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

[safecage]

You say something?

[ Have more crumbs flying. ]

[priforprince]

[ Oh dear! Oh no! The bird flutters back and forth in a frenzy of indecision. Should it get these crumbs, or those crumbs? It doesn't know!

Hibiki, for her part, lowers her head. There is no shame in jumping ship early on a lost cause. ]

This is impossible.

[safecage]

[ Alright, Aqua is done eating for now at least. ]

What's impossible?

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki just turns her back on Aqua. This conversation. This conversation is so impossible, she cannot even begin it.

The bird continues to eat the food off her face. ]

[safecage]

Why are you turning your back to me! That's rude!

[priforprince]

I hear no etiquette lectures from barbarians.

[ She probably shouldn't even have responded, but. Honestly. ]

[safecage]

Well you seem like a rich type with no class! That's just as bad!

[priforprince]

My overwhelming class is what renders this impossible.

[ just stop talking now, hibiki ]

[safecage]

If you're so fancy why are you enjoying a free meal? Isn't this too cheap for you?

[priforprince]

I can observe without imbibing.

[ The bird finishes with her face, perches on her epaulet, and begins attending to her shoulder. ]

[safecage]

You sure about that? No one can really resist free food. It's one of the many wonders of the world.

[priforprince]

For me, money is eternally of no object.

[ She has apparently forgotten that part right when she arrived on the Far Shore where she hadn't trained to cheat at games of chance, but, eh. The point still does stand, since Phantom Thief Genius stalks the night. ]

Work on your stage presence if you wish for similar fortune.

[ But not the same. You'll never be, well, her. ]

[safecage]

I'm a great entertainer, no one can top me in terms of show tricks!

[priforprince]

Hah!

[ That just kind of slipped out. Sorry not sorry. ]

[safecage]

Don't laugh at me like that! I was the most in-demand person at the guild hall!

[priforprince]

The brightest fish in a puddle has dull scales compared to those of the sea.

[ Or, in less celebrity terms, your puniverse

is a puny 'verse. ]

[safecage]

Is that a challenge?

[ The Axis faith takes Aqua seriously ok. ]

[priforprince]

There'd be no thrill in such a bout.

[ Normally she enjoys competition, but.....not if it's dull.

Anything but that. ]

[safecage]

Sounds like you're chickening out.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki scoffs. ] If you must refer to me metaphorically, make me a swan.

[ Pinpointing the important parts of the argument, here. ]

[safecage]

I think I'll stick to the chicken metaphor.

[priforprince]

Does your gaucherie know no bounds?!

[ Her vocabulary doesn't. ]

[safecage]

Using fancy words won't stop me.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki puts a hand to her forehead. ]

It's no good. I require a respite from such unbridled stupidity.

[ And an aspirin. Where's Wendy? ]

You'll come to accept the truth in time.

[safecage]

I'm not stupid, I'm a high level Arch Priest and goddess!