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

Shinki training

[replicatedform]

[Yamanbagiri have been staring at the dragon with widen eyes for a moment, until it (he?) addresses him. After blinking for a moment, he slowly walks over. He's really seeing a dragon, right? Right.]

... I don't mind. Hold still.

[Yamanbagiri reaches out to carefully take the paper off the dragon's claw, recognising what it is at a glance. He did receive his own copy not that long ago.]

[impetuouswind]

Why, thank you very much.

[Temeraire holds his hand very still, waiting for the young man to pull the slightly punctured pamphlet away from his claws.]

It would have been much easier to unroll if it were on a scroll. [Don't mind him hovering: he's very curious...]

Do you suppose they could rewrite one? If it were suggested to them?

[replicatedform]

[The punctured hole more or less is in the middle of some important sounding sections. And oh, a dragon is hovering nearby him. No pressure.

No pressure at all.]

Maybe. We can always ask them to make a scroll for you. A big one.

[Might be a fair bit of work, to make one large enough for a dragon to read. He pauses for a moment, before taking out his own copy of the pamphlet from his pocket.]

... Should I start reading for you?

[impetuouswind]

It does not have to be too big, but perhaps three or four times larger than this...

[As long as it's big enough to roll and unroll with his talon-tips, and the text is large enough that he can focus on it, it should do.]

And I'm sure I can't be the only dragon who's come here.

If you would, please?

[replicatedform]

... You're the first one I saw. But, I guess there might be others before you.

[Since he's also new. So what would he know? After getting the okay, he looks down at the pamphlet and start reading it out for him.

Despite his nerves, Yamanbagiri manages to keep his voice clear enough for anyone to listen. Aside from maybe a few words he didn't know at first, or how to read.]

[impetuouswind]

[Temeraire leans right down next to Yamanbangiri, listening with absolute focus, and nods at last as he comes to the end of the pamphlet.]

... What is an ayakashi? Do you know?

[replicatedform]

Ayakashi... it's a name for yokai that appears above water.

[That knowledge comes to him. Maybe because he's Japanese? A pause.]

... Although, I don't know that much about it in this case.

[impetuouswind]

So, a sort of monster?

[His ruff pricks up, pupils widening and narrowing again as he tries to focus on the little pamphlet. It's hopeless: the paper is still much too small to read, and in any case this other shinki has read it to him already. He'll have to find other information somewhere else.]

... But how is it that we could turn into monsters?

[replicatedform]

[He frowns at his question, as he stares at the pamphlet. It... did not really explain that thing.]

That, I don't know... [He have some ideas, but none of them sound pleasant.] Maybe it's their power?

[Yokai have powers. So... including changing them into monsters?]

[impetuouswind]

That is a very unpleasant power.

[He doesn't like it. He doesn't at all; he is not a monster, dragons are not monsters, and he finds himself suddenly very offended by the thought that an actual monster might have the power to change that.

He shudders, all over, uncomfortably.]

I see why it is so important to destroy them, then. I would not like to be a monster.

[replicatedform]

[It's an unpleasant idea. He didn't know much about anything, but he rather avoid "becoming a monster" as a part of his life here.]

Yeah. That's probably why we should find our god as soon as possible.

[Get a name, discover their power... and have protection, he figured.]

[impetuouswind]

Yes.

[He shudders again, and his ruff flattens down tightly against his neck as he ducks his head in a bow to the other shinki.]

Yes, you're very right. Thank you for the information, and I should go find my goddess, and you yours, as well?

[replicatedform]

[He blinks, before he bows as well.]

It's no problem... and yes, I should. I hope you find yours soon... [A pause, they haven't exchange names yet. He's curious enough to ask.] What's your name? I'm Yamanbagiri Kunihiro.

[impetuouswind]

I am Temeraire. It is a pleasure to meet-- [It's a little late for that, isn't it? His ruff pricks up just a little with amusement.]

-- to have met you, Yamanbagiri!

[replicatedform]

Temeraire...

[He says it slowly, hoping to get it right. He almost got it.]

Same here. Since we're both new... let's help each other in the future? Since that might be useful for both of us.

[impetuouswind]

Yes.

[Temeraire nods earnestly, ruff going further forward.]

Yes, let's, as it is all very confusing just yet, and I am sure we will both need each other's help.