thenearshore | 013 | Down To Business

Entry tags:

013 | Down To Business

Who: Everyone!
What: Training
When: Morning June 16
Where: Bishamon's temple
Summary: Training sessions for everyone to learn more about their abilities and jobs!

Many people have been wanting to know more about their abilities and what they are required to do here in the Far Shore. So, in conjunction with Bishamonten, the Heavens have seen fit to offer an open training session for everyone to participate in. Here you will be able to learn anything and everything about what you should be able to do and what is expected of you in your new positions.

Bishamon's temple is sweeping and gorgeous, having previously been home to hundreds of shinki. She has graciously offered to hold this training session and will be available to help anyone who needs it.

Equipment

Various kinds of mannequins and dummies have been provided for practice, as well as targets that are either stationary or move, depending on your will. Punching bags, jumping blocks, and a large pool area have also been provided for your use, so that you can find a tool for pretty much anything that you might need to practice. Plenty of practice weapons of various weights, sizes, and shapes are also available upon request from any of the many white-clad shinki that are also attending today.

God Training

Bishamon herself will be the foremost source of information regarding being a god and what is expected of you. It is also encouraged that gods group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies. Random groupings can be provided by the mods or you may come up with your own groupings together.

Shinki Training

Various shinki are available to help with shinki training, including Kazuma and all of Bishamon's shinki. Additionally, the white-clad shinki will be more than happy to train you on using the borderline and some of the basics of what is expected of a shinki. It is also encouraged that shinki group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies. Random groupings can be provided by the mods or you may come up with your own groupings together.

Refreshments

There is a refreshments table provided. It is covered with light snacks and various kinds of hydrating drinks. There is a little sitting area set up for people to relax in after they have finished their training or if they're even just taking a quick break to cool down. The Heavens want you to stay in good condition!

In Summary:

Use the state of the art equipment
Learn about your job
Form groups to practice
Don't get dehydrated
Spectate if you want
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This statement is so patently ridiculous, Lenneth's silence is almost palpable stone and ice as she regards him. This boy, Baldr? It beggars belief.]

[No, she reminds herself. Many others wear the mantle of gods they are not here, just as she herself has been taken from her pantheon and placed it another. Or is acting in both capacities, since she remains the Valkyrie.]

[After a minute that may be very uncomfortable for him, she at last relaxes slightly, the sword in her hand lowering by a matter of inches.]

I am -- I was the active Valkyrie. [Sadness and anger slip through her words, muted but present.] I suppose Hrist has the duty now... I assume by calling us 'Norse' you are not from the Asgard or Midgard I know, and have taken on that name as I have been assigned one here as well?

[The gods of Valkyrie Profile are not the Norse gods, after all. The names may be the same, but little else. Lenneth, of course, has no idea.]

[The stretching silence does make Sora a little uneasy at first. Did he say something wrong? He's a curious sponge when it comes to his pantheon. He's still learning more about it every single day, and any chance to meet other people from the same origin as him is special to him. So, did he get it wrong?

But the Valkyrie says that and Sora's shifting from foot to foot. And he's a little puzzled.]

One of the Valkyries... No, I'm not from Asgard directly, I guess. My real name is Sora but I've been given the name Baldr. Like you with another god or goddess?

[A Valkyrie turned goddess might be as strange and interesting as a shinki turning god.]

[A Valkyrie, this Valkyrie at least, is a goddess -- one of fate, in fact. Just one more curiosity to her own world, as opposed to the pantheon those here know and operate under.]

Yes. [She closes her fist as she lifts it to her breastplate, feeling the power of her divinity welling through her. Boundless energy without a direct outlet, save perhaps her ability to shape it into the items and weapons of war.] I bear the mantle of Osiris.

[Her eyes open again, fixing him in her coolly curious stare.] It is strange to hear of a human being elevated to godhood without being chosen by me, yet I understand this is how things work here. But does this not mean you have come into the role without proper training?

[It's hard to miss the way she presents herself. A goddess for sure no matter which name she inherited. He's not familiar with the name Osiris and it doesn't sound Norse to him but he tucks away the name for later to look up with Add or Roxas.

when she opens her eyes and stares at him Sora feels the need to straighten up like he's being judged. His shoulders square and he lifts his chin.]

