Since the skalds sing their poems about fierce heroes struggling with man and beast alike in the frozen lands of Skaarmar, there are lenghty rimes depicting the raging battles of great men and women like Ranveig Isengaard, Geirlar Thurunson and Saerlik Gulveigs-Bane. As much as these legends entertain younglings and seasoned warriors alike, they also store a wealth of traditions and the way of the Skaar itself. A rather unremakable role in the songs, at least at first glance, falls to the shields of these warriors. Almost unchanged in form and style, the large roundshield of the Skaar exists longer than even the eldest lorekeepers remember. Almost a stride in diameter, these metalbossed circles or ovals are true weapons in the hand of a skilled wielder. Although most Skaar use them in fighting, only the best master the strainous techniques of the shields way, and become
Skjaldbróðir, Shieldbrothers.
An opponent who only sees unwieldy, defensive implements in them often pays a high price for his mistake, as he is mauled and smashed, unable to land any blows on his own.

Used with Coordination + Weapon: Roundshield.
These techniques only work if the warrior is holding a Skaar Roundshield in one of his hands.
The student of this path declares the zones covered by his shield after declaration but before rolls are made.

Tier 1 - Take the Initiative
(offensive)
When the Shieldbrother Feints with his shield, he raises the speed of the set by one. This tier can be used in a multiple action. If it is used with an attack action made with the weapon in the other hand, the secondary attack takes place right after the Feint. The usual rules for Feints still apply.
The Shieldbrother treats his Skaar Roundshield as light armour.

Tier 2 - Hold the initiative
(defensive)
The Shieldbrother prepares for any trick the opponent throws at him, ready to retaliate. This tier enables parry-sets with the shield to be squished by 2. Can be used in a multiple action.
If the Shieldbrother only parries during a turn, he may ignore the multiple action penatly of a second Parry action.

Tier 3 - Open the Path
(offensive)
Opening the Path uses a special maneuver: Shieldbind.
Shieldbind is somewhere between a pin and a disarm, the Shieldbrother binds the enemys weapons, and often also its arms against itself, disabling the opponents abillity to attack and defend.
This is an attack with difficulty 3, success has the effect that the target is unable to use his weapons as if he has been Disarmed (he retains hold of his weapon though) as long as he is shieldbound.
The Shieldbrothers attacks that hit the bound target, gain Armourpierce 2.
You can continue the Shieldbind during the next round. Declare it as usual and if you roll any set, the Shieldbind continues during the whole round, not only upon the speed indicated by the set.
The bound enemy can try to break the Shieldbind. For this, he rolls his usual attack pool. Any set suffices, but the binder can use the dice from his Shieldbind to gobble the break set. Also, the bound enemy can just walk backwards to break the Shieldbind, but the binder can follow him using his free movement if his Shieldbind set is fast enough. If your enemy already is bound by your shield, you can declare to continue the Shieldbind together with an attack without the -1d penalty of two actions.

Tier 4 - Keep the Path Open
(offensive)
Keep the Path Open uses a special maneuver: Shieldstrike.
A Shieldstrike is either a hefty Bash or a forcefull Push both intended to unbalance your opponent as well as buising him considerably.
Declare the type of the strike before rolling. Shieldstrike can be part of an multiple action.
Bash: the roll is made with difficulty 3.
Success: the target takes full shielddamage and is Downed if he is not more than 100 pounds heavier than the user of this technique.
Push: the roll is made with difficulty 3.
Success: the target takes only half the shielddamage but has a -1d penalty to any action taken the next round. If the Push succedes with 3x or higher, also apply all effects of the Shove maneuver.
Bash and Push apply both the bonuses and penalties that are linked to other maneuvers as if they where a Slam (for Bash) or Trip (for Push) maneuver.
Example: Freidjur is charged by an orcish warrior on foot, and has decided to greet the menacing brute with a hefty shieldpush. Since freidjur is using the push option against a charging opponent,he receives +1d to his roll (like a trip would). The shieldbrother succedes with his action and rolls a 3×7. The orc does not only take some bruising damage to the torso, he loses also one die from a set, has his pool next round reduced by -1 and is shoved back five feet. As the orcish warrior is shoved back, freidjur receives an addidition die if he slams, trips or shieldstrikes the „no longer menacing“ brute in the round to come.

Tier 5 – Flawless Brotherhood
The true masters of this path find new ways to use their faithfull companions to their greatest effect. All of the following bonuses are added to the relevant tiers.
The student of this path declares the zones covered by his shield after declaration and after all rolls have been made.
Tier 1 – The bonus Feint adds to the next attack on that opponent is raised to +2d.
Tier 2 – There is no -1d penalty to add one Shieldparry to a Multiple Action.
Tier 3 – There is no -1d penalty to add one Shieldbind to a Multiple Action.
Tier 4 – There is no -1d penalty to add one Shieldstrike to a Multiple Action.


Skaar Roundshield:
Despite being made mostly of hide reinforced wood, the skaarshield follows all the rules for large metal shields (4 or 6 and choice; AR3; medium armour). Damage: W+1 shock