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

[doodlebuginette]

Okay, so that was something she hadn't actually thought about before. She supposed it might be helpful for shinki trying to learn song spells... somehow? "Oh."

That had to be it. Right?

But he had a point there, too. She couldn't claim to understand why most of the things that had happened were a thing at all. "Yea... I'm not sure what attempting to sing songs you don't know the actual lyrics to would have to do with song spells, though."

[kokuyoyo]

"You need to get the melody right." Having had to be hassled by a certain someone this very day, Chikusa can at least say this much about song spells. "If you aren't carrying the tune correctly on a song spell, or fail to hit all the notes right... Then the song spell won't work either. That can be a problem.... when you're trying to use it."

The two spells he's learned so far have been to fight fires or redirect lightning... In other words, spells that could make or break a situation.

[doodlebuginette]

So that made sense. "Oh." That actually made a lot of sense. She couldn't claim to know much about the way magic worked here, or the song spells, but even she could understand that much. "I can see where they might think something like karaoke would be helpful in that case," she admitted. Though if it were up to her, she probably wouldn't be trying to bully people into participation.

"I still think they're going about it the wrong way, trying to force people to do karaoke if they don't want to." And because she's curious, she's not going to let it drop there. "Is it hard to do them if you're not musically talented?"

[kokuyoyo]

"Heaven is always pushy..." That's Chikusa's personal and professional opinion, although he's not surprised. Any dominant organized power, whether a criminal organization or kingdom, gets forceful and pushy after a while. He certainly can't think of any exception.

Still, they're talking about spells now. That, Chikusa can talk about a lot easier, and not only because it's more neutral territory instead of pessimistic or criminal. "I'd guess so. At least... You'd have to work harder. I kind of get it.... so I can do it." Even if he doesn't like singing in Japanese, ever, at all.

[doodlebuginette]

She couldn't really disagree with that. Heaven had brought them all here, and given them no choice in the matter, after all. Sure, it seemed like the ones in charge were trying to make sure the new gods and shinki were comfortable enough, but it wasn't the same. "Yea..."

Fortunately, the subject change was much less unpleasant. And really, this was something she'd rather focus on. "Hmm." It actually made sense that a little musical talent would be needed for the spells. "Well, I'm glad you're able to do it!" She was also curious about whether or not that meant he could sing well, but she wasn't sure if it was something she should ask about. Maybe later!

[kokuyoyo]

Maybe never. Please, maybe never. Chikusa eyes her warily for a moment, unsure of the conversation will really end there. He almost figured she'd ask further... Well, if she isn't, he's certainly not going to jinx it by talking anymore about his own singing ability. "From what I've found... It seems like songs meant to defend things end up being the easiest to learn... At least, once you get singing down right."