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

Rest and Refreshments (with allusion to training?)

[light_of_willpower]

[Nanako's absences had been noticed, and despite worrying--Trunks hadn't wanted to push. He wanted to give her time, while also if she needed friends--he'd be there. But she had several closer friends than him, and he didn't want to intrude.

Which means she's noticed when she arrives in the dojo, quiet and clearly a bit lost but determined. A friendly wave given in passing, and if she wanted, Trunks would come say hi or help in anyway. But letting her make that choice, as this was not an environment designed for socializing.

Later though, when things are winding down--and he spots her with water but eyeing the sweets, he'll make it a point to approach. Being sure to make noise, and keeping his voice soft.]

They put out a lot for us all, didn't they, Nanako?

[welcome_home]

[ It's not a hard choice to make, because Nanako is always happy to see her friends, especially since it's been a while since she's gotten to see some of them and when he waves, she immediately makes a bee-line for him. And since he's such a good fighter, she does stop and pick his brain for a bit on how to maybe use Suou's vessel form in a fight, taking any pointers he has to offer her.

Afterwards, when she and Suou have gotten some practice in, she makes her way to the Refreshments area, looking a little overwhelmed by all the options. But she does turn to glance up at him with a warm smile when he comes over. ]

Yeah! There's so much! Did you get something to eat, Trunks?

[light_of_willpower]

[The bee-line makes him smile, and if she wants she is easily picked up in a hug that is tight and relieved, albeit brief because-dojo. A scarf and fighting with it isn't something he knows, but when her shinki does appear--he'll lurk a safe distance away and watch the two, to study, to see if there's anything he can offer.

At the buffet, that warm smile she gives him prompts an answering one easily.]

Not yet, since there is a lot to choose from.

[Grabbing a plate or something to carry stuff, and passing one to her as well as getting himself a plate too.]

Also, don't get all sweets just because they have a lot--you were working hard earlier and you need to refuel besides with just sugar.

[It's affectionately teasing, her hair ruffled gently as he says it.]

[welcome_home]

[ The hug is certainly welcomed and enthusiastically returned, and his help is probably requested at some point so she and Suou can figure out how a scarf can defend, since this is something entirely new for both of them. And it's probably going to take some more work, but at least it's a start?

She giggles when he ruffles her hair, happily taking the plate and following along after him. ]

Don't worry, I won't! I guess I did work pretty hard, huh? Even though I think Suou did most of the work... What's the best thing to eat instead? [ She glances up at him, since he seems to know a lot about fighting and training and she's always looking for pointers, especially because everyone else knows so much more about it than she does. ]

[light_of_willpower]

[If nothing else, he knows how to be a good sparring-partner. So he'll do his best to help them learn, and let himself be a training-dummy of sorts. He's also noting to himself to ask Mai, and maybe hit a a library for more research. And ask other people who seem like they might know, later.]

I think you both worked hard; being a vessel is a bit different than the kind of work the wielder does, but it takes two, right? God and shinki.

[Yep, Pride for her, and encouragement.]

Suou did work very hard though as well, so hopefully he's taking care of himself too. Which means making sure you drink a lot of water afterwards. Tea is also good but water is better. Make sure you have lean proteins too, and some lighter stuff like rice as well as veggies. You can have sweets, but since most of what your body needs is to replace its vitamins and minerals after you've exercised, you want to save the pure sugar for later. It's good for quick energy, but that's about it.

[He's doing his best to be a good example too, as well as passing her smaller portions of things.]

Mostly the trick though, after this kind of training, is to not overdo it. Take measured sips and drinks of water or tea, but don't gulp it down. Same for food.

[welcome_home]

I like veggies, so I don't mind that. [ She points out a few things she wants to try, too, taking care to follow his advice and taking smaller portions of healthier food - all of which she happens to know a lot about, at least. Indulging in too many sweets is not something she normally does, except maybe on special occasions. ] Start little with food too, huh? Just like training?

[light_of_willpower]

It's more that after training, you don't want to fill up too much or too fast, or you'll just make yourself sick.

[That's why he was recommending smaller portions. He will happily pass her the things she points out, and help her reach stuff too.]

Like, it wasn't as much of a big deal today, but if you're ever doing really basic stuff--like say, running? You want to make sure you stretch before you do any activity, at least as a warm-up, to get your body used to it. With running, you don't want to stop suddenly if you get tired--slow to a jog, or even a walk, but keep moving even if it's slower. It's also why you should cool down when your close to done, to give your body time to recover and get used to a slower pace again.

[Trunks didn't remember learning all this--and if he had, it had likely been when he was young. But he'd re-learned and refined a lot of it while helping Temeraire get used to his 'human' form as vessel. The super-basics, but that had been part of what Tem needed to get used to in his different shape.]