August Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: August 15
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

Unfortunately, Bishamon is away on business today, but her shinki as well as Amaterasu's ever-present shinki and any volunteering gods will offer 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 receive as orientation 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 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. It is encouraged that shinki group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.

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.) This is vital for 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.

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

Rest and Refreshments

[letteropener]

May I ask what you are doing?

[Coming up from behind to glance over his shoulder at his phone, the pony princess is all gentle warmth and calm serenity as she poses her question. Certainly no suspicion in her voice, only curiosity.]

[photoshooter]

[Prompto opens his mouth to answer, but then he turns around and happens to see who--what?--exactly is addressing him, and he pauses for a second. He's never seen an animal like her. Has he? Oh, man, maybe he has and he just doesn't remember, maybe creatures--no, beings like her are common and he's the odd one out. No, that can't be it, he's seen lots of other human-shaped people around, gods and shinki alike.

Well, whatever she is, she's beautiful. He realizes he's staring and shakes himself, then tries a smile.]

I was just taking pictures! ...Uh, if that's allowed.

[letteropener]

Oh! Of course. I am sorry, I completely forgot these phones can do that. [She shakes her head at herself, amused at her own lapse. Prompto's attentions go unremarked, because by now she is quite used to them. Nopony expects the pony, it seems, be they shinki or god.] We do not have devices like these where I come from, and our cameras are much larger.

[photoshooter]

Really? How do you...

[He trails off, aware too late that the question he's started to ask is kind of rude.]

Oh, uh... never mind. Sorry.

[letteropener]

How do we take pictures? We push the button on the cameras.

[Not in the least offended by his question, she nonetheless can't help but smile at the image he must surely have of a pony fumbling with a camera designed for human hands, not equine hooves.]

[photoshooter]

[He chuckles, embarrassed but good-natured about it.]

Okay, yeah, I deserve that answer. But isn't it hard without, um. Thumbs?

[He holds up his own hand and waggles the finger in question.]

[letteropener]

Not in the least -- not when our cameras are designed to be used with hooves. Though I'll be the first to admit that getting these phones to work is a little less convenient than I might like. [She smiles brightly at him, the little joke intended to show no offense has been taken.]

[photoshooter]

[The smile puts him much more at ease.]

Aw, they didn't give you one designed for you? That stinks, you should see if you can get it fixed up for hooves. Like, hook up a special keyboard or something.

[letteropener]

I don't actually need to worry about it personally, fortunately.

[A golden glow shines around Celestia's horn, and a heartbeat later her phone flits out from the little pouch she wears under her wing, also surrounded in that same glow. Magic is very convenient, isn't it?]

[photoshooter]

Oh, wow! You have magic! Does that mean you're a goddess, too?

[He's met Lucina, but she hasn't shown off anything like that!]

[letteropener]

I have the title of a god here, yes. But my magic precedes that. As you can see, I have a horn, which I can use to change mental energy into magical energy.

[photoshooter]

So it's... powered by your brain?

...

That's so cool. Does it work, like, the smarter you are, the more you can do?

[letteropener]

The real factor is what patterns you can shape in your mind. And everypony has a knack for something, no matter how smart or foolish they might be.

[photoshooter]

So cool.

[He grins, impressed.]

What about you? What's your specialty?

[letteropener]

I am the Princess of the Day, and my particular special talent is raising and lowering the sun.

[She turns slightly to put herself more in profile, so he can better see the sun-shaped cutie mark on her flank.]

[photoshooter]

Whoa! You do the sun? And you're a princess! I... um, crap!

[Prompto scrambles to draw his feet together, pulls his shoulders up straight, and then bows, curled fist over his heart.]

S-sorry, I had no idea I was talking to someone so important! I mean, obviously, since you're a god and all, but, uh, you... you know.

[letteropener]

[Celestia moderates her giggle into a gentle and serene laugh.] That's quite all right. We are far from Equestria, I am not doing a thing with this sun, and all that ceremony and formality gets tiring anyway.

[photoshooter]

I-if you say so...

[He twists his hands together a moment, fidgety, then shakes his head.]

If you don't make the sun rise here, then do you do something else? As a goddess and all.

[letteropener]

The standard duties of the gods. Most recently, for example, we were called on to escort spirits through the gates hidden in the countryside.

[That had been delightful, some of the best work she'd gotten to do since coming here.]

[photoshooter]

Oh--spirits like me and the other shinki?

[letteropener]

No, no -- shinki are quite a different thing. You are all very much still yourselves in every important way, from my experience.

[photoshooter]

Oh. So what was different about these spirits? They... weren't themselves anymore?

[letteropener]

If my understanding is correct, they are closer to ancestral spirits. So long-departed sorts, and not inhabitants of the Far Shore.

[photoshooter]

Ohhhh.

[Say 'oh' one more time, boy.]

Wow, that sounds really important, then. Like... a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Long-departed ancestral spirits... how incredible was that?

[letteropener]

It's very important! But it's also apparently a yearly thing, in conjunction with the recent holiday. You may get to experience it for yourself in time too -- and even if not any time soon, there are a great number of new experiences in the Far Shore.