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

[reformedsinner]

[That was probably supposed to happen. Hakkai blinks, dubious.

He hopes Ain's god isn't terrified of his appearance, too; or of whatever they might have seen of him when they saw his death.]

Ah, I see... well, I suppose you'll have the chance to get to know each other later!

Is there anything I can help you with, in the meantime? I'm sure you must have some questions about this place.

[abgrund]

[ It's a question that is posed to him, even if the question is a prompt for more questions. He has a couple, but articulating them might take a few moments. ]

... is this the real world?

[ The physical realm, reality, stuff like that. It's not the void, that he can be sure. ]

[reformedsinner]

That's a surprisingly challenging question. It's the Heavens, but not the mortal world.

Nor does it seem to be the world many of us come from.

[He glances at Ain, and raises an eyebrow.] My species isn't known here, for example.

[abgrund]

[ Ain nods, though the way his single eye glazes over indicates that he needs a bit of time to process this. Those names, Heaven, Far Shore, they meant nothing to him - save for the an undercurrent of belief that has pricked at his skin since his memory here began.

But, how to give voice to it? ]

... I don't belong here.

[ He holds out a hand before his face, looking at his palm. Wisps of darkness peel off from his blackened skin, rising a few inches into the air before dissipating.

He's not one of the proper world, that much he knows ]

[reformedsinner]

Perhaps you don't.

[Hakkai watches the darkness peel away from Ain's skin with a thoughtful gaze for several seconds, before lifting his own hand to sweep a few fingers through one of the wisps.]

I don't think any of us do. But there's no way to leave voluntarily. Even death isn't reliable.

[abgrund]

[ The slivers of shadow feel noticeably cold when Hakkai touches them, though not uncomfortably so. ]

You cannot die...?

[ Him not belonging is one thing, but - everyone not belonging... means that they're all the same.

A thought that hasn't occurred to him before. ]

[reformedsinner]

[So they are tangible, slightly. He lets his hand fall back to his side.]

I can die, but I haven't stayed dead. Death isn't permanent for everyone, only for some of us.

[abgrund]

[ Death not being permanent - somehow, it rings a chord within him, the impression of something wrong. ]

.... why?

[ A frown, or as much as he can frown ]

[reformedsinner]

I don't know.

[He's silent for a moment before continuing, more slowly.]

But it seems this place won't let us go until it's ready.

[abgrund]

All things come to an end...

[ He looks down into his hands, still frowning - though the slight tinge of his voice seems to imply confusion more than sadness ]

Who decides... when we are ready?

[reformedsinner]

Theoretically, yes.

[He spreads his hands.] I have no idea who has that power.

[abgrund]

[ Ain closes his eye, trying to put word to the slight discomfort lodged in his chest - where his heart would be, if there wasn't a hole in its place. ]

...... okay.

[ Yeah, he can't say it now. ]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai's silent for a moment, waiting to see if Ain is going to speak further, but he shakes his head at last when the other man stays silent.]

I'm sorry I can't be of much help. That's one of the stranger aspects of this place.

[abgrund]

[ shakes his head ]

No.... it's okay. [ There's gratitude, that much he must convey. ] Thank you...

[reformedsinner]

You're welcome.

[He is, indeed, a strange man. In more than merely appearance. After a moment, Hakkai raises his eyebrows.]

Is there anything else I can help you with?

[abgrund]

[ There's a pause while he considers the question before he shakes his head again. Perhaps he should say something like 'see you around' or an equivalent, like others do; but it didn't seem like something fitting for him.

Instead, he will incline his head, as a (strange) gesture of respect ]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai smiles, and inclines his head in return.]

Please let me know if that changes.

[abgrund]

[ Much like Roxas, this man seems to show concern about him. It's not something he understands, yet he isn't driven to deny it.

Curious... ]

...... okay.