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

A- Weapons (But actually beanie)

[talkbirdytome]

[Hiyoko notices him playing with the knife and pauses for a moment. Then she shakes her head with a smile.]

Wow, the Christmas season starts earlier every year, huh? I haven't even started my shopping yet.

the beanie is the most important part

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa pauses for a moment, the knife right between his pinkie and ring fingers.]

...Probably should have taken advantage of the shopping center...

[talkbirdytome]

Yeah I really should have. I forgot they won't throw me out of fancy department stores here.

[Ah well, live and learn.]

How about you? Get all your shopping done?

[kokuyoyo]

They celebrate Christmas in Japan?

[Excuse him, he's been focusing on all the food and nothing else.]

[talkbirdytome]

Of course! It's a reverent celebration of consumerism at it's best! The lights, the songs, the gifts, the cake...

[Excuse her while she reminisces with a wistful smile.]

Man, I'll never forget my last Christmas back home. I punched a tank!

[kokuyoyo]

...What happened to the tank?

[talkbirdytome]

Uh, not a whole lot. Barely even dented it, actually. Turns out tanks are pretty tough.

[kokuyoyo]

...Why were you punching a tank in the first place?

[He just has all the questions here. Enough that he's forgotten his knife nonsense for the time being.]

[talkbirdytome]

'Cause I was trying to defend my friend's Christmas tree from the imminent assault. And the only weapon I had at the time was the fist of an irrational teenage girl.

[She says as if all of that is normal...]

[kokuyoyo]

[Why do all of his conversations with this girl end up bizarre... Chikusa takes this in and just makes a small noise to show he's heard.]

Christmas here will probably be just as weird...

[talkbirdytome]

[Because she is bizarre. So, so bizarre...]

I dunno....

They're gonna have to work hard to beat escaped laboratory test subjects stealing everybirdie's Christmas decorations, blowing up part of a school, and then attacking a fancy Christmas party with a tank.

[kokuyoyo]

[Quietly, Chikusa considers that.]

...No, I think it'll be just as weird... Like the zombie festival.

[talkbirdytome]

That was pretty weird... but zombies are kind of out of style. They better try something new next time.

[You have to keep your supernatural invasions fresh after all.]

[kokuyoyo]

I guess we can only wait....

...Anyway, what are you doing...?

[talkbirdytome]

Me? I just came to get a little sparring in. And the food here is pretty good.

Isn't that what everybirdie's here for?

[kokuyoyo]

Mm. I guess so.... But it's never filling enough. And I always end up too tired...

[talkbirdytome]

[Giggle.]

Not enough food? And I thought I had a big appetite.

[kokuyoyo]

It's always really light. They never go with anything that's... filling.

[A soft huff.]

[talkbirdytome]

Not filling enough? Hmm...

[She pauses, looking him over. He is kind of skinny.]

Which temple do you live in?

[kokuyoyo]

[Funny story about that.... but Chikusa goes with the more literal answer.]

....Epona's...

[The frown on his face says he's not happy about it, just not for the reaso she might end up thinking.]

[talkbirdytome]

Gotcha.

[Everybirdie has their circumstances. She figures if he wants to talk about it he will. More importantly:]

So next time I go elk hunting, do you want one? There's some pretty good eating on those.

[kokuyoyo]

[That sure is a random offer out of nowhere and, spaced out as Chikusa is, it takes him a few seconds to really process it. A couple of blinks, a squint, and he finally remembers what words are.]

...There are elk?

[talkbirdytome]

[She laughs.]

Of course there are! What, did you think they'd gone extinct?

[kokuyoyo]

No.... I guess.... I just don't know what kind of animals are in Japan.

[He takes a moment to consider their location.]

...Or Heaven.

[talkbirdytome]

Heaven's got all kinds of animals. It's a veritable menagerie around here!

[The area around her temple has elk, wood grouse, and bears. And Hiyoko has talked to a lot of the local wildlife.]