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

[pure_radiantics]

ALPHA - Peer Review (Shinki Training)
[Kairi will open up with several options for your character as far as training goes, based on her previous experiences:

• Defend against Kairi's borderline walls - with your own borderlines, dodging, any other magic you have
  
• Defend against Kairi's shinki spells - nothing but your willpower vs. her confidence can stop it, and she's been at this for months
  
• Attack Kairi with your borderlines (dagger-style, as she calls it) - she'll defend with her own borderline walls and dodging.
  
• Attack Kairi with your own shinki spells - she'll do her best to confidently resist them!
  
• Anything goes - Borderlines, spells, and she can even call in a friend for Aerial combat if that's your interest!

Regardless of the style you go with, she's absolutely looking for where she can improve, and will likewise give constructive criticism back!]

BETA - Observations for Shinki Pamphlet Beta (Shinki Training/Rest and Refreshments)
[Kairi is dutifully walking around at various times, looking and listening for people who are reading the current pamphlet and trying to see if there are any patterns for parts that are missing. She has a little notepad in hand and a pencil that she's tapping to her mouth, sometimes even placing it behind her ear.

... Part of her hopes that by mimicking Izuku's habit of writing down notes, that she'll do a better job of continuing his work. Others are free to notice this mimicry on her part, especially if they knew Izuku - the former Aidos. Sometimes she can even be found reviewing the notes she DOES have already at a bench while sipping water and snacking.]

GAMMA - Only one way forward! (Physical Training)
[Kairi learned early on that training with gods and other shinki in ways that weren't unique to shinki would improve her overall abilities as a vessel and while out of vessel form. You can find her in lots of ways doing physical training!

• Keyblade out and hacking away at the most active of the repaired dummies
  
• Jogging laps around the training area
  
• Hand-to-hand katas (without dummies) and sparring (with the dummies)
  
• Stretching between other activities

All that and whatever else your character can suggest to her! She's newest as keyblade, so is favoring that for training.]

DELTA - A Strange Friend
[Kairi has a shadow most of the day in the form of a Soulless Shinki she calls Joy, and who she often speaks to the way one would a good friend, refusing to treat Joy like a mute servant. Joy is the same Soulless Shinki that Roxas named and lived at the Baldr-Artemis joint temple, if anyone ever met her before. There are certain moments where Kairi looks around nervously as if debating saying something to Joy, then stopping again before she returns to training on her own.]

b

[kokuyoyo]

....What are you doing?

[Chikusa might not have been particularly friendly with Izuku, but he has been watching Kairi for a little while now as she wanders around with her notepad. He can understand taking notes on new people.... but he hadn't figured she was the same kind of person.]

Re: b

[pure_radiantics]

--Ah!

[He practically snuck up on her, as engrossed as she was by what she was doing.]

Sorry, I was trying to remember what it was like being a new shinki again.

[kokuyoyo]

...Probably.... different nowadays than how older shinki like us entered. Right?

[He slips one hand into his pocket, looking out towards the crowds.]

Since... they have more information available.

[pure_radiantics]

[Kairi nods.]

It's really weird to think about, I think... how I've only been here five months, but you'd think that was five years, as much as we've learned in so short a timespan... or even fifteen years with how much more information we have to pass around, like you were saying.

[She clutches her notebook a little tighter.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Only that long.... And yet- ]

Too much keeps happening even in only that long...

[It definitely feels like an entirely new life.... although the amnesia probably didn't help.]

[pure_radiantics]

[Kairi looks over at Chikusa reassuringly.]

Some things stayed the same at least. I'm still willing to be your friend.

[Since she's also aware enough to know he may still not see her like that in kind.]

And we can help the newer shinki keep perspective - together.

[kokuyoyo]

[For a moment, he lets those words hang in the air inbetween them, watching everything around them that keeps on going as it has been for weeks now. The bustle of all of Amaterasu's shinki around them, the still confused stares of new gods and ones that are even worse on new shinki...]

[And yet they're both still here, whether in the midst of a festival or a day of training.]

[With a sigh, he opens his mouth...]

You're still a sap... and a weirdo.

[pure_radiantics]

[She has to laugh and smile afterwards, patting him on the shoulder.]

I'm sure you could call me worse things, so I'm glad that's all you think of me.

[It's probably practically a compliment coming from him. Not that she likes it, objectively, but she's learned that Chikusa has a kind of double-speak that he does.]

Besides I think the proper response to being called a weirdo is 'takes one to know one.'

[She grins then - very childishly.]

[kokuyoyo]

[So, that's how they're playing, then. Chikusa huffs under his breath, chin bouncing against his chest as he bows his head a little.]

I'm a prepared weirdo... at least...

[There are some things that he's never going to change that he knows are weird by normal people definitions, but he doesn't get lost thinking about them now as he used to when he first came about as a shinki. Now, after all, he has a little bit of context for it, and he wouldn't want it any other way.]

[pure_radiantics]

[She could pull out a "you started it", Chikusa.]

Prepared? Oh please, do tell! Just how prepared are you, Chikusa?

