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

[foxrightsactivist]

[Hey, those training dummies are no joke. No joke. He could have been left with bruises! Kaden had never been so scared in his entire life! ... afterlife. He can't remember his life. And that robed shinki had definitely said this was Heaven.

But this other person is staring. He's getting the feeling he's going to be getting a lot of that here.]

Yeah, a little. I still don't know why we're dead or why we can't remember anything, but that robed shinki told me not to worry about it.

[Pause.]

Are you a god or a shinki?

[lightninglobster]

[Bruises are part of the learning process. You get bruises, and you learn how not to get bruises next time. Besides, what's the worst they could do? Re-kill them?

If Ryoma were a little more himself, he'd be more polite. As certain functions of Ryoma.exe are missing, he's going to be... a touch less tactful.]

They told me much the same thing. I'm a shinki, I believe they said.

[... he reached into his long white coat-jacket-robe-what the hell is it? and produced the pamphlet, glancing at the front curiously.]

According to this... very interesting collection of words, I'm a shinki.

[foxrightsactivist]

[But bruises make marks on you! Even if they're temporary. He was just caught off guard. He doesn't like it, no sir.]

Oh! You got one of those, too. I was just wondering, since you look like you're someone important.

[Kaden has his stuck down in the back of his obi. He's only skimmed it. There are a lot of large words he can't really understand, so that is a job for his god.]

I guess there's mostly just people with round ears like yours around here, huh?

[lightninglobster]

[... marks fade, you big piece of fluff. All the same, at least Ryoma has a friend in not understanding half of the concepts explained in the very helpful tell-all pamphlet. He blinks a little, looking down at himself--he looks important? By what metric?]

I think anybody can be a... shinki, whatever that fully means.

[A weapon of some sort, chosen to work with a god to fight... something. His eye had begun to twitch by that part. What was a Google, anyway? Something about using engines to search... whatever an engine was...

Ryoma does have the decency to look a mite embarrassed, however, bowing his head with a wince.]

My apologies, I just... don't know that I've ever seen anyone that looks quite like you. You're very unique.

[And almost as fluffy as Ryoma.]

[foxrightsactivist]

[By the metric of his armor, of course. That sort of thing looks very important! Like some sort of general or fancy samurai. It's something that attracts attention.]

The best I could understand, we're in Heaven... So that means we died, right?

[Or maybe they just never lived anywhere else to begin with. That could explain why he has no memory of anything before this place. All the same, thinking of possibly dying and not remembering it has him shivering and shaking his head.]

N-nevermind about the dying thing, that's too much to think about.

[But the bow, no matter how tiny, makes him pause. And the words that follow, especially. Unique, huh?]

Well, if it helps, I've not seen anyone quite like me either! At least, not that I've noticed. But I am pretty unique, I guess! Check out my tail, it's super soft.

[lightninglobster]

[It's a bit like a hazard marking, or the brightly colored plumage of something that'll absolutely murder you if you get too close. To be quite fair, Ryoma would be very likely to make something dead, given proper motive and opportunity, but let the man be innocent for now.]

I believe that's correct... and the less said of it, the better, I think.

[Thinking too much deeper makes a sense of unease settle in the pit of Ryoma's stomach. He mimics Kaden's headshake after a moment, as if clearing his own thoughts away. There were other things to think of--like how... soft and fluffy Kaden was?]

It looks quite well-groomed. You must take wonderful care of yourself.

[Dandy fox.]

[foxrightsactivist]

[Look, Kaden likes beautiful and shiny things. Red is a beautiful color, and that armor sure is shiny. He's like a moth to a screen door on a summer night. Or something.

Instead of focusing on possible uncomfortable topics, though, he's going to latch on to talking about himself. It makes him feel better.]

Yeah, I guess I do! After all, you can't go around with fur this good and not brush it or wash it.

[... oh. Wait. They still haven't introduced themselves, either.]

I'm Kaden, by the way! Nice to meet you.

[lightninglobster]

[The armor's a little less shiny than it would normally be, thanks to the machinations of the chore team, but with a little water and polish, things could be set to right. Ryoma chuckles at Kaden's enthusiasm, head cocking contemplatively as he continues to sip at his water in slow, measured amounts.]

I've don't believe I've ever thought about brushing as being anything but part of a daily routine, but you're so enthusiastic about the prospect... it's inspiring.

[It was almost contagious. It was certainly enough to turn the mind off of more... disturbing topics. Ryoma smiles as he catches a name, a touch ashamed that he hadn't thought to do introductions before this point himself--it seemed rather rude, in hindsight.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Kaden. I'm Ryoma.

[foxrightsactivist]

Well, it makes sense, doesn't it? You brush your fur in the morning, and by midday it's probably in need of a good brushing again. And then again before you go to bed!

[So much brushing is necessary, almost. If his fur is going to stay silky and soft, he has to take good care of it. Maybe Ryoma will let him take care of his, too.]

Ryoma, huh? Not too hard to remember. Do you know who your god is yet?

[lightninglobster]

I don't think I've ever spent that much time brushing my hair.

[Maybe that is why his hair has chosen to do the Things that it is currently doing; Ryoma just sort of lets it do what it wants to do, and in return, he will be spared when the eventual apocalypse comes for all of mankind. Er, spiritkind?]

I don't, actually. I suppose I'm still waiting for... whatever it is that's going to happen and be completely obvious that it's happening. Has your god shown up yet?

[foxrightsactivist]

... yeah, that might explain why it looks that way, then.

[It looks... maybe brushed? It's hard for Kaden to tell, really, but there's definitely a difference. Or maybe Ryoma's hair is just a different texture. Either way, his fingers seem to be itching to touch it. Or get a brush to it. Or both.]

Nah, not yet. But I'm sure they'll show up eventually. And yours, too! I hope yours is nice.

[lightninglobster]

... and just what do you mean by that?

[Ryoma's hair looks fine! Really! It's just hair! It fell like that naturally! Ryoma hadn't thought this much about his hair in literally ever (as best he could remember) and to hear Kaden say something like that almost made him self-conscious. A little bit. If you squinted.]

Yours, as well. If they're not kind, however, I at least hope that they're just and honest.

[Ryoma can deal with a brusque jerk. He cannot deal with an unscrupulous asshole.]