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]

Ah, I suppose that explains why we haven't met before! You've only recently returned, then?

I'm one of the newcomers to the Heavens -- I'm currently performing the duties of Li Tieguai, and have been for about, ah, four months now.

[safecage]

I have no idea what god that is but I'm sure they must be impressive.

[reformedsinner]

Ahaha, you're too kind! He's an immortal following the Taoist alchemical tradition, and I only hope I can live up to the mythology.

[He flashes Aqua a slightly bewildered but cheerful smile.]

[safecage]

Alchemist huh, as long as you don't deal with the dead I think we'll be ok.

[reformedsinner]

I admit I haven't tried to raise the dead.

[He sounds cheerfully thoughtful. It's something he actually has considered; there is a recipe for a medicine that claims to reverse death in one of his books.

Reversing death, on the other hand, seems to come with unintended consequences more often than not.]

Generally I've been focusing on medicine.

[safecage]

Well if you raised the dead like a lich I'd have to kill you, even if you seem nice and make medicine.

[reformedsinner]

My, my. How harsh. I know someone I should introduce you to....

... or "should have," I suppose.

[If there's no bringing back the dead. Wherever Hazel might be now, despite his brief tenure in the Heavens, Hakkai doubts they'll meet again.

Anything is possible, of course. He smiles.]

He's not here any longer, and I'm much more likely to kill someone than bring them back, myself.

[safecage]

It's only natural for me to take care of people that wish to raise the dead, after all I'm still considered an Arch Priest where I'm from.

[reformedsinner]

Is that the job of priests where you come from? Goodness.

Almost all the people I've met who were raising others from the dead were priests.

[safecage]

We send the dead off so they can't be zombies and attack people.

[ People ruining the good name of priests, in this world, right now in at this time of day? gasp ]

[reformedsinner]

Is that a frequent problem?

[Was the zombie parade more normal than he'd thought?

His glance is surprisingly sharp.]

[safecage]

You'd be surprised at how frequent it happens, when I was traveling with my party we got over run by undead during the night. If it weren't for me everyone would have ended up in a grave!

[reformedsinner]

Where did that happen? -- Not anywhere near Tokyo, was it?

[safecage]

No, another world...

I got stuck there after a useless NEET decided to bend the reincarnation system.

[reformedsinner]

Ah...

[This conversation just keeps making less and less sense.]

... are you from this world originally?

[safecage]

Honestly I have no idea at this point, this place kinda runs like what I used to do but it's different in certain ways.

[reformedsinner]

I suspect if this were your world, you'd probably know.

[He doesn't have any evidence to back that up, but none of the actual old gods around here have seemed nearly so uncertain of their ground.

He also hasn't talked to very many of them. But still. It's a bit of a relief, and a bit of a disappointment, to realize that she won't be able to tell him anything else about this place.]

[safecage]

If it were my world I'd be able to punch a certain goddess that pads her chest into the next life.

[ Thankfully Eris isn't here because boy would Aqua beat the crap out of the goddess that took her job. ]

[reformedsinner]

So it's definitely not, then... that's a shame.

I was hoping to learn a little more about the zombies I've seen here!

[safecage]

I'M NOT DEALING WITH MORE ZOMBIES

[reformedsinner]

[That was... vehement.

Hakkai stares at her for several seconds before clearing his throat politely.]

Are you all right, miss?

[safecage]

Sorta

[ It's all out of her system now at least ]