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~

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I am Iskandar. Let us put the teachings of your exemplar to the test.

[He draws his sword but then hesitates for a moment, puts it back into it's scabbard and takes a Roman gladius from the rack.]

That should do a better job.
As you said you're familiar with knives I would propose a short sword but say what's your preference?

[Ginia looks at the selection of blades before choosing a single-edged blade - a falchion - the closest thing around to the machetes she favors when she needs something with a bit more reach than her combat knife. She grips it in her left hand and turns away from him as she gives it a swing to check the weight and balance. Satisfied with the weapon, she nods at Iskandar and tilts her head toward the open training area.

Silently, she hope she doesn't shame Archer.]

Ho ho! I see I'm at serious disadvantage with my choice of weaponry! That would be pretty interesting. Lead on!

[Iskandar is already enjoying the coming combat. If he wasn't himself he would most probably be whistling. As he is, he's not whistling, just grinning like an idiot. This is the guy who knows Illiad by heart so of course he would be immensely happy to fight with someone whose style he yet doesn't know. Even if it's just a practice.]

[There's something about Iskandar that reminds Ginia of Caster. Maybe it's easy-going nature, maybe it's his excitement for a fight. Ginia smiles lightly in turn as she slips her phone in her pocket and claims an area on the training floor. She takes a defensive stance, sword raised in front It's a stance that would work well with a shield or even another sword in her free hand, but she keeps it open.

A borderline is a shinki's best weapon. Why carry a shield when you can set up an entire defensive wall if needed? But for now, Ginia keeps the ability tucked away as she sizes up Iskandar. No doubt he hits hard, but the question is how fast is he?]

[Gladius is no duel sword but it would do. Iskandar chose it mainly because he thought she would pick a short blade. A longer one is actually a better choice for someone of her stature. No matter if it was her own decision or the teachings of her exemplar this alone is a good start.]

Already on the defensive, hm? I didn't do anything. Yet.

[He executes a horizontal slash with his sword. Not with a full force. He's not going for a hit yet. Just measuring the distance and checking her reaction. A strike is swift and blades cling pleasantly. Anyone watching could be surprised how someone this big can move so fast and so precise. He didn't command an army or conquer Asia with charisma alone.]

[The first movements of a fight are the most telling. It's not surprising he's fast and she can tell he's holding back; this is a spar, not a real fight. Because if this was a real fight, Ginia would have never engaged him directly, but struck from the shadows with steel or borderlines. She's a sniper, an assassin, by trade and a direct fight puts her at a disadvantage.

But a forgotten past only means moving forward into new possibilities. Ginia blocks the blow and pushes back, angling with the longer reach of her sword to parry and return an upward slash.]

Not bad! Not bad!

[All he has to do is get out of the way and with just a slight turn of his wrist he swings his sword downwards before she even finishes her move. The falchion cuts air. His blade stops a hair from her side. He retreats.]

But still I was able to reach you. Even with a shorter blade. Did you fight with a shield before? You move like someone accustomed to having their side protected by a shield.

[Ginia retreats as well, inclining her head toward him out of respect. In a real battle, closing that gap could have easily meant the difference between life or death.

At his question, Ginia offers a light smile. Her open hand makes the gesture for a borderline and slashes a short line on the ground between them. A barrier pops up between them like a thin wall of glass between them. A physical shield, no, but a magical one, yes.

If he wishes to touch it, it'll feel cold, numbingly so, to the touch. Trying to cut it with a sword will barely leave a scratch. Of course, he can also walk around it if he goes the few feet over.]

[A magical barrier with no elaborate ritual to prepare it? Sure he wants to touch. And walk around. And know everything about it! She'd better prepare to be drilled with questions. He never seen anything like this before. All the possibilities of having your own portable cover that weighs nothing and can be set up in no time? Of course he likes it.]

Ha! That is a amazing! Does it stand to projectiles as well as to swords? How long can you keep it up? Can you move it?

[He nods and smiles.]

You must be a renown mage to perform a feat like this.

[Yes, they most likely told him about shinkis and barriers during introductory training. He might have failed to pay proper attention. Which wasn't very wise. But they were very boring. Sometimes his attention span is less than stellar. Certain ancient philosopher could say a lot about that.]

[That is a lot of questions, though to some level Ginia expects it. At the comment of her being a mage, Ginia huffs as her face scrunches in amusement, waving the comment off. She watches him to make sure he's not going to attack - though she still takes another step back - and takes out her phone again.]

It's only a shinki's borderline, nothing special. I haven't tested projectiles against it, though I imagine it'll hold. I've only put it up for minutes at a time at the most, haven't had a reason to hold it for any longer. It can't be moved once it's set, though I can take it down and put up a new one. I can also attack with it.

[Iskandar watched the borderline dissolve. Nothing special it is not. He could imagine several uses for it just from top of his head. It cannot work effectively as a shield as it's not movable but an easily erected cover is still pretty darn useful on its own.]

Anyway! If you ever want to practice some sword fighting visit me. I have temple here so come in any time.
And bring your exemplar be he willing. I would gladly meet the one who taught you.

Now! Are you ready for another round? I can show how I was able to strike you even if you're a lot smaller target than me.
Or if you have other plans I won't keep you but in truth I would like to hear about those firearms.

[It seems fitting; the presence exuding from him says everything about him being a god. Her temple has an ample training room, but building alliances with other gods and having more grounds to train at never hurts.]

I will speak to my exemplar, I'm sure he'll be amiable. I have no plans today. I am happy to continue sparring. Training with a variety of people is always good for gaining experience.

Ha! That's the spirit! Let us continue them!

[Iskandar puts away the gladius. He will return it to the weapon rack later, when they're finished. He has no more use for it. For now he'd prefer something better suitable for a true duel. Ginia already shown she's no delicate flower.]

