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

[iron59]

[He turns around, holding the broom with a tight grip. His voice is hard, though, and his eyes blank, even as he frowns.]

No, I'm not. Just because I don't like killing doesn't mean I can't, either. And it's better, because this time I'm helping people.

[swordofzero]

I didn't say you weren't capable. Just that you shouldn't have to. There's a difference.

[His voice is still sort of gentle, but he is careful to keep anything like pity out of it. He doesn't think he would want someone to feel sorry for him, in that situation.]

Helping people is important.

[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?

[swordofzero]

Happened again? [He had said he was not a shinki, which meant he was a god. Which meant he had memories of something before this meeting hall.]

I guess they thought it was important enough to not ask.

[iron59]

[He shrugs.]

They never do. Doesn't mean they're right.

[He looks at the floor, both from where they'd started and where they had yet to go.]

Good news, we're almost done here. Maybe if we finish, we can slip out before they make us scrub the walls, too.

[He flashes a grin at Suzaku.]

Of course, you probably wanna, right?

[What memories were troubling him seem forgotten in a moment. He's almost believable, too, if you don't notice the white-knuckled grip he's keeping on the broom.]

[swordofzero]

[No it doesn't. He looked around, it was true they were almost finished the floor.]

I don't want to, but they did say having this place clean was important.

[They had only just arrived, they should probably do as they were told. He notices that white-knuckled grip though and notes it. He has no idea what is wrong, he has no memories himself so can't even imagine having them to haunt him but it is clear he is upset. He smiles back softly.] Come on then, let's finish this quickly.

[iron59]

Yeah, and there's like a billion of them to do it. But, we're here to help!

[He squints at the floor with an appraising eyes for a moment.]

You've done pretty good so far, I think.

[swordofzero]

Thank you. [He glances over to where the boy has been working] So have you.

[A pause] What's your name?

[iron59]

Thanks. Lotsa practice.

[The grip on the broom hasn't loosened in the least, but he's at least smiling still.]

Uh. I'm Lucky.

[swordofzero]

Lucky. It's nice to meet you. [Suzaku smiled at him] Mine's Suzaku.

What is your plan then?

[iron59]

Suzaku. I'll try to remember that!

[He starts sweeping again, slowly, focusing on what he's doing for a moment.]

I might go look at the training. I had an instructor for a while. Maybe I'll see something I know. How about you?

[swordofzero]

[He continued to scrub, the floor was nearly clean but he wasn't going to stop before he was finished.]

My god hasn't found me yet. They said to wait so I guess that's what I'm doing. [Maybe he should try and find a place with more people once he was finished here]

[iron59]

Lots of people were talking and talking and talking. I'm sure your god will be around soon.

[He glances over at Suzaku and shrugs.]

You can always come look at the wooden swords with me. I bet they have some as tall as me. What do you think?

[swordofzero]

I hope so. [It feels... strange. Knowing he was to serve someone and yet not knowing who they were.]

Very likely. [You're not very tall Lucky] We can go and have a look if you want. [This place is spotless, they've done a pretty good job]

[iron59]

[He's a god, but he can sympathize.]

Yeah! That'll be be kind of...oh Are we done, though?

[He looks around at the floor, brandishing the broom as though ready to fight dust bunnies.]

Huh. Looks pretty good, huh? We make a good team. I wonder if we can find a sword as big as you, too?

[He has a big spirit, Suzaku. That's the important lesson here. Or something.]

[swordofzero]

I think so [He smiles at him again, they did make a good team.] A sword as big as me?

[That would be very difficult to wield, Suzaku is not exactly short, even if he is not incredibly tall either.]

Let's go put these cleaning things back and then go and have a look.

[iron59]

[He offers a shrug as he offers Suzaku a hand to help him stand up.]

You walk around looking like you're going to hit someone like that, and then they'll never mess with you! You're pretty tall.

[swordofzero]

[He lets the kid help him but frowns at his words] I am not sure I wish people to believe I'm going to hit them. [He leads the way out, he thinks he can remember the way to the dojo]

[iron59]

[He blinks at Suzaku, following him out.]

Well, I mean, not all the time, sure. I was just saying, you'd make a really big sword.

[His shoulders drop as he follows; he never meant to make the other guy upset. It was a joke, mostly.]

[swordofzero]

I would yes [He might be one. He is still a little... unsure about the whole he has a vessal form but from what people have told him it could be anything.

Suzaku turns to look back at him and frowns when he sees him looking sad again. He doesn't really know what to say or do to cheer him up so he walks in silence for a few moments until they get to the dojo.]

I am sure there will be swords bigger than you in here.

[iron59]

[He less sad and more annoyed with himself; the whole day has been so much that he's not even picking up on simple things. Really, it's been a long week for him, but Suzaku wouldn't really understand that feeling. Not yet, anyway.

Still, he pushes the melancholy down, if not away, by the time the reach the temple, and he offers a little smile at the comment.]

I bet. Hey, do you know how to use swords? I've never even held one before.

[Small arms, knives, some armor-piercing rifles, a rocket launcher, maybe...but no swords. There's no real use for them in his world.]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku smiles at him and shrugs] I am unsure, but I was not bad with a spear earlier, it might be that I know how to use swords as well.

[There's really only one way to find out, he leads Lucky over to the rack of swords and picks one out, measuring it against the boy]

[iron59]

[Felix follows, looking around with wide eyes. His look lingers perhaps a little longer on a rack of knives, but not so long as to draw any attention. He trots up to the rack beside Suzaku and watches with constrained excitement as a sword is selected, and stands up straight and holds his breath as it's measured against his vast, 134cm frame.]

How big is it?

[swordofzero]

Not quite big enough. [It comes up to his ear though, quite impressive, but Suzaku returns it to the rack and looks for another. He has promised Lucky a sword bigger than he is and he will find one.

A second sword is also too short but the third succeeds.] A Lucky sized sword.

[iron59]

[Each time Suzaku turns back to look for a bigger sword, Felix scrambles to one side or the other, looking for something as tall as the other. Nothing in their immediate vicinity holds much promise, however; so he has to content himself with a mere child-sized sword, instead.]

Okay, that's pretty awesome. Can I try holding it? I wanna see how heavy it is.

[Because who wouldn't want a sword as big as they are?]