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

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I think most people would just climb, but you've already established that's not in your skill set. So we've gotta start you somewhere, right?

[creepface]

[ He looks at his arms, even though they're hidden in his big sleeves, at least Rasu knows what his arms look like. ]

I h-have weak a-arms. B-but is it o-okay to do it t-together? Will it c-count?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I -- who's counting? It's training. So long as you get something out of it, that's what's most important, right?

[creepface]

Oh. Th-then, um, o-okay? W-we can... try?

[ He's so hesitant about this, but he'll do it if this guy thinks it's a good idea, so he nods slowly. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Okay, come on!

[It's all about training, right? He'll learn something from the practice! So heedless of the cold water, Edge wades in to put his back to the pole, and interlace his fingers in front of him for a step.]

[creepface]

[ The water makes him squeak, but that's okay, he's felt colder. He just needs to get used to it.

He looks to Edge's hands, and then up. ]

Sh-should I st-step there?

[ If he gets a yes he'll do that. It just feels very awkward. But right, he should do that. So he does, and he doesn't know how strong Edge is, but luckily Rasu is extremely light, unhealthily so. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Edge nods.] You step, I boost you up, you grab for the top or as close as you can get to it.

[And they put it into play! Edge is surprisingly strong given his wiry appearance, readily able to boost Rasu up with a grunt and a heft of his arms. Go for it!]

[creepface]

O-okay, th-thank you. [ It really is a bit surprising, but then again, he's met actual talking animals who were regular animals once, so it's not the most shocking thing in the world. He reaches up, and makes an attempt for the ribbon. Yeah, they're still several meters short. He feels very awkward about the whole affair, but he really is trying. ] I d-don't think I c-can r-reach it like th-this...

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Right! This is where you use the added height to climb!

[Come on, work with him here! Edge isn't having any trouble supporting his weight, but his arms are lifted as far as he can go and still be a step.]

[creepface]

Ah, um, o-okay...

[ He tries, but after he's gotten his feet out of Edge's hands... he falls down within seconds. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Whoa!

[Edge tries to catch him, futilely -- all he does is get brought down to his knees in the pond as well, as water splashes over his face and chest.]

Gyaaahahagh!

[creepface]

[ Now very wet and teary-eyed, Rasu sits up. It's okay, he's teary eyed a lot. ]

A-a-are you o-okay? I'm so s-s-sorry!

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'm fine, I'm fine. Just wet. [Straightening up, Edge proceeds to drip violently, squeezing his eyes shut and then blinking them to clear his vision.] What happened?

[creepface]

[ Rasu squeezes the water out of his long braid. ] I, h-have w-weak arms...? I lost my g-grip?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I don't know if you had one to begin with. Okay, wow, this is going to take more work than I thought. [Edge slumps slightly, then straightens back up before the frustration can really get its hooks into him.] Maybe strength-building is where we should start.

[creepface]

I t-tried...? [ He's really sorry, he really did try. ] Ah, um, o-okay. I, um, m-my legs are a little s-stronger...? [ Helps with running as fast as he can. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[He HAD run so fast that Edge doesn't understand how he could have that sort of strength in his legs and yet nothing up top. What a strange state of affairs.]

Hmm. So your main strength may be jumping, then? Maybe?

[creepface]

[ Running from danger makes for strong legs? ]

M-maybe... I j-just like running so, um, I guess, I might be m-mediocre at it instead of t-terrible?

[ Confidence is key. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Hey, that's writing yourself off too much. You're fast!

[Hmm. Edge turns that thought around. Strong legs, huh?]

What about jumping?

[creepface]

[ That makes him blush a little bit, because compliments are uncommon for him to get. ] Th-thank y-y-y... um. I'm, um, I haven't tried m-measuring ju-jumping before...

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Well, with leg power like that, you should! Why don't we try that?

[First things first: get out of the water. Edge sloshes over to the bank of the pond, giving his feet a good shake once he gets them clear. Bluh, soggy.]

[creepface]

Ah, s-sure.

[ He stumbles out of the water, and while he doesn't shake, he does squeeze water out of his lab coat and top. His makeup is dripping, he looks like he's out of a horror movie with that smudged and dripping eyeliner. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Considering that, Edge has to check his idea somewhat.]

Let's start with -- not jumping at the ribbon quite yet. A few practice ones on dry land.

[creepface]

O-okay. I can d-do that.

[ He uncertainly bounces a little up and down before he too shakes some of the excess water off. And forgets to hold down his braid so he might slap Edge with it on accident.

He definitely slaps HIMSELF with it, at least. ]

O-ouch.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Whoa! [Edge ducks, so the braid only slaps off his arm.] Out of control hair! Watch it!