#rsanders22

_ Bjorn’s like the only berserk we see in the story (so far), and I think it’s because berserkers were already considered kind of a thing of the past around that time, so he might have been perceived as “old-school” and maybe a little odd by his comrades because of that. Also we know one guy who’d likely hate that kind of stereotypically traditional viking warrior.      : )

_ Bear tattoo on his side because of very educated reasons.

_ We know berserkers experienced their frenzy, “Óðr”, but if i’m not mistaken it also refers to poetic (divine) inspiration as well as ecstasy/rage. I kinda wanted to draw a short comic where a slightly younger Bjorn eats a smaller amount of mushroom (against his will, thanks Askeladd), not quite turning him into the mindless rage machine we know and love but instead enabling “poetic” hallucinations. He hates those! he’d rather dive into blissfully blind rage rather than endure those violently distorted visions of the world around him. He sees himself on the battlefield swarmed by dead-eyed fishes or rabid dogs (please picture here stylized nordic animals i will never be skilled enough to draw). All so despicable, so easy to kill. Only Askeladd is different. What Bjorn saw in Askeladd that one time terrified him - kinda like Canute’s resolved stare spooked Bjorn in that one chapter.(Hint : he associates Askeladd with a mythical figure. Can you guess who >:3c ) 

_ Bjorn actually uses his mushrooms sparingly from what we’ve seen. I’d like to think it’s because Askeladd actually convinced him not to rely so much on them, not only because Bjorn’s strong enough as he is, but also because the frenzy makes him a menace to others... and himself. It didn’t take long for Askeladd to notice Bjorn was addicted to these moments of senseless, self-inflicted violence. Of course Askeladd wouldn’t say it’s because he doesn’t want Bjorn to harm himself (who cares?), he’d just state that it’d be a waste of a good brain and he needs a clear-minded, reliable second-in-command. Bjorn complied. BUT-

_He eats mushrooms when he’s worried he’ll disappoint Askeladd somehow (by not being strong enough to take out One Mysterious Warrior, by not being able to take the prince to safety). If he spent +10 years laboriously trying to inch himself closer to Askeladd, I can understand he’d be terrified of losing the trust and somewhat special place he earned.

_ He has a nice singing voice : )

_ He’s 100% aware Askeladd lowkey hates him, and not being able to figure out what he did wrong and what he could do to be more than tolerated by his side ate him up until the very end.