Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Stormbrand 09-02-07, 05:12 PM	What would be good reasons for a nomad tribe to be short of a shaman? During a PbP game, our current group has split for the moment. Group A is my paladin and followers marching off to drive out a group of mercenaries from a town. Group B is those unable to take part in the fight, who are staying at a fortified compound set up around a poorhouse (protecting the refugees from the crime gangs they escaped from). Group B includes a PC shaman (local setting outlaws magic, so we can't take her with us), so we are working on a storyline to keep her occupied while Group A is away. What we have (yes, this is a communal effort) is that I can create an NPC nomad chief for the shaman to contact, who will set a future plot in motion (founding a new settlement). Part of this storyline requires some non-spellcasting service that the shaman can do for the nomad chief. Currently the nomad is in the city answering a call for mercenaries, taking a personal risk to prepare for whatever crisis they expect to face in the absence of a qualified shaman. Any suggestions as to how the PC shaman can help without leaving the group and why the nomad tribe would lack a qualified shaman?
CrimsonDeath 09-02-07, 09:04 PM	Perhaps the nomads' shaman was injured in an accident or battle, or has fallen ill. (This also creates a service the PC shaman could perform-- Long Term Care of the injured/sick nomad shaman using the Heal skill.)
Cuaglar 09-07-07, 03:16 PM	If you want a reason for this tribe to need a shaman, but not one who makes a permanent commitment, you might try the following. The last shaman was evil, cruel, and powerseeking, only using his powers to help the tribe when it directly benefitted him. At last, the tribe's people got fed up when he overthrew their chieftain, and rose up and slew him. Now a new chieftain is in place, but now some need has arisen that only a shaman can deal with (I don't know; I'm not aware of a shaman's power). The tribe meets this PC shaman and begs her to help. After she does, they thank her and reward her properly, but decide to remain without a shaman, for fear of the dominance he might exert.
Stormbrand 09-07-07, 05:04 PM	If you want a reason for this tribe to need a shaman, but not one who makes a permanent commitment, you might try the following. The last shaman was evil, cruel, and powerseeking, only using his powers to help the tribe when it directly benefitted him. At last, the tribe's people got fed up when he overthrew their chieftain, and rose up and slew him. Now a new chieftain is in place, but now some need has arisen that only a shaman can deal with (I don't know; I'm not aware of a shaman's power). The tribe meets this PC shaman and begs her to help. After she does, they thank her and reward her properly, but decide to remain without a shaman, for fear of the dominance he might exert. Cool idea! :) Certainly something for me to work with. Working with that idea, perhaps the past shaman inflicted arbitary punishments on those who displeased him, punishing the disobedient by blighting their cattle and horses. Eventually this began costing the tribe too dearly and the old shaman was cast out. Mostly this leaves the tribe functioning with only assistant shamans with incomplete training. The PC could complete their education, and build friendships with the nomads in the process. Cool. Now I have a nemesis to create. :D
Fithero 09-07-07, 11:20 PM	Cool. Now I have a nemesis to create. :D True, the old shaman would be a great nemesis. If he got booted out, he was probably planning on getting back in some how, but now that he has been replaced by his old apprentice, he's all kinds of stuffed. Which probably ticks him off a fair bit :P It'd be a good plot for later, the old shaman attacked the new one, and is now going after the pc's. If the new shaman was killed, they may need to help the nomads out all over again too :P