September Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: August 25
Where: Bishamon's temple, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki



In anticipation of the latest round of new arrivals, Heaven has partnered with the new gods and shinki to organize a very helpful informational reception.

Gods and shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided kindly towards Bishamon's temple. In that vast complex they are brought to a traditional-style dojo. The gods and shinki are free to take their time during this day to learn about the details of their new life from Amaterasu's shinki or from the many veteran new god and shinki volunteers.




God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a hall near the dojo for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior, although the minor deity conducting the meeting is in too much of a rush to take questions afterwards. They are encouraged to discuss the information with each other and ask questions of more experienced gods, as well as to guide their new shinki appropriately.

Shinki Training

Various volunteers are stationed around the dojo, passing out helpful informational pamphlets. There are many shinki, including Bishamon's and Amaterasu's, who will be more than happy to train in using the borderline as well as offering a lecture on the basics of what is expected of a shinki and the importance of teamwork with other shinki and with gods. Shinki are encouraged to work together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.

Targets have been hung up just outside the dojo for people practicing borderlines of both the defensive and cutting variety. They've clearly been made by kids: they're big, crayon-colored butcher paper cutouts of ayakashi, carefully detailed. Some of Bishamon's child shinki are working on more towards the side of the practice area, with crayons scattered all around. They could use some help from anyone with an artistic bent.

Physical Training

The dojo is stocked with a wide variety of practice weapons, traditional and modern, to offer some practice opportunity to gods who, for example, find themselves with a sword shinki but are at risk of cutting off their own toes. It's also useful for veteran new gods wishing to train with their current partner shinki.

Bishamon's shinki have gone all out this time and created an obstacle course for physical training as well. Climb walls, crawl through mud, jump across randomly spaced stumps, find your way through a maze and collect one of each of five different-colored ribbons being handed out by shinki attendants for completing each section within the allotted time.

Rest and Refreshments

Since the obstacle course is even messier than the usual training session, one of Bishamon's shinki will show anyone who asks the way to the showers to get cleaned up afterwards. There are hydrating drinks and light snacks available outside the dojo, along with fresh, lemon-scented towels.

In Bishamon's garden, a proper English tea has been laid, with a long table containing sweet and savory nibbles, and small wicker tables with two or three chairs set out all over the lawn. Gods and shinki can sit down for a talk here, get to know each other, and adjust to their new situation.

Bishamon's shinki do seem a little overworked, though, trying to serve tea all around. They'd welcome anyone, new or old, willing to put on one of the crisp white aprons and help serve some tea.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Get in some training
• Don't get dehydrated
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

C.

[bussounoshima]

[For a moment, she thinks they've gotten another Shizuo. Some dumbass relaxing in the sun, when they should be on guard, gathering information, looking for their friends-

But then, when Sharak starts to walk towards him, he tenses. Ah. So he is paying attention.]

... I don't think I've seen your face before. [Or has she? It is rather familiar. Sharak drops down onto the grass next to Gohan with little fanfare.]

[saiyanhybrid]

I'd be more concerned if you did.

[Gohan glances at Sharak as she drops down next to him and he takes it as a cue to sit up, mostly to be polite.]

The Heaven back in my world is a lot more different than this.

[bussounoshima]

But you are familiar with it?

[That's interesting. Sharak eyes Gohan rather curiously. Of course, they've both been made to resemble gods here, but she can't see anything about him that stands out other than that. Maybe something in his aura that reminds her of someone else, but not of the gods from her own world that she's met.]

I'm afraid I only know the one from mine by reputation. [Says the most highly ranked priest in Asia... Well, it's not like they invite her up there.] What's different?

[saiyanhybrid]

Something like that.

[He's not sure how much he should disclose information, but then again, he did bring it up. After all, he died once and it was quite the experience.]

Well, it's actually more organized when it comes to handling the spirits of the dead and they're all placed in the place where they should go based on their actions. So, anyone who killed would go down to Hell and vice versa.

