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

II

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai stills as he spots the black hooded robe across the training ground. It's been a long time since he last met Roxas, and -- in retrospect -- he has more sympathy for the young man's frustrations with Hibari... but he couldn't describe his opinion as "positive" regardless.

But it has, indeed, been a long time. Does he remember?

The attempt at casting a borderline is a clear sign that he doesn't, and Hakkai crosses the yard, inclining his head to the man. The shinki.]

Good morning. -- Were you trying to cast a borderline?

[cloak]

[Roxas seems quite occupied with inspecting his gloved hand, head bowed as he watches it like it might do something else out of the ordinary. Of course, nothing happens.

When he's approached, he doesn't look up right away, still watching his hand]

Trying.

[He echoes, by way of confirmation, before he puffs out a quiet sigh]

Unsuccessful though.

[reformedsinner]

It looked as though you managed something.

[Hakkai inclines his head, and adds, politely:] I'm Cho Hakkai. I'm afraid I can't demonstrate the technique -- I'm a god -- but I might be able to give you some tips.

[cloak]

I've been observing.

[He's likely made a conspicuous and unnerving little shadow on the sidelines for some, but it seems observation hasn't yielded results.

Well, not the one he was aiming for, anyhow]

What advice would a god have, for something like that?

[reformedsinner]

I was a shinki first.

[There's almost a note of challenge in his smile, but it vanishes swiftly into bland politeness.]

What were you thinking of when you tried to cast it?

[cloak]

[It's a strange thought, shinki becoming gods. Roxas isn't sure what to make of it, so he mentally files it away, doubting its relevance to him]

Keeping an enemy away. I thought that was the idea, but...

[He gestures again, away from the both of them, and sparks bound in the direction he points]

[reformedsinner]

[It's hard to tell his reaction, with his face lost in the shadows of that hood. He had been silent for a moment, though, as though considering what Hakkai'd said.

Perhaps it was the idea of a shinki becoming a god that disturbed him. Hakkai dismisses his own curiosity -- if Roxas isn't going to pursue the subject, he doesn't need to dwell on it -- and forges ahead.]

That's a part of it, certainly. When I cast it, I found it easiest to focus on the idea of "rejection" -- of separating myself from whatever I was casting the borderline against.

Some people seem to find that, if they think about enemies or attacks, other powers of theirs get involved when they cast the borderline.

[Those sparks don't look quite like a failed borderline, close up. Are they electrical?]

[cloak]

So it's sort of like an instinct, this stuff?

[Another wave of his hand, another jolt of electricity springing into empty air. It's something, sure, but not something that seems especially useful, small as it is.

Just a Thunder spell. Just a thing he has no name for]

I don't think I understand...rejecting something. How do you reject it without fighting it?

[If thoughts like that were counter-intuitive, how does someone separate those concepts?]

That is a life he no longer recalls]

[reformedsinner]

[It's a surprisingly philosophical question, and Hakkai blinks, one hand going to his chin.]

Yes, your other powers may respond instinctively.

Can you think of things that are not welcome, but that are not opponents? For instance-- something disgusting. This might be easier if I showed you an ayakashi.

[Whatever else might be said for the creatures, they were undeniably disgusting.]

[cloak]

...Darkness, maybe. [He recognizes this as bad, except] Ain's a nice guy though.

[And he radiates the stuff. Might be made of it, for that matter. He's the reason Roxas knows what it is and that it automatically sends him on edge.

The person is fine, but what he exudes somehow feels like an opposing force]

I haven't anything like that otherwise.

[reformedsinner]

Ain-- you've met him?

[He is, in fact, reasonably nice. If also very quiet.]

Yes, his energy feels a little like an ayakashi's. [And considering that it's literally a sort of shadow surrounding him, "darkness" is a description that makes perfect sense to Hakkai.] Try focusing on that, and on creating a boundary between something like that energy, and yourself.

[cloak]

[He nods]

He tried to help me earlier.

[And with nothing to gain from it, he can only surmise that Ain is a nice guy, despite the darkness that seemed to surround him]

If that's similar, maybe...

[He extends his hand again.

This time, it's a pillar of light that bursts into being in front of them]

...Not right either.

[reformedsinner]

[That does make him think better of Ain, although the odd, quiet man had made a decent impression regardless.

He considers the explosion of light, raising his eyebrows. How many magical abilities can this boy command?]

Hmm, perhaps a little too much light. Have you considered practicing on real ayakashi?

[cloak]

[A little too much light ought to be his tagline.

He watches his hand in renewed speculation, flexing his fingers before he lets it drop. Sparks and light... What was he, before?]

Do shinki practice against real ones?

[A pause, as he considers]

Does it hurt Add if I get hurt?

[The possibility that he'd sustain damage seems an obvious factor, but he's not that concerned about it. Not so much as collateral damage]

[reformedsinner]

I practiced against real ayakashi. It was more effective than trying to imagine enemies.

You shouldn't practice alone, though -- bring a shinki who's more confident with their borderlines, so that you have a way to keep the ayakashi away if you can't cast it.

[He shrugs, and adds:] Add will feel it if you're hurt, but it won't injure him.

[cloak]

[Roxas weighs this new information]

So long as it won't hurt someone else...

[He doesn't know why this is important, only that it is. Causing some sort of collateral pain is concerning to him, although he doesn't understand what makes it such a prominent thought]

I could ask Ain. It's coming more easily to him.

[And since they're assigned to the same god, they'll be working together anyway, won't they?]

[reformedsinner]

Perhaps his energy suits it better. [Hakkai watches Roxas for a moment, bemused.

He seems to care more about hurting others than Hakkai had really expected.]

But it'll come to you, too, in time. You could try Kairi, as well. She's fairly good with shinki magic.

[cloak]

[There may be something to that, although...

The idea that darkness is better suited rests oddly with him. Still, Ain is a good guy, he's sure of that]

Kairi? I don't think I know her...

[As of this thread]

What does she look like?

[reformedsinner]

A redheaded young woman -- not too tall, about sixteen or seventeen, I believe. [Unfortunately, she doesn't have any accessories he's noticed often enough to be a good guide, and there are plenty of people that description could cover.]

Just ask around -- it shouldn't be too hard to find her.

[cloak]

I'll do that then.

[There can't be that many people who fit the same description, right? Although as long as he's asking, he can at least confirm whether he's found the correct person or not.

He thinks to look around for her, but he pauses, turning his hooded head back in this man's direction]

Thanks.

[It's just one simple word, and his tone is nigh on void of expression, but the thought is there all the same]

[reformedsinner]

It's my pleasure.

[Expression or not, he appreciates the politeness, and he inclines his head in understanding before moving away to let the cloaked boy go find Kairi for advice.]