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

Physical Training- A

[drops_acid]

[Eyes wide, she stumbles back a step and gives him a frightened warning.]

Don't!!

[Cardia hadn't been trying to sneak up on anyone, she's just normally very quiet and unassuming. She doesn't even usually come to the training sessions. And she's starting to think it was a bad idea. The sudden spear in her face is terrifying. But thank goodness it's the blunt end! What if he had cut her? What if some of her blood had gotten on him? Another close call. This is why she should stay away from people.]

[futhark]

[ Looks like he overdid it a little this time. Shocking someone to this point was not his intention. They're all allies here, after all. Sort of. Caster moves the weapon away and actually apologizes-

Sort of. ]

My bad. Don't worry, I wouldn't hurt you.

[ Then he makes few steps closer, completely oblivious to the real reason of her distress ]

Is everything okay?

[drops_acid]

[She actually appreciates the apology, especially since she sees this as more her fault than his. But closer is bad. Especially so soon after a scare like that. She quickly steps back.]

Um, no, I'm- Oh!

[She'd been trying to assure him that she was fine and this was all her fault anyway, but her nervous steps backward are a little too hasty. She trips over a discarded weapon and finds herself falling back with a cry of surprise.]

[futhark]

(( ooc: lemme know if it's okay, my vague canon knowledge is very vague ))

[ He reacts reflexively, moving another step forward to grab her by her wrist. The plan was to not let her fall at all and help regain balance, but with his luck, he, of course, has to make skin-on-skin contact. Just a brush of skin between the sleeve and her gloves, but it's enough. A sharp pain shoots through his hand ]

Ngh--

[ Change of plans. He doesn't help her back - that would take too long - to standing position, just softens the landing and let's go immediately. ]

[drops_acid]

((OOC: It's fine. Her skin and blood act like acid and while prolonged contact can actually dissolve a person, a quick brush will be more like an acid burn.))

[The fear that shoots through her eyes as he reaches toward her is well founded. Cardia can hear the telltale hiss as his skin contacts hers and she lets out a small cry of alarm and dismay. Her fall is gentle, thanks to him, and she barely feels it. Now in a panic, she scrambles back up.]

Are you- I wasn't- I-

[She can't quite calm down enough for proper words. She'd been trying so hard to be careful. This is the first time her poison has hurt someone in the far shore. The first time she's accidentally outed herself as a monster. The guilt and fear and dread are swirling in her mind as she tries again to speak.]

I'm so sorry! Are you okay?

[futhark]

No need to worry, I've seen worse. [ He's oddly relaxed, even despite being wounded. Part of it might be for show to help her calm down by downplaying the severity of the situation ] I'll take care of it.

[ Caster looks at his hand to check the damage. The burn is painful and doesn't look good, but he might have something to counter that. He slides down the glove and writes an Uruz rune directly on his skin. The healing will take some time, but at least the pain is gone. ]

You've got some really nasty curse on you, miss.

[ That's what it looks like from his point of view. But he makes no move to indicate he wants to flee, or is threatened by it. ]

[drops_acid]

[Cardia had been expected horror, revulsion, anger. Something she's used to. He seems so... calm. It actually goes a long way toward dampening her panic.

She still keeps her distance, holding her hands close to her chest protectively, but doesn't try to run. Even so, it takes her a minute to find her voice again.]

It's not a curse.

[Her tone is timid. Uncertain. Some part of her is still bracing for anger or fear or... something normal.]

I've always... been this way.

[futhark]

[ A moment of silence as this news sink in, and an almost flat response. ]

That must be tough. [ That's not a pity, just acknowledgment of the circumstances without sugarcoating. Curses can be undone, being born like this.... probably not so much.

He walks closer so he can lean on the weapon rack, putting his hand on hip--- and taking it away immediately, bad move, that kind of hurts even with healing rune working its magic. ]

Are you interested in anything in particular? Or just wanted to try different weapons? [ He might help with choice if the latter ]

[drops_acid]

Well I don't know how to use any of them, but I was thinking that it might be a good thing to learn...

[Her answer is a bit distracted. She really isn't sure what to make of his very casual acceptance of her... condition. Finding out that the person next to you burns everything she touches usually results in less small talk and more.... pitchforks. Usually with torches.]

Um... aren't you... afraid? Or disgusted?

[futhark]

Mhh.. no? I just need to be a bit more careful. [ He shrugs the worry off as if it was nothing. Well, it is not "nothing", being damaging to those close to you must be a terrible burden. But it's a training room, and they're talking weapons, no reason to focus on anything else.

He walks to one of the racks and takes a naginata off it ]

It might be the old spear-user in me speaking, but these seem nice. It's light and the long range is good for keeping enemies at a distance. Try it. [ He walks back and offers the weapon to Cardia ]

[drops_acid]

Oh...

[He's not afraid. No disgust, no revulsion. Not even pity. None of what she's come to expect. He's just treating her like.... like a person.



It's.... wonderful.


And once she's done staring at him like he's some kind of magical unicorn, she realizes that he has some good ideas too. Keeping enemies at a distance is definitely relevant to Cardia's interests. She takes the naginata gingerly and steps back so she can swing it. A couple of practice swings are enough to tell her she's doing something not quite right.]

It's a little awkward. Are my hands too far apart or too close together?

[It may also be her stance.]

[futhark]

[ And this is how Cú Chulainn broke the level-cap and unknowingly ascended to the form of a magical unicorn ]

[ You're too stiff, but don't worry, that's normal. He grabs another one, noting mentally how different it feels than a spear he's used to - the blade is longer, the shaft is lighter, in the end it evens itself out, but... ]

One foot forward, other back- [ He demonstrates makes it easier to follow ] -if you hold it with your hands wide apart - it will give you a better leverage in maneuvering the weapon. Holding hands closer together can be useful to make it spin faster, but will provide almost no control.

[ Spinning a polearm weapon should, in theory, come later in training... But it gives him a good occasion to show off few twirls ]