thenearshore | June Training

June Training

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

Shinki Training

informational pamphlets

borderline

Physical Training

Rest and Refreshments

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~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Since a shinki can kill a god through blight, one would assume the god's need for self-preservation might steer them away.

[At least one would hope. Given there was a god naming shinki without their consent a few months ago, blight might not be a deterrent for everyone.]

I would also hope talking things out with their god would help. Short of that working, there's always physical violence.

[Ginia offers a rueful smile and a small wave of her hand before she resumes typing.]

Sorry, I'm not the best about this. I'm the newest at my temple and my god is pretty easy-going. If anyone's directing him, it's my exemplar.

Your insight is welcome. Even as the newest addition to your temple, you still have much more experience than me, miss--

[ Ah yes the basic social decorum. Introductions. Satya shakes his head and her hand travels to her forehead in a combination of mild embarrassment and frustration. Which she throws away with a flick of her wrist. ]

Where are my manners, I have not introduced myself properly, I'm- [ She hesitates briefly before choosing the name that rings more true to her ] Satya. Satya Vaswani.

[Ginia bows her head and smiles.]

I'm Ginia. Just Ginia. [Is it strange having a single name? Maybe no stranger than the rest of her temple and she's certainly met others with a single name, but it stands out still.] It's nice to meet you.

[Yes, she's a first name basis person right off the bat. It's what you get when you have one name and a casual etiquette.]

I guess I am approaching my second month. It's not much compared to others, but things move fast around here.

A pleasure.

[ It might be just two months for Ginia, but Satya feels like it's a world ahead. ]

Are you satisfied with your role here? [ This question happens faster than she is able to consider if it is even appropriate. Maybe it's not. Maybe it's one of those things you just don't talk about here. But this "role", this "job" is going to be everything for her now. There is no comfortable afterlife some seek, no returning to the wheel of reincarnation. Just new unknown responsibility. ]

[It's a minefield of a question depending on the individual. While Ginia's only met one shinki, there are no doubt others unhappy with their current situation. For her part, she is and can say that with certainty now, but it wasn't always the case either.]

Yes, I am. I like my god, I like the other shinki in the temple, I enjoy my role and the job I do. But it was not always the case. I bear no ill-will toward my first god, but I was not as happy with her.

...this was a very personal question, was it? [ Satya realizes the minefield she walked on a little too late, but fortunately, fortunately, no explosion went off. There is a small awkward chuckle that she covers with a top of her hand ]

Thank you, Ginia, for answering. [ Now she is curious what happened exactly to that first god. Why was she unhappy, and how did Ginia change the god. She has not yet met his, and while she's hoping for the best, she knows she should be prepared for the worst. ] There are other shinki in your temple?

[ That sounds like a neutral enough question, right? ]

[It was, but Ginia waves it off. No harm done and it's the kind of awkward question maybe more shinki should ask. It's not fair they're assigned to gods they barely know right off the bat but are defenseless without a god.]

My exemplar and another shinki that was there before I joined them. They are all good people, I'm happy to live alongside them.

[Ginia cocks her head slightly, venturing her own question.]

Have you met your god yet?

[ So a god and three shinki, that's a lot, but there are gods who have more ]

No, not yet. I was told they will find me on their own, but- [ Is that a smirk? You bet it is ] -I am not very fond of pointless waiting.

[ Gotta be proactive and find them herself ]

It's good that you've found a fulfilling environment that facilities growth and fits your ambitions. [ It means it's possible there are other options if the match made by Heaven's won't work out ]

[It's a strange skew of numbers, the old gods with hundreds of shinki, the new gods sometimes lucky to have even one. A household of four is nothing compared to the old gods, but it's a significant number among the new. Strange how that works out.

Ginia smiles at Satya's words. Being proactive is good. It's far better than her anxious waiting, going out only to prove herself as worth to her god.

It's also the most professional and business-like approach she's heard toward the god-shinki relationship. It's not wrong.]

I suppose I am. I hope things work out between you and your god, when you find them. I can't say anything about new arrivals, but most of the people here seem to be good people.

Thank you. I am looking forward to this challenge, even if I do not know the details yet. [ There is a bit of a pose in that hope. She is worried who exactly she might end with- but at least she is willing to work it out and see how the things go. ]

I probably should double my effort in finding them, but before that- could I ask one more thing. No, two to be precise.

Ask as much as you want, I'm in no rush.

[It's strange to think after almost two months, she's the one answering questions for new arrivals instead of floundering around for understanding. It's a way to pay back everyone else's kindness and knowledge primarily. Secondarily, it's a way to scope out possible allies (or enemies) for the future.

And third, Satya is real attractive, physically and intellectually.]

