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

B-2 >.>

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako had actually been sneaking over to say hello to Shun, having spotted him immediately upon entering the dojo (at least his hair makes him really recognizable, no matter the distance). But she hadn't expected Shun to turn around and dangle his spear out in front of him when she was close and her eyes are wide as she blinks up at him first and then at... ]

....What is it?

[revolutionfalcon]

A nekomata. [Shun sounds a little bit exasperated with the whole thing, since he knows there's been quite a few of the cat spirits lurking around recently.] They're a kind of youkai. There must have been a pack of them living in the meeting hall that got cleared out.

[That's Shun's theory, at least, but after it's been lashing its two tails for the entire conversation up to now, the nekomata decides to speak up.]

You gods only use that hall when it suits you! [Its voice is small and a little squeaky, and Shun raises a brow at it.]

It's the old gods who decided it needed to be cleaned, not us.

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako's eyes widen in amazement when the youkai talks. She leans up on tiptoes to peer at it curiously. ]

You can talk?? Whoa! That's amazing!

Umm. Mister Nekomata, will you let go of Shun-oniichan's spear? I think he needs to practice with that for a bit.

[revolutionfalcon]

I was here first. [The spirit's voice is slightly sulky, but insistent. It doesn't seem like it's going to let go of the weapon anytime soon if it thinks it owns it, and Shun sighs slightly with annoyance.]

There are better places to move to than the end of a spear. Other people are going to do the same thing.

[The cat makes a slight spitting sound.] So where am I supposed to go, then?

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako is glancing between the unhappy cat and Shun (although really, their expressions are eerily similar at the moment, Shun you can also be a hissy cat sometimes) before settling her attention on the youkai. ]

Where would you like to go, Mister Nekomata? I bet we could find you somewhere nicer and more comfortable than a spear. Would you like me to help?

[revolutionfalcon]

[The nekomata seems almost surprised at the question, though it recovers its prideful bearing quickly. Or as prideful as it can get while hanging off the end of a spear.]

I want somewhere comfortable and with food where I don't have to worry about getting cleared out whenever somebody wants to hold a meeting. [It definitely sounds a bit sulky now, though Shun mostly just raises a brow at that.]

Half the gods here are obsessed with cats. Surely you could get one of them to adopt you.

[welcome_home]

[ Yeah, like the little girl currently peering up at the nekomata thoughtfully. ]

You can come stay at my temple, if you want? But you have to promise not to eat the fish. Or the pellycans might try and eat you.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Nanako's offer doesn't really surprise Shun, though the nekomata definitely sounds a bit concerned at the mention of something that can eat it.]

What's a pellycan?

[Shun looks like he's trying to figure out the logistics of that (he thinks a cat's probably a bit big for a pelican to eat anyway), but answers.] Pelicans are a kind of bird. They're big, but probably not big enough to eat a cat.

[Probably.]

[welcome_home]

[ That doesn't mean the pelicans wouldn't try anyway. Size doesn't seem to be a concept they understand very well. ]

They try to eat people sometimes, but they stop if I scold them. Maybe they just like to look like they can? But they are very protective of the fish. but there's plenty of other food at my temple to eat, so as long as you leave the fish in the lake alone, it should be okay.

[revolutionfalcon]

[The cat doesn't look that happy about it, but apparently it decides it might be better to take what it can get.] Do they take fish from other places? I like fish, so I don't want to have to give it up.

[But it will tolerate not being able to catch them from the lake.

Shun, however, is busy looking faintly exasperated at the idea of the pelicans trying to eat people.] Maybe you should try training them.

[welcome_home]

[ Train... the pelicans? Nanako blinks at him. ] Do you know how to train pelicans, Shun-oniichan?

[ She doesn't think that works the same way as something like a dog.

But she does glance back to the nekomata with a smile. ]

They don't mind if you eat fish if it comes from somewhere else - just not the lake. But my temple always has food in it, so eating fish shouldn't be a problem, you can just get it from inside!

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun shrugs a little at that.] You'd probably have more luck since you're the owner of the temple, but I trained my vultures pretty quickly. It's not like doing it with a dog where they'll take orders, but they can follow gestures or back off when you want them to.

[Or at least, that's how it's gone with his vultures, so the pelicans might be a bit more stubborn. Either way, the nekomata seems a bit more reassured when it knows it can get fish elsewhere.]

Well, if I don't have to fight them for it...it's probably okay.

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako looks thoughtful about that for a moment before giggling. ]

They stop when I scolded them and shook my finger. But that's how I got Chikusa to stop, too, when he was fighting with another shinki. Maybe that will work?

[ At the nekomata's reluctant answer, she reaches out tentatively to see if it will let her pet it. ]

We can try it, and if you don't like it there, I can help you find somewhere else you like better, okay? But can you let go of Shun-oniichan's spear so he can practice now?

[revolutionfalcon]

That guy does so little I'm surprised he bothered fighting with another shinki. [But that's the only thing that surprises him about that situation, really, because Chikusa is definitely the sort to not take a great deal of effort to stop from doing something.

Once Nanako makes the offer to the cat, it shuffles a bit on the spear, and Shun tilts it down a bit closer to the ground. Sure enough, it clambers upright and then hops off, two tails waving side to side.]

Alright, little human, it's a deal. I don't see what's so great about that big stick anyway.

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako just giggles and reaches out to pet the youkai once it hops down to the ground once more. ]

Probably not a lot unless you were gonna fight with it. Which is why Shun-oniichan needs it right now. Why don't we find you a place to nap until it's time to go home? There's a big tree in the courtyard with some sunny spots beneath it, will that work?

[ She glances up at Shun, casting him a bright smile. ] Don't worry, Shun-oniichan, you can practice all you want, now!

[revolutionfalcon]

[Since he does need to practice and Nanako seems to be fine handling the nekomata now, he lifts the spear up again and waves a hand, starting to head off towards the sparring areas.]

Make sure it doesn't cause any trouble for you. [Or he might come and have some words with the little yokai.]

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako just giggles and lifts her hand in a wave as Shun heads off to train, looking quite content to handle the nekomata from there. ]

It'll be okay, Shun-oniichan! Have fun!

[ And this is how Nanshe's temple collected yet another stray.... ]