Balam 14

[19:25] "Quite simply what I am, is a spirit, my dear gal!" The entity would cheerfully admit, "I died a long, long, loooong time ago. So long ago, I can't 'ven remember. I'd say I'm well over a thousand years old, and that's cutting it down a bit."

It looked between the children once more. The creature took a deep draw from it's pipe, and then sprayed green mist upon the ground. The mists swirled and twisted, revealing the image of Tinyhands, surrounded by luxury, with dozens of people gambling.

"Used ta own a Casino, way back when. Everyone for miles came, all to roll the dice, drink to their hearts content, and sin as much as they found pleasurable."

"'Course, all good things come to an end."

The mists churned violently, as a figure brought a rope around the image of Tinyhands, strangling his neck.

The being clapped it's hands, and the mist vanished.

"That's my story anyhow! I guess I should move on to the next question? Bahaha! I'm male, iffin ya identify ghosts that way, and yes, I most definitely can feel a full range of emotion, just as y'all can!"

"Flavors too. Probably my favorite thing 'bout Esshar so far! Y'all like to live high class, where ya can. The food is scrumptious, the drink kicks too! Bahaha!"

All in all, this entity, despite radiating utter evil, seemed rather jovial and friendly. A strange combination.

But at last, the final question the Docro spoke of came about, and the Nethradin suddenly fell silent. It clasped it's hands together, and unfoldted them, revealing a large dice as big as a person's head between them, laid in his palms.

"Odds or evens be my favorite. Simple. Dangerous. Fifty-Fifty. No one can complain...

... Care to gamble a bit, children?"
(Mister Des Tinyhands)
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[19:27] Dominik nodded.
(Dominik pyr Docro)
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[19:29] Sophia hurriedly writes down what she can pertaining to each question. Strange. Interesting. A ghost? A spirit? How was that even possible? She smiles wide despite her trembling hands and buckling knees.

She gulps down and then finishes her writing with a happy sigh,
"Ah, you've no idea how happy you've made us, sir! Thank you so much for the information. You'll be the reason we get extra points, I'm sure of it! And you might actually be published in the school's newspaper."

She smiles at this and cants her head to the side,
"Gambling? Oh no, I barely have coin to begin with, plus, my parents would always tell me that it's not a good idea to do so. I'm a woman of Eos and the stars, and I trust in them to guide me. Gambling may be a waste of time with me, miste Des Tinyhands-- n-no offense though, I bet it's really fun!"

She dips her head and procures a potion, "Is there a way you can.. take this? OR.. do you already float? Here, it's a present regardless. You can have it to give it away or sell it for coin."

She rolls over a vial of levitation potion with a small clink in the grasses below.
(Sophia de Fleur)
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[19:35] Having no luck in finding the Head Master Balam would take to scouting the area where he heard of the Nethradin's movements simply to make sure there weren't any traces. Luckily for him tracking down spirits was his specialty.

However he'd bee beside himself to know that the spirit's essence trail would lead him to the forest a few leagues away from Moxtli Village. Balam stood watching from the shadow's for a while a predator stalking its prey.

He'd no intention of getting involved with it until he saw the Children. Student's by the look's of their clothing. As soon as he saw what was being spoken about the Aba quickly until he heard the Nethradin offer the children.

Stepping forward from the Shadow's of the tree's the Shaman like figure would immediately set his gaze on the creature. "That's enough of that." He claimed as he moved around the shadowy figure towards the student's barring them from accepting any offer.

"Student's this here is a creature of Darkness. A Nethradin if I'm not mistaken. They play tricks to get you to sign contract's with Hel." Balam's eyes would glow a pale blue exposing the Spirit's true form to him. A white mist covered the man as it began to allow the other's to see the creature's more grotesque nature as well.

"You're quite bold to expect student's of Starfall to fall under your guise. I won't allow you to tamper with my student's future's." He claimed reaching behind to grab a specialized glaive made from bone and fang's.
(Balam Aba)
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[19:35] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
[19:37] Akrites Fitz-Empress whispers something.
[19:38] Akrites Fitz-Empress whispers something.
[19:39] Sophia de Fleur whispers something.
[19:41] What a coincidence, the lessons he had been skeptical about before, reared its ugly head before him in all its horrific splendor.

"How unfortunate."

Admittedly, Dominik paid more attention to the show put on through imagery rather than the narration that accompanied it. Not to say that he didn't catch both, but the visuals were all the more captivating than anything else.

