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

[myblueskies]

I think it's a great idea! [Fun treasures were bound to help keep his friend's spirits up! He thought about Mia who was sad about being a shinki, something fun would surely make her smile and be a good memory for her!]


Let's go!

[yoshinocherry]

Right!

[And so, off they go!]

All the ones I've found so far have been in pretty sneaky spots, so make sure to keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious.

[myblueskies]

I will! [Brightly coloured balls looked pretty suspicious on their own but he will take extra care to look carefully.

He skipped ahead looking around. Stopping every so often to check under a rock or in a bush. He didn't think they would be in plain sight at all.]

Have you seen anything yet?

[yoshinocherry]

[Yuna lets him explore freely, making sure to keep close enough that either of them could easily call out to the other if anything pops up. Besides keeping an eye toward the ground, there are some pretty clever hiding spots well above eye-level, and when Romeo asks her if she's found anything, her attention seems to be focused upward, toward a particularly tall, thin tree.]

I think... there might be something hidden up here.

[She points to a spot where one of the branches meets the trunk of the tree, and a respectable distance outside of her reach appears to be a small pop of color tucked safely away.]

[myblueskies]

[He skips back over to her, excited. She's found something? He peers upwards to where she was pointing.

His grin grew wider when he saw the tiny colourful ball.] There's one up there! That is sneaky!

[He goes towards the tree, looking for a good handhold before he starts climbing.]

It looks like a tricky climbing tree! But I bet we can get it! [He has every faith in their team.]

[yoshinocherry]

I'm just a little worried it might not be very sturdy.

[Getting the ball would honestly be a cinch with the help of her god powers, but that feels a little like cheating - where's the fun in using special powers for something that can be done normally? Though, she can't deny it might be easier for someone smaller than herself to get up there. She won't stop him, but she's definitely not letting him do this without a little help!]

Here, let me give you a lift up! [Lacing her fingers together to create a foothold with her hands, she crouches down to give him the extra boost he'll need.] And I'll be right here in case anything goes wrong, okay?

[myblueskies]

[He looked at the tree. It didn't look as sturdy as some of the other trees that were really good for climbing. But someone had gotten up there to put the ball there to start with. So it was probably safe!

He was glad for the boost though. He put one of his feet in her hands and reached up to grab a handhold.] Okay! One, two, three!

[He pushes up.]

[yoshinocherry]

Hup-!

[Yuna, surprisingly strong and sturdy for her size, has little trouble helping Romeo get that extra lift. Up you go, kid!]

Think you can get it from there...?

[With their powers combined, it shouldn't be too difficult to snag that prize!]

[myblueskies]

[She is strong and is a good support as Romeo hoists himself up into the tree. He reaches upwards, his fingers just grazing the colourful ball.

Not quite.] Okay! This time! [And a bigger stretch! He reached out and grabs hold of the prize...

Which instantly bursts open, he falls backwards, arms windmilling as he falls.

Luckily he wasn't too high up, sorry if he landed on you Yuna!

He has the prize clenched in his fist though! Victory!]

[yoshinocherry]

Oh- Whoa!

[Honestly, this should have been a pretty predictable outcome, but at least Yuna's there to break his fall? A short topple isn't going to hurt either of them too badly, outside of a bruise or two perhaps, and she doesn't seem to be too upset over it.]

Are you okay?

[myblueskies]

Yes! [He grinned up at her from where he was laying.] Are you? I'm sorry if I hurt you!

[He sat up slowly.] We got it though! [He opened his hand toi reveal six wrapped sweets.] More shiny things! Do you know what they are?

[yoshinocherry]

Don't worry, I'm just fine!

[No hero is going to be taken down by a fall that small, least of all Yuna. More importantly, let's investigate what the two of them managed to retrieve...!]

Oh, some more candy. Unwrap one and try it out, if you haven't had one yet. They're really yummy.

