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

A

[lookingforhead]

[Celty jumps a bit in surprise as the girl suddenly calls out to her. She has many years of being a wallflower ingrained in her spirit and then some more in remembered practice here on the Far Shore. Minako isn't the first person to address her so directly here but it still yanks her out of whatever thoughts or mood she's in whenever it happens.

Of course, it pays to be sure. The biker clad woman points at herself, helmet tilting curiously as she tries to confirm.]

[reloves]

[ Poor Celty, wallflowers are exactly Minako's natural target.. She doesn't even seem to think the biker clothes are very much out of place - despite this seeming like the afterlife or some equivalent of it - and just smiles at her like this is normal. Totally normal. Everything here is normal. ]

Yes, of course I'm talking to you! You don't mind helping out a super duper cute girl, do you?

[lookingforhead]

[True, there might be other situations where Celty might stand out more with her outfit but it's still flashy in its own mundane way. And certainly intimidating to certain people. Not Minako of course.

The helmet shakes slowly, Celty doesn't mind being pulled into this. She was just caught a bit surprise by the approach is all. Fishing her phone out of her pocket she types something into it, and then gently holds it out for Minako to read.]

What do you need help with? A question about the pamphlet?

I'm Celty, by the way.

[reloves]

[ For a moment she looks slightly surprised. She didn't expect a written response, after all.. But with Minako being Minako, she figures it must just be since this person is shy. That's why they're wearing that helmet, right? Obviously!

So she bounces back from her surprise in no time, figuring she can at least talk out loud instead of having to write down stuff like the other. Seems like Celty did hear her just now, after all. ]

I'm Minako! Nice to meet you! [ Because honestly, meeting people is just about as important as figuring out this situation right now. ] But.. hmm, I guess you're kind of right? I just figured it'd be better to hear the stuff on here from another person instead of just reading it by myself.

It looks super complicated, after all!

[lookingforhead]

[Most people adapt to Celty's oddity in this regard pretty quick, but she does give credit to how Minako rolls with it. But Celty can't help but think it'll be interesting to see how she reacts to the big one.]

Hmm, it's pretty simple once you get used to it
You work with your god and grant prayers, wishes basically
And fight Ayakashi when they show up

There have been a few more dangerous things but everyone is doing their best to try to stop it before it happens again. You might want to talk to your god to see if they know more about that. Do you know who you've been assigned to?

[reloves]

[ She shakes her head. ]

There's nothing on this pamphlet that says anything about it.. I think? [ Okay, so she may not have read every single letter on there. But it's not like she used to do that in class and she got by in there just fine! ... Not really, but still! Minako doesn't remember her performance at school, so this is totally a working strategy for her. ]

Is there any way I could tell who it is?

[lookingforhead]

No, sorry.
I hoped they were getting better about this.

[Her shoulders rise and fall in a depressed sigh, though there's no sound to go along with it.]

They should be able to find you. They don't always get your name either but they should be able to sense you. Or something like that.

I can keep you company until then, if you want.

[There's no real danger that Minako needs to be careful of here at the training grounds but Celty doesn't feel like just leaving the girl on her own is acceptable either.]

[reloves]

Well, I'm sure they'll find me eventually.. [ Since Minako likes thinking positively about these things. Maybe if a whole day passes and not a single god shows up for her she might go out and look for them herself, but she's fine with waiting a little while more. Not like she's been here long already.

Besides-- ]

I don't mind the company at all though! It's important that cute girls stick together!

[ Who knows how she can even tell Celty is cute-looking considering the whole helmet situation.. But congratulations on earning the title already. ]