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

Not much rest, so it seems

[futhark]

[ Alibaba is not the only one who thought that this particular tree looks like a perfect spot for some relax. The only difference is that Caster prefers higher perches, so he's half-sitting and half-lying on a branch two meters above the shinki.

He also just finished eating few cakes and a croissant and now he's busy whisking off the crumbs that accumulated around his robe. Before they start inviting more of those small birds chirping around.

Unfortunately, many of those crumbs happen to fall right on Alibaba's head. ]

rude

[flamebearer]

[ A surprised sputter comes from beneath him as Alibaba suddenly gets a faceful of crumbs and jerks upright to glare up into the tree. ]

Hey! Watch it!

it was an accident, honest!

[futhark]

[ Caster looks down and just lets out a hearty laugh ]

Sorry, sorry, didn't notice you there.

[ Where are crumbs, there are hungry sparrows, so it's about getting even worse. ]

he's not convinced

[flamebearer]

[ It is, because suddenly there are about half a dozen very curious birds hopping around him and swooping at the crumbs tangled in his hair. ]

Ack! Hey! Wait! Stop! [ There are flailing arms and flapping wings and Alibaba eventually has to roll away from the tree, his head covered by his arms. Luckily, the crumbs left behind in the grass seem to be enough to lure them away. But not before the whole thing makes him look ridiculous, of course. ]

that's probably wise

[futhark]

[ Look at him so thoughtfully and so seriously assessing what he just witnessed ]

Mhhm, a solid B-, a small deduction for lack of style.

[ Because even against bird you've got to have style, yes? ]

wise? ali? that can't be right

[flamebearer]

Style? What? [ Now that he's free from birds, he scowls up at the person in the tree. ] You attacked me with birds! What the hell?!

even a broken clock is right twice a day!

[futhark]

[ Caster barks another chuckle. Sure he's got many tricks up his sleeve, but bird control certainly isn't one of them ]

I'm pretty sure they attacked you on your own. They don't really listen to what I say.

[ And truth to be told, he was trying to get rid of them as well. Hence brushing off the crumbs. And the unintentional creation of another victim. ]

how optimistic of you

[flamebearer]

[ Alibaba just straightens with a frown and glances up at the man overhead, crossing his arms over his chest.

He doesn't look like he believes you. At all. ]

What are you even doing up there? Who are you?

[futhark]

[ He's going to answer the first question first. ] Hmm, eating lunch. Planned on taking a nap too maybe--

[ And here he jumps down, dramatically landing right next to Alibaba. His hood still mostly hiding his face ] I'm one of the new gods, you?

[flamebearer]

[ Oh. Shit.

Realizing he'd been yelling at one of the gods, he instantly looks a little horrified. Even if the guy had sicced a bunch of birds on him. ]

Ahhh... I'm Alibaba. One of the new shinki.

[futhark]

[ That's a sudden change of attitude and it doesn't escape Caster's notice. Huh. Is he that scary suddenly? Or maybe it's the -accidental- birds association? There are various phobias, although birds are mostly harmless, boy... He shrugs off his hood to uncover his face. ]

My name is Cú Chulainn [ He likes that short moment of introductions, he really does. If not for potential dangers associated with it, he'd be first to wave his True Name with pride ] But I go as Caster more often.

[ A pause and the most important and very casual question ]

Got any food?

[ Just water seems like not enough albeit it surely helps for that summer heat ]

[flamebearer]

[ He's really glad the guy added his normal name onto the end of that, because his god name was a bit of a mouthful. ]

Caster, then. And, uh. No? Not at the moment but... [ he gestures to the tables and things scattered around them. Which he'd been avoiding a little because they still looked really fancy and he didn't want to accidentally break something. ] It looks like there's plenty, if you're hungry?

[futhark]

[ He furrows his brows looking slightly displeased at the answer. Nothing personal, it's the another confirmation that there is probably no real food in the vicinity that he doesn't like. ]

They just got sweets, cakes, things like that. Hardly enough to satisfy an appetite. [ And he got a big one. ] Well, I guess I have to wait until I get back to my temple.

[flamebearer]

Ahh, sorry? [ He glances around, only now realizing that was what was offered. ] Maybe it's just intended to be a snack to hold you over till the next meal? I didn't really ask.

[futhark]

They're doing their best in testing our patience then. [ Generalized "our" or just his? ]

[flamebearer]

Well, you're a god, right? No one told you you had to stay and couldn't go eat, right?

[ Alibaba's pretty sure most people wouldn't be dumb enough to try and tell the gods anything. Except for maybe other gods, maybe they could get away with it? ]

[futhark]

I'll probably do that eventually. I'm going to suffer in silence for a little longer while, though. Wouldn't want to miss something important happening.

[ He's a new god after all. Would be dumb to go catch something to eat and miss crucial information ]

So, Baba, have you found your god already?

[flamebearer]

Alibaba. And no, not yet. [ He shakes his head, glancing around. ] Although they told me whoever it was would find me here. That wasn't much to go on, though.

[futhark]

Yeah, it's true... kind of weird, but true. [ He was wondering how the hell he will find the shinki he's been assigned to, but once they met it become obvious. It must be annoying, even stressful on the shinki side though. If all they can do is waiting... ]

I guess it means you shouldn't hide too much.

[flamebearer]

I wasn't trying to hide. I just wasn't sure where I should wait. [ He glances around him, but everywhere seemed rather busy with gods and shinki coming and going. How would his god ever find him in this? ]

[futhark]

[ That was a joke, maybe he should have specify? He wonders... ]

Don't worry too much, you will be found out eventually. [ Hopefully! He doesn't know for certain even if he acts as he does ] You stand out too much to not notice you

[flamebearer]

[ Look, he's already taking his duty and responsibility to his god way too seriously, it probably would have flown right over his head regardless. At least he's enthusiastically earnest about it?

Although the comment has him glancing down at himself in confusion. ]

Huh? I do?

[futhark]

We-ll, we do have here quite an eclectic bunch. [ He's one of those. ] But you do hold a quite distinct appearance - I didn't see much of clothes like yours around

[ But then it's his first day too, he's not the one to judge ]