Orc or Goblin shamans are identified at an early age. Whenever his mates brawl or argue his head starts to hurt, lights flash in front of his eyes, and weird things start to happen. Solid objects are hurled about as if thrown by invisible hands or simply shatter for no apparent reason. Bolts of lightning shoot from the Orc's head, and his eyes glow bright red as noxious steam burbles from his mouth. When this sort of thing happens it is all too obvious that the poor Orc or Goblin is destined to become a shaman, if he manages to survive that long.
Shamans are dangerous to be around and other Orcs tend to shun them. They are forced to wear distinctive costumes so they can be easily recognised (and avoided) and sent out beyond the confines of the camp to commune alone with the Orc gods. Orcs and Goblins believe that the shaman is possessed by either or both of their mighty gods, Gork and Mork.
On the outskirts of every Orc settlement, no matter how rough or how temporary, is a little collection of shacks or tents where the Shamans are forced to live - safely away from the other Orcs, and from each other. In some more permanent Orc settlements the shamans live in nearby caves surrounded by skulls on stakes, fetish poles and similar paraphernalia.
The shaman is brought all the food he wants, or at least, all the mushrooms he wants, as these fungi are traditionally supposed to help him communicate with the spirits of Gork and Mork. In fact the hallucinogenic mushrooms tend to give the Shaman colourful visions in which the Orc gods instruct him on how to call upon them in battle and how to cast spells of destruction.
While the shamans are lying in their tents communing with Gork and Mork they are safely out of harm's way, and can cause little damage to the other Orcs.
Occasionally a foolish or inquisitive Goblin might stray into a shaman's tent in search of some sagely advise about the whereabouts of a lost shoe or some such trivial matter, only to find himself hurled out of the tent by an unconscious blast of Waaagh energy from the shaman. On the whole it is rather dangerous to disturb a shaman, even a sleeping one, and most Orcs know better than to stray too near.
Shamans spend a lot of time sedated while wild and colourful hallucinations dance around their brains. It is hardly surprising that they tend to be a bit strange even when they are fully conscious. They are convinced that Gork and Mork are real, as they have seen them in their mushroom-induced dreams. They believe that they can call upon Gork and Mork when the spirit of the Waaagh is great, and that they will be able to perform mighty deeds of magic.
Many of the shaman's spells are in fact incantations to Gork and Mork, requesting one or other god's assistance in the battle. So, for example, Da Krunch is a spell which calls upon Gork to stamp his great big orcy foot right on top of the stinkin' enemy. The spell Mork Save Us! calls on Mork to protect Orcs from hostile magic, and so forth.