Voodan, not shaman.
A voodan acknowledges that there are similarities in the practices of voodan and shamanism, but never considers himself as a shaman. The fundamental differences are not only in their beliefs, the ways the rites are performed or in the powers they receive, but also in the nature of the spirits they deal with. Shamans see themselves as intermediaries between the mortal world and the realm of spirits - the vast multitude of living beings that infuse the entire world with divine essence. Voodan rather believe that the loa are these intermediaries, spirits put in place by the gods to serve as messengers, caretakers and guardians of the physical world. The voodan acknowledge the gods’ existence, but they never pray directly to them. As emissaries of the divine, the loa are responsible for heeding and granting (or refusing) petitions. While the differences may seem moot to most outlookers, both dealing with spirits of sort to get their powers, to voodan and shaman alike it suffices for them to agree they are both dedicated to different forms of power.
A mounted loa is not an entity that would possess a character in the same way as fiends and other evil spirits. A voodan is free to believe that he is actually possessed, but still acts on his own volition and retains his personality. He receives no direction or communication from the patron Loa.
Loa [gender] | Domains | Alignment | Voodan Specializations | Portfolio |
The Maiden of the Swamp [f] | Animal, Healing, Plant | CG | Abjuration, Conjuration, Enchantment | Healing, those Lost in the Wild, Growing Things |
The Lord of the Dead [m] | Death, Knowledge, Repose | LE | Divination, Enchantment, Necromancy | Death, the Dead |
Brahmbei, the Oracle [m] | Knowledge, Law, Luck | LN | Abjuration, Divination, Illusion | Fate, Divination |
Kurkva, the Wailing One [m] | Air, Travel, Water | TN | Conjuration, Evocation, Transmutation | Rain, Clouds, Open Sky |
Lethede, the Lady of the Roads [f] | Protection, Strength, Travel | LN | Abjuration, Conjuration, Transmutation | Travelers, those Lost, Spiritual Seekers |
Madris Orundi, the Dancer [f] | Good, Luck, Protection | NG | Divination, Enchantment, Illusion | Artists, Lovers |
Ohuwaghnn the Serpent King [m] | Animal, Destruction, Trickery | CE | Divination, Necromancy, Transmutation | Dangerous Beasts of the Swamps, Hazards of the Wild |
Ovun Borundir, the Warrior [m] | Protection, Strength, War | CN | Abjuration, Evocation, Transmutation | Battles, Warriors |
Sehkelo, the Queen in Gold [f] | Fire, Sun, War | LG | Abjuration, Divination, Evocation | Sun, the Sky, Opposing Evil |
Tonthomba, the Burning Man [m] | Chaos, Destruction, Fire | CE | Conjuration, Evocation, Enchantment | Fire |
Ulwaddithri, the Consuming One [f] | Death, Evil, Trickery | NE | Conjuration, Necromancy, Transmutation | Poisons, Sickness, Famine |
Bouki [m] | Chaos, Good, Healing | CG | Abjuration, Divination, Illusion | ? |
Bushtail [m] | Chaos, Luck, Trickery | CN | Divination, Enchantment, Illusion | ? |
Koblamin, Loa of the Moon [m] | Dream, Protection, Travel | NG | Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination | Moon |
Longears [m] | Luck, Protection, Trickery | CG | Abjuration, Divination, Illusion | ? |
Loa [gender] | Domains | Alignment | Voodan Specializations |
Agwe [m] | Air, Water | LN | Conjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |
Ashadeh Boco [f] | Fire, Knowledge | CN | Conjuration, Evocation, Illusion |
Ayida Wèdo [f] | Air, Water | CG | Evocation, Illusion, Transmutation |
Baron Samedhi [m] | Death, Evil, Knowledge, Undeath | CE | Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation |
Carrefour [m] | Destruction, Good, Protection | LG | Conjuration, Divination, Necromancy |
Congo Zandor [m] | Earth, Plant, Strength | LE | Abjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |
Damballah Wèdo [m] | Good, Healing, Protection | LG | Abjuration, Divination, Enchantment |
Dan Petro [m] | Luck, Travel | CN | Divination, Illusion, Transmutation |
Erzulie [f] | Trickery, Good, Protection | NG | Enchantment, Illusion, Transmutation |
Ghede [m] | Death, Healing, Knowledge, Trickery | CN | Conjuration, Divination, Necromancy |
Legba [m] | Knowledge, Sun, Travel | TN | Divination, Enchantment, Necromancy |
Loco [m] and Ayizan [f] | Good, Healing, Knowledge | NG | Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination |
Ogun [m] | Earth, Fire, Strength, War | CN | Abjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |
Simbi | Knowledge, Magic, Water | TN | Divination, Evocation, Illusion |
The Marassa | Death, Good, Trickery | CG | Evocation, Necromancy, Transmutation |
Spirits | Domains | Alignment | Voodan Specializations |
Spirit of Air | Air, Knowledge, Travel | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Divination |
Spirit of Earth | Earth, Protection, Strength | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |
Spirit of Fire | Fire, Destruction, War | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Illusion |
Spirit of Magma | Earth, Fire, Destruction | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |
Spirit of Rain | Air, Water, Plant | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Enchantment |
Spirit of Silt | Earth, Water, Time | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Necromantic |
Spirit of the Sun | Air, Fire, Sun | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Enchantment |
Spirit of Water | Water, Healing, Animal | N | Conjuration, Evocation, Abjuration |
Loa | Domains | Alignment | Voodan Specializations |
Ethical & Moral Spirits | Chaos, Evil, Good, Law | Special | Abjuration, Conjuration, Evocation |
Spirits of Conflict & Battle | Destruction, Protection, Strength, War | Any | Abjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |
Spirits of Freedom | Knowledge, Luck, Travel, Trickery | Any chaotic or neutral | Divination, Illusion, Transmutation |
Spirits of Life & Death | Death, Healing, Repose, Undeath | Any | Necromancy, Divination, Conjuration |
Spirits of Nature | Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Sun, Water | Any | Conjuration, Evocation, Transmutation |