July Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: December 22nd
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 more experienced god and shinki volunteers.




Meeting Hall

God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a small meeting room, with tatami floors and a stage 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. Paper and pens are provided to all the attendees as an unsubtle suggestion to take notes on the information they're given.

The speaker delivers his welcome speech in a rather bored tone, occasionally stumbling and checking his own notecards. He particularly dwells, towards the end of the speech, on the fact that an unauthorized god has recently tried to access the Heavens, and any contact from other gods asking to access the Heavens through their temples should be immediately reported. 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.

A variety of weapons are available in the dojo for shinki and their gods to practice with, and a row of straw targets are set up along one wall. Outside, in an area carefully roped off with red ribbons, are six animated training dummies, also made of straw and dressed in plain cotton jackets and trousers. They will immediately engage anyone who enters the area marked with the ribbon, but will not pursue opponents outside it. A white-robed shinki nearby keeps a sharp eye on the animated dummies, and will intervene if anyone tries to destroy one.

Physical Training

A race track has been laid out, winding through the gardens to a towering pole, 9 meters in height, planted in the center of a pond with a cluster of pretty ribbons tied at the top. White-robed shinki are standing by with stopwatches: anyone who wants can race their friends along the path, with the first one to return to the starting point with a ribbon winning the challenge, or solitary racers can recruit a shinki to time them and try to beat their own speed. But be careful not to fall off the pole! The pond isn't dangerously deep, but the bottom is very muddy, and in late December, it's also very, very cold.

On the lawn near the dojo, a wide circle has been marked out in white paint, and big baskets set around the circle are filled with sachets full of chalk dust in a rainbow of colors. Pick your color, grab a handful of sachets, and join the fray! Anyone inside the circle is a fair target to have one of the sachets thrown at them, and on impact, they splash out enough brightly colored dust to mark the spot they strike. Head or torso hits are an automatic out, leg hits mean the target isn't allowed to move from their position, and arm hits mean they can't use that arm. Borderlines -- and any other magic -- are allowed, and the game can get intense.

Rest and Refreshments

The weather outside, although not freezing, is quite chilly, and in the middle of the afternoon, the shinki will invite everyone into a prepared banquet hall for food and to warm back up. Charcoal braziers set in the center of square tables radiate warmth, and are covered by grates; other shinki bring trays of fresh ingredients, both meat and vegetable, that can be grilled over the hot coals.

After the meal is finished, one of the white-robed shinki, a middle-aged woman with her hair cut in a fashionable modern bob, enters the room with an expression of great, if restrained, delight, pushing a cart with a portable karaoke machine and speaker on it. She sets up the karaoke machine at one end of the room, and begins encouraging others -- both her fellow shinki and the newcomer guests -- to join in with a song. Whenever there's a break, she puts in music selections of her own; she has a trained, jazzy voice and a great fondness for midcentury enka.

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, sing and barbecue
• Have fun~

Comments

[chibisu]

Since it's clearly just a joke (he thinks), Ebisu doesn't address the first part and just gives a small laugh at it. Hopefully that's the right response. It wouldn't do to say that he's staying close to his shinki so that one of them doesn't get too anxious for reasons he'd rather not go into...

Good thing the conversation has plenty of other things for him to talk about. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jae-Ha-san. I haven't mean Áine-sama yet, but I'm certain it will be a pleasure to meet her." After all, Ebisu hasn't had a problem yet with any of the new gods. "Have you never heard of song spells, then?"

[pirateofdragons]

He really shouldn't be teasing the young god so much. He's also pretty sure the young god's other shinki wouldn't appreciate it very much if he did.

"No, I haven't. I'm still fairly new here so I haven't managed to get around yet to learning much about spells."

[chibisu]

"Well, they're definitely really valuable to know." Ebisu gives a small nod, as if he's any kind of expert on the subject. He's not, of course. That's an area of talent reserved for shinki, and people who haven't just recently reincarnated. Still....

"You should ask around to see what other shinki know the spells. Although-" He cranes his head back, bumping into Takami's chest, so that he can look at Unmi. "Unmi knows all of the spells."

Unmi politely takes a small sip of the drink he has. "I've managed to know quite a few, yes, against all odds. Still, I'm sure the shinki in this newer generation have managed to learn some things as well, so talking can't hurt."

[pirateofdragons]

That has him cupping his chin. His first thought goes to Yoon or Kairi naturally since they've been around here longer than he has.

But then he looks over at Unmi.

"Hm, would it be too much trouble if I ask you to teach me some spells? Of course, I'll still ask around those in this newer generation, but learning from the older generation can be just as helpful."

[chibisu]

"Well..." Unmi doesn't seem convinced, instead glancing around thoughtfully. If Jae-Ha is paying attention, he might notice that the older shinki is looking particularly at those of Amaterasu's retinue- the shinki dressed in white and gold. After a moment, however, he looks back to him with a slight smile. "I'm rather busy besides a few rare days, so if you wanted to learn anything from myself, I would have to request your help in a few of my tasks."

