Shaman

Introduction

Shaman are healers who use their personal essence in order to heal themselves or others. They have been around for as long as can be remembered. While they can also access some elemental magick, it's at a very low level.

History

No one knows when or how Shaman's came into existence. Some speculate they simply have always been as long as humans have lived. Others say that they are an advanced type of human that came into being naturally. Still others think that they were an answer to a prayer. However it is, they have always been, in all lands, in all nations, kingdoms, and empires.

Shamans are natures healers. They have the ability to use their personal essence to heal cuts, close grevious wounds, and mend bones. Those born with this ability are often sent to school from an early age to learn how to heal with their hands as well as their magick. After all, their essence isn't infinite, and just like Elementalists it takes time to replenish after use. The best shaman's learn to interweave medical skills with their magick to great effect.

Historically, while Shaman can learn some basic elemental magick, they are not fighters. As healers, they are generally given leeway on any battlefield to safely perform their duties. Any that are on the losing side of greater battles may be kept only for as long as it takes for them to assist in healing wounds from the winner's side. Then they are given the choice to either be released, or join those who defeated their previous rulers.

While Shaman are moderately rare, there is usually one within a day or two's walk from most villages. They provide services not only to the village, town, or city in which they live, but regionally as well, and they generally turn none away. Most are paid from the coffers of their ruler to keep the people healthy, though it's not unheard of for those that are able to donate to their local Shaman in the event they're able to.

Playing a Shaman

Shaman are, first and foremost, healers. Though they have some combat ability, and most will train minimally with a weapon, they aren't expected to fight in any battles. Their duty is to heal and care for the wounded. This grants them general immunity on the battlefield, an immunity which is unwritten, but respected by all. Those that break from this tradition have been known to be executed by their own rulers.

Shaman use their personal essence to heal with magick. Thus, most also learn mundane techniques to supplement their abilities. The best Shaman find ways to use mundane techniques and their magick together to efficiently deal with injuries. Mundane surgery while using magick to kill any disease or infection, for instance.

The more essence that's used, the more exhausted a Shaman gets and the less they can do. Using too much at once can lead to coma. While essence slowly rebuilds within a Shaman over a day or two, it does take time. They also do not have the ability to channel ley-energy, meaning they can only recover essence naturally.

Healing is concentration based. Smaller injuries can take seconds. Greater injuries can take minutes. Grevious injuries can take an hour. The higher the magick level of the Shaman, the more adept they are and the less time it takes to heal.

Level Breakdown