November Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: September 15th
Where: Bishamon's temple, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki



Gods and shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided to Bishamon's temple, where a reception area and a traditionally styled dojo and training ground have been made available for the day. 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 Western-styled reception hall within Bishamon's temple 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 instructed to guide their new shinki appropriately.

Shinki Training

Various shinki volunteers, both in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's shinki and in Bishamon's red-piped black uniforms, are stationed around the dojo, passing out helpful informational pamphlets. They will be happy to instruct the newcomers in the use of the borderline as well as offering an explanantion 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 perspectives.

An area of the practice ground has been marked off for shinki to practice borderlines against one another. There are several big buckets filled with beanbags that have been generously dusted with colored chalk powder. Shinki can pair up and practice throwing beanbags at one another while trying to deflect the beanbags with a borderline.

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.

A table towards one side of the training area, manned by two of Amaterasu's shinki in white and gold, has a stack of big tote bags and a scavenger-hunt list taped down to the table. It's a chance for gods to practice teamwork with their new shinki, or just have a little fun while helping newcomers learn their way around the Heavens. The list reads:
• Rabbit Mask.
• Volcanic Stone.
• Sneakers, 21.5cm.
• Cloth Blindfold.
• Moon Cake.
• Badminton Paddle.
• Calligraphy Brush.
• Red Maple Leaf.
• Blue Teacup.
• Gray Shirt.
At the bottom of the list, someone has added a scribbled rule reading "You may not take items from a temple without asking!"

Rest and Refreshments

The weather is nice, but there are still plenty of tables of bottled water or bottled sports drinks provided to ensure that no one gets dehydrated. Plates of small snacks are also available, mostly seasonally appropriate ones like rice cakes, mikan oranges, roasted chestnuts and toasted crackers, but also candy and snack bars.

Some leftover party games from the moon viewing are set up in a grassy area of the gardens, and Bishamon's younger shinki are eagerly playing tag, blind-man's buff, badminton and flying kites there. They'll happily welcome anyone who wants to join in, although those who wander too far past the party games into the gardens may find themselves greeted by one of the adult shinki who will politely usher them back to the training area.

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
• Complete a scavenger hunt
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[cieled]

Borderlines? (It seems he has to catch up on the terminology! Now he has a reason to, at least.) I would like to see what you can do if you do not mind?

(He nods and crosses his arms over his chest.) The way I understand it is I give you a name that befits your nature - or the nature I wish for you to have. They are written in kanji somewhere on your body.

Do you have any requests on that score?

[trapperkeeper]

Nah, just pick something cool.

[The name is not something he's too worried about. More importantly!]

Borderlines are those magic line thingys that shinki use against ayakashi. Check it out!

[Always eager to show off, Lann turns and points at a nearby tree.]

Say that tree is an ayakashi, right? Watch.

[He makes the halberd symbol with his fingers and draws them in a firm sweep across the ground.]

LINE!!

[The resulting line is strong. But large enough that it not only blocks but obscures the tree opponent. And also slices riiight through a nicely manicured flower bush several feet away. Whoops. This is probably why there are specific training areas for this sort of thing. And why control is sometimes more important than strength.]

[cieled]

(He blinks at the descriptor. Cool? Is that request temperature related or - ?)

I'm afraid I do not follow. Are you fond of snow, perhaps?

(Ciel nods slowly as he watches, his gaze critical rather than awed.)

You have power and that isn't a bad thing, but your control...

What if that flower bush was a person? I will help you train as much as possible so we can be ready, as a team, for battle.

[trapperkeeper]

Snow? What's that got to do with anything?

[He's at least got the self awareness to look sliiightly chagrined at the destroyed bush. But still...]

Yeah I know I gotta work on it, but c'mon! Did you see the size of that line?

[The size is important, right?]