July Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: August 5
Where: Bishamon's temple, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods (although there's none this time) 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.




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:

• 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

[nibelungvalesti]

The majority I have encountered are not masterful tacticians. They rely on their ability to blight at a touch, which means that simple skill can defeat them with no harm done. Others, however, are more troublesome... Some are so small that they are difficult to recognize as dangerous until the damage is already done, for example. They are similarly difficult to battle.

I use the same means for all, however. [Her hand falls to the hilt of the sword. This is a slightly untrue if taken literally; occasionally she uses a bow. But the Battle-Maiden knows only combat.]

[dragonflood]

[The smaller ones sound like they could get annoying, but it's good to hear that most of them aren't very tactical. As well as the fact that it sounds like they can't do anything more dangerous than blight, but she's heard of ones that drain people's energy, so maybe she shouldn't relax yet.]

[She follows the movement when Lenneth puts her hand to her sword.] I heard that conventional weapons don't work on them.

[nibelungvalesti]

That is not precisely accurate. Ayakashi may be fought with the full power available to any god or shinki, but they cannot be permanently destroyed save with 'Rend'. That may only be conducted by a god wielding a shinki in vessel form.

[Of course, one might call a divine weapon 'unconventional', but the principle applies to more than the goddess.]

Fighting them is necessary to weaken them, in fact, so that they may become vulnerable to Rending.

[dragonflood]

So it's like that... [It's good to know that they can be fought at all without rend. Sometimes being able to hold them off is good enough. (Not often. But sometimes.)]

You said "not many" earlier... When the tactical ones appear, are there any signs?

[nibelungvalesti]

[If they could not be, the Valkyrie would have likely gone mad long ago.]

Size or shape. Most ayakashi are more like creatures or simply eyeballs floating absently. Those with greater power and ability to use it are often of greater size or more sophisticated appearance.

[dragonflood]

That sounds familiar. [Which means she won't have to adjust her thinking too much, so she's grateful for it.]

[And that paints a more complete picture of the ayakashi than she had before (which isn't quite saying much, really, but, considering she hasn't met one yet, that's to be expected.) And different people have different takes on them, after all.]

Thanks. That was a help.

[nibelungvalesti]

You will only truly understand them when you have fought them. Which you will do, in time. [She intends that as a warning, but whether it comes off as that, a threat, or something else -- hard to say, really. She is just too affectless to be read so easily.]

[dragonflood]

[She takes it as a warning, mostly because she was thinking the same thing. Most of her job was to take care of similar beings in her world; even if ayakashi never bothered her, she would have sought them out herself at some point.]

But there's nothing to understand... [As with Horrors, ayakashi are things to be eradicated. That's all.] They aren't things to be empathized with.

[nibelungvalesti]

If you do not understand how your foe fights, you will underestimate them, to your dismay. [She isn't arguing Rekka's points, for she is in complete agreement that the ayakashi have no redeeming qualities in the slightest.]

[dragonflood]

We must have meant "understand" in different ways. [She doesn't "understand" people via combat, but she supposes it would make sense for a trainer to see it that way.]

You're right about underestimating them, of course... [It might have hit a bit close to home, in fact, considering she got injured not too long ago when she'd turned her back on an enemy.]

[But for now—] I'll see you again.

[nibelungvalesti]

You shall. I am here to train any time this temple is opened for the purpose, and if it is not, I will train at my own. [This is an implicit invitation; though the Valkyrie is not sure how skilled Rekka might be in battle, she is certain that everyone can improve. Even herself.]