Hello. I am Anneliese – familiar of Aura. She sensed the presence of a newcomer in our midst and sent me to teach you the history of our people, and how we came to be here.

The name ‘SHAMAN’ originates from a time when humans and fairies lived together in peace. Fossils can tell us that humans and fairies both seem to appear at around the same time – one theory even goes that the two are related in some way. Although some fairies believe in the theory of evolution or the existence of divine figures, most accept the traditional way of thinking: that Aura, the first of the fairy race, used her magic to make others of her kind. Aura neither confirms nor denies the truth of this statement; she says that it is every fairy’s right to believe what they wish.

The fairies, or sprites as they are sometimes known as, tended to exist among humans as shamans – witch doctors. Most fairies had the gift of the healing touch and all were in tune enough with the forest to know which plants can cure and which can poison, and it seemed only apt for them to help their human brothers and sisters. In return, the humans revered the fairies and worshipped their familiars. Human writings mark periods in time when particular species of familiars were fashionable among sprites – in Ancient Egyptian times, for example, cat familiars were popular: hence the numerous paintings depicting Ancient Egyptian humans worshipping cats.

As time progressed, the relationship between humans and fairies declined, and with the emergence of popular human belief in gods came a suspicion towards the supernatural powers of the sprite. By the Middle Ages, this suspicion had grown to panic, and humans began to use numerous methods to try and eliminate witches – burning them, drowning them, hanging them. Fairies at this time were, by and large, a peaceful group, and did not know how to retaliate. Had it not been for the swift actions of Aura, all the sprites and their familiars might have been exterminated.

She created a new world. How she did it, most can only guess. I did not become her familiar until after the lands of SHAMAN were formed, so even I do not know. It is not even clear where this new world is – some say it is in the breath of the wind and the whisper of the ocean; deep inside the very mysteries of the earth. Others believe it is an island on the earth’s surface which Aura keeps protected from humans. Still others claim that is it no physical place, but rather is in the mind of every sprite. After she had fashioned the world, Aura named it SHAMAN to commemorate the time when humans and fairies had lived together in harmony, and invited every fairy in the world to live there. She called it a new beginning, and it was: every sprite who entered SHAMAN was stripped of all their powers and had to begin again at level one. Everyone was happy and hard working and life was good.

Until the next generation came.

They are the ones who have never lived among humans – the ones who were either born in SHAMAN or who have come from a place where humans to not inhabit. Some are just rebellious teenagers; disrespectful towards their elders but virtually harmless. Others walk the path of shame and become prostitutes, liars, thieves and vandals. Some have even sunk to the very depths of evil and use rape and murder as weapons. The Core, where parliament had previously sat to make decisions for the good of the fairy race, has become a place of attraction for ambitious, power-hungry sprites whose only concern is themselves. Our people have turned on each other. The next generation of fairies are greedy, selfish beings who will kill if it pleases them.

Aura does not intervene. She maintains that every person has the right to freedom of choice. She makes no attempt to stop the flow of the next generation coming into SHAMAN.

The fate of SHAMAN is down to you. What will you become?
The choice is yours.

Welcome to SHAMAN.
- Anneliese