Bear shirter, and they did not get the shirt in trade. Bears did cause problems, and bear hunters killed them in single combat, then you could wear the shirt. The bear weighed up to 1200 pounds, the man had an ax. Most started with a spear, then the bear attacked, and they met it with the ax.
You cannot out run, out climb, out swim, a bear, there are no rounds, no shield, no armor,
it starts, then it is a fight to the death.
Hunting bears, trolls, and dragons, was expected of the leadership.
Wearing the shirt meant you had killed something at least four, maybe eight times your size, in single combat. Most of the time the bear won. It was a hard club to join.
Old and injured bears hunted people, cattle, and had no fear. Something had to be done. Sometimes trolls came, ate people, hid under bridges, and something had to be done. Raiding parties came with torches, Dragons, later Dragoons, something had to be done.
Noble houses protected bear shirts, gave them shelter, for they would meet any foe. Bears are not killed by the timid.
In battle they attacked faster than animals, their great axes struck through three shields, helms, men, with every swing, and each lead to the next, and the next, as they mowed their way through the line, laughing and singing as they worked, often composing poetry. They chopped the foe line to bits, and those coming behind them ate the bits.
Those with shields and armor advanced, got close, then the bear shirts ran through the cover and fell on the foe, no arrow or thrown spear could reach them, and ax against swords they slaughtered gaps in the line. They were large, wore the skin, and had the fighting spirit of a bear, and a very large and sharp ax.
You say you fear no foe man in the battle line, but I tell you of those who are not men, who carry no shield, wear no armor, carry no sword. They are changlings, men who become bears, mighty bears, huge, with axes that sing as they slaughter ten men with every stroke, faster than the eye can follow, never stopping, never slowing, till all lay dead in their path.
Two chops, left then right, then a sweeping turn, two chops, then a sweeping turn, they had a pace and meter.
Men die, cattle die,
all is the same,
men die, cattle die,
only wit and glory remain.