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

[boneofsword]

Just making sure. [Archer shrugs.] You look a bit like ayakashi, even if you don't seem hostile, and someone could attack you thinking you may be one.

[After all, that while Add business wasn't that long ago, and with this aura and looks similar to Henir-corrupted ayakashi this shinki may be an easy target. It's only fair to warn him, Archer thinks.]

[abgrund]

[ Oh. Right, that was possible. But it doesn't matter, he can defend himself, or just run away. ]

I see...

[ Even if his aura is disturbing, it's just how he is. He doesn't know how to change it, or see the need to. ]

I can fight.

[boneofsword]

I'm sure of it. [Archer nods at the destroyed training dummy.] Better use a borderline, since ayakashi can't use anything like that. You can also wear some clothing to mask your appearance a bit.

[Majority here are teenagers, after all. Being used to gruesome sights is not a casual occurence, and confronted with something straight from the nightmare most assume the stance of shoot first and ask later.]

Have you met your god?

[abgrund]

[ Its advice that's is supposed to mean something to him, and the sense that he should remember it; but it feels like his mind is swimming in sluggish water. It'll take Effort.

Ain hums, a soft sound of acknowledgement. ]

.... I have. He... went to look for someone else.......

[boneofsword]

[Archer notes that his apathy seems similat to aftereffects of staying in Henir's temple core. It's not reassuring. Neither is this shinki's god disappearance. Someone got two shinki in the same day?]

What's his name? [hopefully Ain won't mind Archer's rudeness. At least he's fine with staying here and chatting.]

[abgrund]

[ Ain is probably too tired to care too much about semantics, so he'll answer Archer's questions (albeit slowly). ]

.... Add. Henir.

[ Which should explain everything. ]

[boneofsword]

[It does explain a lot, although Archer starts to wonder who's going to take care of who in Add's household.]

I know him. And you are?

[abgrund]

Ain.

[ He knows he has a longer, more proper name, but it just doesn't seem important right now ]

[boneofsword]

I'm called Archer. A pleasure.

[Pause. Archer is aware that Ain won't speak if not prompted.]

Is that your innate skill?

[abgrund]

[ Archer adapts well, it makes for conducive conversation despite Ain's... everything. ]

Yes.

[ He assumes Archer meant the eyes and scythe. ]

[boneofsword]

[Archer means more than that; it's clear that whatever Ain went through changed him whole. He doesn't specify, though.]

It's intriguing. Does it cause you any discomfort?

[abgrund]

[ He shakes his head again, deeming the gesture enough of an answer.

Perhaps it did pain him in the past, but the possibility doesn't occur to him now that he has forgotten completely about it. ]