Shaman

A shaman, sometimes called a spirit shaman, is a powerful primal leader who calls upon nature spirits for aid or guidance. Shamans, much like clerics or warlords, are often leaders or healers, though they lead most often by example and through wisdom than through inspiration or charisma. Shamans are also more durable than their divine or martial equivalents, gaining through their connection to the wild a powerful capacity for enduring pain.

Arganth Snarrl was a notable shamanic advisor of Obould, during the latter's mortal life.

Culture
Shamans gain their power through alliances with powerful nature spirits, who grant them boons in much the same a god might grant a boon to a cleric or a powerful baatezu to a warlock. In order to form these alliances shamans go through a series of initiation ceremonies and rites of passages, after which they are granted a lesser nature spirit as an ally and companion as well as the ability to channel their primal patron's power through a totem. Within their native cultures shamans are highly valued as healers, storytellers, and spiritual advisors. Outside shamans are still valued, if only for the power they wield, channeling into allies to empower and heal them while striking down the enemies of nature.

Abilities
Generally speaking, shamans rely more upon the power of their capacity for judgement, willpower, and awareness than they do upon force of personality or charm the way that a cleric or bard might. Shamans are also very often highly intelligence and are capable of great endurance, making up for their lack of training in hide or heavier armors. Shamans are trained in the use of simple weapons as well as the more advanced longspear, but little else, and rely on their spirit companion for their most powerful attacks. Regardless, all shamans are both extremely durable and capable of great wisdom, an unusual combination.

All shamans draw upon the primal power of the Prime itself, using powers known as evocations. These evocations allow shamans to strike with deadly power, call upon spirit companions, or heal and empower their corporeal allies. Many shamans use powerful totems as implements while channeling this energy, thereby making their evocations all the more power. To help them draw on this power, shamans are capable of communicating with nature spirits, in a way far more direct than most other corporeal beings are capable of, opening their mind to the invisible spirits that pervade existence and to which most people are unaware.

The abilities of a shaman depend greatly upon what kind of spirit companion the shaman is gifted by their primal patron. Some shamans take on a spirit in the form of bear or similarly durable beast as their companion, who grants a boon to a shaman's healing power. Other shamans choose instead a panther or beast of similar cunning and stealth, making a shaman and their ally's attacks more deadly while acting in a way similar to a ranger's corporeal companion.