PRIEST-SHAMAN KIT

Kahin

Description:  Many barbaric tribes follow the belief that the spirits of nature 
show their favor through the appearance or actions of bestial totem spirits and 
the animals that resemble them.  This type of totem cult also generally 
encompasses the worship of the tribe's ancestors, especially long-dead chieftans 
or shamans or legendary heroes who embodied the nature and powers of a given 
totem animal.  In such tribes, there are neither temples nor shrines in the 
standard sense; rather their Kahin (kaa-HEEN) Shamans perform ceremonies in the 
name of the totem spirit wherever necessary, though the ancestral burial mounds 
of such tribes are generally considered their most holy sites.  All members of a 
particular tribe identify with one particular totem that represents their 
ancestry and emphasizes one or more traditional 'barbarian' virtues, though in 
some areas (particularly far northwester Faerun) related clans or tribes may 
believe their individual totem animals to all be considered aspects of a single 
divine power (Uthgar, the ultimate warrior and symbol of all things virtuous to 
the Uthgardt people).  Even in such cases, members of one totem tribe rarely 
associate with those of another, much less with 'civilized' folk nearby.  Kahins 
in particular foster this insular attitude, leading by example in their barbaric 
style of dress and the use of mystical tattoos on their cheeks, chests, and arms 
depicting geometric patterns, mystic symbols, and images of their totem animal.

Like other Shamans, Kahins tend to the respective needs of their tribes, 
teaching tribal history and customs passed down by heroic tales and lineage 
chants in an oral tradition spanning centuries.  They provide healing for their 
tribes, initiate youths into manhood after they complete their tribal quests 
(often missions against a tribe's traditional enemies), and provide counsel to 
the tribe's chieftain and elders, consulting with spirits of their totem animal 
and their ancestors for wisdom.  All Kahins believe that personal strength can 
demonstrate purity of purpose and favor with the spirits, so arguments are often 
settled by a test of strength or a trial by combat--sometimes to first blood, 
sometimes to surrender, and sometimes to the death.

In addition to standard Shaman ability score requirements, Kahins must have a 
Strength score of at least 13.  The allowed alignments for individual Kahins are 
determined by the totem spirit that is their patron.

Weapons & Armor:  As a typical Shaman.

Special Benefits:  Kahins gain the 'weapon of choice' and reaction benefits as 
usual for Shamans, though their reaction bonus is doubled when dealing with 
barbarians who follow their totem.

Circle of Aged Masters:  As a typical Shaman.

Omen Reading:  As a typical Shaman.

Spirit Guide:  All Kahins of a particular tribe share the same Spirit Guide, 
which is always the traditional totem spirit of the tribe.  The patronage of 
this totem spirit provides unique granted powers, which depends entirely on 
which spirit is followed, but generally always include the ability to befriend 
creatures of the totem type (cf. animal friendship) and to shapechange into the 
form of their totem at higher level.

Kahins can request spells from their totem spirit much as a typical Shaman can 
from his or her personal Spirit Guide, and all totem spirits grant major access 
to the spheres of Animal, Protection, Summoning, Travelers, and Wards and minor 
access to the Healing and Plant spheres.  In addition to these general spheres 
of access, each individual totem spirit provides access to two or three 
additional spheres of spells.  Again, these bonus spheres vary with each totem 
spirit.

Wild Fighting:  Kahins generally fight at the forefront of their clan wars 
(sometimes incited by Kahins in order to keep clans of different totems from 
getting too familiar), and they are able to take non-weapon proficiencies from 
the Warrior list without penalty.  In addition, Kahins are able to call upon the 
totem spirits with whom they interact to instill in them an animalistic frenzy 
in combat known as Wild Fighting by making a successful Chanting proficiency 
check.  If failed, this ability cannot be used in that particular battle, but if 
it succeeds an atavistic spirit of bestial rage fills the Kahin and grants one 
additional attack per melee round, with a +4 bonus to damage inflicted, though 
the Kahin's ferocious and unpredictable flurry of blows is also utterly devoid 
of grace or discipline, resulting in a -2 penalty on attack rolls and AC.  This 
style of fighting can be used for a total number of rounds each day equal to the 
Kahin's Constitution score plus his or her level, and each time it is used the 
Kahin must rest after the battle has been completed for 1d6 rounds for each 
round spent Wild Fighting.  Until he or she has rested fully, the Kahin suffers 
a -2 penalty to all die rolls.

Special Hindrances:  Kahins share all of the hindrances of a standard Shaman, 
and they also lose their normal barbarian reaction bonus when dealing with Kahin 
shamans and the barbarian tribes they support who follow a different totem.  
They still gain the normal bonus when dealing with barbarians who do not have a 
tribal totem.  In addition this, because of their focus on the veneration of 
their totem and keeping their tribes in line with the traditional beliefs they 
promote, a Kahin neglects the study of the environment and loses access to the 
Commune with Nature and Natural Medicine abilities of a typical Shaman.  
Finally, since they rely on the direct intercession of their totem spirit to 
provide them with aid and guidance, they do not focus on learning the ways of 
the spirit world to the extent that other shamans do, losing access to the 
Second Sight ability.

Bonus Proficiencies:  Chanting, Survival (in native terrain)
Required Proficiencies:  Endurance, Tracking

Other Preferred and Forbidden Proficiencies are as usual for Shamans.