August Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: January 6th, 2017
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore / the Ryukyu Islands
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 her welcome speech in the monotone of someone who's practiced it far too often. Hopefully no one's feeling sleepy! She adds that gods should be cautious of anyone on the Near Shore who might ask to use their shrines to visit the Heavens, and should instruct their shinki to be cautious as well. There is an unrecognized god who the Heavens believe to be attacking them. 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. Each of the shinki is wearing a brightly-colored sticky name tag reading HELLO, MY NAME IS ________, and all of their names appear to end with the syllable "mei."

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. The white-robed shinki appears to be a particular expert in magic, and will occasionally offer to help out anyone who's practicing a spell more challenging than the Borderline, especially if they look quite lost. His nametag reads HELLO, MY NAME IS SABIMEI. (To interact with Sabimei, please comment on the "NPC REQUEST" thread below! If you prefer, you may also handwave his assistance or advice with your character learning spells.)

Physical Training

Two of the white-robed shinki, whose nametags mark them as Toumei and Kimei, are standing off to one side of the training area near a pair of large, curtained tents. They each have an enormous wicker basket full of clean, folded beach towels, and a rack of what appear to be wetsuits and swimsuits in a variety of styles and sizes. Once suited and toweled, new and veteran residents of the Heavens alike will be handed a pretty white-and-gold cockade that can be pinned to their suit or tied around their wrist by its ribbons, and either Toumei or Kimei will escort them to a beautiful, but rocky, Near Shore beach. Tropical plants, palm trees and high grasses surround the area, and although the sounds of cars are audible from a road not too far away, the only sign of human presence on this beach is an ancient, rotting fishing boat pulled up well past the high tide mark.

It's quite chilly, with a brisk sea breeze, but there's room to run up and down the beach, a net set up for beach volleyball, younger shinki building sand castles, and showers for the brave souls who venture into the water. The surf is impressive today, so swimmers will get the chance for some serious exercise. There's also the chance to climb through the wreck of the old fishing boat; inside, piles of old seaweed and drifting sand host curious crabs, and a curious explorer could even find treasure... although nothing more valuable than large seashells, old one-yen or five-yen coins, and bits of weathered sea glass.

Rest and Refreshments

When sunset comes -- early, at this time of year -- the shinki bring giant picnic-sized bento boxes with five or seven layers of carefully packed foods, and pile wood for bonfires that leap with flames edged blue-green from the salt. The bento boxes contain a wide variety of traditional foods, many in the style of traditional New Year's dishes: sweet potato and chestnut, slivered carrot and burdock, whole fish, toasted mochi, sliced lotus root and more. A fireworks display starts over the ocean once full night falls, fountains and bursts in every color imaginable, some so ornate that it's hard to believe they're not helped along by a touch of magic. The display lasts half an hour.

After the last fireworks, the shinki will guide everyone back to the Meeting Hall to return to their homes. The wind is getting chillier, and gods or shinki who stay too much past the firework display will notice the tiny, creeping forms of glowing ayakashi no larger than a fist, looking like little jellyfish on land. They don't seem hostile; instead, they're fixated on the boat, and will climb on it and settle onto the rigging and wood of the boat, chirping quietly to themselves and snuggling in so that the whole boat seems to glow with an unearthly blue-white light. They can be fought and defeated, but if attacked, will fight back: and be careful! Those jellyfish tentacles spread blight instead of stinging, and they're longer than they look.

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 at a beach (isn't it winter?!)
• Relax and watch the fireworks
• Have fun~

Comments

[goingbananas]

The staring has never bothered him, anyway, since Sanada doesn’t care for politeness or formality. But he does care to put his god at ease, so if he’d rather introduce himself all formal and regal-like, he isn’t enough of a dick to stop him.

“Mm, well you’ve already managed it, anyway.” The good impression, that is. “But while the kobold guys are nice and all, I think I’d rather hear about what you’re like instead.”

[thewhitepawn]

"I'm glad. I would hate for us to start out on the wrong foot." Relief smooths over his face and he bows formally for the other, courtly training kicking in even here. Grinning, Anduin gestured to their surroundings.

"I think I'm going to get something to drink-- would you like to join me? I'll answer any questions that I can for you. I feel like I'm not very interesting but I'll try my best." he added with a chuckle.

[goingbananas]

Wow, he really is pretty formal, the poor guy. Sanada gives him a short bow in return just to humor him, before moving to follow along.

“Sure sure, just lead the way.” He’ll be the judge of whether or not Anduin’s interesting—and they’ve already started off on the right foot there. “Just one thing, though. What’s your name? Or should I be calling you ‘Your Royal Highness’ or something from now on?”

He’s only kidding. Mostly.

[thewhitepawn]

Amusement crinkled in his eyes for a moment before he made a face.

"Names would be a good thing, wouldn't they-- even back home I was never that big on entire titles. They can be.. cumbersome." He steps to the side carefully as someone hurries by on their way to their own refreshments, then resumes his place beside Sanada, glancing at him curiously.

