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

[handle]

They haven't? [ Hey, they were able to finish answering to the prayer, weren't they?

Still, when the kids look to Sorey and Hibiki, he tilts his head slightly, pointing to him and then at Hibiki with a questioning look before tilting his head. ]

Sure, what kind of game?

[priforprince]

[ The kids are eager to explain, gathering in a circle around Hibiki. It's "Kagome Kagome"! And God Apollo is the "demon"! ]

What?

[ Here. You can get in the circle too. A few of the kids try to guide Sorey into the proper position to begin the game. ]

I haven't agreed---

[ Hibiki struggles against her invisible bonds. The kids, unaware just how compulsory their game is, grin. ]

[handle]

[ Ah, before he realizes it, they're both in the circle... Sorey laughs a little, rubbing the back of his head. Hibiki looks pretty annoyed, but all of this is harmless, isn't it? ]

Come on, it's just a game, isn't it? Let's just play along with them for a little while.

[priforprince]

Don't drag a high-schooler into preschool games!

[ A high-schooler who doesn't even attend school due to her jet-setting celebrity life, at that!! Who takes over the school instead! Whose whole life is a recess in which she is Prince of the playground!

And yet. She is ringed by children now. Hibiki's shoulders begin to lift, tense. Her escape routes have been snipped, figuratively and literally. ]

[handle]

C'mon. I bet playing with them would make them happy.

[ And rally, there was no harm in humoring some kids - no matter how old they were. Though, if Hibiki was really that upset about this - Sorey wouldn't mind being the one to stay put and play with them.

They're both pretty trapped right now though, anyways. ]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki snorts. ] Amuse them yourself, then. I'm--

[ She tries again. No. No, she can't. She physically cannot move her feet. Something invisible is anchoring them in place.

The kids begin to cheer, waving their hands. God Apollo is the "it"! God Apollo is "it"! God Apollo is "it"!

Come on, mister, one of the kids encourages Sorey, offering him a hand. You say it too. ]

[handle]

[ He'll take that hand, but stops - looking to Hibiki. She's definitely trying to move, but it looks like something's stopping her. Was it these kids? Sure, they seemed pretty harmless, but at the same time... That's awfully strange, isn't it?

He looks to Hibiki curiously, with some concern. ] -- Hibiki?

[priforprince]

What....is this?

[ Hibiki struggles in place, now getting more agitated. ] My legs won't -

[ "God Apollo is It! God Apollo is It! God Apollo is It!!" ]