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

[abgrund]

[ Both names are foreign, so they elicit no reaction from him save for a slow blink. ]

Ain.

[ He has a longer name, but he's of the distinct impression that it is not one he is worthy of anymore.

The shinki lifts an arm, pointing towards the mark on the other man's arm with his whole hand instead of a finger, an odd gesture. ]

What is that?

[royaltyloyalty]

[ Doku scratches his neck. ]

You know, I'm not sure?

[ He looks down at it again. ]

It's not one of my clan marks, I know that for sure.

[ He points his free hand - the one with the flame mark - at the bridge of his nose and forehead area. ]

[abgrund]

[ There's the temptation to say 'that's mine', but these words are not an accurate reflection of his intentions. ]

Does it hurt?

[ Someone had asked him the same question when they saw his own body, so it stands to reason that this might be possible ]

[royaltyloyalty]

Huh? No, of course not.

[ He looks down at it, puzzled by the question. ]

All I know is I didn't have it before I got here, so I just figured it was a god thing.

[ Only after realizing the man's intense interest does Doku's eyebrow quirk up. ]

Why, you seen others with it?

[abgrund]

[ a phrase lingers at the tip of his tongue, the same as before; but he dismisses it with a shake of his head. ]

It is like me.

[ that's much better. hopefully, something that the other man understands ]

Do you want it?

[royaltyloyalty]

... Like you?

[ No, that doesn't really resonate with him at all. ]

I didn't think it was a... removable kind of brand, either. Do you know me better than I know you or something?

[ It would explain a little bit, at least. ]

[abgrund]

[ ain shakes his head again, pointing to the brand. ]

I don't know you. But I know that.

[ just the mark. it's a sort of infestation, perhaps. ]

[royaltyloyalty]

[ That makes Doku look down at the brand again. ]

You make it sound like we're from the same world somehow.

[ And yet, even as he says that, it rings false to Doku. There's nothing familiar to him about the way Ain looks - and he's a god, so his memories can't be suppressed the way a shinki's are, right? ]

If you know this mark, should I be trying to get rid of it?

[abgrund]

Yes.

[ this he knows, because the man in front of him isn't from the void, and things should be kept neatly. ]

I can remove it.

[ but he's hesitant to do it if this guy doesn't want to, for some reason ]

[royaltyloyalty]

... I'll keep you in mind.

[ Doku isn't sentimental; he just wants answers. In a few weeks time, when he has his memories again, he'd be interested in getting the mark removed. Not yet though. ]

Ain, wasn't it?

[ He holds up his phone briefly, but not comfortably. It's still tech he doesn't use often. ]

I'll probably contact you about it in the future.

[abgrund]

[ So, not now then. That's fine - he has all the time in the world, to wait. ]

I will still be here...

[ Maybe, it's time to go. ]