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

[spellswords]

[She has no doubt he would. It was certainly comforting to have a reliable leader figure from home here either way. She may not have had much interaction with him but he was quite helpful in the effort to save her life so... there was that.]

A place that has forcibly kidnapped us and turned us into primals against our will has sinister intentions, you say? I'm shocked. [Being a highly respected leader of Ishgard doesn't mean you escape her ever biting sarcasm, Aymeric... but her frustration is justified. The fact that she can quip means she is already feeling a bit better about the whole thing but hearing that here brother is here had probably helped.]

I see. I suppose that is for the best. I would not wish this on any of our other comrades. [They were much better off at home...

She pauses for a moment before tentatively continuing,] Did... they tell you anything about the kind of god you were when you got here?

[onedrinkwithme]

[If he wasn't friends with the former Azure Dragoon and currently dating a man who uses sarcasm as his native language, those words would more than likely have gone over his head.]

The only shocking matter is how many parties they seem to throw despite all the issues happening. One cannot go without a week without some sort of celebration.

[The tone in his voice at that statement however is not really joyful. He's bored of them and unless they're for business, he leaves now. The man is used to parties having to attend many due to his station but it's more constant here and it's tedious. Aymeric has better things to do.]

Unfortunately, the Heavens do not tell us much of who we are supposed to be filling in for, therefore it is on us to do the research. But the technology here is vastly different to what we are accustomed to and it is easier to access. Who I am supposed to be filling in is someone who presides over disputes and stays within his court...something I certainly have not done.

[spellswords]

[That's an oddly specific thing to point out.] So is that why we are here? To help them with some kind of endless celebration? [Sarcastic again because she doesn't think that's the actual reason but... she is somewhat asking him if he knows the reason in that sentence. So they were gods but... for what purpose?]

I should've known answer would not be so forthcoming. They said a name but... I did not recognize it so I'm at a loss for what... kind of god I am suppose to be. [Gods did that sound really weird to say. Uncomfortable, even.

Hm...] Related to water or some such is all I could gather.

[onedrinkwithme]

[Because it's sadly something that stands out. It makes him ponder weither these celebrations are a form of distraction or that Japan has too many reasons to party and maybe get drunk at. His own opinion is the first but one never knows.]

If you wish for my opinion...it seems that some certainly did not expect for this to happen and are trying to accompany such a crowd. But I would be cautious nonetheless; tis common that there are others who may be working with ill intentions even if they open their arms out in welcome.

[Amaterasu he can be fine with given their similar backgrounds in leadership. But others...he will be watchful of. One does not survive in the Ishgardian nobility circles by being merely hopeful, nay, they have to constantly play a game to be a step ahead...but it is harder when all the pieces here do not make themselves known.]

Oh, we may be able to search for this deity. [From his pocket, he will pull out a thin device and presses a large button to turn it on.] These magitek devices called 'smartphones' can access information on what they call the internet.

[spellswords]

[She acknowledges his warning with a nod. Words befitting a man who has spent his life in Ishgard. She will take it to heart although also with a grain of salt. She has no intention of trusting the powers that be or even her fellow gods but... she it willing to hear them out. Perhaps there really is something she can do here and if so perhaps that will help her return home again.

Anyway, those sure were a lot of words she doesn't know. She cants her head toward him as her curious gaze lands on the smartphone.]

I'm not sure I follow but.. the name was Tsovinar. [She pronounces it well enough considering it isn't a language she'd ever heard of until five minutes ago.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[It's ok, technology is still weird to him at times here. Like seeing those tiny magitek moving vehicles with the strangely costumed people in them. What did Izumo call them again...carts? Cars? Ah, it doesn't matter now. Aymeric proceeds to pull up Google and the presses the nonexistent buttons on the screen, spelling out the name as best as he could. There ends up being several matches as he adjusts the phone so Alisaie can also take a look as well.

Well, Wikipedia is always a good place to start. He clicks on the article and...]

'Tsovinar or Nar was the Armenian goddess of water, sea, and rain. She was a fierce goddess, who forced the rain to fall from the heavens with her fury. Her name Tsovinar means "daughter of the seas" and is the mother of Sanasar and Baghdasar.'

[And that's it. Welp.]

And that is all it says...mayhap looking into where she is from that we can grasp a better picture.

[Thankfully, the article also linked information about Armenian mythology. Quite odd that there is very little to be found on the deity alone.]

[spellswords]

[She watches curiously as he messes with the smartphone. It looks like a pretty fascinating device. Does she have one? She wants to learn more about it...

Alisaie cants her head at the explanation. Simple and short but... to the point. Actually she looks a little amused.]

Oddly fitting, I think. Do all the gods we become speak to our strengths? [And personalities although she isn't sure if she'd describe herself as 'fierce'. (Others would though, unbeknownst to her.)

She shakes her head lightly.] Perhaps I shall later but for now that is enough to go on. Hopefully the people here wish for rain...? [Really though, what does she do with that kind of god power? It's pretty interesting but... can it grant wishes...?]

[onedrinkwithme]

It would appear for some; to the point that it is quite unsettling.

[If Forseti is the 'presiding one', then his position as Lord Speaker would count as such. Because that title is much better than calling him a glorified babysitter.]

From what I have gathered, it is not just to the particular strengths that people ask for guidance. They can range from searching for an item or fighting an ayakashi to trying to speak to someone and convince them on a different path. It can be difficult but there are those moments when someone does need a gentle reminder about the world around them and to think a bit more clearly.

[He's done them all and including temple clean up due to some punk kids but they ended up pretty decent in the end. And none of that damn tempering either; it all was just conversation like how normal folks go.

And seriously, he still thinks that man who believed drinking rust colored water was him being punished by Aymeric and not because he was dumb and drank the nasty water, making him sick. It was bad enough for the seven year old to point that out and to make him realize it. But mostly, the ones he helps have some common sense who aren't looking for the easy way out.]