Shaman

Laying the old chieftain to rest on a bier of wood, the farrow shaman begins to chant an offering to the mother-goddess Dhunia. As she speaks, the gathered tribe takes comfort, feeling the blessings of the Mother stirring in their spirits. Shouting a curse against his enemies, the ancient trollkin shaman takes savage glee in watching the wrath of Dhunia render their bodies withered and feeble as he wades into them with wide swings of his knotted wooden cudgel. Slicing open her hand with a ritual blade, a human shaman feels the many eyes of the great Devourer Wurm fall upon her and grant her its blessing as her hands twist into the hooked talons of a great beast.

Shamans are mortals who have a link to the primal gods of western Immoren. Each manifests the aspects of their patron deity and becomes a mortal reflection of unfathomable divine power.

OLD GODS AND GREAT SPIRITS

Through a link to their gods, shamans interact with the world of spirits and the supernatural. They can manifest powerful magic and perform rites that bolster their allies or enfeeble their foes. Shamans of Dhunia look to both the mother-goddess’ mercy and her wrath. Those who supplicate the Devourer Wurm are given dominion over the powers of great predatory beasts and unlock their own savage prowess. In other regions, shamans from cultures like the croaks practice their own rites to appease the spirits of the wilderness and the gods who hold dominion over them. Shamans are commanding figures who wield their influence in battle and beyond. Through the empowerment of the gods, they can steer the fate of a whole tribe, and they often rise as savage champions and stalwart protectors of their people.

SERVANTS OF THE GODS

Shamans are the wild equivalent of the clergy in the domesticated world. Like priests and clerics, shamans perform sacred rites and see to the spiritual needs of their people. The beings they revere, in turn, grant them a measure of primal power in reward for their sacrifices and worship.

Shamans are among the oldest traditions of western Immoren. Through their worship, they were the first peoples in the land with the ability to wield spells. This early investiture of divine power allows even those not commonly known to wield magic, such as the bogrin and ogrun, to do so. Even before the Gift of Magic was bestowed upon humans, the barbarian men and women of the Molgur tribes were able to draw upon the power of the Devourer Wurm to incite storms and summon beasts.

Though most of humanity has turned to worship of the gods Morrow, Menoth, and Cyriss, there are still many dwelling at the fringe of civilization who preserve the worship of older, more primal gods. So, too, do the trollkin, farrow, and other tribes of the wild maintain reverence to the Great Mother Dhunia.

CREATING A SHAMAN

When making a shaman, consider why your character has such a close bond to a primordial god or spirit and how you embody that bond. What is the nature of your relationship with your guiding patron? Were you always a shaman, or did you undergo an experience that brought you close to your god? In what ways do you seek to venerate the source of your power? Are there any particular rites or practices that you feel you must uphold, and are there any you resent performing?

Shamans are also often influential figures in their communities. Does your character have a tribe or people who look to you for guidance? Are there any rivals who would seek your downfall?

Domains (subclasses)

Name	Source
Matron	Borderlands
Predator	Borderlands