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

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun inclines his head slightly.] Exactly. The only problem is the ones who are used to hiding, but even they get what they deserve in the end.

[Case in point, Loki. He might've quite possibly brought down someone with him, considering the timing of that four god calamity incident, but the other three gods marked as dead then had all returned, some of them even before the calamities had flared, and Loki was still gone.]

But it's safer to know who you can turn to in that situation before it happens.

[swordofzero]

[It sounded like there had been incidents before. Shun had been here a long while and Suzaku figured that if they just pulled random people from random worlds not all of those who arrived as gods were going to follow the same moral code as others.

He takes Shun's words to heart. He should know who to turn to if things were beyond what he could deal with.] I understand. [And he would think on it. He knows quite a few people now and is friendly with many of them. But being friendly with someone and imposing on them like that were two different things.]

[revolutionfalcon]

If you say so. [Shun doesn't sound like he entirely believes the fact, but then, his initial impression of Suzaku being a bit of a doormat hasn't completely faded. He doesn't strike him as the sort who'd ask for help unless he was absolutely, utterly in need of it.]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku just nodded and began to turn back towards the practice dummies, sensing he was about to be dismissed. But he paused and looked back at Shun.]

Would you be interested in a spar?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun pauses in turning his attention away, glancing back towards Suzaku. His gaze is somehow sharper now, more calculating, as if he's weighing up the person standing across from him.]

If you're prepared for one. [He assumes he wouldn't be offering if he wasn't, but some people seem to like to recover themselves between bouts.]

[swordofzero]

[Their conversation had been plenty of time to recover himself. He nodded at Shun and turned to face him fully, entering defensive fighting stance.

He might not know Shun well but from what he's seen he's not the type to wait, pause or hold anything back once he has decided to fight.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun usually prefers to retaliate to someone else initiating combat, but he's willing enough to be the one to start it himself.

Dropping into a natural stance himself, he observes Suzaku's position for a moment before darting forward, scything one hand straight for a pressure point on his neck. He doesn't hold back, no, but efficiency is the name of the game - he prefers not to bother having to trade blows at all beyond his first shot.]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku darts to the side, striking out at the last minute to hit Shun's arm downwards.

Regardless of whether his strike hits or not he is pressing in, stepping forward with a sweeping kick aimed at Shun's legs.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun appears unfazed by the retaliation - he would've been more surprised if Suzaku had done nothing. Rather than allow him to get closer and trip him, however, Shun executes a quick flip backwards, lifting his feet before Suzaku can swipe them out and landing with some distance between them.

Not for long, though, because Shun uses the landing recoil to launch himself forward the moment his feet touch the ground, this time going for a more straightforward punch to the solar plexus with the additional power from that push-off behind it.]

[swordofzero]

[Impressive. Suzaku rolls out of the way, diving to the side as the punch comes towards him. He rolls back up onto his feet and turns to face Shun once more.

He doesn't pause either, running back over to punch back, a strike aimed for the left shoulder, to knock him back and off balance.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun uses a slip dodge this time rather than actually leap back - a strike to one side of his body isn't a difficult one to avoid, and Suzaku's momentum might work in Shun's favour.

Since it's closer, he drives the fist of the arm Suzaku had been aiming for right towards his stomach, cognizant of the fact that Suzaku's running over to him means there's a good possibility his opponent won't be able to drop his momentum to dodge. Considering Shun's unassuming build, the punch has a surprising amount of power behind it, enough to potentially send an unprepared opponent flying.]

[swordofzero]

[It probably seems to Shun that the punch is going to connect, in fact his knuckles graze Suzaku's shirt as he twists away last minute.

He's fast but Shun is fast too. He's been testing the limits of his fighting ability and he's glad he asked Shun to spar with him, he is proving to be a decent challenge.

The fight continues fast paced, neither of them pulling punches or giving quarter until it comes to a natural end. Suzaku jumps back through the air one last time. He lands in a crouch but instead of charging forwards he straightens and nods respectfully to Shun.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[As the spar goes on, Suzaku may notice Shun getting more involved, the brief breaking of approving smirks at a good move or other small, acknowledging motions. For him, spars aren't about the victory, but about the learning and in some sense, enjoyment of the challenge. A strong opponent you can't overcome will often teach a lot more than one you ultimately defeat, and Suzaku, for all Shun considers his attitude leaning towards a doormat, can certainly hold his own when it comes to the field of battle.

Shun flips back to land on his feet, still at the ready, but he eases off at Suzaku's slight nod, figuring that indicates the end. There really isn't a great deal more they could do to clash, and they've both given full strength to the bout, so he can't argue with ending it here.

He inclines his head in return, touching at his neck to see if he's sweated enough to require taking a drink break.] Your fighting strength is a hell of a lot more formidable than your attitude. I'll remember it.

[Both how he might respond differently next time, and the fact that Suzaku is a respectable opponent.]

[swordofzero]

You are a formidable opponent yourself. [The spar had been fun, the challenge had been high and though he had already known that Shun was a talented fighter- had had seen him hold his own after having been kidnapped and drained of energy, it was good to fight with him and Suzaku felt he had learned a lot.]

Thank you.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun doesn't look particularly impressed with being thanked, instead just shrugging slightly as he drops his hand back down to his side. He's probably still fine for a little bit longer, and he's definitely been meaning to get some more training in with his throwing knives.]

Feel free to ask me again sometime. I won't turn down a determined opponent.

[Even if they're not on the same level as him, though that hardly applies here. If they're determined to improve, then he may as well do them the service of letting them know what that means.]

[swordofzero]

I shall. [Suzaku nodded at him again, he would definitely be happy to spar with Shun again sometime. He stepped away, figuring that he should probably go back to practicing with the staff, as that was what he had thought to do today.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Taking that as his cue to leave, Shun turns his back and starts heading off towards some of the target practice areas. It's a much better opportunity to practice today than the last time they ran into each other.]