Shaman

Overview

Shamans are the spiritual leaders of their tribes and clans. They communicate with spirits, have visions of the future, and guide their people through the darkest of times. Many mistake their wisdom and serenity for a pacifist nature. When challenged, though, shaman have a range of powers available for dealing with threats to the natural order.

The Shaman is a secondary Healing class (to the Priest) with a fun assortment of spells and options. The Shaman is especially liked by party members for its Healing and beneficial totems. The Shaman has up to four types of totems: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. An important part of playing the Shaman is figuring out which totem is best to use in each situation.

History

Since the birth of the Orcish culture, Shamans have always been attune to the spirit world, and listened to the wise counsel of the ancestors. Orc hunters asked the elders to soothe the weather during their hunt, or to bring a gentle fog around their camps at night. Never did the Shamans abuse their powers however, and this era of peace between the elements and the orcs seemed as though it was never going to end.

It was only a few decades before the Dark Portal would carry the bloodthirtsy Horde that the link spiritual world was severed with the orcs. Kil'Jaeden the Deceiver, having stumbled upon the primitive orc homeworld world of Draenor, decided he could use the strenght displayed by them to soften Azeroth's defense. The vile demon corrupted the orc's elder Shaman, Ner'Zhul, offering him limitless powers in exchange for the orcs cooperation. He accepted reluctantly to the dark pact and started to teach young orcs the arts of dark magik. It was only after a few years that he would have but eliminated shamanism from their culture.

With the constant drain of negative energy from the Twisting Nether, Draenor started to wither and die slowly. It was soon after that the portal would be oppened and that the Horde would ravage Azeroth. Only one reckless clan opposed the Warlock's mad scheme, the Frostwolf Clan, led by Durotan, one of the Horde's most honored Chieftains. Gul'Dan, the greatest orc Warlocks, now secretly in charge of the Horde, knew that he could not risk killing such a popular hero. His only option was to exile him and his clan through the Dark Poral and into the unknown dephts of the new world.

During those years when war raged accross Azeroth, the Frostwolves settled in the summits of Alterac Mountains, a cold region on the northern continent of Lordaeron. The Clan still maintained the hunter traditions and the orcs shamanism, but their numbers were thinning. Durotan and his mate, Draka, kept a close eye on their only son, Thrall, and wanted for him a great future among his peers. To ensure this future, Durotan and his family visited their friend Orgrim Doomhammer in the south. He warned him of the Warlocks and the Shadow Counsil, who controlled the Horde from behind. He also told him of Gul'Dan's treachery. Unfortunately, Durotan was never going to see his clan ever, for he was killed on his way home by Gul'Dan's assassins. Only his son, Thrall, survived.

He was found by Aedelas Blackmoore, future chief warden of the interment camps, and raised as a slave. Upon reaching adulthood, the idealstic young orc escaped his captor and set out the find those of his kinds: the orcs. On his journey he witnessed the strange lethargy his people suffered and was saddened to discover they had all but lost their legendary warrior spirit, but more importantly: their very will to live.

Unable to accept it, he searched for the last free orc chieftain: Grom Hellscream of the Warsong Clan. After many long days he finally stumbled upon the Warsong, and he was able to talk to their leader. Inspired by Hellscream's idealism, he travelled north to find the legendary Frostwolf Clan. He discovered he was the son of Durotan, chieftain of the Frostwolves. He met with the venerable Drek'Thar, the last orc Shaman, who taught the innexperienced orc the ways of the four elements and how to commune with the spirits. Thrall studied the orc's shamnistic heritage and succeded to gain the respect of the ancient spirits. At the end of his training, Thrall was empowered by the elements and ready to free his people of their affliction.

With Thrall's visionary leadership and the teachings of shamanism, the Horde was freed from both the humans and the demons.