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

[myblueskies]

[It does? But this race is already really exciting! He tilts his head when she offers her wager and frowns a little, thinking hard.] Okay miss... And what about if I win?

[priforprince]

You won't.

[ Sorry. Reflex.

Still, she's confident enough to throw him a bone. ] However, as the odds of your victory are so minuscule an ant would have difficulty locating them, I see no issues with offering the same prize in return.

[ There. That should motivate him enough to give this drama some stakes. Anything worth doing is worth doing in an exciting fashion. ]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo blinked at her, if Hibiki was another child he would have no trouble rising to the challenge, telling her that he would win asnd the favour would be his. But she isn’t and he doesn’t want to be rude to her. Even if her dismissing of his skills makes him annoyed. No worries he would prove her wrong by beating her in the race! No words required.] Alright miss! Are you ready then?

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods, striding forward. They've already left the "start line," so why not?

She raises a hand as she passes him. ] You may begin.

[myblueskies]

Um... Okay miss! [He'd been prepared to go back to the start line to keep things fair but this works too! He sets off at a run again, even more determined to get a ribbon and win!]

[priforprince]

Heh. [ Hibiki watches him pass her, assessing his abilities. He has points for passion, if not for speed or running form. Honestly. ]

I suppose I'll have to show you how to race with beauty.

[ Perhaps she'll pick up her own pace, a bit at a time. There we go...there we go....

Almost....time. ]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo is giving it his all because there is no activity that Romeo does not give his all to. He runs towards the pole, following the course that weaves through the garden.

He is almost there! And once he is he just needs to climb. His eyes flickered to the side as Hibiki speaks though he doesn't slow or lose his concentration.]

[priforprince]

[ And here's the part he was most looking forward to: the last spurt. Hibiki smirks when she sees his eyes meet hers. ]

Look well.

[ And then - pushing off gracefully with one foot, she begins....floating...towards the top.

Or, well, flying. With absolutely beautiful form. So quickly that she leaves wind in her wake. Surely the Far Shore wouldn't begrudge her using the divine powers it bestowed upon her!

It is entirely possible that Shikyoin Hibiki might be a jerk. ]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo's mouth dropped open. She could fly! But she didn't even have wings, not like Nanako did!

However he hadn't lost yet! He can't fly but he can climb and so he begins climbing up the pole as fast as he can! He's not going to give up! It wouldn't be a good contest if he didn't!]

[priforprince]

[ He still thinks he can win! His spirit won't be broken. Hibiki commends him.

Well, that makes no difference. The ribbon Hibiki must retrieve and give to the shinki hosting the race is in sight. Delighted at her upcoming victory (and not thinking about how after getting the ribbon, there's still the "going down and bringing it over" part), she twirls around in the air, laughing to herself. Do you see?! The ultimate triumph is close at hand! ]

Ah ha ha! Ah ha ha ha ha!!

[ Should a god with tens of thousands of followers really be doing a villain laugh at being on the verge of reaching a ribbon before a small child does? ]

[myblueskies]

[That was scary laughter! Romeo looked at her as she twirled in the air. He was worried! Had he made a deal with a bad person? She had seemed nice!

But he was still determined to win. He climbed the pole, he was strong for his age and climbing was something he was skilled at. Poles were a little harder than trees but he was almost at the top now! Almost at the ribbon!]

[priforprince]

[ There are multiple ribbons on the top of this structure. Technically, both of them would be able to get one without having to jockey for the prize.

This does not stop Hibiki from overshooting, then swooping down and grabbing the ribbon it looks like Romeo had his eye on.

She winks at him, and then turns away. Expression settling into stern focus, she continues her descent. Going easy on people is not her style!

It's noble, in a way. If you squint. ]

[myblueskies]

[She grabbed a ribbon! There are more ribbons up there but it takes a little bit of shifting position for him to reach one.

But once he has one he begins scrambling down the pole. She might have been able to fly instead of climb but there is still the run back to do! He might still be able to win!]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki is a fast flier, unfortunately. Romeo is welcome, even encouraged, to do his best, but Hibiki is determined to stay ahead - and what she decides upon, she achieves, every time.