Dominik's fingers curled beneath his cloak, rubbing lightly against one another. While the life he lived was splendid, revealing endless glamor, in the end the way he died was quite morbid put lightly. The urge to crease his brows desperately suppressed in a bid not to expose any emotions under the hungry gaze of the greedy spirit.

Inevitably, the offer to gamble is put forward, Dominik's arm loops around Sophia, palm plastered firmly against her lips as she began her babbling habit. Catching her by surprise, he'd motion for her to calm down with his free hand.

As soon as that motion concluded, it would begin a new one stretching into the distance. His index finger extended, indicating to her that something was there. From that direction, Balam would already be approaching the small gathering.

"It's good to see you Balam," he began, his rattled nerves gradually calming down with his arrival. "I had figured his ploy was to play games that would somehow lead us to ruin, judging from what he said."

The true form of the creature was enough to send a cool sensation crawling across his skin. Goosebumps erecting along his body, though his face didn't show it nearly as much.

"Before anything else, what would you have put up at stake Mr. Tinyhands? What could you possibly be offering people all these years?"
(Dominik pyr Docro)
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[19:45] Sophia is immediately shushed by Dominik's palm, cheeks lit like a tomato. She gulps hard, eyes widening. Her words were now lessened entirely as he held over her mouth and around her waist.
(Sophia de Fleur)
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[19:50] "Nonsense! Nonsense!" The creature would cry out at Aba's accusation, "While it's true I'm a dark spirit, a foul thing straight from the depths of Hel - There's one thing I am before any of that!"

It swirled, face appearing mere inches from Aba's. "Mister Balam Aba, Mister Gran' Slamma, I'm not like the rest, so just stop puffin' your chest! Bahaha!"

The creature now spoke in a singsong voice, breaking out a cane, swinging backwards and kicking out it's legs!

"I'm not needy, just happen to be a bit greedy!
Ol' Master's buyin' souls, while I just wanna ROLL!
Ain't nothin' dishonest,
I ain't nothin' like the rest!
I'm a ramblin'
Gamblin'
Damnin'
Business man!"

It sneered, snatching it's cane back up, and tipping it's hat. "Neither of these kids has enough desire in their soul to be worth buyin' for my Master. When I gamble, I gamble for pleasure and for coin, kind sir! I might be evil, I might be a Demon, but one thing's for sure, my word is as honest as they come."

"So when I say I was just gonna bet some coin on a dice roll, ya gotta believe me, mister slamma!"
(Mister Des Tinyhands)
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[19:52] Sophia never thought in her lifetime she would see a dancing nethradin.
(Sophia de Fleur)
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[19:58] Balam immediately takes a stance Attuning his energies to focus on his casting capabilities. No Hostile Aura was a lit just yet but Balam had been prepared to engage if necessary. "Student's I'll handle the rest please head back to Starfall Island. And next time please be more wary of those who approach you in a guise of darkness."


The Nethradin's song and dance was less than appealing towards Balam being a Shaman in training he knew of the tricks and the schemes the creature's were known of. He'd be one of the very few people such a tactic would work on. However Balam's first priority was getting the kids away to safety.

"I don't really care what you claim to be. I already know what you are And that is an spirit of disruption. In order to maintain the Balance I'll exorcises you here and now." The glaive was swung down with immence force although it still lacked much killing intent.

"Well that's what I'd like to say. But I would rather my student's to be the one to put you at rest. It would help with their education after all." A striving young tutor at all times. While it didn't rest well with him not to engage the monster in combat right away he'd not risk the chance of the student's getting caught in the crossfire.

"Leave this place. No one will gamble you for coin Nethradin' This is your one and only chance to escape me. There won't be another....and do tell your Dark Lord and any of your kin that I'll be aiming to put them to rest as well." Beastkin eye's weren't ones to hold back intention. Balam didn't look down upon the Nethradin in fact he respected the Spirit regardless of its origin all spirit's would be respected. That was the way of Moxtli after all.
(Balam Aba)
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[20:00] Sophia de Fleur whispers something.
[20:03] The entity tipped it's hat then, flipping it's cane into the air, which vanished. "What a brute, shame it seems I gotta scoot! Bahaha!"

Well, it seems the creature wasn't just good at gambling, but also rhymes. Perhaps they weren't as powerful as the great archdemons of legend, but the Nethradin certainly seemed just as cunning and nefarious.

Because the Aba was right about one thing. It was all just an act, to get one to drop their guard. Behind that wide smile, lurked a dangerous predator, looking for more than his fair payday.