Things do work a little differently around here, yeah. [Then he shakes his head.] But not at all, I'm more than trained with what we've gotta to here and more.

[He lifts a hand and summons his keybalde. The Unbound, one of the strongest ones out there. It radiates with warm light and power. He looks a little more excited just then, like a child ready to learn something new. Don't be deceived by his "human" looks. He's more than capable in a fight.]

Wanna train together? That's what we're here for, right? I can try and prove myself.

[Oh? What a curious weapon, though its power clearly shone through. She had never seen its like, which for a warrior goddess is saying something.]

[Is his confidence arrogance? If it is not, is his ability truly on the level of a god's, or is it simple excellent for a mortal? Even a great general or a famed swordsman requires training and effort to ascend to Valhalla, after all -- no matter the battles they'd fought in life. Such conflicts exist purely on the mortal scale.]

Very well. I am interested in seeing your ability. Do you wish to be trained, or do you wish to prove yourself?

[To Lenneth, those are two very different beasts.]

Ummm!

[Training or to prove himself? He thinks for a quick second and then taps the end of his keyblade on his toe and then lifts it so it rests on his shoulder. He grins again.]

Training! If I can get more of that in then I can spar with Roxas soon. So I'll take all the beatings I can get.

[And a chance to train with a real honest to goodness Valkyrie? Sign him up.]

If I do good, can you tell me more about your Asgard??

[That might have been a bad choice. At his answer, Lenneth draws her sword, letting the ether-coated steel sweep through the air and catch the light before she levels it at him. He could have proved himself against a blunt sword, but to train, he must face true battle.]

Should you survive, you will find your reward is in your gained strength. I will answer your questions regardless.

[Even if he gets his butt thoroughly kicked Sora would still be happy about this. He'd always take something away from training with someone new. To prove himself to her would have to be another day.

His grin wavers a little before he slides into his usual battle stance. Should he survive??]

Geeze, maybe hold back on the killing me part?

[His excitement is quickly back in place. Without warning Sora lunges forward using Flash Step and is at her in a blink. He uses a Horizontal Slash and begins a rapid three hit combo, stars and sparks flying off his weapon.]

[The Valkyrie throws up one arm in a warding gesture across her body, and with that the full extent of her raiment of battle appears: two floating shields. The one in front of her absorbs the blow of the Keyblade without an inch of give before the second and third one slip past it. Lenneth lets out a grunt as the two blows hail into her, but already she is making her counterattack -- a massive overhand blow with both hands that, hit or miss, she follows up a sudden transition into a sliding kicking and a rising slash with the weapon.]

[She is a goddess of battle; her movements are quick, fluid, and far belie her small frame with their power.]

[She's a professional, that's for sure. Sora's volley is met with strange new shields and Sora doesn't know how to handle them yet. Luckily enough some of his blows rip past.

He yelps loudly when counterattacked, managing to bring up his blade to deflect the powerful first blow just barely. It's the sliding kick and slash that has Sora knocked off his feet and sprawling back.

Rolling out of the hits, Sora leaps back onto his feet. He counters with Retaliating Slash which allows him to quickly move back in for a counter after being knocked down. He brings his keyblade up in an Upper Slash aiming to knock her off balance and possibly into the air.]

[She has to admit, he is not bad for a mortal. His recovery is excellent and his intensity is not to be questioned.]

[Lenneth dodges backwards with a lithe little hop that barely moves her body.] You missed! [And there's her natural arrogance in battle showing through as she sweeps her blade in to counterattack in her own rising slash.]

Whoa-!

[Sora parries quickly, his keyblade coming up to meet her blade. Where he doesn't have much physical strength he makes up for in speed. He's not like Riku or Roxas who have more strength than anything else so her blow is powerful. But at least he is still quick on his feet.

With her so close and hitting hard he only has one option in that moment. He tries Round Break which Sora will pivot and unleash a spinning attack that will hopefully throw her away from him and momentaily stun her.]

[The Keyblade strikes Lenneth's side armor roughly, and it does indeed knock her back. The Valkyrie lands on her feet some distance away, and as she rises from her crouch power floods out of her in a tremendous wash as she raises her weapon.]

It shall be engraved upon your soul--

[And then she stops. This is training, after all. Divine might continues to flood from her as she looks over the blade of the sword at him.]

Are you prepared?

