Orcish Shamanism Q&a

[Ilikefooddude 430]

Evening! With the recent explosion of Shaman activity in 4.0 and the relative publicity to the magic that has brought, we thought it best to create a thread where common questions about the Orcs' own magic can be answered to both enlighten those who are interested and to solve disputes that might arise when it's being used in roleplay. For the final authority on these questions look to Catarrh, BoogerBuster and Myself, but overall anyone who believes they can aid a questioning player can have a go at answering. We will be making a list of answered questions on this post, so check there first to see whether or not your question has been answered.
Now without further ado- Ask Away!

 

 

Questions:

Q: How do you prove your worth to a Shaman to pick you to learn Shamanism? Is it as simple as asking, or is there trials of some sort one must go through?
A:

There's no usual process that any Shaman follows to pick new student, so each Shaman instead has different ways of choosing and telling whether the Orc or Otherwise is fitting for the role of students. Once a student has asked, a teacher usually takes him through several trials to test his skills and attributes. For me, I decided to write out these trials in the form of a forum post so I could keep track of his progress, but to also give the magic more publicity and such. They're usually quite obscure, and test the endurance, spirituality, honor and other favorable parts of the student's personality. If these tests are 'passed' in the eye of the teacher, then the real training will start, which usually involves long meditation and countless attempts at connecting to the spirits.

 

Q: Ramakhet - Spirit of the desert, barren lands, and sand. He is never seen and therefore is only represented by his name. Sworn to scour the world of all life at the end of time.

Would any shamans actually know about a spirit like this in game? If not how would a shaman learn of this spirit?

A:

Yes, the shamans would know the name of the spirit because of their travels in the spirit realm. There is also a festival that we hosted for this very spirit back in Anthos to turn the land into desert. We do not know what he looks like, but that does not mean we could not have contact with him taking another form in the sand or talking to a shaman through his feet's contact on the sand of the desert. 

 

Q: Are we aware of any Magic Plugin stuff for shamans yet, or will we be waiting for the techs to announce further developments?

A: 

A while ago there was a private message involving the current shamans to address the Magic Plugin and Shamanism, and some great ideas for spells and buffs were put forward. As far as i'm aware they were put forward to Telanir and the general outlines for them were clearly marked. If Locked subtypes such as Shamanism do end up being added, i'm certain that they'll suit out needs and follow the lore well enough to be used by shamans.

 

Q: Apparently, Oxtuk'Kog is the "Champion of Spirits". I have no idea what this means. Please help me. Thank you <3

A: 

Well, first I'll clarify that Oxtuk is champion of Gul'Thak, a lesser earth spirit. So, being the champion of that spirit means that Gul'Thak may give you some task from time to time. He's essentially deemed Oxtuk fit to help spread his influence and power in the spirit realm by serving him in the mortal realm. To be clear, champions for any spirit are not common. No orc just gets to start calling himself the champion of so-and-so. Oxtuk was specifically chosen in an rp event. Furthermore, a champion receives no special power/powers, unless the spirit happens to send him a temporary blessing at some point. Your orc may be expected to be a particularly devout worshiper of the spirit in question if you choose to rp that way though. So, part of what it means depends on your own rp. You can take it as a sign to start sacrificing to Gul'Thak more often, or wearing symbols or charms related to him on your person. It's basically up to you and Gul'Thak (Who is generally rp'd by BoogerBuster, so feel free to talk to him about it to further the rp in that area of your character's life).

 

Q: How has shamanism changed over the years? I remember our glorious technical leader Vaq being a High Shaman but I can't imagine the standard was very high then. What notable changes have been made since then? (Or atleast the earliest Gen you can remember)

A:

Back in the old days, Aegis or Asulon, There was no written down documents. It was up to each shaman to learn his own way in the world from a master. Each of the Motshams or head of their subtype would have their own distinct style. The Motshams seldom agreed on what the spirits wanted or what the correct way to perform their shaman duties. The fued between Lex and Mogroka lasted a long time in character. When Magic apps were introduced Supremecy_Ops forced us shamans who were active to write down the lore. This ruined a part of shamanism that involved more creativity. We were not allowed to practice the magic until we wrote down what we knew. The old shamans did not help much in the and some newer shamans such as Booger and Kuzimachan took over this project. Where we outlined a basic guideline for the subtypes, it was missing something. It is missing the imagination that each shaman had before when they had to more or less find their own way around. Back before the subtypes and rigid rules that now define shamanism. Booger and Kizuma did the best with what they were left with, the fault is not on them at all. I want to state these are just my (Vonaulus) opinions and aren't fact. The statements above are just my noticing of trends over the years

 

Q: Do you think Shamanism is viable for long-term Orc RP? (E.g is it entertaining enough for orcs to do on a day-to-day and enjoy? If not why not and do you have any ideas for perhaps making this true?)

