June Intro/Training Log

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: July 26
Where: Bishamon's temple, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki



The product of many meetings and recommendations, at last it has taken shape. On this day, in anticipation of the new arrivals who appear in a recognized pattern, Heaven has partnered with the new gods and shinki to organize a very helpful informational reception.

The shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided kindly towards Bishamon's temple. And in that vast complex they are brought to a traditional-style dojo.

Here the newly arrived gods are gathered, so finding their partner is more simple. The gods and shinki are free to take their time during this day to learn about the aspects of their new life from Amaterasu's shinki, or from the many veteran new god and shinki volunteers.




Divine Bureaucracy

Wasn't it the newly revamped Shinki Agency's job to assign shinki this time... They thought it was the original team of Amaterasu's shinki's job this one last time before Shinki Agency took over the responsibility. Needless to say, when the shinki wake up at the Meeting Hall, there's a lot of shouting. Eventually, one of the Shinki Agency representatives herds the new shinki together and instructs them to please all go to Bishamonten's temple for the time being and they will send a runner with the god-shinki assignments as soon as they can.

New gods and old gods alike will not be notified that there is a mix-up unless they come to Bishamon's temple for Training, until the Shinki Agency can figure out what happened.

Important addendum: For this round, gods still have a vision of how their shinki died, however they can't make out any details, particularly about who they saw die.
Once a shinki of the Agency gives the god the name of their shinki, the god is then able to find them by name. Once they give their shinki a vessel name the god will have the full vision of how their shinki died.

This addition comes in response to some questions and need for clarification. Apologies and thank you for your input.

God Training

Bishamon herself, as well as Amaterasu's ever-present shinki and any volunteering gods, will be the foremost source of information regarding being a god and what is expected of them, such as prayers. It is encouraged that gods group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.
Newly arrived gods are still expected to communicate to their shinki the information* they themselves get oriented with when they arrive.

Shinki Training

Various volunteers are stationed around the building, 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 and some of the basics of what is expected of a shinki. It is encouraged that shinki group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.
Bishamon's lead shinki Kazuma offers a lecture to new arrivals that will thoroughly cover some essential points about teamwork with both shinki and other gods.

Physical Training

The dojo is stocked with a wide variety of practice weapons, traditional and modern. There are volunteers here as well, willing to assist in basic training. (Or even more advanced sparring, depending on the volunteer.) Essential for gods who, for example, find themselves with a sword shinki but are at risk of cutting off their own toes.
Also useful for veteran new gods wishing to train with their current partner shinki.

Rest and Refreshments

There is a garden off the dojo that is free to be used for rest and conversation.
Should anyone wander outside the designated area, some shinki of Bishamon's will attach themselves to them and not leave them be until they return to the dojo.

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 just taking a quick break to cool down. Even hand towels are provided by Bishamon's helpful shinki. The Heavens wants everyone to stay in good condition!

In Summary:

• New characters are welcome to ask old characters if this mix-up is common (spoilers: it's not)
• New Shinki: Get all the information you can handle from the pamphlets provided (links above and see FAQ)
• New Gods: take what information you can from Amaterasu's shinki (see FAQ) while waiting to find out if you've been assigned a shinki
• Veteran 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

[lookingforhead]

[Celty nods and raises her hands. Black shadow, smokelike in form, begins to flow from her sleeves and forms into a large black scythe, so dark that the blade reflects the light that it doesn't absorb.

She gives Wendy just a moment to process it before lunging forward with a wide swing!]

[nopixiedust]

[uM]

[OKAY]

[SO SHE WASN'T EXPECTING THIS]

[HOLY SHIT]

[With a yelp, she flips backwards to avoid the swing. Something flicks on in the back of her head, and she abruptly lunges forward again. It's a big weapon, so hard to backswing and not good for close quarters- so she just needs to take out the knees, right!?]

[lookingforhead]

[Fortunately Celty has full control over the blade, and can make it immaterial if she thinks she's actually going to hit the poor girl, but it looks lethal enough as is.

Her swing does indeed take her arms too far away to counter the lunge, but a scythe isn't the only trick to her power. She steps back and the shadow she casts on the ground surges up, making a tendril to do the job of blocking for her.]

[nopixiedust]

Whoa-!

[Her hands slam into the weird shadowy tendril barely in time, and Wendy hastily pushes herself back to try and scramble for some distance. Clearly this isn't going to be some regular fight! Which should be good but- holy crap.]

[Clearly she's going to have to change things up a bit, and she pulls out a metal wire with a weight attached to the end of it as she tries to beat a retreat.]

[lookingforhead]

[The tendril resists slightly, grasping onto her for a moment before letting her pull away. Celty isn't trying to play dirty, so the brief tug that Wendy feels is more intended as a friendly warning to be careful.

Celty doesn't pursue as she should if she wants to win. She lets the other girl get the distance she's looking for. The helmet turns to focus on the wire, waiting to see what she plans to do with it. She holds her scythe in the ready position again, waiting for the attack.]