[Ohhhh crap- that sounds a lot like a limit break or ultimate attack of some sort. Sora's shoulders tense tightly and he brings up his weapon arm to cover his face from damage. But she stalls?

He looks at her where she stands, the radiant power coming from her hard to miss. He can almost feel it himself. He grips his keyblade tighter and slowly nods. She's strong, and he instantly admires her. He wants to be strong too!]

... I'm ready!

[Is he going to regret this? He's unafraid! Sora has a few more tricks up his sleeve to deflect some damage but not all of it. He casts Aero around himself to absorb some damage and Reflectga can always be used in a pinch to create a protective dome of light around his body. Will that do? He has to watch what she's doing next.]

[Hmph. She already regrets giving him the opportunity. What will he learn if he survives only because he has preparation?]

Divine assault!

[She lunges forward, her sword descending overhand in a blow that made her others look slow and weak -- and even as it lands, she blurs into a chain of blows and strikes at speed. A sweep, another overhand blow, then a rising slash to knock him into the air. All to set him up for the eruption of one colossal spear of raw energy out of the ground beneath him, the first of three surging up to impale him.]

[The power and the intensity is too much for Sora. Such raw power. He does his best to handle each blow but eventually Sora takes enough damage that ~~his health bar blinks red~~ he falls to a knee as she leaps up into the air.

He raises his gaze up to her with a grin. She's strong. What is he supposed to do? Give up? He doesn't want to. Is she really going to outright impale him in a training match? Either way Sora's not running away.

Sora grits his teeth and casts Reflectga as a brilliant dome of warm light surrounds his body that will reflect a portion of damage back at the wielder. That's all he's got, he'll probably collapse to the ground after this attack.]

[She grits her teeth as the damage flickers back to her, then practically yanks her sword down before the attack can complete. As near as she can tell, he couldn't handle the next two impaling bolts that come with the attack -- let alone the final roar of the dragon-clad spear.]

[But then, she trusts she's made her point.]

Did you learn something?

[He doesn't say anything right away, instead breathing heavy and feeling his body ache with pain. He shudders and grips his keyblade tightly in his hand.

To be honest he's not sure what she expected of him but he feels a bubble of gratitude in his chest. He's not ready to face a true Valkyrie and though it humbles him he's excited too. She reminds him of another goddess that used to be here, one that was just as hard on him and one that didn't go easy no matter what. He admires that honesty.

He looks up at her, lips a weak smile.]

Don't bite off more than I can chew.

[Sora says with a slight soft laugh. Ow. Everything hurts. He collapses limply.]

That is a good lesson for some circumstances. Sometimes, however, you must put yourself into a fight, no matter the odds.

What else?

[She stepped over to offer him a hand back up. No need to bend down, considering her general lack of height.]

[He looks up at her, studying her face for a moment before he takes her hand. He's wobbly but he manages to stand.]

No matter what you've got to give it your all until the very end.

[Training or not, it didn't matter. In real fights the other person wouldn't hold back on you, just like Lenneth hadn't.]

[She adds her strength to his efforts to stand, substantial as it is. She doesn't look like much of a physical presence, but her strength befits a goddess.]

I am not certain you needed to learn that lesson from me. Your defenses are not insignificant and you recover from hits well, but you would do well to learn a quick sidestep and counter, as I demonstrated against you.

[As he stands and listens his eyes light up with grateful fondness.]

Sidestep and counter... Yeah, I'm not that great with countering! I'll try my best to get better at that.

[He smiles sincerely but winces shortly after. He raises a hand to his chest and casts a curaga spell on himself. Warm green light envelops him for a short moment as the pain fades.]

Thank you, by the way... [He looks a little sheepish.] I don't think I caught your name before.

[How strange that he is both a warrior and a mage. In her experience, the two cannot be combined successfully -- time devoted to mastering one skill leaves little opportunity for the other.]

I am the Valkyrie. Here, I also bear the mantle of Osiris.

Oh!

[Sora grins. Most gods and goddesses have two names.]

Do you like being called Valkyrie? or Osiris? I like to go by just Sora.

I am the Valkyrie. Osiris is merely the mantle bestowed upon me here. [Simple straightforward logic, which dismisses all subtleties and nuance. That might come back to haunt her in the end...]

Sora. I shall remember that name.

013 | Down To Business

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