March Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: October 25th
Where: Outside the 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 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 what looks like an old, large warehouse behind the Meeting Hall for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior. Several chairs have been moved in, but they're squeezed together between packed shelves and boxes of old ritual clothing, scrolls and rusty or chipped household goods. 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.

Back copies of the "From Ama" magazine, including puff pieces about new or rising gods or successful shinki, advice columns for resolving problems between gods and shinki, temple photographs and other articles of interest to gods and shinki, have been brought out in boxes and piled up next to a table holding a few remaining copies of the shinki questionnaire for any new shinki who want to keep one around until they can answer the included questions.


What is your name?

What is your god's name?

How do you see your duties as a shinki?

What is your favorite part of life with your god?

What is your least favorite part of life with your god?

What advice would you like to give your god?

Do you wish to be assigned to a different god? []Y []N

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 white-robed shinki are still busy cleaning and preparing the Meeting Hall for the big annual meeting of the gods. They'll recruit anyone who looks as though they're not too busy in order to help scrub floors, weed, sweep paths and walkways, and shoo away any unwelcome little spirits that are hiding away in dark corners of the hall. Heavy lifting is good exercise... right?

Rest and Refreshments

There are casks of fresh, cold water near the dojo to make sure no one gets dehydrated, but for those who've finished working, hot tea and enough seasonal treats are available to make it look as though the Heavens bought out an entire sweet shop. They're being distributed by a few shinki in indigo-blue and plain brown robes with the sleeves tied back, who aren't above teasing the newcomers a bit.

Young shinki are playing in the nicely manicured garden, trying to catch crayfish at the lake edge, dashing around playing tag and hide-and-seek. Just be careful you don't get caught in the middle of a game of "Kagome"! If you do, you'll really be stuck until you guess someone's name.

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
• Enjoy a traditional tea
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[reformedsinner]

I'm afraid, as a god myself, it would introduce a few too many theological questions if I were to convert to another religion.

[He chuckles easily, spreading his hands.]

Do you often reside in the Heavens?

[purr_ince]

It's... interesting.

[His brows drew together.] Not having a memory is a pain but it's nice to have a purpose even if you have nothing else. The longer you're here, the more you train to fight ayakashi the better for you and your good and whoever you protecting.

It's not so bad really. I mean it's only been a month so I haven't experienced much? Everyone seems very nice. Most people I've met have been very helpful.

[reformedsinner]

[He's really not very good at chatting, is he? As the moment of silence stretches long enough to grow awkward, Hakkai laughs lightly, and glances around.]

I suppose the obvious next question is, is there anything I can help you with? I'm not exactly a veteran -- I've been here about eight months now -- but not many of us newcomers have been here longer than that.

[handle]

Is there some kind of rule that we have to ask to help?

[ He's really just volunteering to do it. ]

[handle]

They haven't? [ Hey, they were able to finish answering to the prayer, weren't they?

Still, when the kids look to Sorey and Hibiki, he tilts his head slightly, pointing to him and then at Hibiki with a questioning look before tilting his head. ]

Sure, what kind of game?

[lightninglobster]

[Takumi, you can't kick your brother's ass hard enough to create a time paradox that sends him back home and out of the Conquest route. It's just not possible my guy.

Ryoma matches Takumi's bow with his own, shifting his weight and going right into his own stance, sword up and eyes on Takumi, studying him for just a moment--

And then he lunges in, striking high to see how much attention Takumi is paying. It's a move he likes to use on people that are new to sparring with him--or people he suspects are holding back because of... something. A friendly handshake, but with a sword.

In retrospect, that probably makes it a terrible handshake.]

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma tosses his newly, wholly defeated weeds into Kanade's bag, redoubling his efforts to leave the dirt... not sparkling because it was dirt, but clean and ready for the plants that were actually wanted, as opposed to the freeloaders that'd settled in due to inattention.]

Is this a normal day in the heavens?

[Was heaven a bunch of chores and a wriggling feeling that you were forgetting something very important?]

[lightninglobster]

I'm afraid most flowers look the same to me. How can you tell what's a weed and what's been purposefully planted?

[Look, Ryoma tried, and because of that, no one should criticize him. Ever. He does seem to be in good humor about the mistake, however.]

I suppose not. I'm a defter hand with a blade, I fear.

[alchemists]

I agree, taking more then you need isn't good for the ecosystem.

[alchemists]

I'm sure all of the food out is meant to be eaten by everyone attending.

[purr_ince]

Depends. Sometimes it's a training fight. In the end there's no real winner or it's kind of a tie because you both learned a way to improve your fighting. It depends on if your mind is clouded by your emotions and you can't think clearly or not.

[It's a matter of a matter of using those emotions and acting thinking through them. At least that's how Adrien sees it. That and knowing when you should react versus letting something just go.]

That's fine. She knows how to find me if she needs me. Don't worry about it.

