Bill Sikes as a berserker: Possible unfortunate implications?

Another thread from me...

In Street Thieves and Artful Dodgers one of my characters (who hasn't appeared yet but who will hopefully appear soon when I'm less busy and can figure out when to write him in and just what he's like) is a berserker whose name is Skjaldbjorn. Skjaldbjorn is Disa (Bjarki's foster sister)'s lover and he's also based on Bill Sikes.

Are there any unfortunate implications in having a Domestic Abuser be a berserker? I was thinking something along the lines of "he can't help it, something else is making him beat you up" especially since Skjaldbjorn can't even *remember* what he does when he's human again? Not that he's all that great in human form either.

edited 12th May '14 5:42:15 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

Is this "berserker" in the the sense of a sacred trance achieved by holy warriors as they go into combat or "berserker" as in goes blood-nuts and can't stop from killing stuff?

Both. Well, berserker as in holy warrior who can transform into a bear/wolf through a trance and the use of a specially made shirt which makes them incredibly bloodthirsty.

And no, Skjaldbjorn doesn't have a dog. But his fetch is a dog.

edited 26th Apr '14 6:03:39 AM by MorwenEdhelwen

I think basing him on Bill Sikes is fine, especially as there's no dog involved. For me, the only problem would occur if his actions under the berserker rage are excused, especially since a warrior's brave(or foolhardy) acts under such a rage would be praised. Treat it like Heracles killing his family under Hera's madness: he's not necessarily in control, but its still his fault.* A criminal associate more worried about exposure or loudness of a rage than it's damage is fine, as they're a criminal.

Also, this is the "Norse Saga style Oliver Twist" story correct? It looks great so far.

• This only applies if the berserker rage is completely random, or occurs when he gets angry enough. If there's any kind of deliberate trigger(for example, one theory on the historical berserkers was that they ate a stew right before battle that was made from hallucinogenic mushrooms), then he's just another murderer, and should be handled accordingly.

@Sharur: Yes it is. [ Oliver is a literal clone of his dead father

Some good points there— thanks!

edited 11th May '14 1:02:06 AM by MorwenEdhelwen

clones...in a Norse Saga ... oh, dear God, its The Clone Saga all over again. Kidding.

So does your spoiler have to do with him being a Dwarf(if I read/translated "dvergur" right)?

edited 25th Apr '14 4:57:11 PM by Sharur

This is late but the Dwarf is Thróinn, the Fagin character.

edited 26th Apr '14 6:00:05 AM by MorwenEdhelwen