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

[swordofzero]

Loyalty

[He says it automatically before he even thinks about it. Like it is so ingrained into him that he doesn't need to think about it. That's... A new thing he has just learned about himself. Loyalty is definitely more important than personal happiness. It feels right to him even if he has no idea why.]

Do you think otherwise?

[unlucky7]

[Chalk up another to loyalty. Ginia lightly crosses her arms over her chest, phone tapping against her elbow. Perhaps not everyone sees the ideas as diametrically opposed, but to Ginia, there's the feeling it has and always will be one at the cost of the other. And for as ingrained as loyalty is in her, sometimes Ginia feels like it's something she'd rather have torn out.

Her arms unfold, she begins typing again.]

I don't know. I suppose I'm trying to figure that out for myself. Would you still choose loyalty at the cost of personal happiness?

[swordofzero]

Yes. [Again the answer comes naturally.] If you have loyalty to someone or something then it is your duty to remain loyal, no matter the cost.

[It seemed so clear to him. But he understands that it must be less clear for her, if she is asking.]

[unlucky7]

[Loyal, no matter the cost. There was a point in a forgotten life when Ginia was loyal without question. That time also irrevocably broke her and the weld job to put her back together was patchy at best.

She gets loyalty, she gets duty. Be a good shinki, protect your god, protect the people of the Near Shore. She gets that and she wants to do all of that and she understands Suzaku's words.

But.]

Even if the cost was your life?

[swordofzero]

Yes. Even if the cost is your life. [That's what loyalty is. If you are not prepared to give it your everything then are you even truly loyal?

Actually...] If you are not prepared to die for it is it even true loyalty

[Wait does that even matter if they are already dead?

He figures it does. The concept is still the same]

[unlucky7]

["Maybe I'll never know what true loyalty is" is the immediate thought that enters her mind. She can't imagine giving up her life for someone else.

At the same time, she couldn't stand to see someone else hurt if there was something she could have done. And if you come back after dying--although at the cost of your memories--does it really count as dying?]

May you have a worthy god.

[swordofzero]

Thank you [He thinks it is meant kindly. He doesn't see that it will make a difference though, he will serve to his best ability regardless if that is what his duty here is.]

I hope you find the answer to your question.

[unlucky7]

[She has her misgivings about his answer, but it is a genuine sentiment. As for his second statement, Ginia simply gives a terse smile and nods.]

Anything else I can fill you in on?

[swordofzero]

[He thought for a moment, she had helped him so much already. He knew a lot more than when she had approached him. About borderlines, about being a shinki and about himself.] I can't think of anything, thank you though you have taught me a lot. [Have a not quite bow, a polite nod of the head and a smile]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia returns a bow of her head. She's in no rush to go anywhere, but if the conversation is over, she's not going to keep him and waste his time. So with nothing else to say and waves and departs.]

[swordofzero]

[He smiles and waves too. Watching for a moment as she departs. She was friendly, though as the first person he had spoken to it wasn't like he had a comparison. But he was sincere when he hoped she found the answer to her question, it sounded like it was weighing on her mind quite heavily]