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

[darkestbefore]

It's a different sort of skill they're helping to train, perhaps. [ Yona agrees with a smile, because while sparring with the dummies can be productive, there is more to this place than just fighting.

When the girl offers her one of the candies, she looks pleased, offering her a shy smile as she reaches out to accept one. ]

Thank you! That's kind of you. I'm Yona, by the way. Have you been here long?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Nia. [She lets Yona help herself, then grabs one of the drops to pop it in her mouth before she tucks the rest away.] Couple weeks. Didn't see you around when they decided all the new people should get swept off to some ridiculous park, but that was -- whoa, these are actually really sour. [One eye twitches shut as the flavor start to really hit, but she's sure not complaining.]

[darkestbefore]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Nia. And oh! Yes, I was there, but I was under strict instructions from my shinki to not overdo it and take it easy. [ She laughs slightly, looking a little sheepish. ] I might have worried them overmuch recently.

[ Having popped one of the candies in her mouth as well, she pauses as the flavor sinks in, wincing slightly. ] My goodness. What are these?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

If you don't know, I'm sure not going to. [The talk of shinki and worrying them and all that has Nia a little on edge, much like a cat that got petted the wrong way.] Didn't think gods took orders from shinki...

[darkestbefore]

[ That gets a laugh from her. ] Some gods might take offense, but it depends on the relationship between a god and a shinki. My shinki are my partners. And my friends. So while it was not strictly phrased as an order from them, it was offered in concern and worry, after I gave them a fright. I know the worry that prompted it, and that it was only an expression of their care.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Oh. Must be nice. [Just another happy tale of shinki who don't mind their circumstances and gods who are good to them, huh. Nia, notably, isn't laughing.] Glad it all worked out for you then. You pick them yourself?

[darkestbefore]

One of them. Sort of. [ She inclines her head, casting the other girl a curious look. ] His god had vanished on him and he accepted my offer of a Name. Although I still share him with another, at his request.

Are you and your god not on good terms?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia waves off the question to keep her answer from sounding as serious as it absolutely and depressingly is.]

I'm a royal pain in the arse and he's kind of blunt, I wouldn't be on good terms with me either if I were him. Guy's already got one of those... y'know. ['Soulless' shinki sounds like such a horrible terms.] Doesn't really need me, so there's a lot of space there.

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona's lips twitch at this explanation, amusement flitting briefly in her gaze as she inclines her head. ]

Sometimes it takes time to get comfortable with one another, not everyone here gets along right from the start. But you're wrong about him not needing you. I'm assuming you mean a Soulless? Many of us start off with them here, but they cannot fulfill the same role as a shinki can. In fact, most of the gods here are rather unnerved by the Soulless entirely. Besides. A god and a shinki are meant to be partners. Your god cannot be prepared for every situation out there, or everything this place will throw at him. Often it is our shinki's insight or perspective that helps balance us when it comes to dealing with the problems we face. That's something a Soulless cannot do - they're just there to be used, but they can't offer more help than that.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia bears this explanation with sullen weariness. When it reaches its end, she just shrugs.]

You're lecturing the wrong half of the pair here, is all I can say. Guy's more familiar with swinging his other shinki around as a sign, said he'd rather stick with that. And definitely wasn't interested in my 'insight or perspective'. So great for your people that you care, but not everyone's on board with your line of thinking.

[darkestbefore]

[ She blinks in surprise at that, her expression turning sympathetic. And a little disapproving at this other god. ]

He said such a thing to you? That was unfair of him. And unkind. Who is your god, if I may ask?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

I... might have been a little angry at the time. [Nia is starting to feel a little guilty about how it at all went down, or at least her part in it. She knows she's not the sort of shinki anyone would want.] Name's Shizuo. God's something like Dagwood or -- it sounds like that, I'm not clear on the details.

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona stops short, her eyes widening in surprise. ]

Shizuo?! Oh... Oh, I see.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia's shoulder slump and her head goes down.] Aaaand you know him, super. [Maybe even knows him well enough to hear a compliant or two about his new shinki, judging from that reaction.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona just gives the girl a sympathetic smile. ]

Ahh, well... yes, it's... complicated. You see, Shizuo only just recently became a god here. Before that... he was my shinki.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Oh. Yeah, he mentioned that he was a shinki. Didn't give any details.

[Nia folds her arms, glancing away.]

...This's awkward.

[darkestbefore]

[ That gets a quiet laugh from the redhead, amused. ]

I guess it is, a little. But if I can help you understand your god a little, or help you two get along better, I'll be happy to. Shizuo and I had some rough times understanding one another, as well.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah, he seems like the kind of guy who's real hard to understand. [Nia turns her head slightly more to emphasize her look away, because she has to spoil it by glancing back at Yona out of the corners of her eyes.]

I'm not the sort who asks for help, mind. But if you have any advice, I wouldn't plug my ears.