You’re wandering around the Borderwatch Outpost, likely trying to figure out why your Pawn keeps talking about ladders, when you stumble upon a disgruntled Beastren named Beren. He’s the guy who looks like he’s seen too many Mondays and way too many incompetent recruits. This starts the quest Claw Them Into Shape, and honestly, if you’re planning on touching the Warrior vocation at all, you cannot afford to skip this.
It’s not just about the gold or the experience. This is the gateway to the Warrior Maister skill. Without finishing Beren's arc, you're basically leaving half of your damage potential on the table.
Finding Beren and Not Getting Lost
The first hurdle is actually finding the guy. Beren doesn’t just hang out in the middle of the outpost 24/7. He’s usually at his childhood home or his tent in an area called Moonglow Garden.
To get there, head west from the Borderwatch Outpost. You’ll find a campsite near a bridge; turn north there. There’s a little path leading east into a grassy clearing. He only shows up here at night. If you roll up at high noon, the place is empty and you’ll think the game is bugged. It’s not. Just use the nearby campsite to rest until nightfall, and he’ll magically appear like he’s been waiting for you to notice him.
The Shopping List: Three Swords and a Dream
Beren is a simple man with a complicated problem: his recruits suck. He asks you for two things to help turn things around.
- Three Swords: Any one-handed swords will do. Seriously. Don't go wasting your precious gold on expensive Iron Sabres. You can literally buy the cheapest Trusty Swords from the Borderwatch vendor for 850 G a pop. If you have some rusted junk in your storage, give him that. He doesn't care about the quality; he just needs metal in their hands.
- A Motivated Recruit: This is where most people get stuck. You won't find this guy in the starting area. You have to head all the way to Vernworth.
Once you're in the capital, hang out near the Stardrop Inn or the Vocation Guild. A young man named Humphrey will eventually approach you. He’s looking for a master who has actually seen combat. You just need to tell him about Beren, and he’ll sprint off toward the outpost.
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The Duel: How to Not Embarrass Yourself
After you’ve delivered the gear and the kid, return to Beren at the training grounds. He’ll challenge you to a "friendly" sparring match.
Here is the catch: you don’t actually have to win.
The goal is to knock the opponent out of the ring. If you’re playing a Thief or an Archer, this is kinda annoying because your attacks don't have much "push." If you’re a Warrior or Fighter, just use a shield bash or a heavy swing to shove him out.
If you lose? The quest continues. If you win? The quest continues. Don't stress it. Just don't accidentally kill him—or yourself—by getting too fancy with your skills. One weird thing I noticed is that if you use too many "dirty" moves, he gets annoyed, but honestly, just get the fight over with.
The Unexpected Goblin Party
Right after the duel, a soldier runs up screaming about goblins. Apparently, while you two were play-fighting, a real threat showed up. Follow Beren and Humphrey down the path.
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You’ll fight some basic goblins, but the real point of this sequence is to discover that a Cyclops attacked the other recruits. By the time you get to the end of the path, the fight is over, but the damage is done. Beren gets blamed for the mess and basically gets fired from his post. It’s a bit of a downer.
Moving Into Beren's Final Lesson
Finishing Claw Them Into Shape nets you 4,500 G and some Syrupwort Leaves, but the story isn't over. To get the "good stuff"—specifically the Lifetaker Greatsword and the Champion's Fable (the Maister skill)—you have to follow up.
- Rest for a day or two. Go do something else. Kill a Griffin. Whatever.
- Return to Moonglow Garden at night.
- You’ll find Beren again, and this time, that Cyclops shows up for real.
- Kill the Cyclops. It’s a standard fight; aim for the eye, use the terrain, the usual Dragon's Dogma 101.
After the beast is dead, Beren decides he’s done with the military life and moves back to his home in the Checkpoint Rest Town.
Where to Find Beren Later
If you want that Maister skill, you have to track him down one last time at his childhood home, which is located just south of the Checkpoint Rest Town (past the gate). If you’ve been nice to him, he’ll hand over the Champion's Fable. This unlocks the Arc of Might—the hardest-hitting move in the Warrior's entire kit. It consumes all your stamina, but if it hits, whatever you were looking at is probably dead.
Actionable Next Steps
If you haven't started this yet, check your storage for any low-level swords before you leave Vernworth. It’ll save you a trip to the vendor. If Humphrey hasn't approached you in the capital, try passing time at the bench near the Inn; he usually triggers during the daylight hours near the center of town. Once the Cyclops at Moonglow Garden is dead, make sure to talk to Beren twice. Sometimes the dialogue doesn't trigger the "farewell" flag on the first attempt, which can stall his move to the Checkpoint Rest Town.