[ To some those might be just two months, but to Satya they make a great difference. She relaxes as Ginia gives her the permission to continue her inquiries. She finds herself not wanting to end this conversation just yet. ]

I will start with just one. What are in your opinion best qualities that a good shinki should possess.

[ Is this another loaded question? But it seems an important one. However her god is, she is certain that she must give a best first impression. Should she ever find a need to find a different god, having a good reputation around could help her. Heck, even if she never needs to look for a new one, this could open many doors should they be needed ]

[What does it even mean to be a good shinki? Ginia's arms cross over her chest, head tiling down as she chews on the question. From the way some of the shinki of old gods act and from the articles in From Ama, loyal devotion are considered the traits desired in shinki. But there's no loyalty and devotion without a god worth serving and if shinki are the moral guides of their god, what good is blind loyalty?

What are the common traits of her temple? They all love a good hunt, though a willingness to fight isn't a requirement for god or shinki. Lancer and Archer are both exceedingly kind, though it manifests in different ways. Smart and analytical, duty-driven workaholics.

So they are good shinki because they work hard. What kind of message is that? Moving from her temple, what about the other shinki she knows? Ginia mulls over the few other shinki she's encountered, considering the facets of personalities and traits. A few constants that come to mind. Ginia types out her list, reads over it once, twice, before finally playing it.]

A willingness to help and protect, both others on the Far Shore and those on the Near Shore. Kindness for those around them. Being able to act independently from your god or fellow shinki, but also knowing when to follow someone's lead.

And which of those you possess?

[ That's it, that's the second question. That's what you've agreed to Ginia. While she's not sorry she is aware it's extremely and well, invasive question. Years of training tell her that, even if she does not remember them. A brain muscle memory of sort. So she adds much softer. ]

Do not be harsh on yourself, take your time to form the answer.

[Asking Ginia to not be harsh on herself is akin to asking her to stop breathing. However, it's a fair question and Ginia turns her words on herself. There is no doubt she follows orders well but is capable of striking out on her own. The continued investigation into the cult has shown that much. A willingness to protect is also deeply ingrained into her system (and in a few days she'll learn how dangerous that instinct is). She would also like to think herself kind; she's answering Satya's questions after all.

But how she judges herself may not represent how others perceive her. Ginia shakes her head, her smile thin.]

I can't answer that question. If I say I possess all those qualities and my actions have shown otherwise, than it also raises into the question the qualities I think a shinki should have. You would be better off asking the others in my temple whether they think I possess such attributes.

[Humbleness. That too is a quality Ginia forgot to mention.]

I might. But truth to be told, this answer satisfies me. I find humbleness to also be an admirable quality.

[ A virtue many would say. Of course, something could also be said about being too humble, or lacking confidence. But the two shouldn't be conflated. Satya can see kindness and willingness to help, so she turns to a quality not displayed right now- or at least so she thinks ]

What would you consider as "acting independently" from your god?

[ Because virtues, and good qualities aside, this part is incredibly intriguing ]

Every god has their duties, but they're still one person. Sometimes I handle smaller prayers on behalf of my god or help around his shrine. Acting in his name, but not on his orders. I've also been looking into some recent events, an action made entirely by myself and my exemplar. I also have interests and my own alliances outside of the temple.

[Ginia shrugs lightly, smile a bit smug.]

I do not hide anything from my temple that would hurt them. It also doesn't mean they need to know every aspect of my personal life.

[Especially not when the temple is full of teasing trolls.]

That's a very healthy attitude. I imagine a temple where absolute knowledge and absolute obedience is required, would be an incredibly stressful place to live.

[ But also, a part of her understands that it could get results, at the cost of people involved. Is there something worth this kind of sacrifice? Who knows ]

Your temple benefits greatly from having you. I do respect such creed and will do my best to adapt it to whatever temple becomes my home.

[ Look, Ginia... you just become a senpai ]

I'm inclined to say some of the temples of the old gods may be stricter in that way.

[Among the old, discipline and duty seem to run in far stricter circles. Perhaps a necessity considering the number of shinki the old gods have. At an earlier point, Ginia wouldn't have minded such a household. Order, rules, defined borders to follow and remain in.

She's happy where she is now. It's still terrifying at times to make choices on her own, for better or worse, but it's gotten a little easier too.]

Your words are too kind. I hope my answers help, but please, adapt things to your temple as you need. What works in my temple may not work in yours.

I will make sure of it. But thanks to you I get a clearer picture of everything. I am grateful for that.

[ She makes a small nod and puts a stray hair strand beside her ear. The conversation sounds over for now. Someone more sociable would probably let it fall into a small-talk, but she doesn't feel skilled in that matter. ]

I will return to my search. Have a good day, and I do hope to talk to you later, Ginia.

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