So, although she's staying low to the ground, she doesn't alight to run, after all. She will just keep flying, eyes on her goal. Heedless of the way the shinki at the finish line is frowning when they look at her, and waving their arms to try and get her attention.

Whatever they have to say can't possibly be important. ]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo is running as fast as he can towards the finish line. He is still behind her by a fair distance but he has a determined look in his eyes.

That is until he sees the shinki at the start line frowning and waving his arms. Has something happened? He looks to see if there's a reason they need to stop, some danger or animals on the race track. His opponent doesn't seem to be slowing though!]

sorry for the limited hooks in these, i'm building to a punch line if that's okay :(

[priforprince]

[ The track looks clear. In fact, when that shinki catches ROMEO'S eyes, they beckon to him to hurry it up and get over here. You're good! It's the god they want to stop.

The god, however, is....disinclined. ] Playing favorites....? Impossible!

[ Down she swoops to argue with the insolent shinki - only to hit a borderline. ]

What?!

It's all good!

[myblueskies]

[Romeo is a little confused but at the beckoning he speeds up again, running as fast as he could towards the waiting shinki and the finish line.

He hears Hibiki's words but doesn't let them slow him down In fact he is concentrating so hard on running that he doesn't even realise she has stopped!]

[priforprince]

[ And thus it is that Romeo is the first one to the finish line, Hibiki being distracted by taking out a sword and whacking at the borderline (to no avail). Interference by the system...??? This is an outrage!

The shinki congratulates Romeo, who gets a voucher for the Extra Special Dibs. "You held up really bravely and had a really good time!" he is told. "That's twice as impressive since your opponent cheated." ]

WHAT?!

[myblueskies]

[He had won? How? He hadn't been in the lead. A delighted smile crosses his face as he takes the voucher but it soon fades slightly as he looks back and sees Hibiki attacking the borderline with her sword and the shnki told him she had cheated.

Had she?] We didn't tell her using her powers were against the rules though, sir...

[Even though he won it doesn't feel right since his opponent seems so mad.] She tried really hard too!

[priforprince]

[ "But..." The shinki seems unsure. "Even if it wasn't against the letter of the rules, surely it was against the spirit..."

Hibiki is really whaling on this borderline. It ripples but doesn't give way.

The shinki does seem to be listening to Romeo, though. ]

[myblueskies]

I know but... [It takes him a moment. Because he knows this feels wrong but explaining his feelings is something else!]

Maybe if flying is normal to her she didn't even think it would be cheating. It might just be the same as running and climbing for her! Anyways it was still a fun race...

[priforprince]

[ "Well, if her opponent is fine with it...."

The borderline dissolves as Hibiki whacks it, giving her a split-second of posing with a determined expression on her face before realizing it didn't break through any actions of her own. Not bothering to stow her sword again, she swoops down and lands next to Romeo and the shinki. ]

You! Is this how the Heavens conduct a fair-and-square bout?! Favoring those with an overwhelming disadvantage is against the laws of history!

[ She points the sword at the shinki. ] I demand a du---

[ And the shinki takes her ribbon instead, then hands her a voucher. "Thank the child," they say, and wander off to time the next people - hopefully with fewer extenuating circumstances.

Hibiki is left holding a sword in one hand and a coupon in another, still feeling somehow cheated. ]

[myblueskies]

[She's angry! Romeo watches with wide eyes but the moment she points the sword at the shinki Romeo rushes to stand in front of him, arms outstretched as to protect him from the angry gods wrath.

The shinki smooths over the situation and departs leaving Romeo facing down the woman with the sword. His voice is quiet as he spoke.] You shouldn't have shouted at him, he was just following the rules...

[priforprince]

Hmph.

[ Hibiki finally does put the sword away, now in a huff. ] I recognize no rules that disadvantage me.

[ .....Hibiki living a more honest life now than previously may, in fact, make her more obnoxious, not less. ]

[myblueskies]

You should though miss! Rules are there for a reason! [He does smile gently though, relaxing a lot more once she put the sword away!] I said you didn't mean to cheat, it's not your fault if you didn't know the rules and now we both got extra special dibs! So that's really good because we can go and have yummy food because we both tried really hard!