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

[projectsilvergaze]

[She feels the connection between them, a loyal heart willing to give all to someone or something. She hesitates for a moment, she's had others want to give everything for her, and they did. But she goes ahead and answers.]

Nona1 Silvergaze, also known as The Silvergaze Project. But you can call me Nona.

[New words come on the screen of Ginia's phone. She blinks, emotionless and totally calm on the outside, but hesitant on the outside. She's wanted a living, breathing, Shinki that could emote and help her, but this one is all too willing to give her service. (And she seems to be mute.) She breathes out and tells Ginia anyway, not having enough courage to refuse her.]

Yes, I am.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia breathes out a sigh of relief, tension slipping from her shoulders and back, her chest feeling lighter. Finally, after meeting other gods all day, she's found her own. Nona. She smiles, uninhabited, free, relief at finally knowing who to serve, knowing she has a purpose here.

She inclines her head in a reverent bow and then straights up more, her typing fast.]

I'm so happy. I've been waiting all day to meet you.

[A line of panic runs through Ginia's joy as she considers perhaps she made it difficult for Nona to find her by leaving the Meeting Hall. She had been...well, thanks to a variety of gods and shinki, a lot of different places.]

I'm sorry if I made it difficult for you to find me. I'll stay by your side unless you request otherwise.

[She pauses again, glancing at Nona's phone. She's hopeful, but after one person already misunderstood her reason for speaking through her phone, perhaps...?]

Do you know sign language? Or if you can speak, please do so. I can hear, I just can't speak. But if you're like me, I'm happy too.

[projectsilvergaze]

[So she is mute... She lowers her phone and shakes her head no. Her voice is deadpan, with a British accent, and has a slight metallic echo to it.]

I believe that isn't in my data banks. Although I can learn it. How good are you in telepathy?

[As if that's an entirely normal thing to ask a fairly normal human woman.]

[unlucky7]

[The voice is unusual, but who is she to comment on it? After a day of giant talking books, winged unicorns, and princely gods with a purple horse, it's just one more detail for the backdrop of Ginia's new life.]

No experience in telepathy.

[projectsilvergaze]

I near it's the way most God and Shinki pairs communicate whilst the shinki is in it's vessel form. But perhaps that is something that will come later. What is it that you wish to know before I give you a name?

[There's no need to rush into the ceremony.]

[unlucky7]

[What a loaded question. With a mind so empty and a past so blank, there's a slight desperation to fill everything in with new meaning and moments. She wants to know more about her god, about her life, what she likes and wants, where she's from. About the world they're in now, the sights, the sounds, the people.

There's so much Ginia wants to ask, but instead, she circles back to one question.]

Are you hungry? I was going to get taiyaki, do you want one?

[projectsilvergaze]

I am sorry. I am unable to eat.

[It's a truth, being what she is. All she requires for sustenance is electricity and the occasional can of oil. Granted, she doesn't mean to be so blunt with Ginia.]

Is there anything else we could do at the fair?

[unlucky7]

[Oh. Well... Huh. Slightly deflated and now unsure--would it still be rude to get something to eat?--Ginia looks around the festival.]

There are some fair games and performances to watch. Otherwise it's mostly food. If you want to leave, that's fine.

[projectsilvergaze]

No, no I don't. You're the first shinki I've had that isn't a person that is soulless. I want to know about you.

[It's a bit too earnest, but still.]

Perhaps we could play a game, maybe catch a performance if we can.

[unlucky7]

[Know about her? What's there to know about her? Her memories are gone, the skills she has aren't suited for a festival. There's nothing to tell, nothing to share.

But there is plenty to do at a festival and Ginia has been around the grounds enough to know where everything is.]

The dance troupes are performing nearby. Do you want to go there first then go back through the festival stalls?