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

[disciprined]

Silly?

[On the one hand, Mirei is nothing if not respectful of authority. Describing a system as silly seems inherently disrespectful.

[On the other, she is standing in what appears to be some kind of outbuilding and she has just sat through, and made copious notes on, a lecture about how a new deity should conduct themselves while wielding a divine weapon in some kind of war against evil. She may come from a world where song contests are the cause of and solution to practically all of life's problems, but there are some things even Mirei has a hard time seeing the logic of.]

It certainly seems excessively random. I notice nobody mentioned how we were chosen.

[iron59]

Well...okay. I'm 10. Four days ago, I ran away from home, and now people are praying for my help?

Silly. I feel dumb just saying it.

[He spreads his hands out and looks around. The whole gathering looks...hodge podge is probably a good description.]

Also, hi. I'm Lucky.

[He sticks out a hand at her.]

[disciprined]

It does feel somewhat implausible.

[Shouldn't you be in school?

[They should both still be in school. Mirei sighs, thinking of the havoc this is going to wreak on her attendance record - never mind her grades. And the Discipline Committee! How will Amamiya-kun manage by himself?

[At least she can shake this boy's hand.]

Mirei Minami. Nemesis too, I suppose. Though I don't plan to go by it.

[iron59]

[He'll never admit to missing biology or calculus, so don't even ask!]

Why not? Sounds cool. Nemesis. Like...um. The extra planet or just a fun word to say.

Nemesis.

[He grins at her.]

What do you think of the guys in white robes? Kinda pushy, right?

[disciprined]

Perhaps, but I'm quite happy with my own name.

[As for the strangers in white - She takes a quick glimpse over her shoulder, just to make sure they are thinking of the same people. A girl like Mirei, who both defines and describes pushiness, may not be the best judge of it in others.]

They seemed quite reasonable to me. We do all have a lot to learn.

[iron59]

Well, if you like it, that's good. You don't always have one you like, so keep them while you can.

[He follows her gaze, but frowns ever so slightly at her response.]

I mean, sure. But you're not really...um...buying into this, are you?

[disciprined]

I plan to trust, but verify. There are a lot of things about this situation that seem frankly unbelievable, but this is far too much effort for a mere practical joke. Besides, they weren't lying when they told me I had an ability here that I certainly don't possess at home.

[iron59]

Yeah. Well, I've gotten to do new things before. Usually, it meant something bad had happened, or was about to. Just because we are different doesn't mean they're telling the truth. Or everything, at least.

[He's not looking at her, but past, now. And for a kid, his voice is pretty hard. He doesn't sound like he's buying into much of anything they've been talking about.]

[disciprined]

Personally, I wouldn't classify being here at all as particularly positive.

[There's the catch: it's everything. This whole experience is the catch.]

But liars want their lies to seem at least somewhat believable, and these people aren't even trying to sound rational. These people believe what they're saying. If you're looking for liars, you won't find them here.

[iron59]

[He looks at her for a long moment, and then smiles faintly and shrugs. In only a few moments, he has shifted completely, looking more like an excited kid.]

I hope so. How cool would it be to really have magic, right?

[disciprined]

Have they said anything about it to you? I doubt I'm any kind of exception.

[iron59]

[He shrugs a little.]

Something about something back where I woke up, before they brought me here. And then I was kind of playing on my phone here.

[He looks at her for a moment, and then away.]

Did they say anything about what you can do? I remember something about shrines, but...

[He shrugs again, then looks at her, slightly embarrassed.]

I can't even link with the stupid phone, so.