The shamans are most often female elders. They tend to be wiser and more patient than other lutrai, because their role involved greater focus. It is the shamans of the tribe who see visions, chase off evil spirits, advise the chieftain, and so on. They are magicians, using their powers for the collective good of the tribe. As such, they are well-respected and trusted.
Shamans are often born into their roles. Some lutrai just seem to have a gift of magic, which seems far stronger in the females than in the males. Generally, the existing shaman is able to sense this potential, as if it were an aura. There is no real explanation for this, though often the young prospect shows greater insight than her peers, and is thus noticed. When such a prospect is found, the shaman will generally invite her to learn the ways of magic. The first year of instruction is nothing more than chores and other mundane activities, such as gathering herbs or cleaning the shaman's hut. This is not servitude, however. It serves to teach further patience, and the fact that not all the shaman's duties are wonderous and intersting. Then, gradually, concepts of magic are taught through a series of practical lessons, a miriad of legends and anecdotes, riddles, and so on, until, at last, the magic itself comes naturally to the young shaman. Generally, it is at this point that the old shaman steps down, turning over her position and her magic staff to the student in a special ceremony.
The magic staff is the shaman's symbol of station. It is not really a rank so much as an icon of the tribe's magic. The staff is a highly-decorated work of art, passed down through generations, each new shaman adding to it a portion of her spirit, as well as additional carvings or decorations. The oldest of these staffs contain great power, providing the shaman with the insight of ages, confidence, and strengthening her magic. Only the shaman is able to tap the power contained within the staff.
Shamanic rituals are numerous and diverse. With the aid of the tribe, she can summon rain to heal parched land or extinguish great fires. She is able to chase away nightmares, and banish evil spirits to the Underworld (the lutrai explanation for where bad things come from). She can turn the woodlands against those who threaten the safety of her tribe, though above all, it is important to note that lutrai magic is passive. In their eyes, magic should never be used to kill, only to protect. She shaman is also an oracle, able to see visions of the future or the past. This often involves trances brought about by hallucinogenic herbs or mushrooms, a state in which the shaman becomes very detatched and unusually lucid.
Finally, the shaman can paint symbols of magic on the fur of other lutrai. These symbols do not wash off, and can only be removed by the shaman once applied. Some are used to strengthen, or to increase perceptions, others to heighten resistances or to increase fertility. Very rarely, they can be used as corrective measures For instance, a lutrai who likes to steal (one of their few notable aberrations) would suddenly find herself tripping over her tail the moment she tries to sneak off with something. Some common symbols are listed below.
Bear Claw: This symbol is often given to lutrai hunters, giving them greater strength and endurance, as well as courage. Most often, it is the symbol of the chieftain, or the most talented hunter, applied to the chest, and worn with pride.
Rabbit Tail: The sign of speed and agility, given to scouts or messangers. This symbol adds to both fleetness of foot and paw, as well as better hearing. This symbol is applied to either the back of the calves or the rear, across the top of the tailbase.
Sun: The symbol of Kij, the sun goddess, this design is most often worn by the healers of the tribe. It strengthens resistances to dark magic, and its faint glow heightens the wearer's presence and identifies her strong ties to Kij. It is most often applied to the upper back.
Blossom: This represents life and fertility. It heightens immunity to disease, creates a minor empathic sensitivity, and increased virility in both males and females. It is most often given to pregnant lutrai girls, and usually applied to the belly.
The healers have a better-developed natural empathy than most other lutrai, allowing them to sense pain and turmoil. They are often able to diagnose a particular problem by intuition alone, though their skills in holistic medicine are also considerable. They learn how to comfort and how to take away pain, even at the cost of their own comfort. Healers tend to be even kinder and gentler than most lutrai, and are deeply hurt by hatred and violence. They will always try to find non-violent solutions to even the most dangerous of problems.
The healer is also a living link to the world around her. Her touch brings life and color to dying plants. Animals will not attack her, and even the ground she walks on is revitalized and restored. While the shaman is often somewhat reclusive in her duties, the healer is very social and outgoing. She raises tribal morale.
Without even resorting to magic, the healer is capable of brewing herbal remedies for nearly everything. She can create a soothing broth to take away fever, an elixir to cure poison, incense to bring peaceful sleep, and a multitude of other holistic wonders. She will often carry a special sachel containing all the herbs and tonics required to create these remedies on the spot. As with the shaman, it is usually the healer's assistant who is responsible for gathering these components, and learning their many uses in the process.
When pressed to use her magic, the healer's intensity can far outstrip that of the shaman. These rituals are strenuous and time-consuming, and often involve cooperations between the shaman and the healer. Such rituals include the reparation of very serious injury, the removal of powerful curses, stopping the spread of deadly diseases, and so on. In some cases, healers from many different tribes have assembled and united their efforts to accomplish such things as restoring life to the dead, but this is done only in the most grievous circumstances. Most often, the healer is simply a humble caregiver.
Armed with long blowguns and spears, the hunters have an intimate knowledge of the Great Wheel. They understand that in venturing into the wilds, they too become prey. They do not make sport of what they do; a prayer of thanks is always spoken over each kill, and they are always careful to take only what they need. This has been their way for thousands of years, and thus they have achieved a sort of homeostasis with the natural world. If one of their number is slain by a tiger or carnivorous plant, they do not make it their business to track down and destroy this creature; this is simply a part of the Great Wheel. It is only when dangerous animals threaten their tribe that they are sent out to drive off or kill the threat.
Lutrai darts are generally coated with a narcotic resin that disorients and eventually imobilizes the quarry, so that a quick and painless death can be administered. Typical prey include deer, boar, and other medium-sized herbivores. In the defense of his tribe, however, the hunter is often pitted against much more dangerous creatures, such as sharks, tigers, and even those beasts who dwell outside the Great Wheel.
When among their own, hunters are respected, and their stories attract great crowds of eager listeners around the dinner fire. They are typically in the best shape, stronger, faster, and more competant than the average lutrai, and even the stronger and more advanced races have been taken off guard by their courage and dedication. The group-minded lutrai find more pride in the happiness of their tribe than in individual achievements. A typical tribe will have perhaps a dozen hunters. Their tools are described below:
The Muke (Moo-kay): A long, decorative spear. Typically, the muke is two feet taller than its wielder, and is not intended for throwing. Tipped with razor obsidian and serrated with shark teeth, it can be a fearsome weapon, most often used to keep a dangerous animal at bay. In formation, it becomes deadly. Each hunter makes his own muke, which symbolizes his initiation into the group.
The Harku (Har-koo): This is the lutrai blowgun, a long, slender wooden tube built to fire a light, six inch long dart, typically coated with narcotic agents. Like the muke, this weapon is highly decorative and individually styled. The mouthpiece is actually connected to the side of the tube instead of the end, in order to prevent accidental aspiration of the dart. With their powerful breath capacity, the lutrai can fire these darts at tremendous velocity and precision. Range is typically about a hundred feet.