I'm only going to switch to my own sword lest someone think I'm going easy on you. That would be insulting.

[He draws his sword. It's considerably longer than gladius, with more prominent guard and a midrib. It is also visibly more ornate.
He nods.]

I promised I'll show how I was able to strike you. Now I have the advantage of longer reach so try to hit me.

[He may not be smiling now - he's too focused - but he's obviously having fun.]

[It's a beautiful sword, though there's time to admire weapons later. Ginia raises her sword and dashes in; she's fast on her feet as he probably expects. She slashes diagonally with her sword, but swipes with her free hand at the same time, drawing a slashing line aimed at his hand.

Remember how she said she could attack with her borderline? Unless he dodges it, there's a razor-thin slash aimed right at his hand. Not strong enough for serious damage - she's holding back since it's a spar - but it'll certainly cut flesh if he doesn't avoid it.]

[He can effortlessly parry her strike but doesn't dodge the borderline. She might have told him. It doesn't mean he can recognize it when it's used. So it hits. The cut elicits one reaction. Iskandar smiles. A wide smile of content. Of someone unexpectedly yet pleasantly surprised.]

Good.

[He doesn't seem to mind blood dripping from his hand. If anything it only puts him in better mood. His next blow targets her throat.]

You leave a lot of openings but I wonder if it isn't I who is now dead.

[Ginia springs back, sword raised defensively, hand cutting down a borderline barrier between them. It's almost instinctive at this point, cutting and shielding herself with the ability all shinki have. She's a long-range fighter at heart, hit-and-run when she has to engage close, and it shows in her stance and attacks.

She smiles from her side of the borderline and shakes her head, retrieving her phone again.]

It's true I could have cut you down with borderlines before I even engaged, but in a straight sword fight against you, I would be dead.

That is indeed possible.

[He's not finished yet. Now that he's seen it in action he's already devising, reviewing and rejecting all the different options of defense from borderline attack and coming to a conclusion that dodging it might indeed be the most efficient. Still it would be best to test that theory.]

Now that I've seen it I'm forever forewarned.
This kind of combat is not my preferred mode either. I'm much happier on horseback or in a chariot.
Yet it would be foolish to assume those types of battle will be the only ones I need to prepare for.
The same for you it is prudent not to engage directly with an enemy that is bigger and stronger but there could be times it is impossible to avoid.
What then would you do?

[Yes, apart of stating his opinion, he's actually waiting for the borderline to vanish so he can attack. And also know how long will it hold.]

[The interesting thing about borderlines is the duration is tied directly to the shinki's energy and will. She's never needed to hold one up for more than a few minutes, though Ginia is curious how long she could maintain one before it wears on it.

On the other hand, there's no point in showing off all her tricks.]

Do my best to get away, regroup with others I can fight with, or put enough distance to use firearms.

[She releases the borderline after she plays her message and puts her phone away, back on the defensive.]

Hm, a wise choice indeed. But what do you do if you don't have allies or firearms?

[Iskandar notices the borderline disappear. That's second time he's seen it both being set up and brought down. Plenty enough to know what to look for any given moment in the future. This fight is getting at lot more educational than he expected. Good.
He decides to try another tactic. He starts circling.]

[Ginia moves against his movements, sword raised, mind spinning through the choices. There is continuing to fight, looking for an opening to strike at, wearing him down with a barrage of borderlines. Strike first, strike hard, don't let your opponent get another hit in. That's her preferred method when she has to engage at close range. She does not mean to insult Iskandar's skill, but until she has a better sense of him and his skills, it's better to hold back on borderlines.

However, the question is what she would do in a real fight, with no allies or firearms. The answer is simple. Ginia's eyes mark out the rafters above, waiting until she's under a crossbeam before leaping up. It's not a jump a normal human could make, though for a shinki - or heroic spiric - it's an effortless. She grabs the beam and swings onto it, crouching down and taking out her phone.]

I run. If my enemy gives chase, I wear them down with borderlines and keep moving until I can find an advantage again. I can't serve my god if I'm dead, after all. But I realize this makes for a boring spar and I do wish to learn.

[With a light bow, she drops down and lands on her feet, already bracing for an attack or his next move.]

Boring?! Ha!

[He laughs out loud. Really, that's a good joke.]

Far from it! I would call it profoundly instructional. I've just learned more about shinki just here watching you than from whole morning of tedious lecturing by the local bureaucracy!

As for your strategy, I applaud your judgement. The reason behind it even more. Your god should be happy to have you.

Still some fencing skill will do you no harm. With this I am willing to help. Will you ever wanted to know how to handle a spear or fight on a chariot that I can show you too.
I've seen my share of battles.

[He winks. That some understatement. He actually never lost a battle. So yeah, battles are his thing. But he's in extremely good mood. So no bragging for now. It's also a bit shame that she's already someone else's shinki. He would be quite content to be able to recruit her himself. You've got to have an army if you want to do battle.

That reminds him that he actually needs to find his own shinki. They are probably somewhere there... and yes he planned to go looking but got a bit distracted by all those glorious weaponry.]

Now, speaking of shinki. Will you excuse me if I make my leave? I'm ought to go looking for mine. Actually, I was supposed to do it a bit earlier...but well, time flies...
Nevertheless, if you ever feel like practicing find me at my temple. I'll be happy to fight you again.

[Iskander's compliment is appreciated. Ginia smiles and bows, glad she could represent herself and Caster well. He's a charismatic man, but also seems genuine. He'a made an interesting ally.]

Please, don't let me keep you. Finding your shinki is important. I may take you up on an offer for practice at your temple one day, but if you ever find yourself at the temple of Cú Chulainn, better known as Caster, consider yourself welcome. I'm sure my god would love to meet you.

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June Training

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