February Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: October 15th
Where: Meeting Hall, 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 the Meeting Hall, 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 traditional reception room within the Meeting Hall for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior. A minor deity is giving the speech, and none of the white-robed shinki enter. 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 in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's hosuehold 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 explanation 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.

A training game has been set up through a section of the Meeting Hall gardens, with little cut-outs of ayakashi hidden in the landscaping, tucked into bushes or taped under bridges. Prize ribbons are being offered for every ten "ayakashi" a shinki (or team) discovers.

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. Several magically animated straw-stuffed training dummies, many of which have been carefully mended and patched with neat black stitching, are set up on the lawn with a white-robed shinki hovering nearby to watch over them. They make good training partners, although anyone who comes too close risks being targeted for a sparring match whether they wanted one or not.

The pond behind the dojo has had dozens wooden poles sunk in it, spaced a few feet apart, with a bunch of brightly colored ribbons tied around the pole in the very center. Some of the white-robed shinki are practicing scaling the poles and leaping from one to the next, until they get close enough that they can snatch a ribbon from the center pole, and several have fallen in and are being teased by their fellows.

Rest and Refreshments

Instead of snacks being served at the training session, this week, white-robed shinki with little flags are conducting groups of newcomers and volunteers down to the Tokyo Daijingu shrine and into a street festival currently being held in Tokyo. Traditional dance troupes are performing on street corners, and vendors have every kind of fall street foods, from barbecue to takoyaki, chocolate-dipped bananas and red-bean pancakes. New arrivals will get a white-and-gold envelope with spending money for the fair, although gods and shinki who have had some time to settle in will have to handle their own lunch expenses.

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
• Go to a festival
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[unlucky7]

Shinki Training

[Serve your god. Defend people from the ayakashi. Train yourself and be useful to your god and your fellows. These are the things Ginia internalizes as she finds a quiet space to wait for her god and practice her borderlines.

The first time her hand cuts through the air and a thin beam of light springs up, pride and relief settles in her. Good. Now to make it stronger.

Later, as she's traveling between areas, she begins keeping an eye out for the ayakashi cut-outs. Well, if they're hidden in and under things, why not hidden up things. Catch Ginia scaling the trees and other high spaces in the area with ease as she continues her search.]

Physical Training

[Even with a real gun and knife on her person, Ginia grabs a paintball gun and wood knife. She alternates between keeping her distance as she leaves colorful splats of paint on the head and torso, or going in for the kill, striking with brutal slashes to the neck and torso before dodging out.

As she switches back to her gun, movement catches her eye and she turns to fire off a shot. Oops, that's a person, not a training dummy! Catching herself, she lowers her gun and raises a hand in apology.

Later, find her at some stationary targets with a paintball rifle, practicing her aim. She takes her time with each shot, slowing her breathing down and holding it with each shot. The paint splatters are a nice tidy spot as she hits the same spot again and again.]

Rest and Refreshments

[Money tucked away in her coat pocket, Ginia wanders wide-eyed through the street festival. The sights, the smells, the choices are paralyzing. There's so much to choose from and money is limited. What if she makes a bad choice? Hands shoved deep into her pockets, she stands at a distance from each stand, watching hungrily as the vendors prepare and serve their food, never venturing closer to buy something. Help her out?]

both rs in r&r are for ROYALTY

[priforprince]

[ There is a snuffling sound behind Ginia, and she may feel a strange sensation on the back of her head.

An impatient horse, waiting for his master to finish her business at a nearby stall, just exhaled with feeling. The area has therefore been ruffled by a Horse Sigh.

Please don't mind the presence of a horse that nobody but kids are reacting to. It happens. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's hand hovers toward her knife as she slowly turns, prepared for an ayakashi or something else, but no, it's only a horse. A purple horse. Her hand drops away as she takes a step back.

Hello? She glances around. The kids in the area are absolutely thrilled by the sight of a purple horse, while the adults with them are bewildered. A denizen of the Far Shore then.

Right. Slowly, Ginia holds out a hand for the horse to sniff before she tries to pet him. Please don't be bitey?]

[priforprince]

[ Horse sniffs, and makes low whickery noises, but does not bite. He doesn't seem like a super people person, so to say, but he also isn't shying away. Which is probably a good go-ahead?

A cluster of those kids are watching with interest to see if Ginia meets with success. ]

Double pirates (arr and arr, get it?)

[letteropener]

You look troubled.

[The gentle, serene voice comes from behind and above her, because it comes from a pony. Celestia steps up next to her with a gentle and serene smile.]

