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

i

[revolutionfalcon]

[If there's one thing Shun finds these training meets useful for, it's for tracking down sparring partners. While he knows what he's doing with a sword by now, he hasn't been at it longer than the months he's been here, so he doesn't have that same bone-deep familiarity he has with hand-to-hand combat, and like he can see this man has with his blade.

Shun doesn't mind taking a spar he's clearly going to lose if he learns something from it, and giving up before starting is no way to make any sort of progress anyway. So after some observing from a distance, Shun chooses to approach the newcomer - his own blade is in his hand, a much shorter wakizashi.]

I can't call myself an expert, but I can definitely give you a better fight than the straw things. [And despite lacking experience with the specific weapon, he does have the combative and acrobatic skill to avoid getting himself stabbed with a live weapon, so there's that.]

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma, in testament to the years of practice that's gone into his technique, glances to Shun when the man approaches but does not break his form, finishing his strike and then backing up a safe distance so that he could properly address the man. He lowers the sword, giving a polite nod of his head as he turns to face him.]

I would be honored to practice with you. Would you prefer to use steel or wooden swords?

[Practice, after all, was meant so that both combatants would be able to heal any bruises and take the lessons they impart to heart... being grievously wounded was, perhaps, a bit detrimental to the overall process.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun considers that for a moment - he usually uses wooden for the sake of just taking bruises if he gets hit, but steel would be more useful for knowing how to react and time things in actual combat. In the end, he shrugs.]

I'm fine with either one, so if you have a preference we can use that. I'm not that experienced with this kind of weapon, but I've been fighting without one for a lot longer, so I can dodge even if I don't parry.

[Not to mention he's a god, so if things get really dicey he can teleport, but he'll leave that one to whether it comes up or not.]

[lightninglobster]

You're the one who invited me to a match.

[Stepping into a situation without a plan to reach a preferred goal seemed foolhardy--but perhaps part of Ryoma was used to standing on a much stricter sense of formality. Ryoma had a brow arched, studying Shun as he weighed the man's words--some things were best learned in the midst of doing them, but extra experience and preparation couldn't hurt. If nothing else, they could start with one set of weapons and move to the other.]

We can begin with steel and stop if it feels like it's too much of a risk to continue.

[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.

[lightninglobster]

[There's a small lecture to be had about the first part of a conflict being the one who controls the way the field is set--but Ryoma shakes that sensation off because that is taking things waaay too seriously. It's just sparring, right? Though steel in his hands is familiar, and evokes a certain... feeling... it doesn't have to be that life-or-death.

Ryoma chooses not to think about it much more.]

I suppose so!

[It's a cheery enough way to agree as he takes the field, bowing to Shun out of respect before he shifts into his stance, both hands on the blade as he assesses the situation. He studies Shun for a moment--and then he lunges, quick and taking maybe half a prisoner, if you squint.

Taking no prisoners was a Little Much for a sparring session.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun isn't much for respect, apparently, since he doesn't bow back, but he does incline his head faintly in acknowledgement of the gesture. It indicates someone who's probably had a more structured training in this sort of thing than his learning by example from skilled opponents, so he's expecting a very strong opposition here.

Part of why Shun prefers to be the second to move is so he can retaliate, and that's because a large part of his advantage in any fight is his own speed. It's fairly close, but he sidesteps the first move, lifting his sword into a glancing parry before attempting to spin and side-swipe him in response.

Shun is a little bit take-no-prisoners in spars, admittedly, but at least he hasn't started abandoning his weapon in favour of punching anyone in the face yet.]