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

[abgrund]

[ The expression that Ginia gives is one of approval, so he's able to relax a little with regards to his own outlandishness. He always has to be careful in order to not disturb others. ]

Thank you...

[ It's interesting, how they don't act fearful if he controls himself well. ]

I'm not a human, [ he adds as an afterthought; it's well-established by now. ]

[unlucky7]

[There's no denying Ain's appearance is unnatural and eerie. The way his limbs seem unraveled and the non-organic look to him is something to process. Whether that makes him human or not is her place to determine. So he's not human; Ginia files away the point as simple fact.]

What are you then? Though it's okay if you don't want to answer.

[abgrund]

[ It's an important question. While he might have been coy about it in the past, the truth of it is evident to him. He is a unique existence; it can't be quantified using mere labels. Angel, shinki, spirit - he's none of them at all. ]

I don't know.

[ The flatness of his tone suggests it doesn't bother him. ]

I don't think it matters much. I am myself.

[unlucky7]

[It's an answer Ginia accepts readily enough. They are shinki, what they know and don't know is understood only by themselves. She smiles at his answer and nods.]

So you are. I guess as a shinki, accepting yourself is important.

[Or it's the wall you smash into. The drive to be stronger, better, to not let her temple down is the thing driving herself forward while also, unknowingly, holding herself back.]

[abgrund]

[ Oh. That was easy. He'd have expected her to question, but she doesn't; it makes her easier company. ]

It is pointless to worry over that which we cannot change....

[ He says this softly, ending it with a sigh. Though, he supposes he should turn this topic back to what is at hand: ]

... I'm sorry I can't really help with the spell. I don't know anything about it.

[unlucky7]

[There's no point prying. Maybe if it was information she somehow needed that moment, but if he's not volunteering it, then it doesn't matter. They've only just met, his god killed hers in the past, she's awkward at best, why make things more awkward?]

Don't worry about it. It's not like I know anything about this spell.

[Keep asking more people, keep trying, it's all she can do right now. She looks up at the dome around them, resisting the urge to get up and poke it.]

If someone was on the outside, what would this look like to them?

[abgrund]

[ Ain tilts his head, taking a moment to remember. ]

A black hemisphere... it's opaque.

[ Though now that he considers it, this might be alarming to some people, especially the nosy ones. ]

I can make it transparent, if you want....?

[unlucky7]

This is fine, not unless you want to.

[Let the curious be curious. Ginia would feel much more self-conscious sitting in a transparent bubble anyway.

She looks at the bowl and steels herself. Might as well give it another shot. Focusing on the spell, Ginia begins to whistle and sign again, trying to fit the words and music together to create something.

Nothing. Nothing happens. Then again, she's still not sure what should happen.

SIGH]

I think I'm going to take a break. Thank you for your help.

[abgrund]

[ It seems like his continued presence isn't going to be of any benefit, so maybe it is time for him to take his leave. ]

A rest would help.

[ Ain folds his papery wings back into himself, and the dome vanishes. ]

Good luck.

[ Maybe they'll see each other again sometime. Eventually. ]