Balam 4

[16:12] She learned over the years, it was best if she hold larger classes when possible.. Otherwise she would spend all of her time teaching individuals who approached, and yet..? It was always the most persistent who never seemed to show up to an organized class.

Noting the absence of a particular Drakanite, she hums softly to herself. Though it soon ended as she aimed to move on with the actual lesson. "Today will simply be a lesson on the basics of Spirits in the general sense. By this I mean we aren't going to get into any of the actual specifics, not until we understand the baseline of what we're talking about." She gestures to the forests around them.

"In these woods many Spirits lurk, many of all sorts of shapes and sizes.. not to mention the Spirits of those who were once alive, and the Spirits who never had a body the way we do at all." Though that was usually only the case in the sense of the stronger ones, at least in her experience.

"What I will ask of everyone here, is to explain to me what you know of Spirits as you are now. I don't expect much, I would just like to work out a general idea of where we all are."
(D'noxa Aba)
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[16:18] Jordunn placed his index and thumb finger on his chin as he thought about what D'noxa was asking of them. He never had to learn about spirits before but he knew what they were.

He just assumed spirits was people who crossed over to the spirit realm after they lived a long life in the world. He didn't know some spirits never had a body before, that was news to him.

He exhaled sharply. "Well, I only know spirits of my ancestors and my family? If you mean like not related to me then I guess I could say spirits of the ones who previously mastered the magic I'm studying? Is that alright to say?" He'd ask Shaman D'noxa.

"That's pretty much it for me. I do call out to the spirit of Petrakis right before I fight if that counts." He said.
(Jordunn Snowhunter)
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[16:19] Carefully leaning to what D'noxa had to say, he keeps it in ind that it seems she'll be the one teaching them about the spirits in the future. It's not like he cared that much right now about the spiritual side of things in Moxtli, but it was still a good way to learn more about the place.

Hearing that many spirits lurk around this place, their gaze sweeps over the area. "Hm..." Maybe he should wander about a bit more.

When it comes to the question about what they know about spirits, he explains. "Do not... know anything about... spirits... but may have... seen some... on Dreadwoods... whispers and visions... including voices and someone... trying to reach... for me underwater... if that counts... maybe... it was just ghosts..."

Were those ghosts, demons or spirits which he heard and saw during all his years in the Dreadwoods? Perhaps a bit of all of that. He can still remember the days when he didn't know how to swim and was sinking, a pale person underwater reaching for him as they neared the bottom.
(Liraz Hecate)
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[16:19] Balam's goal was after all to become a shaman, Having studied in Tlalli's realm he'd recite some of the knowledge he'd learned. Although not enough to compare to his mothers understanding it would give a baseline of where he was at.

"Hmm Aren't spirits like residual energy left behind from a soul. Usually made up of particles of the soul called essence." He said allowing for the others to give their own interpretations as well.
(Balam Aba)
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[16:21] Knowing absolutely nothing, Motai sits back on the bench and watches ever so quietly. Even if they were a Warchief now, it didn't mean he was truly well-learned in the least. In fact, they just understood that spirits watched over him in combat. Once others had finished saying their own thoughts did he give his response.

A smile to the question.
(Motai)
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[16:24] Theia arrived at the lesson late but she finally found where it was being held at. She waved at everyone politely and then just listened.
(Theia)
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[16:25] Well, she got the answers she asked for.. but that was about it. While none were necessarily wrong, they were surely far from encompassing what was the entire truth. And the one with the weird helm barely spoke in a legible way.

"While you all aren't all necessarily wrong, you're missing many pieces." Even she didn't know everything, but no one ever would. "While like I said earlier, Spirits can come from things that were once alive, others were only ever Spirits."

"Take elementals for example, they were never flesh like you and I, they're Spirits of nature that have never been anything else." Or she had never heard of such at least. "So don't assume all were at once, people.. Especially the greater Spirits, those are more commonly naturally whatever they are now."
(D'noxa Aba)
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[16:29] Balam took the time to think more about what was being said he never thought of spirits as being their own being more so it was more than just those who died. "I see...so spirits can be more than just dead people...I didn't think if it that way."

He'd take some notes especially regarding elementals he'd have to catch another lesson regarding those down the line.
(Balam Aba)
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[16:30] Standing silent, a small nod is given towards Theia as she arrived and acknowledged the others around him.

Hearing the Shaman's words, the Lapine acquires some more understanding about the spirits though it sounds a little weird to hear about beings who were never flesh, believing that they may live by the same concept as Demons who could even be born from nightmares.
(Liraz Hecate)
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[16:32] Theia blinked at Motai, she couldn't hear the whispers but seeing that he moved she figured to move closer to the teacher.

For now she would just be taking notes on her notebook to study later. She couldn't talk but she would for sure focus on listening to everything and if she needed to say something she would have to write it down on a paper. Not being able to talk at a lesson was rough.
(Theia)
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[16:35] Jordunn listened to what D'noxa had to say before he responded. It made sense to him that not all spirits had to be people at one point. He itched the side of his nose before he asked a question.

"What about animal spirits? Would the same apply to them or no? Don't Moxtli have several animal spirits who watch over you all?" Jordunn asked curiously.

He remembered one of them was talking about sacrificing their enemies to a spirit or something. He always wondered what that was about.
(Jordunn Snowhunter)
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[16:41] Moving to answer Jordunn's question first, she nods. "Though animal Spirits do exist, some of them merely have adopted those shapes. Take Asena and Saekanis, they were never mundane wolves like we're accustomed. They simply are what they are."

