June Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: December 7th
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 rear of 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.

Once they've had a chance to have things explained, they'll have the chance to relax and enjoy an afternoon party.




Meeting Hall

God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a much nicer room than the warehouse where the last set of new gods got their informational speech. It's a smaller meeting room, with tatami floors and a small dais at the front of the room where the speaker stands. A minor deity is giving the speech, and none of the white-robed shinki enter.

The speaker delivers her welcome speech with the intonation of someone who's practiced it many times. Newly arrived gods 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. They are allowed to remain in the room as long as they wish, should they want to discuss questions with each other or with more experienced gods who are here to help out.

Shinki Training

Various shinki in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's hosuehold are stationed around the dojo, passing out informational pamphlets that have been freshly printed. They will be happy to answer any questions or instruct the newcomers in the use of the borderline. They also accompany their answers, or lessons, with 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.

The dojo is back to its old, fully functional self; a set of motionless straw targets line one wall, to be used by people practicing with any of the weapons spread out on tables or hanging in racks on the walls. Outside, six animated straw targets wait in an area marked off with red ribbons and warning signs. Anyone entering the marked area may find themselves in combat with one (or more) of the magical training dummies. Those who leave the marked area, though, won't be chased.

Physical Training

Beyond the dojo, a scavenger hunt has been set up throughout the grounds of the Meeting Hall. Brightly colored plastic balls are hidden in shrubbery, tucked into support beams, floating among reeds in the ponds, and lurking in even cleverer hiding places. When a god or shinki gets their hand on one of them, they will burst open to reveal a hidden prize, such as candy, small toys, or accessories. How many can you find?

As well as the scavenger hunt, the white-robed shinki are engaging in more serious physical training and will be happy to let new gods or shinki join them. Sparring matches with practice weapons from the dojo, jogging laps around the hall, sit-ups, push-ups... or, for the younger shinki, competing to see who's the fastest to climb a tree.

Rest and Refreshments

Midafternoon, once the last of the scavenger-hunt prizes have been found, the white-robed shinki will turn their hands to clearing away the training equipment and laying out a lovely buffet table. Bright lanterns are hung from the trees, and a few shinki even take up a station on one side of the training area and begin playing shamisen, koto, wooden flute and drum. Although their instruments are traditional, their music selection ranges from some very classic Japanese tunes to others that sound surprisingly modern. The koto player can really rock!

Old and new gods and shinki alike are welcome to circulate, socialize with their friends, partake of the buffet food and enjoy the music. There's even room for those who feel inspired to dance, and plenty of privacy offered by the extensive garden for those who would rather retreat with their new partners to have a serious conversation.

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
• Relax at a party
• Have fun~

Comments

[purr_ince]

Yep. Hibiki's cat.

'You mean the one that was passed out on her desk?'

That's the one. [He's reaching out gently petting the cat before carefully taking the paper off of those sharp claws.] Does she know you escaped?

[He's reaching taking his phone out to send Hibiki a picture of her cat.]

[purr_ince]

[Smiling, Adrien catches her up in that hug and laughed. She's happier about this than he'd been. It's cute.]

It is pretty neat. I'm pretty glad, too. I think she's happy about it but it seemed like a very bit shock so she might need more time to process it.

[He smiles and nods. Because she's right but here is so much more there than just cats but it's fine for her to know it as just that.] That's the one. Well, among other things all good though and things that suit me so I guess that's all that matters.

[purr_ince]

Adrien shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know if that's the reason. I'm sure there's something else there maybe they're just so reserved or something like that. Who knows. All I know is they aren't likely to change their minds.."

He took a sip of his drink before settling his plate on his lap, giving Plagg bit of something eat. "Snake, his name is Snake. I don't think he has a formal name but he's very nice." Adrien smiles a bit. "He would do the same if roles reversed."

[spellswords]

[He wields twin blades even. Oh yes, definitely similar to Yugiri... and to Thancred too, she thinks, although she knows his way is slightly different. Neither of them she has ever sparred with but she has certainly become familiar with their techniques fighting alongside them for so long.

Even so Edge's skills aren't going to be the same and she falls for the feint, intercepting the blade to parry it in return only to get caught off guard. She stumbles for it, just slightly, and the crystal floating in her other hand is dislodged. Or so it seems. It drops to the ground from the blow yet before it connects it bounces back up like a magnet being repelled. It stops short near her and floats faithfully above her shoulder even without the support of her hand.

She retreats quickly, leaping backwards, but slashing forward in a perfect Z as she goes. The crystal follows her. He has the right of it that it powers her magic though and she cannot so easily cast with it if he keeps it as his target.]

