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

[swordofzero]

Perhaps. Animals get blighted and turn into ayakashi, which then go on to blight other animals.

So does blight effect humans and other beings of the Near Shore?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

It's mostly more emotional, isn't it? Physical beings just have their spirits dampened by ayakashi, it's only us being of spirit or whatever that actively get corrupted by them.

[swordofzero]

I see. So it is the spirits of animals that might become ayakashi.

[He frowns.] Someone must know this for certain.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Yeah, but who? We could try to pester one of the old gods, but... You know how they are.

[swordofzero]

Indeed, they probably would not speak to us. [Though sharing information would surely be benefactory to them as well. They did not seem like they were happy with exchanging knowledge. Especially with two shinki, one who currently served no god.]

Perhaps there is a book in the library about ayakashi, it seems like the sort of thing someone will have researched.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

The library might be a good place to... [Edge can't finish, instead stopping to put a hand to his face.] I find reading really boring, I have to be honest here.

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku smiles at him.] It's not the most fun but it may be the best way to find out such things.

I won't make you read though, if I learn anything I'll let you know.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Great! I'll handle the action and you handle the books. That's teamwork!

[How this man ever managed to run a country, none will ever know.]

[swordofzero]

Right. [He is not best qualified for handling books. He can read but how to research and find information... He has no idea.]

Thanks Edge. I'll let you know if I learn anything.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

And back at you, though mine's going to take longer. I have to figure out where to start.

[swordofzero]

I look forward to hearing from you. [He nods politely and sets off. There's still more training he wants to do and hopefully, eventually he will be found by his new god.]