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

[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!

itt: hibiki is genre-savvy

[priforprince]

[ ....There's that invisible wind from the Palps again. Unthinkable to discover it from such a source.

Still, Hibiki's not particularly keen to continue belaboring any situation that didn't go the way she wanted. And, as he points out, the prize is still hers.

So she decides to, as he points out, start heading for the concessions area. ] You must have led a blessed life.

[ Or else you led the opposite and are one of those wholesome suffering orphans. She would be equally capable of believing either. ]

[myblueskies]

I think so too, miss!

[It was bad to think too hard on what his life might have been but if he thinks about it at all he just assumes it was much like it is now. Full of friends!

He skips next to her, excited about these Super First Dibs.] It was a fun race though. I'm Romeo! What's your name miss?

[priforprince]

Shikyoin Hibiki.

[ Where is this line that they get to skip? ] "Apollo" is also acceptable.

[ The sunlight glints off the gold accents on her clothes when she says the name. Staging is everything. ]

[myblueskies]

[Wow! She is golden and sparkly! Romeo grins at her, he's impressed at least.] Oh ever there! I think that's where we go!

[priforprince]

So it seems.

[ She'll head that way, then. At her own pace.

Depending on how excited he is (and how fast he can move after doing his best in that race!), she'll either pull ahead or lag behind. ]

The supreme refreshments have been reserved for us.

[myblueskies]

[He's still at the age and is the sort of child who has infinite energy until he crashes. So he keeps up with her.]

I bet they are really tasty! [Once they arrive he hangs back to let her go first. She doesn't seem so upset anymore but still. He doesn't want her to be sad!]

[priforprince]

Allow me to be the judge of that. [ She moves to the front with alacrity, seeing it as her right. It's good he understands such things.

As promised, the vouchers give them dibs on the next batch of fresh food, including some items of which there are only a handful. Hibiki gravitates towards the best cuts of meat...

Is there no dessert, though? Only a grill party. Alas. ]

[myblueskies]

[The benefit of her going first us he can copy her, even if he's not sure what to do to redeem this magical special dibs voucher.

All the food looks really yummy! But... Romeo might still be learning about lots of different things but even he can tell that this meat isn't cooked.] Won't we get sick?

[priforprince]

There's sure to be chefs on hand to serve us. [ Yes? It wouldn't be special dibs if this weren't full serve, yes?

Yes???


WHERE IS THE COOK. SHE SEES THE GRILL BUT NO COOK. ]

[myblueskies]

Oh over there! [Romeo has spotted the grill as well and a glance around at a couple of other people solved the mystery. They were cooking on the mini fire grills on the tables!]

We get to cook them!

[priforprince]

"We"?

[ Wait, those are. Gods and shinki. Grilling the. ]

It's self-service?

[ Gratuitous English, don't fail her now! ]

[myblueskies]

Self service? [Those words aren't ones he knows and he butchers them pretty badly. But he grins.]

There's a grill free over there! Let's go cook!

[priforprince]

[ Oh, her poor head. Hibiki rallies to sniff. ]

Preparing my own prize is out of the question. If no staff is provided, I'll have you do it.

[myblueskies]

Do you not know how to cook? [Romeo looked at her with concern. She was a grown up! Surely she knew. How did she ever eat? Unless she just ate apples all day?

Then again she was a god. Maybe her shinki made food for her. Romeo made food for Elfnein. Especially when she was busy.

Romeo's never grilled meat before. But there is no time like right now to learn a new skill! Luckily the braziers are already lit!]

Don't worry, miss! I'll make us some yummy food!

[priforprince]

Medium rare will do.

[ Satisfied that she has delegated food preparation (though his skills remain to be seen), Hibiki goes in search of something to drink. Sparkling water, perhaps. Dare she dream?

No. No, she daren't. This water she has found is....flat. ]

[myblueskies]

[Medium rare? What does that mean? But before he can ask she's wandered off and he's left with a plate of meat and vegetables and a brazier.

He can do this! He knelt up on the chair so he could reach the brazier. He put some of the meat on the brazier and blinked as it sizzled.

So far so good! He keeps watching it though, eventually he would have to turn it over!

[priforprince]

[ SHIKYOIN HIBIKI DRINKS NO TAP WATER

She returns just slightly more ruffled than when she left, figuring observing the boy at work is at least more interesting than having to look at everybody else (given her opinion of everybody else).

Hm. So far so good, mostly. But. ]

You still haven't turned it?

[ We either don't care what's going on over here, or we backseat cook. There are no middle options. ]

[myblueskies]

Do you think it's time? [He picks up the tongs and examines the meat with a frown. Is it cooked? Maybe he should turn it. He can always turn it back later!

He does do with a look of extreme concentration on his face. Up and over. Success! He grins at Hibiki happily.]

[priforprince]

[ He both listened to her and successfully turned the meat, so he gets a serious nod in reply. ] Hm.

I'll be over here. [ In this corner. Away from everyone else.

These Heaven-sponsored events tend to be on the rowdy side. Not her scene. ]