Shaman

Almost every Tamijhiin tribe in M'dia has a shaman. The role of shaman as existed since the the founding of the Opal City in southern M'dia around 2400BU.    One one hand, a tribe's shaman is its de facto leader especially when it comes to religious matters. Most Tamijhiin tribes have respected Elders and some even elect leaders for short terms; these figures may also exercise decision-making authority. However, the shaman has sole jurisdiction in religious matters.    Each shaman trains his own successors. When tribes become too large, a shaman may train two successors such that the tribe may split into two daughters, each led by a different shaman. Tribes without a shaman are nicknamed 'blind tribes' in Northern M'dia. It is typical that a tribe without a shaman should make every effort to merge with another tribe at first opportunity. Although the tribes seem isolated to outsiders, each is often familiar with the adjacent tribes, and tribes regularly exchange members for the purpose of marriage.   In their role as spiritual leader, shamans perform naming ceremonies, marriage and funeral rites for each member of the tribe. The shaman blesses food and communicates with spirits and with the ghosts of past shamans.    Although outsiders have described shamans as wizards, they do not, in fact, use magic ever; doing so is considered taboo by most Tamijhiin. Instead, shamans form close bonds with guardian spirits attached to their tribal homelands. These spirits occasionally act as guides or protectors to Tamijhiin groups in return for the tribes careful and respectful treatment of the land to spirit oversees. Shamans may also have a connections to the shamans of their tribes who came before them. The ghosts of previous shamans may also act as guides or protectors to tribes who honour their memory.   Since the fall of the First Opal City, very little Tamijhiin tradition has been codified in writing so shamans also act as guardians of traditional practices passed on through oral recitations. Those few Tamijhiin who remains in Southern M'dia and attempted to reconstruct the Opal City have begun to reproduce as best they can the vast libraries the city once housed.   The shamanic tradition has continues in most of the Tamjhiin diaspora outside of M'dia although some Tamijhiin groups have converted to new faiths.