[spellswords]

[Tired, he says... Honestly that sounds reasonable too. She certainly feels a level of mental weariness when she thinks too hard about it.]

... Right. [He has a point as she is definitely attempting to take it all in at once. Approach it as you always have your studies, she tells herself. One point at a time. Unfortunately that does nothing to quell the overall unrest but... it's a place to start.]

It's just... I have only ever known gods to be blights upon the world and meant to be slain to protect it. To come here only to be told I am that very thing... [She trails off. Yeah. Too much to take in.]

[priforprince]

[ Whether Rosalie understands or not....Rosalie yawns. A long, loud, fluid cat yawn.

That apparently is what she thinks of getting permission from Hibiki. ]

[abgrund]

[ Refinement, top-class... what does she mean? ]

Something formal?

[ That brings another question, though. ]

Then why are you here?

[abgrund]

[ He watches her with his one visible eye, a slight tinge of curiosity touching the curve of his brows. Gods as blights... curious. Somehow, he feels that it's a strange concept, but what backing it could have is now something lost to time. ]

Think a different name? Gods here are not really the same as others... more like spirits. A name as a job, a category.

[ Ain waves his hand a little, as if to gesture at the myriads of names that could arise; but his cloak sleeve falls a little away from his hand, revealing that the black colour of his fingers is not a glove but actual skin, and that... three inches beyond his wrist is nothing at all.

Empty space. He's not bothered by it, though. ]

[priforprince]

My reconnaissance tools keep being broken.

[ A sigh. She doesn't want to think about that, so she'll change the subject. ] And? Why did you approach me?

[ We know why she's here, now. What about you? What possessed you to, ah,

yeah, "approach" is a good word for how this interaction began. ]

[purr_ince]

[Adrien snorts softly.]

Can't say I don't agree but she's your human and she'll worry.

[swordofzero]

"I'm not sure." He shrugged, Lady Grell had actually been someone who had disappeared in the past and returned but she had never spoken about it to him. She had not been the one to tell him in the first place.

"I know that Hakkai Cho was once a Shinki before he became a god, he said he didn't remember anything inbetween even though he disappeared for a short time. Adrien also was a Shinki until a few days ago, though he did not disappear and return."

No one knows. That was the only certain thing Suzaku had learned in his time here. No one knew what what was going on.

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku steps back, giving his owntraining dummy a moment to recover and find it's feet once more.] Not yet. Or at least I have not been found by a new god yet.

[He had been told that these trainings were the most likely time to be reassigned. He had figured that being in the training area in public was the easiest way to be found if he was assigned someone new.]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku smiled at him. He was doing very well for such a change and Suzaku was glad that he was taking it in his stride. He made a note to check on Marinette and Snake as well, it was bound to have affected them. He knew how worried they had been for Adrien and this was a really strange thing to happen.]

Which god have you become?

[towards_okeanos]

God Training

[It all is actually not what Iskandar would have expected from gathering of the gods.
The meeting room is quite small and very conservatively furnished. Gathered crowd is mixed. Some in attendance look more experienced than others. Iskandar finds himself a good place to sit and notices a few heads turning.
While he's used to making impression on people impressing other gods is a pleasant surprise. In truth he does stand out. He's probably the only person who had to duck while entering. The architect of this place must have never considered having to admit people of his height.

The deity giving speech presents all the information in a way that shows signs of many previous rehersals.
It all gives an air of a impeccably organized and managed bureacracy. Less Mount Olympus and much more Persian court.
Good. He can deal with a court even if it's a bit disappointing. It maybe not the best idea to ask but he has to know. ]

I understand all that you're saying here but shouldn't you all be more godly?

Physical Training

[Iskandar ignores the kids' games and heads straight to the sparring area. The collection of weapons on display is pleasingly broad. He did see a lot of different instruments of hurt in his military career yet some of those weapons even he doesn't recognize. He picks the strangest looking one and turns to the nearest person.]
Tell me, friend, what is this and how one should wield it?

Rest and Refreshements

[Iskandar sits on the grass close enough to hear the band, far enough so not to be bothered. He already acquired a selection of curious treats as well as one mug of strange brown liquid. It isn't alcohol. It smells sweet. He had never encountered anything similar before and certainly hopes it tastes as good as it smells.]
Ha! This is one fine garden they have here!

[purr_ince]

[He smiled slightly.]

At least my temple is by Marinette's - they're actually kind of joined? [He rubbed at the back of his neck.] There's like a giant habitat greenhouse thing between them and statues? Like Lucky Cat statues it's adorable.

