Storm Shaman
Overview
The Storm Shaman is an Imperial title awarded to an Imperial Orc citizen.
Responsibilities
The title holder is expected ... to listen to the Winds of Tranquility and learn all they can about magic.
Removal: The titleholder must be adept at magic or ritualism, and will be expected to be The Listener until their death.
Powers
Crystals of the Storm
As a sinecure, the Storm Caller receives an income drawn from mana left behind in the wake of tumultuous storms.
The holder of the sinecure receives XX crystal mana in income each season.
Selection
The title is selected by unanimous decision of the Imperial Orc senators.
Removal
The Storm Shaman serves until they die, step down or are revoked.
The Storm Shaman can be revoked by the Imperial Orc assembly, the General Assembly or the Assembly of Nine.
History
The sinecure was created in Autun 380YE by the Civillian Commissioner of the Imperial Orcs
The Pass
A small, icy lake lies to the east of Pakaanan’s Pass, hidden between the sweeping valleys that lead to the mountains in the north. The shore around the lake is covered by a thick blanket of snow which is blown down from the mountain peaks. The water remains frozen for the majority of the year but during the summer, when the sun burns the brightest, the ice melts and you can see small mana deposits on the bed of the lake. The wind funnels down the sides of the mountains and passes over the lake; a sharp, bitter chill whips through the air, but from within there are sounds - shouting, cries, songs; the voices of those who have made their journey across the abyss. Orcish warcasters have begun visiting this lake, drawn to the voices they hear in the wind. It takes concentration, and a lot of patience, to be able to let the winds speak to you. Orcs must let their bodies be unaffected by the cold; focussing on the wind and shutting out all other distractions. It is a difficult task - many succumb to the freezing temperatures and are forced to give up before the wind talks to them. Shamans are particularly adept at channelling their energy into a single focus, usually bringing a magical item of worth to concentrate on. Once the wind begins to speak, many orcs have found that the guiding voices of their ancestors allow them to learn new and powerful magics, or they become inspired and eager to prove themselves. The lake is steadily becoming known for the eruption of spontaneous rituals, as the sound of the drums echos throughout the valley and the smoke from the fire lingers along the icy waters like an evening mist. It is here where the words chanted from the orcs - whether it be ritual cries, or solemn murmurs of magical incantations - is swept up by the wind and scattered across Skarsind, carried by the very ancestors themselves. Let them ring loud across our homeland; let them be carried across the abyss. May the ancestors know that the Imperial Orcs are coming.