Is everything all right?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia turns as someone talks to her. She didn't expect to face a winged, horned horse with an impressively majestic mane and tail, but if she's being talked to, then they're from the Far Shore.

She nods quickly as she reaches for her phone, fingers flying across the screen as she types out a message.]

I'm fine. Just watching the people cook.

[Takoyaki. The speed at which the vendors use metal picks to shape the batter and ingredients into golden-brown balls is very impressive. The smell is incredible too, savory and rich.

Ginia's stomach grumbles.]

[letteropener]

[Keen of eye and quick of thought, Celestia notes where she's looking just as that unsubtle rumble spoils Ginia's claims utterly. Well, only one thing to do!]

I think I am hungry, though. Shall we get something?

Training

[futhark]

[ The training tools are getting more and more creative around here, and Caster knows he should start maybe- maaaybe hanging around the training grounds more. You know, being a veteran who knows a thing or two, teaching the new kids some tricks

How to be a teacher? Ah, right channel Scáthach. Easier said than done.

So, for now, he's just skulking the forest until he manages to startle someone and get shot in the face-- not! Because in blink of an eye he materializes the staff and uses it to dodge the incoming bullet.

That was the original plan, but since it's a ball of paint it ends exploding on the contact instead, and while bulk of it stays on the staff itself he still gets splashed ]

Oh crap- that didn't go as planned. [ He says, wiping off the side of his face ] Nice shot!

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's breath catches as the shot is released. It's only a paintball, not a bullet, but they can still bruise and take out an eye. And really, shooting someone on accident is a real bad first start to the career of a shinki. Even if he had gotten into her range, still her fault.

But his reaction is fast and the paint splatters harmlessly. She releases her breath and offers a few bows of apology as she holsters her gun and grabs her phone, holding it up for him.]

Thank you. I'm sorry, are you okay?

[futhark]

[ Ah, this way of communication again- at least she still got her head in place. He leans closer to read what she wrote and whisks away the paint off his fingers with a flick of his hand ]

I'm okay, just a little blue-

[ Or rather, a bit more blue than usual- he's always wearing that damned color, who would have thought he'd get hit with it too ]

Rest and Refreshments

[projectsilvergaze]

[She was told she finally has a shinki at her service. Nona was told the basic things: Ginia, 27. Of course, those are just things used to file them, she won't know until she sees the shinki for herself. She wishes to be careful with this person after all this is the first person in her service. Shinki's cannot die, for they are already dead but there's plenty of danger in being in the service of a Goddess.

She needs to breathe, focus on giving the right impression to this person. Nona wears a light, airy dress set and sandals, her body unaffected by the growing autumnal chill. She grows her hair long, pins it up like a crown and wear whatever gold jewelry she has in the temple. She knows she isn't the real Aja, but Nona thinks she can channel her enough. The large fae ears and lavender eyes do help in that. (Along with her uncanny valley android manner.)

It's a fair, one must look one's best.

Nona doesn't really wish to use her tracking senses to find Ginia, but her spirit is so unique that she can't help but sense it and follow her to the stand. Ginia's goddess is standing behind her, not entirely sure when to make a move.]

[unlucky7]

['Upon arrival, each shinki is assigned to a god. Wait and they'll find you.'

That was what the pamphlet said. After waiting in the same spot for a few hours, that was what the shinki began saying as they urged her to explore the area. 'Fear not, your god will find you! Show your strength to them! Show them you are a good shinki that can be relied upon!'

And so Ginia did. She hunted paper ayakashi, trained and honed her skills, followed the other shinki to the street festival, met other gods and shinki, did what she could to prove she could be a good shinki as she waited for her god. Because her duty to serve her god came above all else and if there was no god to serve, then what was the point of everything?

Maybe she wasn't doing enough. Maybe there were too many people around and she should return to Meeting Hall to wait. But before going back, maybe there was time for one more snack. Ginia contemplates the taiyaki stand, debating between the different fillings when she feels eyes on her.

Tensing up, she slowly turns and comes face-to-face with the woman behind her. She's beautiful, majestic, and Ginia's breath catches in wonder. Her hand dips into her pocket and she pulls out her phone, tentatively typing out a message and holding out the phone at eye level for Nona to read.]

Can I help you?

[projectsilvergaze]

[Meanwhile Nona prefers to just bide her time, waiting for just the right moment to talk to her new Shinki. She wants to make the best impression she can. (So maybe Ginia could forgive the fact she isn't human and doesn't emote, or at least try to.)

