Housecarls are the professional infantry soldiers of the Nessex, Thorsland, and Vinland earls and king. They are paid and supported in the houses of these nobles as the core of their army and as bodyguards. Housecarls have been replaced in this role by Knights across Europe, but the old tradition is maintained in the New World. While Nessex nobles have both Knights and Housecarls, with some friction about status, the Thorslanders and Vinlanders only have Housecarls. Housecarls have a boost to morale (+1) compared to Militia or Bondar. At class B and A they are trained to fight either with a shield and sword or waraxe, or with a Dane Axe in two hands. They gain special abilities when using a Dane Axe.

HOUSECARL—CLASS C (2 HD Soldier)

• AC: 17 (round shield, avg. mail) HD 2 HP 9
• Resistance: 14; vs. magic 9
• Mods: W-1/N+3/S+4
• Speed: 25'
• Morale: +5
• Stealth -1 Perception -1
• Attack, Melee: +4; Damage: 1d10 (arming sword or war axe)
• Shield Wall: in groups of 4 plus can form shield wall (disadvantage to attackers)
• S+4, D+4, C+3, I+3,W+3,Ch+3

HOUSECARL–CLASS B (3 HD Soldier)

• AC: 17 (round shield, avg. mail) or AC 15 (avg. mail) HD 3 HP 13
• Resistance: 15; vs. magic 9
• Mods: W-1/N+3/S+5
• Speed: 30'
• Morale: +6 * Stealth -1 Perception -1
• Attack, Melee: +5; Damage: 1d10 (arming sword or war axe)
• Attack, Melee: +5; Damage 1d12 (dane axe)
• Axe Smash: when using a Dane Axe, take the better of 2 damage rolls.
• Shield Wall: in groups of 4 plus can form shield wall (disadvantage to attackers)
• S+5, D+5, C+3, I+3,W+3,Ch+3

HOUSECARL—CLASS A ( 4 HD Soldier)

• AC: 18 (round shield, good mail) or AC 16 ( good mail) HD 4 HP 17
• Resistance: 16; vs. magic 10
• Mods: W 0/N+4/S+6
• Speed: 30'
• Morale: +7
• Stealth 0 Perception 0
• Attack, Melee: +6; Damage: 2d6 slashing (arming sword or war axe or Dane Axe)
• Axe Smash: when using a Dane axe, take the better of 2 damage rolls.
• Horse Killer: if scores a critical hit against a horse with Dane Axe, cut off horse's head.
• Shield Wall: in groups of 4 plus can form shield wall (disadvantage to attackers)
• S+6, D+6, C+4, I+4, W+4,Ch+4