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

[unlucky7]

[Nothing strange about the pose if it works. Ginia stretches as she waits for Nia to reset, dropping another swift salvo of attacks. This time she doesn't stop after the initial three slashes, keeping a steady chain of attacks going.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Maybe it's the new stance that helps her focus, or maybe it's just that she's taking it seriously now, but Nia keeps her Borderline up against the blows with iron determination. This is past just ether manipulation now; she's doing exactly what she does to create a barrier, except this is backed up by magic or whatever the whole shinki deal is. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia varies her attacks; longer slashes, shorter slashes, dropping a barrier into Nia's to try to break it or force Nia to move. After a minute, Ginia eases up, nodding her approval and smiling.]

Not bad. Want to try defending against another kind of attack?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Heh, bring it on. These Borderlines are supposed to stop anything, right? [One heck of a defense. They're just a little slow to come up, the way she sees it -- not like the barriers she's familiar with, which pop up soon as she needs them to. The gesture and invocation's a bit much.] I'm feeling good about this.

[unlucky7]

Quick question. What's the name you use to get called into your vessel form?

[What? Nothing suspicious about that question. Just a simple inquiry, that's all.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

It's Tora--wait, hold on, is there a secret backdoor where these things go down if someone says your name or something?!

[The question's too out-of-nowhere for Nia not to get suspicious of it.]

[unlucky7]

[Sorry, Nia. There's an important lesson here about never giving out your shinki name to another shinki.]

Toraki, Bind!

[Ginia signs the spell before Nia even finishes speaking, concentrating hard on the spell. She's the veteran shinki here, superior in power and experience. Unless Nia has another trick up her sleeve, she's going to be on the receiving end of a bind spell in the next second.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Ngh! [If she has any tricks, she isn't using them; the spell snaps tight around her, immobilizing her. Well, except for the mouth...]

What the hell?! You're supposed to attack the Borderline, not just go swinging weird powers around!

[unlucky7]

[Ginia lets the bind spell last for a few more seconds before releasing it.]

That's a shinki spell. Borderlines can block those too.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Ginia might release the spell, but Nia stands exactly where she'd been pinned, making it clear that she'd only ever stayed motionless there because she'd chosen to and she could continue to do so till the world ended if she wanted.]

How the hell do you get a wall up in time to block the spell? It casts way too quick.

[unlucky7]

Most people have to say the spell out loud, which means they have to be close enough for you to hear. Also shinki spells require knowing your name, so be careful who you give your name to. To make it fair, my name is Shuu.

[There, she can play nice, see?]

I can walk you through the steps of the bind spell if you want.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah... all right. [Her dignity is severely ruffled, so Nia can't be much more gracious in accepting the offer than that. Seriously, just when she was starting to feel good about things!]

But you don't need a name for something else, right? Wouldn't be much use otherwise.

[unlucky7]

As far as I can tell, your vessel name is only used by your god to call you or for targeting shinki spells. And borderlines aside, shinki spells don't seem to work on gods.

[A shame really.]

First thing, you want the right mindset. It was explained to me as you want a superior mindset against the person you're targeting. Mind over matter, in a way. Which also means if you're going up against a more experienced shinki, it might be harder.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Oh, that's no problem. Borderlines work the same, right? [And Nia had no problem at all maintaining a Borderline against Ginia's attacks, even when she considers Ginia to be an experienced shinki and something of a mentor (even if she'd never admit the last part out loud). Her nature and her ego mean she doesn't have any problems... with powers, anyway.] I was thinking more about the ayakashi and stuff. Can't name them, but can you wrap 'em up with this stuff anyway?

[unlucky7]

Can't say I've tried, but since it needs a name to work, I don't think so. That said, other spells might work.

[Ginia gives a rueful laugh and shrugs lightly. Magic really isn't her forte, though since it's an option, she knows she should crack down it more.]

You should talk to Kairi, she's pretty knowledgeable about spells. She's the one that taught me bind.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Wait. [Nia couldn't slam the brakes on any more overtly if she yanked a giant handle, holding up her hands quickly.] You're telling me the only use of these spells is for shinki to use on other shinki?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia nods. It's not a pleasant implication, but it's not like it's impossible for shinki to fight each other, for one reason or another.]

Do you want to learn or not?

[It's not a pleasant implication, but Ginia doesn't mind. Better to know and be able to defend herself and her temple than to not know at all.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

I'd better. Don't let the enemy have a trick unopposed, after all.

[Can't have those shinki causing trouble, huh. Her fists ball up at her sides, shoulders tight, belying her measured words.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia watches Nia tense up, not sure what to do. Things don't seem to be any better for her - after all, she's still here and that's the main problem - and Ginia knows her words haven't helped. But what is there to do besides share the reality of things? There are spells for shinki that are most effective against shinki. There is the possibility Nia will need to defend herself from another shinki at some point.

Better to know than not, right? But it doesn't make it any easier or right.

Ginia doesn't know what to say so she moves on.]

The spell itself is simple. The person's vessel name plus "ki", and the spell said out loud. So in my case, you would say "Shuuki, bind."

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia doesn't expect any answers. Nia doesn't expect anything but being told to suck it up and deal with her new circumstances. And she knows that's her problem, even as she keeps swatting at anyone who tries to reach out if they make a wrong move.]

[Honestly, she appreciates Ginia still trying. Poorly as she might show that.]

Okay. Anything special in my head for all that, or am I just throwing ether around like with the walls?

[unlucky7]

I try to focus everything on the target. Superiority, the will to want to freeze them in place. Granted, it's also easier as an opening or surprise attack versus in the middle of combat. And if it fails, it leaves you open for an attack in return.

[Which is Ginia's way of warning if Nia's bind spell doesn't hold, she's going to throw a bind or borderline back.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Terrific. No mercy for the new girl, huh? So, okay -- Nia doesn't hesitate for a second, snapping her hands out in that familiar gesture, one palm forward and the other hand supporting it.]

Shuuki, bind!

[She's a natural at Borderlines. This, not so much. The spell flicks out without much power at all, a combination of her poor focus and uncertainty.]

[unlucky7]

[There's the barest feeling of numbness like a brush of something cold, but she shrugs it off immediately. Her hands snap out the signs as she channels all her power and experience onto Nia. She's been around longer, fought longer, has the support of everyone in her temple, there's a lot going for her she can use to support her confidence.]

Toraki, bind!

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[All Nia's got is stubborn determination and fierce independence. There's no one in her corner, and she can't make up for that power with belief in herself and her own abilities here. The binding snaps around her effortlessly, locking her in place once again.]

[She'd snarl in absolute frustration if she had the ability to twist her face just how it needed to go right now.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia holds the spell for a few seconds - remember what the spell feels like to know how to get angry enough to fight against it - before dropping it. Her expression falls neutral and she rolls out her shoulders. Okay, so maybe she's been a bit hard.]

Want to take a break and get food?