[And she puts both hands under her chin by the palms, then rests her elbows on her knees. She actually isn't doubting that Chikusa is prepared, she's more curious what all he's actually done in order to be that way.]

[kokuyoyo]

[So he's being called out, huh? Fine. It's not like he carries around his bag for nothing. So, after eyeing Kairi for a moment, he tilts his head down and adjusts his shoulder bag's position against his body. The flap is simple to pop open, and he's soon pulling out a couple flasks of temple water... what appears to be a camera... or two...]

[pure_radiantics]

... Is your whole bag like that?

[ Then she stares a little bit longer. ]

Are you trying to be prepared for something specific?

[ Holy water she kinda gets. A camera though? ]

Gamma

[iron59]

[While she is practicing a kata, a small figure stops to watch her for a moment. He chews on his lip for a moment before stepping forward a bit, thought still well back from her.]

You're pretty good. But you do it different, a bit. I don't think our instructor would have approved, but I like it.

[He offers her a smile.]

Re: Gamma

[pure_radiantics]

[Kairi looks down at the young man the way she would Goten - an older sister to a little brother. Not someone who absolutely positively knows better than the boy, just curious about what he's saying.]

Oh? You know a better way?

[She smiles back.]

I don't have any one instructor, so I've just picked up what I can from various people so far.

[Then she stops and extends a hand to shake with him.]

My name is Kairi. What's yours?

[iron59]

[He shrugs a little, crossing his arms.]

I wouldn't call it better. Our instructor wasn't that good. My brothers and I really pummeled him.

[The ghost of a smile flits over his face, and he reaches out to take her hand.]

I'm Lucky. Have you been learning here?

[pure_radiantics]

[Brothers... and an instructor. There's no mistake - he must be a god. It makes her think of Nanako too.]

Lucky, huh... Well, see, because I'm a shinki, the only learning I remember is from here at the Far Shore.

[Even if there was training for her before now, which she doubts based on recent memories.]

So I've been learning about five months now.

[iron59]

OH. Uh.

[He swallows and looks at the floor.]

Um.

[He looks back up with a smile, glancing around and making sure he's not in anyone's way. Once he's confidant he has the room, he takes a stance not dissimilar to hers.]

Well, maybe we can practice a little together, then?

[pure_radiantics]

Sure thing, I don't mind that at all!

[She comes to stand next to him so that they can do the same things.]

Why don't you do one of your katas you know and I'll try to follow along, then we can switch? How does that sound, Lucky?

[She grins and stretches her arms to one side, then the other, before swishing them back and forth at her sides. There, she's ready for whatever he'd like.]

[iron59]

Kata?

[It takes him a moment to catch up, looking confused.]

You mean the forms! Right. Okay, so...we start like this...

[Adjusting his stance slightly, he starts moving, face blank and focused as he concentrates on the movements. It's an aggressive form, and he moves through it with an air of practiced ease; this is something he's done often, but a trained eye might catch little hesitations and slips, as well. He may not have done it as much recently.]

[pure_radiantics]

Sure, forms...

[She normally reserves that word for the ways that shinki use Borderlines, but she doesn't mind calling it that in front of him.]

Hmm-- okay!

[Kairi is too busy working on mirroring his movements just now to notice his own apprehension. For all she knows, he's just doing his best as a young man who isn't a master yet. By the time she's got the form down, moving in time with him, he's probably able to mask his hesitation and slip-ups.]

[iron59]

[In truth, though his training was very thorough, it was very, very far from traditional. Don't expect him to know the words for anything he's doing, Kairi. Nevertheless, as he softly corrects her and works through it a couple of times, watching her catch, he starts to relax a little, though he remains focused on what they're doing.]

You're pretty good at this.

[pure_radiantics]

Well, thanks for paying attention when I make mistakes, Lucky! That's the only way I'll know how to do better.

[She relaxes her pose into a casual stretch just to let loose for a bit.]

I've gotten pretty good at watching what someone else does and copying them, at least. It's how shinki have to learn all of their spells, after all.

[iron59]

You have to work together or...or it's bad.

[He falters at the thought, missing his turn and almost tripping over his own feet. Fortunately, she's taking a moment to stretch, so he tries to play it off like he just stopped a little too quickly on accident, stretching a little himself. No one here was going to beat either of them for getting it wrong, at least.]

Really? That's kind of cool. Spells, I mean. Can you do any?

[As quickly as his face flashed with memory, the look is gone, his smile back as he looks up at her. After all, hey! Magic!]

[pure_radiantics]

[She smiles back.]

I like working together.

[She feels bad that he seemed to have a bad memory there, but she can definitely do something to perk him back up if he wants to see magic.]

Yep, I can cast a couple of spells now! The most basic one Shinki can do is called Borderline. That one I can show you at least. The others can only be used on other shinki.

[She takes a step away from him to the side and then casts the Line directly in front of both of them.]

Line!

[The wall rises up from the ground as she moves her pointed finger from in front of herself towards him, but keeps the wall several feet in front of them both.]