A flick of his wrist, and a business card would appear in the children's hands, black, with silver emblazoned upon it. 'TINYHANDS' it read boldly. "I'll be off then. Y'all know where to find me, iffin' ya ever change your minds on playing."

It faded then, the green mists that it seemed comprised of flowing away from the area.

"BAHAHAHA!"
(Mister Des Tinyhands)
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[20:11] Sophia's comment was heard, but didn't receive a reaction, his eyes heavily trained on the retreating spirit. The card that appeared within his hand was glanced upon, a scowl of disgust as he threw the card to the ground a few feet away.

"Exactly what does he take this for?"

Dominik scoffed, folding his arms across his chest as Tinyhands' signature mist slithered along the ground and soon out of sight. The youth glanced to Sophia, "Come, let's return to the academy, we've gotten more than what we asked for."

The 'irritated' Dominik would lead, the first to storm off towards the direction of home. Oddly enough the card that he had thrown to the ground, should anyone have paid keen attention to it, dissipated into nothing after a few moments.

Within the pocket of his coat, the sleek black card rest neatly.
(Dominik pyr Docro)
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[20:15] The little Sophia is dumbfounded, and very interested. She wanted to learn more of this spirit, this nethradin from Hel. But, not because she found interest in gambling, but because he was new, different, something unexplored. The Basilisk student reaches to slip her hand into Dominik's, though, the card remains. She tucks it away into her journal.
(Sophia de Fleur)
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[20:17] Balam would allow the creature to leave however the beastkin's lingering gaze would be upon the Nethradin with each ethereal step. Balam would make sure to burn the imagine of the phantom into his memories hence forth. Once the Nethradin' was a good distance away he'd help escort the student's back to the academy.

"That was a close call! I wasn't sure if I would've actually been able to beat that thing...But I would always fight to protect you guys. No one is hurt or anything right?" He'd claim as he'd move towards the academy drifting in the air thanks to a levitation potion.

"I knew my premonition was correction...To think Nethradin would appear upon Esshar. These are truly dark times." His expression darkened for am moment before he'd turned the corner. "By the by I'm starting a group to hunt down Super natural threat's like that Nethradin near and around the academy if you have any interest please seek me out." The Ookami's words holding a lot more weight to it than most. Although he wish he could've done the trick with the business cards...

"I unfortunately don't have any card to give you but I'll be announcing it soon!" Once he got a hold of the Head Master that was.
(Balam Aba)
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[20:18] Sophia de Fleur says, "It was strange, I didn't feel.. like he was a threat. Maybe he's just that good at.. deceiving me."
[20:19] Balam Aba says, "Mhm that's how they get you."
[20:19] Balam Aba says, "I'm glad I came when I did."
[20:19] Sophia de Fleur says, "Well, gambling isn't something a future acolyte of Eos should do anyway."
[20:19] Balam Aba says, "I'm proud of both of you for resisitng his scheme."
[20:19] Dominik pyr Docro says, "Someone- something like that is dangerous."
[20:19] Dominik pyr Docro says, "Of course, I'd never fall for something like that so easily."
[20:19] Balam Aba says, "What are both your names and houses? I'll speak to the Headmaster about giving you both some acolades for denying a Nethradin's scheme."
[20:20] Sophia de Fleur says, "My name is Sophia de Fleur, house Basilisk. A pleasure to officially meet you, Mister Balam."
[20:20] Balam Aba says, "Mh you as well Sophia."
[20:20] Dominik pyr Docro says, "Mine is Dominik pyr Docro."
[20:20] Dominik pyr Docro says, "House Basilisk as well."
[20:21] Balam Aba says, "Ah both of House Basillisk well done. I'll have to speak to Elliwyn as well then."
[20:21] Sophia de Fleur says, "Alright, I need to go to the library and fill out my assignment."
[20:21] Dominik pyr Docro says, "Thank you, I'd appreciate it."
[20:21] Balam Aba says, "You've both done good, Now please be sure to be more cautious about Nethradin."
[20:22] Dominik pyr Docro says, "Will do."
[20:22] Sophia nods slowly, dipping her head toward Balam.
(Sophia de Fleur)
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[20:22] The Teraphim blinked, startling out of her thoughts. The Vale was getting louder in her mind, which she assumed meant that the time was growing closer to actually delve into it.

"That...is a complicated question. Could you perhaps be a little more specific? Just so that I can make sure I'm answering the part you're interested in."

The approach a few others was noted but went unremarked upon.
(Elliwyn)
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[20:22] Balam waves the two student's off with a smile.
(Balam Aba)
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