[bussounoshima]

How final.

[Buddhist priest. Reincarnation is more her gig than sending the dead to Hell.]

Though if they're more organised than this mess, that's one point in their favour. Amaterasu's court sorely needs someone rearranging their system.

[saiyanhybrid]

Well, it's not so bad. They practically have a whole other life there.

[At least it's organized.

Gohan tilts his head to the side - a motion that might be familiar to Sharak.]

Has it always been this bad?

[bussounoshima]

[It is familiar. Sharak tilts her own head, mimicking him.]

... I can't speak for "always". I've only been here a few months myself. But from my experience, today is actually going rather well.

If you don't mind me asking, what role were you given when you arrived?

[Because she's starting to suspect that's going to become relevant sooner or later.]

[saiyanhybrid]

[That gets him to blink, a bit surprised by the motion. Not because she did it, but somehow, it rings a familiarity.]

God. They told me I'd be taking over for a god named Wenchang Wang.

[Does that help?]

[bussounoshima]

[The specific god doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that she's seen that face before, specifically during those few days she turned grey and someone else got taller for a little while. Sharak stares silently at Gohan for a moment.

Then she reaches over, puts her hand on his head, and ruffles his hair so that his bangs fall more over his forehead and the rest pokes in different directions.]

[saiyanhybrid]

[. . . . .

He blinks at her a few times, not quite stopping her, but confused as to why she's doing it. And while she ruffles his hair, there may be some pikes that refuses to go down, but hey.

Doesn't he look like a certain shinki, too?]

[bussounoshima]

[Sharak pushes down on Gohan's head for an extra moment before releasing him. In contrast to that odd, "affectionate" gesture, her expression is rather severe and serious.]

Name.

[saiyanhybrid]

It's Gohan.

[Why is she asking? Gohan's confused but then he remembers what Aymeric told him about Goten making friends and:]

Do you know Goten?

[bussounoshima]

[Gohan looks way too young to be Goten's father, and with a resemblance like that it's got to be...]

... Your parents are the type who like naming schemes, huh? [And she doesn't even know about their dad.] Yes, I know him.

[saiyanhybrid]

Mostly my mother. I was named after my great-grandfather. [His father's name is Goku. Would that help?

His expression changes a bit.]

I hope my little brother hasn't been too much trouble for you.

[bussounoshima]

Goten's never any trouble. [He is her one good Son.] Entertainment, occasionally, but never trouble.

[For all that dry humour might imply, she does love him. Her expression just never changes, the wind changed and now she's stuck like this.]

If you want to follow his example, there are some things that you should know. What have you heard about gods and shinki so far?

[saiyanhybrid]

That's a relief.

[At least it looks like Sharak is a good Mom.

He pauses.]

That gods are generally taking the name of the god they're assigned under. Gods and shinki are supposed to be paired up to work together to Rend ayakashi, but shinki are those who have died so whenever a god names them, they can see their death. [That's the general gist of what he got.]

[bussounoshima]

[Sharak nods. So far so good.]

And that's the gods "greatest secret". No shinki can know what we see then. [And she gives Gohan a pointed look here.] Or anything else we know about their lives before coming here.

[Mess up and tell Goten who you are to him and she will be coming for you, boy.]

[saiyanhybrid]

[At the pointed look, he dips his head in understanding.

He has no intention of doing that whatsoever to Goten.]

Understood.

[Honestly, he's just too damn glad there are so many people here looking out for his younger brother.]

[bussounoshima]

[Sharak looks at Gohan for a while in silence, evaluating him. A serious face, with no nonsense or unnecessary promises. A threat detected, a threat resolved.

She rather likes it. There's a barely detectable easing of tension in her posture.]

I'm sure you'll hear some variant of that a few times over the next couple of days. [Not really, Sharak, most people will assume Gohan understands this and not feel the need to subtly threaten him.] Goten has quite a few friends around here.

[Most of them are friendlier than Sharak.]

Well, I'm sure that's no surprise.