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

refreshments

[kokuyoyo]

[It's been a while since he's seen Nari... and of course it would be around food. Nibbling at one of the various skewers he's holding inbetween his fingers, Chikusa watches Nari watch the various stalls.]

....Are you getting anything...

[nolittlesecret]

I will once I figure out what half this stuff is. I'm not Japanese, and nothing here looks like something I would cook at home.

[Though yakisoba looks inviting... he might wind up getting a skewer or two for his canine friend beside him.]

[kokuyoyo]

...Isn't it obvious what most of it is?

[Says the teenager who will shove anything into his mouth.]

[nolittlesecret]

You'd think so, but not so much. I don't know the seasonings, vegetables, or the actual types of meat they're using. It's not like I can read Japanese, ya know. And I hate fish sauce and fish so it's kind of hard to avoid things like that when it's not clearly labeled.

[A sea god who doesn't eat fish...]

[kokuyoyo]

...Isn't your temple on a beach?

[NARI...]

[nolittlesecret]

Yes. And I prefer fish to be alive. It's healthier for the environment.

[Fish is gross!!!!]

[kokuyoyo]

...Then why aren't you just vegan.

[he's calling BS]

[nolittlesecret]

I love meat. I love hunting. I like wearing leather boots because they are pretty water resistant if you get the right oils for them. Mixed fabrics are sturdier than just straight up cotton, and wool coats are a must for winter. That's why I can't be vegan. Plus, vegans aren't supposed to drink coffee, and I would kill a man if they tried to take that from me. Also, ice cream. Ice cream is great.

[kokuyoyo]

...So.

It's just fish.

...What about octopus...

[nolittlesecret]

.......... I can't say I've ever tried octopus. I was raised in a very meat and potato kind of family.

[kokuyoyo]

[From a nearby stall, without looking, Chikusa reaches over to snag a small clear box full of little balls. Just as wordlessly, he holds it out to Nari.]

[Takoyaki time.]