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

R&R

[photoshooter]

[Someone nearby chuckles.]

Well, can't really blame them.

[Prompto puts down the little biscuit he's been nibbling on and gestures at Zelda's dress.]

You look like a fairy tale princess in all that. I'd be falling all over myself if it was my job to serve you tea, too.

[sageprincess]

[Was it his intention to get her to flush even harder, because she's flushing even harder.]

I-I have not-- [Wait, back up, he's right, you are a princess, so act like it--] ... I mean, I am just not accustomed to being waited upon with such... enthusiasm.

[Nailed it.]

[photoshooter]

[Whoa, she talks fancy. Prompto hesitates, then asks:]

Uh... are you a princess?

[sageprincess]

[And yet her internal monologue is essentially one long "fuuuuuuuuuuu--". But okay, take a deep breath, calm down, compose yourself, Zelda.]

... I am, yes. The Princess of Hyrule, Zelda. [She dips her chin slightly, in greeting and apology.] Forgive me, I am a bit... out of sorts at the moment. Today has been overwhelming in multiple regards, to say the least.

[photoshooter]

Oh, man, uh!

[He stands, though he doesn't bow, and wipes his hands quickly on his pants.]

I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Um, I'm Prompto! Argentum. Prompto Argentum, is my name. I-I'm kind of new here, too! I belong to Lucina. I'm her shinki, I mean.

[After a pause, Prompto sticks his hand out.]

Nice to meet you, Your--Your Highness.

[sageprincess]

[... Hesitantly, she places her hand in his offered one. They're both being Very Awkward right now, so better to try to find some equilibrium than allow this to snowball ever further out of control.]

The pleasure is mine, Prompto, though you need not apologize. I am far from my court, after all. [Another pause, considering, then--] I am afraid I have yet to meet your Lucina. I presume she treats you well?

[It's something that has itched at the back of her mind since she learned of their situation, the relationship of gods and shinki. The whole idea leaves a bitter taste in her mouth, but if she lacks the power and knowledge to change it (for now), the least she can do is assure that those designated as shinki are not being taken advantage of.]

[photoshooter]

[He brightens immediately and shakes Zelda's hand with a smile.]

Yeah! Yeah, she's the best.

[She's the best, and she would have protested if she'd heard him tell someone he belonged to her. That's not how Lucina rolls.]

She's kinda serious, but she's really nice, too. She really gives her all when we go out answering people's prayers, even if she has a hard time with modern things. But that's where I come in! So it works out.

[sageprincess]

[... It's still a hard concept to wrap her head around, answering prayers as though she were a genuine goddess. But this bright and happy boy does not need to be bogged down by her concerns about the whole situation, so she smiles a small smile in return, relieved that he's not bound to the service of a cruel god.]

Then I shall look forward to the moment when our paths may cross. But if I may ask: what counts as a "modern thing"? If that includes the strange slates we were given at the lecture earlier, then I fear I may have similar difficulties.

[... Phones. She means phones.]

[photoshooter]

Strange... slates?

[What, like, stones? Prompto didn't get anything like that when he first turned up. Maybe gods get different things from shinki and Lucina just never mentioned it. ...Or maybe this is something else and he should probably help this poor lady out.]

Uh, why don't you show me? And I'll see if it's something I know about.

[She does speak kind of old-timey.]

[sageprincess]

Of course.

[Does she have a pocket somewhere in all those skirts or is it hammerspace? These are things man is not meant to know, but she does fish out a shiny new smart phone from somewhere, which she then hands to Prompto. Upside down. Oops.]

I know I can make it light up by pressing the button on the top there, but that is all I have figured out on my own thus far.

[photoshooter]

Oh!

[He laughs a little, but he's not trying to be mean. He turns the phone right-side up and shows it to her.]

This is a cell phone. It, uh. [Well, she referred to it as a slate, so probably best to start all the way back at the basics.] It's a device for talking to people who are far away. The button you found, that wakes it up...

[He presses it and then swipes his finger across the surface to get past the lock screen.]

And sliding your finger across the screen like that unlocks it all the way so you can actually use it. See?

[sageprincess]

[She scooches over a bit to get a better look, the tips of her long ears going a bit red as he turns the phone upright. Ah. So that's how it works.]

Somewhat akin to a refined Gossip Stone, but not quite... [She mutters her thoughts aloud, studying the device carefully.] And once it is "unlocked," how may I use it to speak with another?

[photoshooter]

[He points to the relevant apps as he talks.]

Two ways. So every phone has its own number. From here, you can type in the number of the phone you want to call and then press this button, and it'll call. For example... see, touch here.

[Prompto makes sure she can see the phone button when he touches it, then taps in a number.]

When the whole number's in, you press this green button, and...!

[He takes his own phone out of his pocket just in time for it to start ringing and shows her the incoming call on his screen, grinning.]

I've only memorized a couple numbers so far, so I put in mine. And to answer, all I have to do is press the green button, too. [He answers, then offers her her own phone back.] Here, hold it to your ear.