[myblueskies]

Candy? [Another new word, he hands five of them over to her so he can unwrap one of them. It takes him a moment to figure that out but it turns out the shiny thing was paper and he could take it off.

Under the paper was a round hard candy. It looked like a jewel! It was a deep red colour and when he held it up to the light it glittered.

Yuna had said it was yummy though so that must mean you could eat it! He brought it to his mouth and bit down teeth clacking on the hard surface.]

[yoshinocherry]

[Honestly, with the way he seemed so mystified by the candy in the first place... she probably should have seen that coming.]

Ahh - you might hurt your teeth biting into it like that. [She unwraps one of the pieces for herself, figuring it'll be good for demonstration.] If you keep it in your mouth without biting it, it will taste sweet and start to melt. [Like so - she pops the piece into her mouth.] Just be careful not to swallow it right away!

[myblueskies]

Oh [He blinked at her and watched as she demonstrated. Put it in his mouth but don't swallow it right away. He does the same putting the red candy into his mouth. He is very careful not to swallow as he waits for it to start melting. It does taste sweet! There are a lot of sweet things in this world, like churros and this candy. He smiled brightly at the tastiness of the candy.]

[yoshinocherry]

It's really good, right?

[Now that he seems to have gotten the hang of it, surely he'll be able to enjoy the rest of them later!]

That was a great treasure to find, I think.

[myblueskies]

[Romeo nodded, it was a great treasure! It was so tasty! He can't speak though because his mouth is full of candy and she said not to swallow it yet!

He gestures though! They should go find some more treasure!]

[yoshinocherry]

[Yuna, well versed in the art of understanding non-verbal communication, picks up his meaning right away.]

Mhm, let's find some more.

[She gets to her feet, brushing herself off briefly as she does before offering him a hand up as well.]

[myblueskies]

[More was good! Romeo let himself be pulled up and brushed himself off as well. Still letting the sweet melt in his mouth he set off again, this time making sure to look high and low!

His eyes lit up when he spotted the pond! That would be a great hiding place!]

[yoshinocherry]

[With Romeo still concentrating on the candy over talking, Yuna makes sure to stick close, paying sharp attention to anything that he may be drawn to.]

Hmm, do you see something over by the water?

[It would be a really good hiding spot - lots of cover to sneak one of the brightly colored capsules in!]

[myblueskies]

[He grinned at her but shook his head, not yet! But it would be a really good hiding spot!

He skipped over, peering in the reeds, there are lots of good hiding places here! He moves a few reeds, being extra careful not to fall in!]

[yoshinocherry]

[Following along, Yuna sticks close enough to catch him should he lose his footing and fall in. One spill is more than enough for the day, if she can keep another one from happening, then she'll do her best...!

She peers through the reeds and, sure enough, there's a bright splash of color hidden among them, coming from one of the plastic balls floating gently on the water.]

Oh, good find! Want me to try and get it this time?

[myblueskies]

[He nodded enthusiastically! It was only fair to share the fun of treasure hunting and anyways this one was a little far into the pond, Yuna had longer arms than he did and so she would be able to reach better!]

[yoshinocherry]

All right...! Leave it to me.

[She's got this! The easiest way to get close enough is to crouch down, getting nice and close to the ground so she can reach in carefully, carefully...

...

And, once in reach, she scoops it up quickly! The ball busts open with a 'Pop!' as she hefts it out of the water, careful to keep her hand underneath it so their prize doesn't fall back into the pond.]

Got it! [Exhaling a small sigh of relief, she sits back and brings in her hands so they can both see what was inside of that capsule - a small plastic toy in the shape of a dog! How cute!]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo watched her carefully. He didn't want her to fall into the pond! It would be very cold.

But she doesn't and she manages to grab the treasure! Romeo gets closer to see what was inside the bright capsule.

Oh a tiny dog statue! Romeo grinned. "It's cute!" His words are a not muffled from the sweet that was still in his mouth.