Nona does want a 'strong' Shinki, every god wants a vessel that is useful in battle, but Nona wants more than that. She wants a vessel that can truly make up for where she lacks, to feel for her when she can't, to show the emotions she physically cannot show. It's why she doesn't come to Ginia when she is in the meeting hall, or even talking with others. It's when she is all alone at the festival, getting a meal.

She's frankly looking in awe of her, which... Nona doesn't know how to take it. Ginia also apparently cannot speak, so she holds out a phone for her message.]

Yes, the subject is searching for a Shinki. Her name is Ginia.

physical training

[nopixiedust]

Whoa- !

[Fortunately for Ginia, Wendy can duck down... or, rather, falls backwards right onto her butt, hands bracing herself against the ground. It's a good thing her reflexes are relatively quick...]

You've really gotten into it, huh?

[unlucky7]

[This is not a good way to start off her first day as a shinki. Ginia holsters her gun and offers a hand to Wendy as her other pulls out her phone. Once the girl is on her feet, Ginia will type out a quick message and hold out her phone to show Wendy.]

It's what natural for me. But I'm so sorry, I should have been more careful. Are you unhurt?

[nopixiedust]

[Fortunately, Wendy is light and durable. She gets up easily enough, and peers in curiously when the phone is brought out.]

Oh, you can't talk either. You're the third person I've met here who uses their phone like that.

Anyway, watch it next time, alright?

shinki training

[kokuyoyo]

[As if she needs anymore incentive to keep improving on her borderlines...]

[From the side shoots out another one, more offensive than the protective barrier she's pulled up and which it's aimed for. The lanky teenager who's responsible isn't holding anything back, keeping his hand pointed out to her.]

[unlucky7]

[The flash of his borderline slashes through her's, the sudden shattering leaving her stunned for a second. She glances over at him, jaw setting as she clenches her teeth.

Be stronger. Do not let your god down. Ginia's hand slashes another borderline in front of her as she stares down the teen. Her legs brace and her hand twitches at her side.]

[kokuyoyo]

[....Mm. Chikusa blinks at her, tilting his head to the side slowly.]

...Good reaction.

[Praise? Praise that's immediately followed through with another line, aimed as fast and accurate as the first.]

physical training

[wingedprincess]

Wow, that's really impressive. (Tana steps in beside her, looking straight towards the colored target.) And really pretty! Weapons that create colors are remarkable, but you really know how to wield it.

(By now she's tried her hand at a number of the weapons provided, but nothing like the ones that this individual is using.)

What is it?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia snaps the safety on and lowers the rifle as Tana address her. She looks over at the younger woman--oh, what pretty blue hair!--and offers a light smile and bow of her head at the compliment.

Phone already resting in front, she grabs it and types out a quick message, holding the screen up for Tana to read.]

It's a paintball rifle. Want to try?

physical training

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun has a habit of keeping an eye on proceedings around the dojo when he's not doing his own work, and the not overly common sound of paintball fire draws his attention. He's met a few people here competent with firearms, but there's not an abundance of them, and many don't train here.

He almost expects to find Hannah there when he checks, but it's a woman he doesn't recognise of a similar-looking age, and he eyes her up and down before glancing over to the precise spot on the target where all of her shots have landed.

Until she chooses to stop, needs to reload, or otherwise turns her attention, he simply observes the situation, at enough of a distance that the sound isn't too much of a problem for him. When he has an open opportunity, though, he'll nod a little towards the paintball gun even as he gives her a critical look up and down.]

Your aim is good, but getting hold of a gun and ammo here is almost more trouble than it's worth.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia is about to start a reload when he addresses her. She's felt someone watching her, a prickling feeling on the back of her neck, but it seems like everyone is watching everyone at the dojo. She looks over, snapping the safety on the rifle and setting it down.

The information is appreciated. She already has a gun--currently in the custody of the shinki tending to the practice weapons until she returns the rifle--but ammo was the big question. She nods as she grabs her phone off the table. She types quickly, her phone's text-to-speech program reading the words outloud for her.]

Thank you for the information, I will take it consideration outside of the dojo. But while supplies are plentiful here, there's no harm in practicing.

Physical Training

[boneofsword]

[Archer watches her without approaching at first, noting how precise she is. Most likely a sniper, if judging by the way she shoots and the precise aim. He waits until she's either reloading or pausing her practice to approach from the side.]

You have a good eye. Are you one of the new arrivals?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia glances at Archer as he approaches, offering a nod to his question but nothing else. Tall. Strong arms and shoulders. A confidence about him that points to him having been around longer.]