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

[bartenderizing]

[ It's hard to tell the difference when someone's just mad in general and mad at him. He's rarely on this side of a temper, and when Nia lashes out at him because of it (not seeing that she lashes out at everyone,) it seemed like the most natural solution. However, unlike being at the park, they had time and plenty of chances to get used to things.

Except it kept slipping his mind. He's not used to being responsible for other people. Even Rei, the soulless shinki, there wasn't much to keep an eye out for, and she never asked questions or demanded anything. He didn't even have that kind of experience back in his normal life.

First thing was to get some misunderstandings cleared. ]

I'm not underselling you. You take too many damn things personally.

[ He just lacks a proper amount of confidence in being able to do things. While it's nowhere near as bad as when he was a shinki, this was a field he has absolutely no experience in. He never played video games before.

But he doesn't ignore training. It's weird to get into the practice of something he did when he was a shinki, but he knew it was important. ]

I was never a good pick for being a god. Ah, lemme just set you up for this. Come, Toraki.

[ He says when getting his hand up, ready for the other part of her form. That was the other thing- He wasn't familiar with a shinki vessel coming in two parts. ]

You can't get blighted while in vessel form, but it's possible that using the Rend spell only works on the part that's in my hand. Shit like that is what we need to know before you try and fight ayakashi.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[The flash of light sweeps over Nia and transforms her, as the Catalyst Scimitar forms out of ether into his hands. Perhaps interesting to note is that the weapon comes into being more slowly than her transformation into vessel form -- because it's contingent on her transformation. A part of her.]

[Expecting it this time, Nia doesn't so much as blink.] Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. But what I'm saying is, you don't know the half of what I can do for you as a vessel. While you're using the sword, I'm giving you strength and protecting you.

[She's committed to not beng openly angry, even when he's sniping at her in ways that ought to get a rise out of her, so all her general anger and irritation is going into being resolutely determined to get this done.]

Guess it'd be better to have an actual challenge to go against, but then again maybe it's better if you get used to how this'll feel first...

[bartenderizing]

Knowing and getting it is two different things.

[ A whole bunch of stuff went into his head upon that naming, sure, but it doesn't mean he really understands or knows what to expect from it all. There seem to be commands or something in all of it, but that sounded like more strategy was needed than he was actually used to.

At least by this point, Nia had a better understanding that Shizuo was direct and went with the easier method of 'I hit the thing with what's in my hands.' ]

So yeah, it's better that I get used to this thing before challenges. Though I don't really need added strength.

[ Not that he looks it. Even more, Shizuo hasn't exactly been active enough to prove that he had considerably strength or anything of note. ]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Oh yeah? When'd a little extra strength ever see anyone wrong? [Nia grins smugly, thinking for sure he has no idea how much she can help if she can open up a good conduit to him.] Besides, the protecting-you part is going to help even more. Can't get blighted if the ayakashi can't even touch you, right?