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

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

[There's another nod, but this one is a bit more emphatic. She gives her bike a pat of appreciation and that's where things get a touch more weird.

A ghostly, somewhat warped whinny emanates from the bike. A sound of a horse, clearly, but perhaps a more ghostly one? By the sound of it the bike-horse seems to appreciate the compliment as well.]

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar claps his hands with a wide grin.]

Ha! I knew it! It's a horse! It felt too alive for a machine!

[His definition of alive maybe a bit unconventional.]

Say, girl, when I get my horse back let's race! I'm sure they have a good, straight road somewhere around here.

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

[Celty flinches just a bit from his response, though a bit more from the volume than the eagerness of it. But at his challenge she rouses some, flashing him a thumbsup before setting to responding.

Fishing her phone out from her pocket she types something into it before holding it out for him to read.]

If not here then there's some good highways we can use on the Near Shore. We just need to watch out for other drivers and civilians.

And traffic police
don't underestimate them

[Her helmet shakes side to side as she clears her thoughts.]

I'm Celty. It's nice to meet you!

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

[He's loud and he knows it but that's just part of his charm. Chance for some racing is also part of excitement. He really likes racing. Be it just horses or chariots. With his skill he could even handle a motorcycle.]

I am Iskandar and the pleasure is all mine.
Tell me more about those traffic police. They must be formidable opponents.

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

Ah, well, they make sure people follow the rules of the road
But they chase you if you break them
And they chase you longer than some people in the living world do
They're really persistent!
They'll chase you down even if it puts others in danger!

[That last part...may not be entirely true of her recent experiences but rather a trauma recently remembered from her living existence. She's still coming to grips with those restored memories but as she explains things to Iskandar the memory and the emotion linked to it carries her away. Her stance gets more tense and her typing more panicked as she goes along.]

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

So they are officers of the law? Then it's their duty to chase people breaking it. Still it is not just if they endanger others in the process. The ones in service of the law shouldn't themselves break it.

Should they even see you? Are they mages?

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

I don't know. I'm not even sure that one man was human. He was scary.

[She takes a moment to force herself to calm down once she realizes the state she's in. She doesn't want to frighten newcomers like this.]

Just
be careful out there
But when you're ready I'll be happy to race you.

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

It takes more than one man, human or not, to scare me but thank you for your warning.

[Iskandar nods. He looks away for a moment, to the garden, the musicians, all other shinki and gods mingling, eating and all round enjoying themselves. This might be a strange place but he visited stranger. He might not have his army, his friends or his horse. The Throne of Heroes is already but a fading memory in his mind. Maybe he would need to manage his mana more conservatively for some time. Still there are good people here. The world is bigger than he thought and he hasn't seen much of it. This would be exciting experience. ]

Say, Celty, if we were to race where one can usually find you?

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

Hmmm, well if you need to find me in general I'm one of the Shinki for Thoth, so if you go to her temple you should be able to find one of us. She's usually home while I'm more often out. I keep myself busy by working as a courier when we have some down time.

[When it's in your nature to ride you find ways to make it your employment as well.]

Did you get a phone? You can always send me a message that way if you want.

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar can't really decide if he's more excited he met shinki of a god he actually recognizes and it's Thot of all people... gods. The keeper of secrets and guardian wisdom. It would be splendid to finally meet the man, woman, in person!

Or is he more embarrassed he has no clue how to use the strange contraption.
He was handed a phone, of course. With some extremely sparse instructions. He read the manual. He had previous contact with electronics and he's not bad at figuring out stuff. He can use a TV and gaming console quite alright.
But this thing?!
It emits strange sounds and sometimes flashes lights but how in the Heavens he's supposed to actually use it ? The manual doesn't help! Its author does assume a lot of prior knowledge on the side of his readership. He was able to turn it on and off but then was defeated on the first screen that appeared and said "Enter pin number".
He knows what a PI number is, he's learned his mathematics, ok? But on no occasion did Aristotle ever mention what a PIN number is!
If he looks even a tiny bit confused that's exactly how he feels. However it would be terribly unkingly to admit it to this kind lady. He would figure it out.
Eventually.]

I sure will do!