Hearing this seems to excite Ebisu for some reason, and his feet kick a little bit underneath the table as he grins.

[pirateofdragons]

Jae-ha can't help but to pay attention. He knows he's in the presence of an important god - the amount of shinki surrounding him is telling enough - so his eyes flickers brightly to Amaterasu's shinki as well.

He smiles back at him. "That's a fair compromise."

[chibisu]

"I'm glad you think so, because it would have been impossible to budge from otherwise." Both because, as Ebisu's shinki, he should be able to hold his own on that base amount of haggling and because he really can't spare any time otherwise. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulls out a small notepad and pen. "Then I'll leave a number to reach me at, and directions to the temple..."

While Unmi writes that down, Ebisu smiles at him. "Unmi knows the most when it comes to spells. You'll be able to learn a lot from him."

"I don't know all the spells," Unmi corrects. "Aomi is much better with spell songs, after all."

[pirateofdragons]

He blinks at that, watching Unmi write down everything before he looks back at Ebisu.

Jae-ha's smile warms at him.

"Still, it's always nice to have a teacher to help."

[chibisu]

"Yes!" Ebisu beams right back easily. "Especially when it comes to the song spells. I've been told having someone else listen helps you get the tone just right."

"And also a good teacher can strengthen your technique," Unmi agrees, sliding the paper over to Jae-ha. "At any rate, when you think you have time, just call, and I'm sure we'll be able to find some work for you to do so that we can have time for a teaching moment."

[pirateofdragons]

"You need the tone right, too?"

Just how specific are these song spells?

But he accepts the paper with a thankful nod.

"Much appreciated. Thank you."

[chibisu]

"Yes, that's right." Ebisu is more than glad to keep going, although he has to admit that his knowledge of the subject is only rudimentary. Perhaps one of his past incarnations could do a better job of presenting it... but it's only him, for now. He'll have to do. "If you aren't a little bit good at singing, then it doesn't tend to work well." He peters off for a moment, glancing to Unmi for confirmation.

Understanding the wordless request, Unmi nods. "Song spells are a little more difficult than other spells in that way. It's why most people learn the basics first before moving onto those."

[pirateofdragons]

Ah, that makes sense. It has the shinki looking thoughtful, wondering if he'd be able to find someone who is already aware of song spells, but figures it's safer to just stick with the basics for now. Perhaps he can even converse with Yoon about it.

"That makes sense. So what if you can't use your voice at all? Are there ways to still use song spells even if you can't sing?"

[chibisu]

"That..." Unmi pauses, putting a hand to his chin. "Hm. That's a good question. Generally that's how it used. The words and tone used are important. Still, I suppose if you could keep the words separate from the tone..."

Ebisu starts to grin widely. "It's something to look into!" He couldn't seem more delighted.

[pirateofdragons]

Ebisu's reaction makes him chuckle.

"It really would be. I just think it'd be unfair to anyone who'd be unable to speak and they needed to use a spell for whatever reason."

[chibisu]

"Yes! So many shinki are different from one another. And if there were a way to do this, then perhaps it could make it easier for all shinki!" Ebisu seems delighted at this prospect, himself, and his happiness has his own two shinki smiling down to him as well.

"I'll have to ask Aomi about it," Unmi says before looking to Jae-Ha. "Ah, he's a coworker of mine, and very good with song spells. So I'm sure he might have ideas on this."

[pirateofdragons]

Why is this little god so cute? Jae-ha should introduce Ebisu and Yona to each other one day.

But he nods.

"It'd be good to hear what he thinks about this."

[chibisu]

"When you come to visit, I'll try to have an answer for you," Unmi says. "It's an interesting line of thought, after all."

"You can have lunch with us," Ebisu decides, on his own. Because, honestly, there's no doubt in his eye that Jae-Ha will be staying that long. Once Jae-Ha gets an eyeful of what's going on in his temple, he'll probably agree.

[pirateofdragons]

Jae-ha blinks once in surprise at Ebisu's offer.

He smiles at him.

"Thank you. I wouldn't want to intrude, however."

[chibisu]

"You'll already be at our temple working and learning. You can't intrude any further than that. We rarely entertain guests, so it would be a nice change of pace, even if it would only be treating you to lunch."

He might not have much more time than that, after all.

...He might not have that much energy when all is said and done.

[pirateofdragons]

"Then I'm honored to be able to have lunch with you."

Such a tiny god. So kind, too. Are all of the gods in Heaven like this?

[chibisu]

Some of them are in fact huge dicks, but it's hard to tell when Ebisu is looking so pleased himself. "It'll be a pleasure to see you, then. Please give your god my own regards as well!"

It's only polite.