Shamans were the chief and only religious authority in bullywug tribes.

Social Status

Shamans were part of the upper nobility, and enjoyed a very special status. No tribe could exist without a shaman, and due to their importance, they were untouchable: no one could harm a shaman, and few could even dare to offend them. They were generally seen as superior to chieftains, although they did not wield much political power per se.

The word of a shaman was sacred, and their goodwill quintessential.

Offices

Due to their unequaled skills, shamans filled many important roles in tribal society.

Tribal Leadership

A tribe was defined as a group of bullywugs with a shaman. No tribe could survive without its shaman, and no two shamans shared a tribe. Thus, the tribe's existence relied on its shaman, and he wielded much authority as a counselor to the others. Chieftains and most knights were theoretically not subject to the clerics, but almost always followed shamanistic recommendations by the letter.

Frog-Keeper

Non-insignificant tribes were allied with at least a small group of giant frogs. These animals, which served as a potent military force, guards, psychological support and inspiration, and a symbol of power for the entire tribe, were kept by the shaman. Keeping giant frogs without being eaten was a challenging task, one only shamans and their apprentices could master. Accordingly, shamans had complete control over the most powerful military asset of the tribe.

Sometimes, tribes were also graced with the presence of one or more froghemoths. These giant, warty toads were also tended by the shamans, but most often accompanied lords or chieftains as symbols of office.

Protection of Incubation Ponds

Shamans located their "chapels" near to the tribal incubation pond. They oversaw the laying of eggs and protected the pond, usually by deploying giant frogs around it. They also oversaw the growth of young bullywugs until they were of age to leave the pond. Often, they also performed a child's "initiation", which consisted of telling them their tribal allegiance, what they could do to make the nobles happy, and kicking them out of the pond.

Military Offices

One of the most important roles of the shamans was their military command.

Chief-Croaker Commander

Each tribe designated their loudest knights, who were valuable for communication in battle, as chief-croakers, who stood under shaman command. They resided near or in the chapel, and the untouchability of the shaman extended to them. They lived on the spoils of the others and did not go on perilous raids. Instead, they had access to actual martial training, practicing both fighting and strategy. The chief-croaker squad and their shaman commander could also serve as an honor guard to the chieftain in grand clan meetings.

Wartime Commander

In actual war, the shamans' soldiers were by far the best asset of the tribe. In these circumstances, the shaman took complete leadership over the tribe and became commander-in-chief of its "armed forces". The chief-croakers, who were able to communicate over large distances, served as officers leading various units across the field, while the knights were their noncommissioned officers and the hosts of peasants served as brute force. Special giant frog units constituted most of the army's punch.

Magic-User

Most shamans were attuned to the swamps in more spiritual ways and had access to magic, often rather weak spells of a similar element to the muck.

Educating Apprentices

Although shamans relied on a monopoly over their skills to remain in power, they did each train one or two apprentices for the afterworld. These bullywugs were chosen from the knight class, most often from the best chief-croakers, and acted as the shamans' lieutenants while undergoing education.

Appearance

Shamans tried to distinguish themselves visibly from other bullywugs. Their most important symbols of office were giant frog skulls, which they could wear as helmets, and staffs. Apprentices also wore skulls, but without the jawbone tied before their face. Sometimes, other skulls and severed heads were used as headdress. The staffs could be any stick-like assortment of material. They were not used by all shamans, however.