"What is important however, and is perhaps the most important aspect of dealing with Spirits is learning how to properly understand them." Holding her arm out to the side, a luminescent white mist begins to curl from her fingertips, the Spirits granting her a bit of strength to display her own connection.

"Since I was a child I've been learning my art, and I was considered a prodigy at it for a reason. Though that's not to say any of it is in the realm of the impossible for any of you." It was just her purpose. "The last part of this lesson will be relatively simple, but evolve into more later."

"Each of you need to go and find your own places, somewhere you may feel any form of attunement to the Spirits, and meditate there." Closing her eyes, they could see more and more of that mist curl from her body until it spread out.. highlighting a few of the smaller Spirits meandering about. "They're always around, you just have to learn to listen to them, so that is what I'm going to ask of all of you willing to learn more."

"Go and listen, are there any questions about what I've said thus far.."
(D'noxa Aba)
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[16:44] Theia nods at the teacher, she knew what she had to do and she was determined to feel more connected with the spirits and learn more about them.

She would then write on a piece of paper and handed it to the teacher. "I apologiase for being late. It wont be happening again, I promise."
(Theia)
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[16:47] To go and find their own places where they could feel na attunement to the spirits. A few places quickly appearing inside the Hecate's mind as they absent mindedly nod, arms crossed after having finished to listen to the class.

It seems that this was the end of the first one.

Not having any questions nor feeling a need to speak up, they continued to remain quiet, simply thinking of his old home and going there to meditate.
(Liraz Hecate)
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[16:50] It was interesting to see his mother in her natural element as a Shaman while he was rather used to these things having been gifted as well with the ability to see passing spirits with ease.

The swirling mist revealing those that chosen to hide themselves was an impressive turn of events however, Not even Balam had developed to hone that power but it was just as her words said.

In order to connect he had to find a place he could meditate and listen. Something he'd done a few times before and received results. "I've got a question Mother." He'd said his silver eyes gleaming with ambition.

He'd pull out the totem of Tlalli the Toad Spirit, And with a gesture he'd hold it out for her to examine. "I visited Tlalli's pond before by licking a toad and Meditation...although my body was all weird and I could see right through my hand! I didn't really feel like myself...So I was wondering. Is the only way to get into the spirit realm by licking toads?" The child still seemed puzzled although he was merely following his natural instincts of the time to connect with Tlalli he'd wondered if that was the only way to connect with Spirits.
(Balam Aba)
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[16:51] Theia says, "....."
[16:51] Did she have to lick a toad now? She thought she was pretty good at meditating since she learned it from Akumu.
(Theia)
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[16:54] Jordunn nodded as he looked at D'noxa. He placed his hands in his cloak pockets as he listened to what Shaman D'noxa had to say in response to his question about animal spirits. He didn't know who Asena or Saekanis was but figured he would learn who they were later down the line if he keeps attending these classes.

He inhaled sharply. "I see. Do spirits influence a decision you have to make? Or advise you on a problem you're having? I also don't know where to find spirits at even though you said they're everywhere." He briefly paused then continued speaking.

"Does that include outside of Moxtli like the mountains? That's really the only place I visit other than here." He'd say to D'noxa.

He watched as D'noxa had white mist form from her fingertips. He assumed it took a knowledgeable person to do such thing. He didn't expect less from someone like Shaman D'noxa seeing that she said herself that ever since she was a child, she been learning her art and a prodigy at it. He wondered how was that possible.

"Also.. when you was a child, was you a natural at it or was it hard for you?" He'd ask.
(Jordunn Snowhunter)
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[16:54] Liraz is reminded of his days in the dreadwoods, eating frogs and toads... as well as anything he found.
(Liraz Hecate)
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[17:06] She would have almost wished Balam hadn't asked a question at all. "...Yes Balam, there are plenty of ways.. and much much better ways. You just have to look for them." She was likely capable of pushing herself there alone whenever she wanted, but she wasn't sure if she could manage it for anyone else.

"Just don't lick the wrong ones, they can kill even a Magi." A small shake of her head. Her attention returning to Jordunn. "I listen to the Spirits constantly, and they are the reason I am who I am and I've accomplished what I have." A small gesture to the massive Guardian upon the temple. "I held the Aspect of Carnage, K'ruthix, in my own body for nearly a decade. Until this body could be made to help purify him"

Though his final questions made her blink, so she repeats what she said prior. Perhaps this time. "I didn't say just Moxtli, I said everywhere if you find a place even Spirits abandon you probably shouldn't be there either." Yet she had also answered his final question in her prior statements.

"It was practice, but it's a natural skill for me." A wave to dismiss them all, she reminds. "Same time in the coming months we'll host another class, I expect progress. That is all."
(D'noxa Aba)
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[17:11] His question was answered so he felt a bit relieved to know that he wouldn't have to continue his Toad licking..He did feel rather sick afterwards. "Well I guess it did bring me kinda close to death since I was in the spirt realm for a little while..." He reminced perhaps that wasn't the best way to do it but now because of this lesson he knew there were other. Probably safer... methods of going into the spirit realm.

The questions she answered in response to Jorduun were interesting as well it would take some practice before he learned how to summon and attract spirits as well but he was confident he could do the same within time.

A smile emerging on his face as the end of the very first lesson came to a close. It was pretty vague but it would be the first few steps towards achieving what he desired. "Alright I've decided! My next goal is to meet with a spirit! Lets give this Spirit mediation thing a try." He said with an excitable grin on his face.

As the crowds began to disperse the young Ookami had already set off to practice what he'd just learned.
(Balam Aba)
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