[nopixiedust]

[So being polite, huh? Okay, Wendy actually appreciates it, because she thinks she nearly had a heart attack. Taking a breath, she starts to twirl around the end of the wire with the weight on it as she tries to pace a circle around Celty.]

[When she thinks she's got a shot- the weight suddenly goes shooting out, trying to wrap around the staff of the scythe.]

[lookingforhead]

[Celty's hands rise to meet the wire, blocking it and getting the scythe wrapped just like Wendy intended. In theory she could just dispel the scythe, maybe, or cut the wire, but she holds on.

Opting to play at the game of strength instead, Celty tugs against Wendy's own pull. She seems to be a bit stronger than her build lets on. It's pretty obvious at this point that she's not a normal human.]

[nopixiedust]

[Wendy was already counting on a game of strength, on the basis that- hey, she's just a child. There's no way she was going to win. So she follows the tug, giving a hop so that her feet don't skid along the ground and winding her wire tighter and tighter to help carry her closer.]

[If this lady can fling around a heavy scythe all the time, maybe a child's weight isn't much either? At least, that's what Wendy is hoping for as she makes her wire taut in an effort to swing a little higher. Low isn't good, so try for high!]

[lookingforhead]

[With Celty occupied with the scythe, she's not able to get her defenses up in time as the wire comes around and Wendy's attack lands with a loud and hollow thunk on the side of her helmet.

Given the number of other headshots she's taken today, Celty's actually prepared this time and the helmet doesn't come off by accident, sparing Wendy from that shock. Following the hit, Celty nods in acknowledgement of it, letting up her own pressure. She's fine to stop here unless Wendy wishes to continue, but as far as practice combat is concerned that was a fine hit and worthy of them resetting.]

[nopixiedust]

[Landing on her feet, Wendy takes a second to catch her breath and slowly start wrapping up her wire again. She actually did it.... Whistling out a breath, she grins.]

That was tough! I didn't know if that would work- and that shadow stuff really surprised me! You're tricky. That wasn't a shinki spell, right?

[lookingforhead]

[The helmet shakes in a 'no'. Celty dismisses the scythe and then gestures for Wendy to come closer. She then fishes her phone from her pocket and types something into it, holding it out to be read when she's close enough.]

No, it's a personal thing. I haven't completely worked out the 'Borderline' thing yet, but I'm getting there.

But you were very impressive. Your weapon is very interesting too.

[nopixiedust]

[Leaning close, Wendy carefully mouths along the words- reading Japanese is still slow going for her, although she's made progress.]

Oh! Well, it's definitely really handy. I'm a little jealous. [Straightening up with the wire, she beams.] I woke up with this, so I didn't have any idea if I could even use it until I started to train.

Is that how it was with you?

[lookingforhead]

Yes, pretty much. Mostly it just works the way I need it to. Easy as walking, mostly. But there's probably some things I can do that I just haven't thought to yet. Or can't remember I can.

[It's annoying, but she's glad at least she has these powers. Especially since they keep her clothed.]

[nopixiedust]

[Tell Wendy about it being annoying... Although, as a supposed kid, she supposes there's not nearly as much to worry about on her end.]

Do you mean more fighting kind of things, or other stuff?

[lookingforhead]

I'm not sure.

[That's the point, isn't it?]

But I think I'm supposed to have a horse and I didn't have one with me when I arrived. So maybe it's linked to my powers somehow.

[nopixiedust]

Oh.

....Do you want a horse? I think we have one at my god's place. At the very least, she keeps renting this one carriage...

[lookingforhead]

I think I'm fine for now. What I need is a job anyway. I don't have much money for gas, nevermind a horse.

Who is your god?

[nopixiedust]

Apollo is I guess her title, but her real name is Hibiki!

You'll recognize her pretty quickly. She's really flashy.

[No joke.]

[lookingforhead]

Oh! I think I've met her!

[That response comes rather quickly. There's a brief awkward pause and then Celty types some more.]

She's interesting

But she seems nice

But she seems to have some very intense reactions to the way people talk thought.

[nopixiedust]

Oh. [Wendy's expression is so sympathetic.] You had to see the sentence ender thing?

[lookingforhead]

Yes. And she said she wanted nothing to do with it

[Her shoulders hitch a bit and she squirms half in embarrassment and half in self amusement before typing more.]

She didn't have time to dismount the horse before I went after the Ayakashi.

It got away though

[nopixiedust]

[Oh boy.]

Sorry about that.... It's a weird thing of hers. But you didn't get hurt, right?

[lookingforhead]

No, I was a fine. I was more worried about her honestly.

But I hope she IS doing right by you and her followers.

[nopixiedust]

Oh, she's fine! She's a bit pompous and melodramatic- [What is "pulling punches"] -but she does her best.

....As long as she thinks she has reason to, anyway.

[Can't lead a horse to water and all that...]

[lookingforhead]

It's okay. Sharak is a bit similar...though I guess a bit more violent than melodramatic. But she isn't a bad person.

I think