Spellcasters, Part 4: Shamans

The practice of shamanic magic was held in some disregard, since the method of channeling seemed so wild and uncouth, but in fact, the shaman’s power, especially in the area of healing, was unmatched by others. A shaman turned to destruction was one of the most terrible forces on the planet.

Most shamans bound to themselves one or more spirits of the land or water, as familiars and power sources in addition to the power provided by the planet itself. In addition, every shaman used a slightly different method of channeling, so formal training wasn’t formal at all. Most village wise-women, for example, attained some shamanic power, whether a little or a good deal.

Common accompaniments for channeling included bone rattles, drums, and other percussion instruments that could be played while the caster chanted or sang. As well, many shamans used scented or psychoactive smoke to force their minds into the pathways required for casting.

Famous shamans include: Missy Tremmeline, who coaxed the Pixie Army away from the city of Monmouth and bound them all to herself; Ayotunde, who cured a terrible plague of smallpox devastating the Moro Empire; Tatcheegan Kunu, the Great Red Shaman, who appears in Windish at many times, wearing many faces, to teach the Ish people a lesson they must learn; Dagan the Wildwoman, raised by wolves, who broke the Charnel-Brute’s power; and Aramazd, inventor of the vaccination spell for cholera.