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

[nopixiedust]

[The God is fine, kids, she's just herself. Wendy sighs.]

You're stuck there until you win.

1/2

[priforprince]

What unpleasant coercion....

[ It gives her a sick feeling in her mouth. Hibiki lowers her head, thinking over what Wendy has said. Stuck until...

Until she... ]

2/2

[priforprince]

--But, victory in literal child's play shall come instantly.

[ TWINKLE

Let's get this over with! ]

[nopixiedust]

That's the spirit!

[Whatever makes her god stop being needlessly dramatic over kids playing a game. Honestly, Wendy worries where she would be without her.]

So do you know the name of the person behind you?

[priforprince]

My information network---

[ No, no, objects one of the other kids, coming up to Wendy to be a Helpful Explainer. They have to sing the song together first! That's half the fun of the game!

The kids all take their places around Hibiki, ready to do the game Right. Following the rules is important. ]

[nopixiedust]

Oh, right. I forgot that part.

[It is her god, after all. She tends to be a lot more lax with her than she should be.... said even as she takes her place too, grinning broadly and bursting into song along with the other kids in hopes this might cool her god's head a little.]

[Sometimes you just need to be humiliated by small children.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki stands in the center of the circle, eyes closed in accordance with the game (but also with a properly smug expression.) She....she knows these children's names. Of course she does! She oversees the entire Far Shore with her cameras, there's no reason for her not to....

....wait, how many of these children does she actually know? Gaining access to the old gods' grounds is difficult, limiting her available data....

"Who is behiiiiind you - now?" ask the kids. Hibiki hurriedly rewinds what she's just heard, mentally counting footfalls. If she's correct, and what's more, if she's fortunate - ]

It's Wendy.

[ Her shinki won't let her down! Her shinki, for sure, will find a way to be the one behind her!!! ]

I rng'd this and rng is on hibiki's side

[nopixiedust]

[Poor Hibiki. Wendy feels just a little bad for her god, because she knows for a fact that she hasn't bothered to get to know these kids like Wendy herself has bothered to. Then again, it can't be helped. After all, a kid is of course going to play around with kids, while.... whatever age Hibiki is bothers with that age.]

[But, as they all come to a stop, Wendy figures it'll be good for her to fail-]

[....Or, not. Blinking, she points at herself, even as the other kids all look in amazement.]

Oh, you're right.

[She hadn't even realized how everything had fallen into place like that. Of course, some of the kids start to protest. It's her god, of course he would have known!]

/triumphant villain laughter

[priforprince]

Hm.

[ Hibiki doesn't mind all the protestations. She just tested, and her feet are free to move. Easy as can be, she strolls out of the cluster of children. Tea is in order, she thinks. Tea, and a comfortable chair. ] Well, then, we'll take our leave.....

[ "But Wendy's It now!"

The teacup in Hibiki's mind falls to the ground and shatters. ]

[nopixiedust]

[At least it's just in her mind, this time! Wendy isn't nearly as bothered, just skipping out of the circle and into the middle.]

Mm, it's fine, Hibiki. I'm really good at this because I've been playing with them for a while now!

[As in, months and months. Sometimes a girl just has to waste time!]

Are you sure you don't want to play on the other end?

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki snorts. ] Spare me from juvenile pursuits.

[ The kids seem okay with this, as God Apollo hasn't been much fun to play with, anyway.

Okay, Wendy, they're ready when you are! ]