 

A:

Definitely. Although it's hard for the Orcs to organise things due to the diversity of our timezones, I believe that Shamanism can have a big and beneficial impact on Orcish roleplay- something which has been sadly lacking in recent months. We've already seen how big of an impact Shamanism Events can have on a single player, such as Oxtuk, and this will most probably change the roleplay he has with his Orc and with other Orcs for a long time. Aside from events, everyday Shaman roleplay holds plenty of possibilities for Orcs. Farseers might call on the Orcs for a task, such as sacrificing to a certain spirit to appease him, and I believe once we've got the momentum with that our roleplay will be off to a brilliant start. Additionally, individual shamans can provide one on one roleplay with Orcs, such as Farseers predicting an Orc's future of a Witchdocter creating a Hex for a traitorous Whitewash. We'd also like to involve other races as well, and i've been thinking about making Thurak's future tellings open for the other races.

 

Q: What types of Shamanism are there?
A:

Elementalists; which use Elemental spirits to control the elements (Such as Water and Fire) present in the world, Witch Doctors; who perform Alchemy and Curses, Far seers; who perform Blessings and have the ability to receive visions of events from across time and space, and Lutaumans; who communicate with Ancestral Spirits, asking for guidance and making blessings that are based upon the specific abilities of the ancestral spirit in life (I.e. Rax was a great warrior, using his blessing would make one a better warrior).

 

Q: Is it possible for a non-Orc to become a Shaman?  I ask because I recall an RP situation where there was a Dwarf Shaman (It was more along the lines of an Orc's soul-trapped-in-a-Dwarf's-body kinda thing though.)

A:

Yes! There's a few reasons why this rarely occurs, however, most of them obvious, but others more complicated. Firstly, the magic is monitored by Orcs, and generally the teachers are Orcs, meaning that one must have a strong connection to the race to be trusted enough to be taught. Secondly, the spirits are very picky with who they choose to contact. The student must be especially 'honorable' and have favorable attributes, most of which are discovered by various trials which the student performs which involve the spirits. Though they may be completed by anybody, technically, the spirits' sense of honor is greatly linked to the Orcs', so one must fully understand Orcish culture before knowing how to complete the trials right. Finally, in an OOC perspective, the head shamans are very protective of the magic- mostly because of its complexity and highly powergameable nature. Since it's a locked magic they'll be very careful of who they allow to learn it, and that involves many discussions IC'ly and OOC'ly to decide whether the student wants to benefit the spirits and the Orcish race by learning the magic, or themselves. 
All in all, it's possible, yet difficult, for anyone to become a shaman should their motives be right and their relationships with the Orcs tight enough.

Q: Are shamans seen as only spell casters, or could you be a warrior type like shaman that uses the elements when he fights with his axe in battle?

A:

Shamans are seen as a diverse variety of things, among the Orcs and especially among the other races. Because of their scarcity, they're often shrouded in mystery and their true purposes would seem to be hidden. In practicality, however, they're much more than spellcasters, even if not everyone notices them as such. They are the guides and the most trusted elders of the Orcs, but also the most trusted keepers of Orcish culture and ways, and the strongest fighters to protect such in their various ways. Although each individual has a different way of doing these duties, they all meet the same end, and that's what they're valued for over all else. 

