their tough bodies make them excellent defenders of their friends and homes.

Berk Faction Brofile: Brofessors

Panoramic View of Berkeley in 1910, from alamedainfo.com

Before the First Event, the city that would become Berk was well known as a college town. Learned professors taught their young pupils the sciences and the humanities, while the young people did their best to fit as many poor decisions into four years as they could. In today's Berk, the Brofessors have accepted the challenge to keep university culture alive by embodying both of these ideals in a single group of individuals.

Guide to Berk: Vehicles

Miles per gallon? What's that? Image from Wikimedia Commons.

If you're going somewhere in Berk, there's a good chance you'll walk. Gasoline is rare, and anyone who has it is going to spend a lot of time (and probably most of the gasoline) just trying to keep it. Keeping animals is expensive, too, and there are few places to get a decent horse in Berk. Still, people have to get around, and goods need to be shipped from place to place, so there are all sorts of vehicles in Berk. Some are old-fashioned, while others are a new take on an old idea.

Berk Locations - The Sunken City

Image from snowdomes.com

The city of Berk slopes down toward the ocean so that the western part of the city is actually underwater. If you keep going west over a section of empty water (which some Librarians refer to as the Former Bay), you will find the Sunken City. Very little of the city still remains above ground. Only the slimy tops of some ancient skyscrapers show that there is more going on under the waves.