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

[spellswords]

[Alisaie likes using her fire spells so that sounds fine to her. She wonders if shinki can learn new magic via their god. Could she teach a shinki her red mage spells someday?

She quickly looks confused by her statement that she isn't a weapon. She cants her head slightly.] Not a weapon? But I thought all shinki were weapons. [Or so the impression had been for her when she had listened to the description. Perhaps she had misunderstood.

She pauses to think and seems to not notice her sudden embarrassment.] Is it still something used for combat? [Or can shinki become anything?]

[thirdbeauty]

Well, yeah, Maria-sama can use me to fight! But it's not using me as a weapon, exactly...

[That's the second time she's used the same word to put off explaining. She's only going to find a way to make it worse for herself if she keeps getting in her own way like that, so she might as well just tell her. After all, she might end up having a similar shinki herself. She might want to know ahead of time what's possible.]

I'm more like... clothes.

[spellswords]

[Clothes? But if she can be used for combat then... oh.] You mean like armor? [If only Alisaie knew the truth.

Regardless, the prospective is fascinating.] I never considered that. I suppose combat isn't only about the kind of weapon you wield. So if someone... wears you [that felt super weird to say!!] then would they be able to wield your fire spells?

[Since shinki weapons gift their gods use of that weapon would armor do something similar? Or maybe... protection against fire instead?]

[thirdbeauty]

N-Not really armor, no...

[Everything she needs to explain to answer Alisaie all kind of ties together, so she might as well go into full detail.]

It doesn't really work like that, either! Maybe for some shinki. But the things you can do by yourself aren't always like what a god can use you for.

[And here comes the full explanation.]

Like... for Maria-sama, I'm actually... a dance outfit. There's all these loose veils and stuff and when she dances, we can move them however we want.

But I have been armor before, too! For my first god. I made her stronger and faster when she wore me, I think.

[Yeah, it never doesn't feel strange talking about people wearing her. But Alisaie started it in this conversation, and there's no better way to describe it.]

[spellswords]

[It's way more in depth of an explanation than she had been expecting but frankly she's plenty glad for it. Ever is she one to want knowledge as any good Sharlayan should be. She listens with equal parts fascination and confusion. She wonders how it must feel to describe yourself like this. Memories may be gone but surely you're aware that this isn't exactly normal or that there was a time you were not a wearable piece of... dance clothing.

She lifts her hand to her chin in thought.] So you are shaped depending on the god's will... or perhaps you shape to their strengths. [The latter sounded better. She didn't want to make it sound like this girl was an object.]

Thank you for the explanation. It actually makes a bit more sense. About how shinkis work with their gods, I mean. The prospect is still very strange to me. [And remains strange still but at least it feels a bit clearer.]

Oh. Apologies, I never introduced myself. My name is Alisaie.

sorry for the delay! RL things took over for a while...

[thirdbeauty]

[That sounds like a pretty good way to think about it, in Natsuru's opinion! She's glad if she was able to help someone adjust to this place, too. Even for a god, it must be kind of strange at first.]

Oh-!

[That's right, she hadn't introduced herself either!]

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