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

[dredefulchilde]

“You certainly know how to make a person feel welcome,” Joscelin says breezily, taking a big bite out of his rather neglected dinner. The food helps, but he doesn’t quite feel sated. It’s like he needs something else. “Telling me all about your other shinki that you keep in a closet. Should I be concerned? Is there Child Protective Services in Heaven?”

He gives his god a good, long look. “I don’t care about standing on ceremony. Just get on with it.”

[nolittlesecret]

"I ain't good with people. Give me a computer and a garden any day." Even his boyfriend knows how much of a reclusive creature Nari could be and never held it against him. "Nope. He's an adult, he knows how to get out, but he just stays in there because I tell him to. Soulless shinki are like well trained dogs."

He waved his hand before pocketing that too, standing on his heels. "As your god, yadda yadda, I name you Kaki."

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin only has time for a quick gasp before the name takes hold and he feels himself changing, becoming the weapon that he already knew he was.

As he reforms into a sword, the hunger Joss had been feeling suddenly hits harder. Suddenly he’s starving even though he doesn’t have a stomach in this form. Every molecule of his being needs blood and violence and energy.

Kill them. Kill them all.

[nolittlesecret]

Swords are nothing new to Nari. All of his shinki save Akechi were different swords. This one? Just a little on the extreme side when the voice of Joscelin comes through. It's taking a lot of willpower not to just drop it and change his shinki back.

"No can do. I ain't killing anyone in here... We'll save that for an ayakashi fight, kiddo." Which, if Joss was like this just from being around other gods and shinki, it's going to be a hell of a struggle when it comes to ayakashi.

[dredefulchilde]

Hmph. Coward.

But Joscelin sounds more amused than put out.

Well then, let’s find some ayakashi to fight, shall we? I’m starved.

[nolittlesecret]

"No, more like I don't feel like losing the first place that's ever felt like home just to pick a fight with someone. Never know if I'll get chucked from the heavens for trying to kill another god... though sometimes it's really tempting to."

Nari hefts the sword for a moment, then tosses it back and forth between his hands. "Something along the line of your ability? We gotta check the prayers and see if anyone needs some ayakashi slayed, ya know."

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin is impatient. Then let’s go. Right now.

He’s so hungry that he almost can’t take it. He needs energy. He needs to fight.

Nari, if you give me the ability to feed you will have no occasion to doubt my loyalty. If not...we might have a problem, mightn’t we?

[nolittlesecret]

"Calm down, child. Seriously. We ain't ever worked together, and you're expecting me to jump head first into something without testing the water? Gimme a few days and I'll find us a prayer to do. If not, we can go hunt down some strays in the Near Shore."

Does that sound like a good idea? Because Nari isn't risking anyone around here just to feed you.

[dredefulchilde]

Calm down?

Joscelin bristles. I’m starving, Nari. ‘A few days’ won’t cut it.

[nolittlesecret]

"What exactly is it that you're hankering for if I might ask? It'd be easier to feed ya if I knew what you're so keen on killing the lot of these people for."

Please don't say blood because there's something about ayakashi that would make that difficult.

[dredefulchilde]

What does he want? Joscelin himself isn't quite sure. All he knows is that, despite the hunger, he feels right for the first time since he woke up here this morning. None of the foolish childishness or maudlin sentimentality. He isn't worried about right or wrong, just power.

Ah.

Perhaps that's it.

Energy. I'm rather less than picky as to whose. Human, god, or ayakashi.

[nolittlesecret]

Energy? That doesn't seem too impossible to come across. It does give Nari a bit of an idea, but would Joss go along with it?

"... how about for now you just take some from me? Then we can go find some ayakashi to kill. Sound good?"

[dredefulchilde]

Of course it sounds good.

Joscelin doesn’t have lips or a face in this form, but he finds himself smiling anyway. Perhaps his god isn’t so bad after all.

You will have to cut yourself. Are you still so eager to help, Nari?

[nolittlesecret]

"Just a cut? That's coming off easy. Believe me, a cut ain't nothin'. I am the guy who let himself get hit by lightning on purpose just to see what it would do. Zero out of ten would not recommend..."

Nari shifts the blade to rest in his right hand, looking down at his left. "How deep does it have to be?"

[dredefulchilde]

I’m just as new to this as you are, Joscelin reminds Nari, sounding amused. Are you up for a little experimentation?

God, he hopes so. He’s so hungry and if he lies a bit he can take a little more than Nari may be willing to give...

[nolittlesecret]

"Not that new. Each shinki is just unique. Urashima, my first, just had cherry blossoms that could slice a man apart alive." That's gross to think about, but hey, Urashima was great.

"Lemme try a basic cut." Which entails running the blade lightly across his palm till blood wells up.

[dredefulchilde]

Nari will immediately start to feel a little dizzy and out of breath, as if he’s just finished running a great distance. As Joscelin continues to suck greedily at his energy, those feelings will intensify. Joscelin is so hungry, and Nari is a willing meal.

He will keep going, consuming his god’s lifeforce, as long as Nari lets him.

[nolittlesecret]

Whoa. Okay. That is... That is not an okay feeling. This was a bad idea even if he did volunteer for it. How did he release his past shinki from their vessel forms again? Oh yeah! Real names have power in this place.

"Joscelin Fitzthomas, gonna have to cut you off here. I like being alive right now."

[dredefulchilde]

When Joss reforms at Nari's side, he looks a little...well, a little less like a starving vampire. There's a little bit of color back in his cheeks, the bags under his eyes are less pronounced, and if Nari were to touch him he'd feel a bit warmer. Not that Joss realizes any of this, of course. Instead he smiles at his god, much more genuinely than before, and says,

"That's a bit better, thank you. May we go hunt ayakashi now? I want more."