Shamans are humans who work magic by bargaining with spirits. They are a vital part of Rider clans, but disdained by Wheels. Rams also use shamans to bind and negotiate with spirits, but not the extent that Riders do.
Rider shamanism was founded by Yanade Spirit Father, a member of Hyalor's retinue. The Yanadlings are former Riders who abandoned the gods and now focus entirely on shamanism, with their main spirit being Raven. Some Rider shamans focus on Raven as well, but most do not.
Other peoples that practice shamanism, though not necessarily exclusively, are the Yeleni, the Weeders, the Votanki, the Omasegs, the Agimori, and the Eroe. Even some inhuman peoples like the elves and the trolls have their own shamans.
During the course of Ride Like the Wind, you may see the emergence of a new spirit tradition called the Antler Society in your clan. These shamans are different both from traditional shamans and Raven tricksters.
In Lights Going Out, one of your starting leaders, Dresta, is a shaman. As is her daughter, Doresa.
You can also meet the shaman-focused people called the Tunoralings.
On the Circle[]
Having a (non-Raven) shaman on the circle allows you to put another point of magic in rituals during Sacred Time. It also makes it easier to deal with spirits and gives you more options during many events.
Shaman nobles have their own portrait set that is not used for any other potential advisors. Interestingly, unlike all other noble portraits in Ride Like the Wind, shamans' are unisex, though each shaman is counted as either male or female for the purposes of rituals, events, etc. (This does not apply during Lights Going Out.)
Note that you cannot have an Antler Society shaman on the circle.
As Nobles[]
Shamans are the best nobles to send searching for spirits. They are often the strongest magicians you have, and they also have added opportunities, such as being able to fight malignant spirits to increase Clan Magic, or learn from spirits in order to increase their own magical skills.
You can send them as traders or emissaries to other clans, although Wheels will find them strange.
Note that shamans cannot be the primary quester in any ritual, although a female shaman can be the secondary quester in Nyalda Marriage Maker. The special Orlanth and Ernalda ritual in Lights Going Out is an exception to this.
Events[]
Ride Like the Wind[]
Aside from the Antler Society chain of events, shamans figure prominently in the following Ride Like the Wind events:
- Elempur Ritual
- Evil Spirits
- Happy Kiln
- Revenge of the Goat Shaman
- Shamanic Trade Offer
- Shamans Offer Spirit
- Spirit Procession
- Spirit Stones Desecrated
- Tricky Birds
- Unhappy Kiln
Lights Going Out[]
In Lights Going Out, because your scripted clan members Dresta and Doresa always appear and are always shamans, their personal events deal with shamans by definition, and most deal with their roles as shamans as well.
Otherwise, the following Lights Going Out events center around your shamans: