The Shamanic Curse – edited

The Shamanic Curse

The night was black and starless as Sean watched from his tent he knew that something wasn’t right.  There had been an upheaval in the powers of evil recently.  He was quite capable of being a seer but he didn’t like the fact that he could tell the future.

He heard something from his tent flap.  “Sean, we have an issue.  The Tribal Circle has found out what has happened.  A very powerful but evil sorcerer has managed to bring to him the power of the necromancers.”

A sharp intake in his breath came from the mouth of Sean.  “That’s not good, the powers of Necromantic Magic are more powerful than most.  What does the Circle wish us to do with this Levak?”  he asked in concern since this could mean the death of most of the Magic Branches 

Levak gave a slight smile “That’s the issue my friend.  The Tribal Circle is going to send 9 of our best Shamans out after the madman. The power of Three Squared they believe is enough to contain him and destroy him”

The eyes widened showing the blue that pierced through the veils of others.  “Are they getting backup and help from the Wizards and the Witches?”  he said with some uncertainty

The red headed man shook his head “No.  They believe that we can handle him without any trouble.  Are you feeling a premonition?”  Levak asked

Nodding slowly he allowed his eyes to show “Yes I sense that a great many of us will be killed in the attempt.  A Necromancer is nothing to be flippant about and we need all the help we can as with any darkened.”  Sean was frustrated knowing that he didn’t have a hope in hell if they wouldn’t act on his vision.

Glaring the man said “There is no hope for it.  You are one of the nine and you are the only one who has dealt with any of the true darkened”  

A month later Sean sat with the other 8 members of the group tasked to destroy the evil Necromancer Soliniak.  The information was horrid and they had already found that the evil one had destroyed a small enclave of gifted people.  

Of the nine people he was the only one who had experience with those who had fallen from grace.  Spending his time training others was what he was doing and it was hard for him to not think of the possible deaths that would occur.

He stood up and they moved out. His people were all strong but not all were quite as adept as they should have been.  His eyes unfocused and turned the blue which signalled the vision was upon him.  He saw the master mage Soliniak of the Darkness attacking a man who was known to be a minor empath.  “We have contact.  He is in the Cave Of Truth.”  Sean said and quickly began linking the spells with his coworkers into the gate.

He walked into the cave slowly with his eight members.  He knew the vision he had was coming soon and the empath would be hurt badly.  As they entered Sean quickly scattered around a power draining effect  that would stop any spells from escaping the cave.

“You have come at last Shamanic Devils.  I will destroy you and all that you hold dear.”  His hands flared with the deathly white glow.  “I will destroy you”  He flung the power with all his might striking down Ityara one of the weakest.  She fell to the ground clutching at her throat.

“One down eight more to go”  He flung another force of energy, this time Sean caught the spell and transmuted the power into the spiritual power he would need.  He knew what he must do but would he be able to get it past the powerful defences of the Necromancer.

He began to concentrate when he saw a huge explosion and six more of his members went down with the power of the death spell.  He now had to do it and he knew that he would not probably survive the battle.  The blue glow started at his eyes “I call upon the spirit guides. To split the body from the soul, release him into the Dreamscape”  He called upon his powers as a shaman.

Sean walked in Dreamscape as the form that he most often wore.  He was a shimmering man with the head of a Bald Eagle.  He could see the rotting of the man as he looked like a lich of his worst nightmare. 

He glared at the man “What the hell did you do to me Boy?”  he screamed 

“Simple, I have released your spirit to the Dreamscape where you won’t be able to beat me”  he grinned and sent a powerful spell of blue white energy.  A shield of powerful dark magic blocked the spell.

Sean watched as Soliniak crumpled in a lifeless heap.  The dark shield collapsed and the dreamscape slowly vanished.  As he looked upon the real world he saw the Necromancer laying dead with many cut wounds “What did you do Soriyin?”  Sean demanded.    He knew he would be in trouble since he had cast out a spirit from its body without consent which was a mark of the darkened.  What Soriyin had done was destroy using violence and not using the standard protocol.

Soriyin smiled “I killed him Sean.  He can’t harm another person now nor awaken the souls of those who have since departed”

He shook his head slowly “You idiot you have destroyed us both now.  The Tribal Circle will have us both put to death for breaching of rules.  It matters not that we succeeded.”  Sean slowly let loose with one tear.

Two months later Sean and Soriyin sat in front of the Grand Master of the Shamans.  “It is due to your negligence that many have died and that you have also used dark magic to accomplish this.  Soriyin for your torture of a man who was fighting in a spirit realm you will be put to death.  Guards take him”  The guards grabbed him and quickly dragged him off.

Smiling they turned to him “For you Sean for your years of service we have chosen another punishment.  You did no damage other than sending the spirit to fight in the Dreamscape.  We have chosen that you will remain as you are never to truly have peace until your guilt is no more”  He heard chanting from behind and turned to see a circle of five powerful wizards casting a spell that would give him eternal life.

Dropping to the ground feeling the agony of life being pumped through his body.  He opened his mouth to scream out in pain but no sound escaped through his parted lips. “Another thing is Sean you will become the Oracle for all the world and until another is so cursed then you will remain as the source of information”

Finally the spell eased and he could feel a power that had not been there before.  This never ending life would be agony.  He could feel the deaths now that he had also caused and the sight felt stronger than ever before.

“Your sight has increased a lot Sean and you will need to gain control over it now.  Guards take him to the Hall of the Seers. There he will need to be placed in a cell where he can learn to manage the new powers”

The guards lifted Sean up and took him to a place where he could rest. 

He woke in the night seeing the guide that had helped him the most.  Antinanco was standing there holding a staff showing the horn of a Buck.  “You have a real issue, you know Sean.  The sight will take over your life.  You will need to learn how to control it or it will control you”

Nodding to himself Sean knew his pain would not subside “I can feel the sight strengthening.  Will it alter how I have seen in the past”

Shaking his spirit head he laughed “The way in which you See will not change.  However the accuracy will increase as will the power in which you can control the Dreamscape.  Also you will be able to complete the Shaman Wheel which has yet to work for you accurately.”

Sean could feel the visions and saw the death of many of the tribe due to a terrible tornado and knew that it would come soon.  He knew the names of those that would perish and knew that he couldn’t save any of the people.  It was too late to stop the storm and even if they had a weather worker it wouldn’t help. It was too powerful.

Tears streamed down his face as he felt the dead men’s pain in a way never before sensed.  This was scary and he could also feel the earthquakes and the volcanoes erupting.

Antinanco bent over and put his cool hands on the forehead momentarily becoming solid.  “I can not shield you for long.  Eagle of the Sun can only protect you for a while and then you will need to learn the new powers”

It had been eighteen years since his cursing and he turned 50 today.  He didn’t feel much like celebrating as the last years had been rough on him as many of his people had been dying due to his no longer using his sight to protect every group.  That had caused a lot of issues until a new Oracle had been chosen.  When they put the oracle in Liyarra  he had assumed that his power would diminish but sadly once you were cursed as an Oracle you kept it.  

He had trained Liyarra in every aspect of her duties and he had found that he was good at teaching.  He now spent most of his time in teaching the new Shamans and being a liaison for many of the other sects for those using magic.  

He went into his classroom and looked at the students.  Most were not that old and were at maximum age fourteen.  “Good Afternoon class.  As you know we are to start your new training today.  You will be learning the intricacies of your special powers and we will test you for what you are truly gifted with.  Are there any questions?”

One little girl raised her hand and he could sense her abilities were ready to burst at times.  “Are the powers like this from the spirits”

Slowly he nodded “Yes they can be.  Each of us also has some natural talent as well in regards to magic.  Some of you can get future visions or see into the past or even speak with the spirits.  We even have those who can shapeshift to the totems that are closest to them.  You my darling Lily can shapeshift at will.  Unlike me I need to use my spells to allow that.  Just be careful sometimes you might not want to change back especially when you are learning to move like the totems”

She smiled “So I have the power to call on the totems in my own special way”

He nodded “Yes Lily you will be able to.  In fact each of you will be able to call upon the spirits in your own ways whether it is with a spell or other means at your disposal.  I have myself morphed into totems that I have cherished the most.  Each of your totem animals will show themselves to you and you will be able to cast the spell to take on the form.  My totem is the Bald Eagle.  Please state your name and what your totem animal is”

A boy stood up who couldn’t have been more than eight years old.  Extremely young for a potential shaman “Leonaidas, my totem is the Lion.”  Sean nodded allowing himself to absorb this, his parents must have known his totem was the lion as soon as they saw him.  His parents were not Shaman but they have the ability to detect totems like no one else.

A girl of fourteen stood up “I am Adrianna my totem is the Turtle”  Her parents he had known for years and they were only partially shamanic but the daughter had picked up a few things from her grandfather’s line.  She was powerful or would be and her gift was one that few would realize she could use her powers to help heal others.

The third and final was Lily; the rest had not yet learned the totems.  “I am Lily and my totem is the Cheetah”  Lily had been born of a union between a full shapeshifter and a human who was a shaman.  The father knew not what his intended wife was and they had conceived Lily with all the bliss that they could create.

Sean smiled at them all.  “Each of you will learn right now only three of you have these Totems sorted out but believe me in time you will all be able to.  When you can you will be able to do this”  He began a quick spell “Light as a Feather Free as the Eagle.  I offer up my power to Father Sky to change me into my totem”  slowly he morphed into the Bald Eagle.

Taking off he flew up and around the rafters coming down and as soon as he was near enough he changed back to the human form.  “With practice you can all do this”  He smiled and then went around the room to look at the notes they took from the previous teachers.  He didn’t bother to let them know that after he changed he felt the urge to have some fresh meat all neatly cooked at least.

An hour after class he was in the office of the Dean who was in full charge of the school.  All sects were taught here and each of them took classes with each other to learn the basics.  “It is good for you to come, Sean.  I need you to answer some questions for me about just why you still look to be 35 when you are 50”

Sean smiled “Well it happens that when I was younger I made an error in judgement and did a spell that was anathema.  I was cursed with continuous life by the Circle.  It was to ensure that I could forgive myself and be guilt free to go into the afterlife.  That was 18 years ago.”

The man whistled “That’s a long time my friend.  What sect can cast that curse?”

Sean shook his head “I know not Natril.  Very few now would perform that Curse on one such as I.  It is considered Dark Magic by most good people.  And before you ask I don’t remember anything about the ceremony only the pain”

Natril nodded he was a strong user of magic and his sect was that of the Firemancer.  “I can understand that very few are left like myself who specialize in a form of Wizardry.  Most don’t seem to specialize in any one discipline like Fire anymore.  That concept is so out of date that at times I wonder why I chose it.  Then again thankfully I didn’t become an Earthmancer.  They are so much more difficult which is why I can’t find a full teacher for it.  You do realize you were not recommended as a teacher of Shaman but I couldn’t turn down someone like you”

Sean just laughed “I get it Tribal Circle didn’t wish to have a Cursed One teaching the next generation.  I know the rules and I can easily get away with a lot of items.  Hell I still have the Oracle Powers despite the fact that I was cursed with that for only five years.  I can see you fear the passing of this school on to one who is not strong.  What is it you fear so much?”

“You are very good my friend.  I have been wrestling with my death for over twenty five years now.  I am dying Sean and there is no one I can think of who would be able to show the strength needed as the Admin of this school.  I think I have finally found someone but it means we need another specialist teacher.  You are going to be my successor Sean.”  Natril said

In the next installment the new Administrator of the school is fully in and must find a replacement Shaman 

Finished March 9th 2009