 

 

 

Q: In what ways can an Uruk make spirits more powerful?  Would it be possible to offer a creation in the mortal realm to a spirit in the spirit realm to make that spirit stronger?
A:

Normal Uruks and Shamans alike can do a variety of things to increase the strength of a spirit and their prevalence in one of the spirit realms. Say we are talking about an Immortal Spirit- Votar, for example. The Orcs could call for a ceremonial hunt in his honor; searching around the Savanna for worthy prey to later toast to the spirit at a feast later that day. The Immortal Spirits, as a rule, are as powerful as what they represent is prominent in the Mortal Realm. If a legendary hunt is had, then the prevalence of the ideal of Hunting is in turn greater, and Votar will gain proportionate strength. What is more, the Orcs can also influence the strength of Minor Spirits- those who's names are unknown and who serve the Greaters. An example of this is Gul'Thrak, the minor spirit of Earth, who protected San'Vitar against the Dark Shamans and in turn gained more recognition, praise, and prevalence in the Mortal realm by the Orcs.So, the answer to your question is yes- Orcs play a massive role in deciding the power of spirits in the spirit realm, and sacrificing to them and performing deeds in their honor are both excellent ways of increasing their strength there. 

[Merkaken 516]

How do you prove your worth to a Shaman to pick you to learn Shamanism? Is it as simple as asking, or is there trials of some sort one must go through?

[Bardmancer 942]

Are we aware of any Magic Plugin stuff for shamans yet, or will we be waiting for the techs to announce further developments?

[๖ۣۜ§osa (E.G.I.E.) 520]

Thank you all for making this thread! I'm sure there are plenty of Urukz out there who need some of these questions answered. And myself is trying to get my Orc, Zar'roc, proven to learn Shamanism.

[Salamandra 1136]

Ramakhet - Spirit of the desert, barren lands, and sand. He is never seen and therefore is only represented by his name. Sworn to scour the world of all life at the end of time.

 

Would any shamans actually know about a spirit like this in game? If not how would a shaman learn of this spirit?

[Ilikefooddude 430]

How do you prove your worth to a Shaman to pick you to learn Shamanism? Is it as simple as asking, or is there trials of some sort one must go through?

 

There's no usual process that any Shaman follows to pick new student, so each Shaman instead has different ways of choosing and telling whether the Orc or Otherwise is fitting for the role of students. Once a student has asked, a teacher usually takes him through several trials to test his skills and attributes. For me, I decided to write out these trials in the form of a forum post so I could keep track of his progress, but to also give the magic more publicity and such. They're usually quite obscure, and test the endurance, spirituality, honor and other favorable parts of the student's personality. If these tests are 'passed' in the eye of the teacher, then the real training will start, which usually involves long meditation and countless attempts at connecting to the spirits.

[VonAulus 2082]

Ramakhet - Spirit of the desert, barren lands, and sand. He is never seen and therefore is only represented by his name. Sworn to scour the world of all life at the end of time.

 

Would any shamans actually know about a spirit like this in game? If not how would a shaman learn of this spirit?

 

Yes, the shamans would know the name of the spirit because of their travels in the spirit realm. There is also a festival that we hosted for this very spirit back in Anthos to turn the land into desert. We do not know what he look like, but that does not mean we could not have contact with him taking another form in the sand or talking to a shaman through his feets contact on the sand of the desert. 

[Sclacer 0]

Apparently, Oxtuk'Kog is the "Champion of Spirits". I have no idea what this means. Please help me. Thank you <3

[Ilikefooddude 430]

Are we aware of any Magic Plugin stuff for shamans yet, or will we be waiting for the techs to announce further developments?

 

A while ago there was a private message involving the current shamans to address the Magic Plugin and Shamanism, and some great ideas for spells and buffs were put forward. As far as i'm aware they were put forward to Telanir and the general outlines for them were clearly marked. If Locked subtypes such as Shamanism do end up being added, i'm certain that they'll suit out needs and follow the lore well enough to be used by shamans.

[501warhead 1796]

How has shamanism changed over the years? I remember our glorious technical leader Vaq being a High Shaman but I can't imagine the standard was very high then. What notable changes have been made since then? (Or atleast the earliest Gen you can remember)

 

Do you think Shamanism is viable for long-term Orc RP? (E.g is it entertaining enough for orcs to do on a day-to-day and enjoy? If not why not and do you have any ideas for perhaps making this true?)

[Telanir 6975]

I believe further conversation is necessary between shamans and the Technical Team as much has transpired since our last encounter. I am available on Skype nearly all the time unless I am sleeping or dead.

