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

Re: R&R

[handsome_genius]

Ah, Nanako!

[ He pauses what he's doing and smiles over at her, bowing his head in greeting since he can't let go of what he's holding in both hands. ]

I'm just picking up some of their slack is all.

[ And he doesn't seem to notice or care that some of the other white-robed shinki might be able to hear him. ]

[welcome_home]

[ She blinks up at him with wide eyes for a moment before giving him a warm smile. ]

Do you need help?

[handsome_genius]

Well I don't need any help since this isn't my job, but...

[ He grins at her while ducking down to rest on his heels. ]

They seem to need all the help they can get, so you can join me for a bit if you want?

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako glances over at the nearest white-robed shinki who seemed to be pointedly ignoring Yoon, at least. She gives a soft giggle, glancing back to him and sharing a conspiratorial smile. ]

Okay! What can I do?

[handsome_genius]

[ Yoon picks up a small trash bag and gestures to a bench where people were clearly eating and drinking during breaks. ]

See how there's some trash under the wooden table here? Could you get underneath of there and pick up the bits that blew around in the breeze?

[welcome_home]

I can do that!

[ Looking pleased at being given the chance to help, Nanako turns and scrambles under the bench, since it's an easy fit for someone her size, and starts gathering up the things left on the ground. ]

Here, Yoon! Can I have the bag?

[handsome_genius]

Yes, of course you can.

[ The request is so sweet, that he can't possibly turn her down even if it means getting a new bag for himself. He hands it to her with the bag open so that she'll be able to easily grab it in both of her hands. ]

It's not very full, so you should be able to handle it.

[ Meanwhile, he starts looking around for another bag. ]

These plastic bags are something else... not quite as strong as woven sacks, but good enough for something like this.

[welcome_home]

[ She takes the bag. And then pauses to blink up at him curiously a moment before giving the bag he offered her a thoughtful look, as if she'd never considered such a thing before. Probably because she hadn't. ]

Hmm. Maybe. But they do break a lot easier. Especially if you have to put something heavier in it.

[handsome_genius]

That's exactly what I was thinking too, Nanako.

[ He nods to reassure her that she's thought rationally. ]

Do you know how to weave at all? Bracelets or braided hair or anything like that? I could show you how to make sacks if you're interested - otherwise you can just have one of mine from one of my temples and I'll make more.

[welcome_home]

I can braid hair! Well, a little. I practice sometimes when I can, and I'm not very good at doing my own, but... [ She's quick to excitedly supply this information. ] Do you know how to weave? Can you show me sometime? Is it hard?

[handsome_genius]

It's not hard - it just requires patience. You know how you can braid short hair and it doesn't take long, but someone with really long hair needs more time to get their hair braided correctly? It's like that.

[ He looks around them, deciding that the place is relatively clean and it's not like he's trying to leave early. He really is trying to wait the training out to make sure there's no shinki he needs to escort back to Yona's temple. So he turns back to Nanako. ]

Would you like me to show you a little bit now and we can practice more another day?