[At the question he blinked then laughed.] Why, Bast, of course. Who else could be the god of cats; protector of children, women, families...

[unlucky7]

[Given Iskandar's height, it's hard to not notice him. Wow, and Ginia thought everyone in her temple was tall. She looks up - and up - as he asks his question, holding what looks like a sword made of metal ribbons. That's... a good question.

Ginia takes out her phone and after a quick Google search, finds the answer, and types up a message to show him.]

It's called an urumi, a weapon from the Indian subcontinent. You use it like a whip or a flail.

Physical Training

[boneofsword]

[Archer rarely ignores the new arrivals, checking the training area most often to spar or watch. Today it's the familiar presence that draws him closer, the same kind he associates with Heroic Spirits. It's no surprise that he's close enough to the tower of a man to hear the question.]

It's called a triple staff, a weapon of Chinese origin that subsequently gained popularity as personal self-defense weapon. Requires a lot of time to master and can be a danger to one unskilled because of recoil.

R&R and sort of wildcard

[defensivematrix]

[ "Upon arrival, each shinki is assigned to a god. Wait and they'll find you." That's what the Shinki brochure said. But she was not content with just sitting idly and waiting. She wasn't content with socializing with other people either, but she made sure to appear at the edge of vision of every person she managed to identify as god.

None reacted. So either the information is false, or she was just being terribly unlucky. Or she should just take the matter into her own hands. ]

It is nicely tended I agree. [ She hesitantly says as she walks closer. Isn't that cocoa smell enticing? ] I believe you are the god that I'm assigned to.

[ She drops a bomb. A test, of sort. But the pool of gods who ignored her is getting smaller and smaller, and this man- this man she had no interactions with so far. ]

[defensivematrix]

Your insight is welcome. Even as the newest addition to your temple, you still have much more experience than me, miss--

[ Ah yes the basic social decorum. Introductions. Satya shakes his head and her hand travels to her forehead in a combination of mild embarrassment and frustration. Which she throws away with a flick of her wrist. ]

Where are my manners, I have not introduced myself properly, I'm- [ She hesitates briefly before choosing the name that rings more true to her ] Satya. Satya Vaswani.

R&R

[lookingforhead]

[The woman standing nearest to Iskandar right now, and who she assumes he's talking to, just offers a nod back in reply. She doesn't seem the talkative type and her helmet hides any clue of her expression, but she seems to be in good spirits.

Except instead of partaking of the food she seems instead to be using some of the bottles of water to clean her bike. She wipes it down with a cloth, focused and diligent in her labor. The pitch black surface of the thing seems like it should shine in the sunlight, but instead it seems more inky, absorbing light where it should have a lovely sheen.]

[deathmetalist]

Uh... [Yui moves around the chair and kneels down, hand reaching out she lightly taps his head.]

You were supposed to get up just now. Did you just break?

[defensivematrix]

[ Soul stuck in a book? So not a communication device, but an actual being? A smallest sort of chuckle escapes her before she manages to stop it. ]

What an... unfortunate condition. [ To her defense she assumes it to be some godly-heavenly temporary shenanigans ] The book part. Telepathy sounds like at least partially useful trade-off.

[ But you know what is the most curious? Can talking book be read? So she's picking at the top edge of cover again, as if to open it- ]

[defensivematrix]

[ These Heavens are very colorful, but somehow- almost not colorful enough. The strange biker with a scythe is so otherworldly that is in a sense a welcome change. It cements the reality that is so far removed to the one that she must have been subconsciously used to.

No memories on one hand, but apparently the muscle memory and habits are still here after death. ]

Oh, again- [ She leans closer to read- yes, Celty isn't the first person who communicates this way that she met today. But two is not yet a pattern, just a coincidence. She reads the message and leans back, her hand traveling to her lips in a thoughtful tick ]

I can see a logic behind this reasoning. Thank you for clarifying this. It's not like every dead has a potential to becoming a shinki, according to this.

[ So are they special in a sense? Chosen by the gods? ]

[towards_okeanos]

A whip, huh?

[Iskandar looks around to make sure if he won't accidentally hit something more squishy than a straw target. Fortunately there is plenty of space around so he tries a swing. The weapon coils then unfolds with almost melodic clang shredding straw left and right upon hit. He smiles.]

That's one vicious thing. I like that!

[He weighs the weapon in his hand.]

I would give it a longer handle though. And maybe pair it with a shield.

Re: Physical Training

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar unfolds the parts still trying to figure out which element supposed to be the staff part of the triple staff.]

Bit short for a staff. How in Heavens you are to hit your enemy with it and not yourself ?