"I guess that here I'm just... Asclepius, god of medicine and healing. But you can also call me Anduin, if you like that better." He would prefer it, but he respected the other's ability to decide for himself.

"I hope you like dogs. There are a number of them at the temple. they're friendly though, I promise!"

[goingbananas]

Well, for a guy with such a courtly bearing, it’s nice to see that he’s more considerate than anything else. Damn, he’s really lucked out on the god lottery thing, hasn’t he? The thought just tickles at Sanada, as he watches his terribly fascinating new master watch him.

Apparently it’s a staring contest now.

“Anduin sounds pretty good!” And easier to pronounce—even if Asclepius is at least a tad easier to say than Huitzilopochtli. “And I’m Shunpei Sanada! You can call me whatever you want though, long as I get to pal around with those dogs’ve yours.”

[thewhitepawn]

"I admit I answer to it a great deal faster than Asclepius. The God part is still taking some getting used to, between you and me." He confides, dropping his voice slightly for just the pair of them as he glides to a table stocked with things to drink, glancing back at the bento boxes thoughtfully before setting that thought aside. Conversation first, then food. Maybe.

"Shunpei Sanada... I like that." His smile warms as he turns his gaze away, studying the sky. "It's a pleasure to meet you-- and of course you can spend as much time with them as you like. They'll be thrilled for more company." Wrathion and Alphinaud were fantastic company but neither were really... dog people in the way that Anduin was. "There are a lot of them, but I haven't managed to name most of them yet. Just the big one because she helps me in the temple a lot. It'll be nice to have more company, Shunpei."

[goingbananas]

Sanada has very little interest in the food now that his god has finally showed up, so he’s just there, keeping his hands in his pockets and a big smile plastered over his face. In the grand scheme of things at least this isn’t as horrible as his meeting with his first god—though it’s not like the zombies had been that guy’s fault to begin with.

Still, he’ll take the dogs, and this gentle sweetheart whom he might have to help lighten up, somehow.

“I’ve worked with a god before, you know. I think you’re doing pretty okay so far. So…” Clapping a hand onto Anduin’s shoulder—“Ease up a little, would ya?”

[thewhitepawn]

At the clap to his shoulder he visibly relaxed, nodding.

"You're right. I'll try, alright? I just want to make a good impression, since we'll be working together. First impressions tend to be more important than we give them credit for, I've found." But they were off on the right foot and he was feeling more comfortable with each passing moment in Sanada's presence.

"So. Is there anything specific about me that you would like to know? I'll try to answer any questions you have," all the while he considered his own for the other man and how to address them tactfully.

[goingbananas]

“You passed,” Sanada reassures him with a chuckle. Not that the prospect of helping Anduin out of his shell is all that daunting to him.

“But come to think of it…there is one thing I’d really like to know…” He trails off, letting that pause hang in the air for dramatic effect, before finishing off with a, “Do you play baseball?”

[thewhitepawn]

The dramatic pause works its magic, holding Anduin's attention to Sanada as he waits for the flare, grinning-- though the grin changes to a curious look at the question.

"Baseball? Hmm..." He thought long and hard on it for a moment, wracking his brain, but nothing about the word sounded familiar. With regret he shook his head.

"No, I don't believe that I've ever heard of it-- but if it's important to you then I would love to hear all about it! Is it a sport or a game of some sort?"

[goingbananas]

“It’s all that, yeah,” Sanada replies, all a-grin and apparently not at all disappointed at Anduin’s answer. In fact, he looks downright thrilled.

“But I figured you wouldn’t know about it.” He shrugs. Anduin had never struck him as the type who would, for various reasons, none of which were important right now.

“Not that it matters. Lucky you, you’ll get to experience it all for the first time!” Because of course Sanada’s going to rope him into this—no arguments allowed, o god of his, not when sports and games are the best way to get to know a guy!

[thewhitepawn]

((I thought I had already tagged this!! I'm so sorry! Filtered a few things so hopefully my inbox isn't as cluttered anymore))

Thrilled is a great word for it. Sanada had so much energy and it really helped Anduin to feel invigorated and ready to take on anything-- including learning about this baseball.

"Well, tell me all about it! I want to know everything about it. I never considered myself incredibly athletic as a child, but... I got better at it when I got older. It has to be easier than training drills with a sword." he mused, shaking his head. Somewhere his father and the memory of his uncle Magni were shaking their heads at him.

[goingbananas]

[ No worries! But I think this is a good place to stop? ]

“Well, you get to swing something around. You’ll get the hang of it.” And if not, well, that’s what practice is for! Which is unusually exciting for him, for some reason. Practice is usually so tedious for someone so restless as he is, and yet…

No point in dwelling on it, regardless. “So, what’re ya waiting for? C’mon and walk with me. I gotta hear all about what your temple is like. How many stairs are there?”