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

[kuroi_taiyo]

Sometimes I forget how sweet this stuff can be. Everything is a lot saltier or sweeter than my mouth expects.

[ Well, almost everything. ]

That doesn't mean it's bad.

[welcome_home]

Mmm, it's candy. [ She nods, because she can understand that. ] It can be sweet or salty or sour, but sometimes it's hard to tell how much just by looking at it.

[ She makes a face. ] Sometimes they can be spicy, too. I don't like those ones.

[kuroi_taiyo]

I meant the food in this world in general, but yeah.

[ Spicy candy, though? Maybe he should find some of those to just leave around for everyone. ]

Weak to spice then, huh? Guess it just shows how much of a kid you are.

[welcome_home]

[ She huffs at that, hands propped on hips as she gives him an indignant look. ]

I'm seven!

[kuroi_taiyo]

... Right. My mistake.

[ There's a reason why it's not a proper apology. ]

I guess I should say little kid, then.

[welcome_home]

I'm not as little anymore. And I've been here a long time now! [ She had been six, after all. ]

[kuroi_taiyo]

So? Not as little doesn't change the fact that you're still a little kid. If you want to be seen as 'bigger' or whatever, then straighten your posture and be less indecisive.

[ Judar, you're really not equipped to give other people advice. ]

[welcome_home]

[ She squints at him a moment before shaking her head. ] That just looks bigger, it doesn't actually make you bigger. And grownups are indy.... indecisive all the time. That doesn't make any sense.

[kuroi_taiyo]

I never said anything about actually being bigger. Just seen as such. It's what the air of confidence does for someone. It makes you seem bigger, stronger, and more likely to be followed.

[ Which takes a very strong and horrible personality to counteract that whole thing. Such an example being seen with Judar. ]

[welcome_home]

[ That has her cocking her head to the side to consider him for a moment. ]

But if it's not real, then isn't it just lying?

[kuroi_taiyo]

Depends on how you see it.

[ For better or worse, Judar doesn't see much trouble giving the information to Nanako as if she were someone older, but very naive and dumb. It's perceptive and inquisitive for her age, so she may as well get the adult answer. No matter where this leads. ]

It's called presence. Acting bigger might not make it physically true, but it's gonna give an impression that treats you as such. If someone goes off treating you like a brat, do what I say while looking them in the eyes and saying what you think with conviction and confidence. You'll get a lot more and further that way.

[welcome_home]

Hmmm. [ She frowns, humming thoughtfully at this. ] That still doesn't sound very nice, though. Is that what you do? Does it work for you?

[ She squints at him for a moment, curious. ]

[kuroi_taiyo]

How nice it is depends on what you're saying and wanting to do.

[ Is deciding on having that marzipan or cannoli really 'not nice' when it's set up for anyone to take? Just for the a relevant and current example, but he has no idea why she thinks it's not nice. ]

I just do what I want and feel like. Seems to work out well enough.

[ Except there's about half a dozen people that hate Judar's existence and/or want to punch him. He's not thinking of that, though. ]