[Adrien laughs.] Not a fan of lectures? [He shakes his head at that.] It's not like they tell you who it is at the end of the lecture.

They tell Shinki that their god will just know and come find them. I assume you'll just see someone or talk with them and know.

[revolutionfalcon]

Don't do that. [Shun mostly sounds exasperated by it than actually annoyed, but he doesn't like being apologised to for minor things like that.] Just keep it in mind. Gods are still people, so don't put them on some kind of pedestal, for your own good.

[It's hard to say how much this guy will need that information without knowing who his god is, but there are still some rough ones around even if the actively malicious ones seem to be mostly gone.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Nanako's offer doesn't really surprise Shun, though the nekomata definitely sounds a bit concerned at the mention of something that can eat it.]

What's a pellycan?

[Shun looks like he's trying to figure out the logistics of that (he thinks a cat's probably a bit big for a pelican to eat anyway), but answers.] Pelicans are a kind of bird. They're big, but probably not big enough to eat a cat.

[Probably.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Unfortunately, Shun isn't really the type to ask questions beyond what he needs, and by this point he's pretty much exhausted his short supply. Except for one, though he's already starting to turn away and just glance back over his shoulder by the time he asks it.]

What's your name? [It's useful to know in case they encounter each other again.]

[revolutionfalcon]

That doesn't mean the preference can't go to you. [Though the comment is direct, Shun looks faintly confused as to why it's a problem at all. Even if he's the one challenging, it's going to be a waste if both parties don't agree on the weapon form anyway.

Ryoma's compromise sounds fine to him, though, and he nods slightly, securing his grip on the weapon in his hand. There's a subtle sheen to it, almost ethereal, and it seems almost unnaturally clean and maintained.

Without further fanfare, Shun takes a place across the field from Ryoma. His combat stance is natural, though he falls first and more easily into one more suited for hand-to-hand before adjusting it to one more fitting for sword.]

Whenever you're ready.

[abgrund]

[ Whether Shun stays or goes makes little difference to him, so he doesn't make any move to call the man back. ]

... Ain.

[revolutionfalcon]

[At this point Shun's half getting the nekomata closer and half curious exactly how far back Chikusa can lean without falling over, so he's just going to keep moving the spear closer.]

That's the kind of thing you should expect, being his shinki. [Shun rarely lets slide an opportunity to point out his passive-aggressive animosity with Hakkai.]

[sweetdeath]

You've got to learn to recognize them. These're dandelions, and nobody plants them on purpose, because they take over and they get all-- [He waves a hand vaguely.] Leggy, spiky and the flower stems look bad after they bloom.

[Still smiling, but a bit more rueful, he adds:] I know flowers. I'm no good in a fight, though, which is probably more useful. -- Tsuzuki Asato. Nice to meet you!

[iron59]

Don't get touched. Are they fast?

[He looks over, frowning a little.]

I'm sorry if I'm bothering you.

[iron59]

[He sighs and shakes his head, face losing the edge. He doesn't look up, though, just starts sweeping again.]

I just thought that I'd be asked if this happened again.

Why is it that no one ever asks about this stuff?

[reformedsinner]

Some are faster than others-- [He blinks at the apology, and waves a hand in dismissal.]

No, please don't worry! I promised a friend of mine I'd help orient the newcomers a while back. I don't mind answering questions at all.

Some ayakashi are quite fast, and others are slower, but all of them seem to be particularly attracted to the scent of gods and shinki. They can't follow us onto the grounds of a temple, though, so if you need to escape it's best to run for the nearest temple.

[iron59]

[He studies the other boy for a couple of breaths, trying to decide how serious he's being. This doesn't sound anything like the training he'd received, but he's come to understand that doesn't always mean anything.

Really, though, it doesn't matter that much. He grins at Adrien, shrugging his shoulders.]

I don't like sitting still for so long when I don't have to. It's hard.

[iron59]

[He rolls the knife in his fingers, looking at some of the larger blade on display, as well. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other and back, rocking slightly.]

That's not always bad, though. It means we can draw them out, right? Get them away from crowds or into an ambush or something.

[He looks up, smiling.]

You just have to pay attention, right?

[reformedsinner]

Exactly.

[Hakkai favors the boy with his best approving-teacher smile.]

It sounds like you know what you're doing.

[He's young to be speaking with that kind of assurance about tactics; but, sometimes, children learn young. In a place like this one, where it's possible that he'll find himself fighting for his life, Hakkai almost thinks it's better to have children like this boy, or like Goten. Children who think of battle as a challenge to be faced, not a threat to fear.

It's not much of a childhood, but it's better than being eaten by ayakashi.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Simple enough. Shun nods very slightly as if committing it to memory.]

Kurosaki Shun. Or Nekhbet. [And with the introduction taken care of, he...walks off. Without any kind of actual farewell, because Shun isn't particularly good with formalities.]