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

[revolutionfalcon]

Not that much. Mostly just complain. [If it wasn't already obvious Shun is more than a little irreverent towards the old gods, the somewhat derogatory tone with which he says that probably helps.]

If you haven't already, see if you can find your shinki. It at least means you know who you'll be working with.

[creepface]

Oh... Do they d-do it scarily...? [ Or is it just general non-dangerous complaining? ]

Ah, um, is. is my shi-shinki... um, do you think they'll, um, be okay with h-having me? All of a s-sudden? It's not like they ch-chose me themselves...

[revolutionfalcon]

Only if you're a coward. [Which this guy seems to be, honestly, but Shun is just very direct about this kind of thing.]

Depends on the shinki. Some are fine with working with a new person. Then there are ones who'll never be comfortable with it. You can't know until you meet them, like with any other person.

[creepface]

O-oh no... [ At least he's aware he's a coward, too. ]

I. Um. N-never? Is it b-because they d-didn't chose th-themselves? Wh-what do I do if they're n-not comfortable? T-to make them more h-happy?

[revolutionfalcon]

Some people are just like that. Uncooperative. [Shun doesn't have personal experience with a shinki like that, but he certainly knows a few people who do.] Try to work with them and compromise, and don't hold yourself above them. If worst comes to worst and they ask you to release them, don't try to fight them about it. That part is their choice.

[creepface]

O-okay. [ He'll try his best to befriend his own shinki, then. Make them happy and comfortable. ] I, I wouldn't do that, I'm not, not a-above anyone, really. I wouldn't f-force anyone to be with me if they d-don't want to...!

[revolutionfalcon]

Most people don't. Not least because gods who do try to force people to be with them are usually made an example of. [By the newcomers, at least. He doubts the old gods care that much unless it's actively disrupting their order.] But for some reason, "treat them like you would any other person" still seems to go over a few people's heads.

[creepface]

[ He assumes that means they're killed, like the kings, queens and dictators of the past that have fallen to revolution. ] O-oh. I, I promise I w-won't forget th-that. I d-d-don't wanna be an ex-example...

[revolutionfalcon]

That's the most important part in the end. If you can do that, most of the rest of it shouldn't be a problem. [...Unless you're like Shun and end up with some severe misunderstandings because you can't relate to people very well. Still, he waves a hand somewhat dismissively.]

You're making a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be, anyway. It's annoying, but it's straightforward enough to do your actual duties.

[It's just everything else that's less straightforward.]

[creepface]

I w-will do my best. [ Misunderstandings happen, but he really will do his best. ]

Ah, um, I'm s-sorry. I, I don't wanna be a-annoying... I w-will do my d-duties...

[revolutionfalcon]

I meant the situation is annoying. But your constant apologising is starting to get up there as well. [At least Shun's honest, if nothing else. "Nothing else" including having any form of decorum or tact.]

Like I said, we've definitely had worse people than just doormats who are terrified of doing the wrong thing.

[creepface]

S- [ He cuts himself off, because he was going to apologise for apologising and that... would be counterproductive, he assumes. ] O-okay.

I, I'm not a d-doormat, um... a-all the time.

[revolutionfalcon]

If you're only one most of the time, it's not much to talk about. [Shun puts that somewhat dryly, considering Rasu isn't really doing the best of jobs proving his point there.]

Anyway, you should be focusing on finding your shinki.

[creepface]

I, um, y-yes. [ He does try but well, it's hard to stand up for yourself sometimes. ]

I w-will, um, do that.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Since it seems like this guy isn't going to ask any additional questions of him, at this point Shun just inclines his head slightly as if...acknowledging the man spoke to him at all, honestly, before starting to walk away. He's not one for farewells.]

[creepface]

[ Nevertheless, Rasu squeaks a 'bye' when he notices him leaving, but he'll go do his best at... not being a doormat and go find his shinki. ]