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

[fauxcalibur]

I wouldn't call it pride, certainly, but I've accepted it as an unchanging part of my nature.

[He shrugs it off easily. He's the first to admit he's not a particularly admirable person.]

That all aside, though, it seems we're talking at cross purposes. And I, as usual, am talking more of myself than of anything of importance.

[bass_instincts]

Shin doesn't plan on giving a lecture. He's not good at that kind of thing anyway. He just wanted to try to give Joss some answers, even if he didn't have many to offer.

He sighs with a bit of relief to see the first aid kit still by the side of the training grounds. He speeds up a bit, "Come on, let's get that cleaned up."

[thirdbeauty]

[Such dramatic delivery! She appreciates where he's coming from, though. It's just... hard for her to really wrap her head around. She technically can improvise, but she's really self-conscious about it.]

I... guess that makes sense, but...

I've never, um, tried it this way?

[dredefulchilde]

They both put on a little more speed and reach the first aid box. Obediently, Joss holds out his bloodied palms for Shin to inspect.

This is ridiculous, honestly. Joss is perfectly capable of taking care of his own minor hurts, but he doesn’t mind it. Bizarrely. What’s gotten into him?

“...sentimentality...” he whispers to himself.

[thirdbeauty]

Eh?!

[What's with that face?! Is she getting the wrong idea here?!]

N-No, it's nothing like that! She's... someone I really admire! Like, um... like an older sister...

[She says that, but she's still blushing and looking weirdly evasive for some reason, if it's not because she has the hots for her goddess.]

[bass_instincts]

Shin starts cleaning him up, first wiping off the blood with some gauze, then going through the same basic things that Adrien had done for him. Somehow it felt like he was paying Adrien back for his kindness this way.

He looks at Joss a little confused. "Center Mentality?" He might have recognized the word in English, since even though he grew up speaking Japanese too, his vocabulary is better in English.

[yoshinocherry]

Hup-!

[Yuna, surprisingly strong and sturdy for her size, has little trouble helping Romeo get that extra lift. Up you go, kid!]

Think you can get it from there...?

[With their powers combined, it shouldn't be too difficult to snag that prize!]

[revolutionfalcon]

You're overreacting. And making more assumptions. [Shun isn't one to get into the details of how he spends his time with someone he only just met, but in his experience people seem to think there's no middle ground between having nothing but fun and having no fun at all. True, it's probably not what other people would call "fun", and it's not really relaxing, but he has his small enjoyments as much as everyone else.]

You're going to wear yourself out quickly if you care this much about the habits of someone you only just met. There's a decent amount of people here with my kind of attitude.

[boneofsword]

[Archer examines all the available weapons critically.]

Last time they've had a collection of paintball guns, but I don't see any here. Excuse me for a moment. [Archer spies one of the old shinki and approaches him. A short chat and he comes back.] They set up archery range behind the dojo. Follow me.

[And he leads the way, pausing to check of Iskandar follows.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I got the feeling. Still, how can you learn if something's fun or not without trying it?

[Lots of people around here seemed unwilling to step outside their comfort zone! He has to wonder why that is, when just being here is so out of the ordinary.]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Well, the bookie of course. You gotta make a living, right? Oddsmongering isn't something anyone does for free!

[Sheesh, he makes it sound so self-centered!]

[towards_okeanos]

Ho ho! I see I'm at serious disadvantage with my choice of weaponry! That would be pretty interesting. Lead on!

[Iskandar is already enjoying the coming combat. If he wasn't himself he would most probably be whistling. As he is, he's not whistling, just grinning like an idiot. This is the guy who knows Illiad by heart so of course he would be immensely happy to fight with someone whose style he yet doesn't know. Even if it's just a practice.]

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

So they are officers of the law? Then it's their duty to chase people breaking it. Still it is not just if they endanger others in the process. The ones in service of the law shouldn't themselves break it.

Should they even see you? Are they mages?

[dredefulchilde]

“Stupid, maudlin sentiments. Emotions,” Joss clarifies, wincing as Shin cleans the cuts on his palms. He looks away. “Weakness. Why am I so weak?”

[towards_okeanos]

[That strictly depends on definition of admirability. There were many who would call Iskandar a tyrant and he wouldn't mind.]

Maybe we are. I don't mind changing the subject.
Especially as there are little to none topics of greater importance as one's character.
For a simple man should in all things exercise temperance.
If being a god is anything like being a king then temperance is exactly what one must avoid. To strive instead to show the length and breadth of what is possible. Nay, make what is impossible possible!

[Aristotle is turning in his grave. That's opposite of what he tried to teach but Iskandar always had his own views on everything. Including kingship, and now godship, and they are some pretty strong ones.]

If it is in your essence to be rash then you should be the epitome of rashness. So that people would look and say "This one indeed is reckless".
Many a time great courage would seem as recklessness to the faint-hearted.

[towards_okeanos]

[Follow he does. He's truly curious. He's not actually a fan of archery but he would love to see those firearms.]

Say, what is this paintball you talked about?

[purr_ince]

[Adrien isn't holding the cat too tight - in fact she's free to move if she wants to but he's just lazily petting her and purring at her softly.]

She's a good girl you need to give her love and attention as much as your work, Hibiki.

[He smiled, his head tilted.]

We cats are demanding.

[purr_ince]

It is but since I'm considering making him one of my Shinki it's a good thing to have a place for him close by were he's near both of us.

[He nods glancing down at his hands.] I... I confessed. I confessed to them both. I think we all need some time.

[purr_ince]

I think that Marinette was really upset. I think she was struggling with it really so I'm glad she doesn't have to anymore.

[He smiles and pets her hair, then he's remembering,]

Thank you. You know I have a gift for you. You'll have to come to the temple to fetch it.

[purr_ince]

I am. Should I not be? You're going to be a good Shinki and we're going to be a good team. Confidence is the first step to believing in yourself.

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

I don't know. I'm not even sure that one man was human. He was scary.

[She takes a moment to force herself to calm down once she realizes the state she's in. She doesn't want to frighten newcomers like this.]

Just
be careful out there
But when you're ready I'll be happy to race you.

[lookingforhead]

[Celty's helmet shifts to properly look at him, just straight on, slightly cocked to the side. Even without a face she manages a blank stare of 'are you kidding'?]

If you figure anything out, let me know.

[doodlebuginette]

[That was certainly something.]

Are you sure? It didn't seem like nothing.

[Hibiki was still pretty much a mystery to her, so she couldn't decide if she wanted to believe her or not.]

[bass_instincts]

[Shin laughs softly] If you say so.

[purr_ince]

I do say so. And you're my shinki so you have to agree. [He sounds serious for a moment but then he's laughing softly cracking up.] Kidding! It's all good. Think what you want.