[DrakeHaze. 2524]

How has shamanism changed over the years? I remember our glorious technical leader Vaq being a High Shaman but I can't imagine the standard was very high then. What notable changes have been made since then? (Or atleast the earliest Gen you can remember)

 

Do you think Shamanism is viable for long-term Orc RP? (E.g is it entertaining enough for orcs to do on a day-to-day and enjoy? If not why not and do you have any ideas for perhaps making this true?)

Vaq was literally a ***** (As in strange) pink haired fairy man. 

[Catarrh 720]

Apparently, Oxtuk'Kog is the "Champion of Spirits". I have no idea what this means. Please help me. Thank you <3

    Well, first I'll clarify that Oxtuk is champion of Gul'Thak, a lesser earth spirit. So, being the champion of that spirit means that Gul'Thak may give you some task from time to time. He's essentially deemed Oxtuk fit to help spread his influence and power in the spirit realm by serving him in the mortal realm. To be clear, champions for any spirit are not common. No orc just gets to start calling himself the champion of so-and-so. Oxtuk was specifically chosen in an rp event. Furthermore, a champion receives no special power/powers, unless the spirit happens to send him a temporary blessing at some point. Your orc may be expected to be a particularly devout worshiper of the spirit in question if you choose to rp that way though. So, part of what it means depends on your own rp. You can take it as a sign to start sacrificing to Gul'Thak more often, or wearing symbols or charms related to him on your person. It's basically up to you and Gul'Thak (Who is generally rp'd by BoogerBuster, so feel free to talk to him about it to further the rp in that area of your character's life).

[VonAulus 2082]

How has shamanism changed over the years? I remember our glorious technical leader Vaq being a High Shaman but I can't imagine the standard was very high then. What notable changes have been made since then? (Or atleast the earliest Gen you can remember)

 

Do you think Shamanism is viable for long-term Orc RP? (E.g is it entertaining enough for orcs to do on a day-to-day and enjoy? If not why not and do you have any ideas for perhaps making this true?)

 

I will grab this one since I am the oldest shaman still around. I have been roleplaying my orc as a shaman for over 2 years, with an additional 6 months learning time. Brevias was inactive for that so it was not as fun to try to learn on my own and I did not get very far. 

 

Back to your first question, back in the old days, Aegis or Asulon, There was no written down documents. It was up to each shaman to learn his own way in the world from a master. Each of the Motshams or head of their subtype would have their own distinct style. The Motshams seldom agreed on what the spirits wanted or what the correct way to perform their shaman duties. The fued between Lex and Mogroka lasted a long time in character. When Magic apps were introduced Supremecy_Ops forced us shamans who were active to write down the lore. This ruined a part of shamanism that involved more creativity. We were not allowed to practice the magic until we wrote down what we knew. The old shamans did not help much in the and some newer shamans such as Booger and Kuzimachan took over this project. Where we outlined a basic guideline for the subtypes, it was missing something. It is missing the imagination that each shaman had before when they had to more or less find their own way around. Back before the subtypes and rigid rules that now define shamanism. Booger and Kizuma did the best with what they were left with, the fault is not on them at all. 

 

The current gen is starting to shift back more to a looser structure which I appreciate. I want to state these are just my opinion and not fact. The statements above are just my noticing of trends over the years. God it has been years. 

[Ilikefooddude 430]

 

Do you think Shamanism is viable for long-term Orc RP? (E.g is it entertaining enough for orcs to do on a day-to-day and enjoy? If not why not and do you have any ideas for perhaps making this true?)

 

Definitely. Although it's hard for the Orcs to organise things due to the diversity of our timezones, I believe that Shamanism can have a big and beneficial impact on Orcish roleplay- something which has been sadly lacking in recent months. We've already seen how big of an impact Shamanism Events can have on a single player, such as Oxtuk, and this will most probably change the roleplay he has with his Orc and with other Orcs for a long time. Aside from events, everyday Shaman roleplay holds plenty of possibilities for Orcs. Farseers might call on the Orcs for a task, such as sacrificing to a certain spirit to appease him, and I believe once we've got the momentum with that our roleplay will be off to a brilliant start. Additionally, individual shamans can provide one on one roleplay with Orcs, such as Farseers predicting an Orc's future of a Witchdocter creating a Hex for a traitorous Whitewash. We'd also like to involve other races as well, and i've been thinking about making Thurak's future tellings open for the other races.