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

good

[priforprince]

Pffbbbbttt!!!

[ Sorry, D2, she'll respond in a moment. She had tea in her mouth when you approached, and she saw your outfit.

And now she does not. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ D2 had to step out of the sudden spray from above. One eyebrow goes up and his hands goes to his hips. ]

You're always so overly dramatic, God Apollo.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki pulls out a handkerchief to cough into. When she has enough composure to lower it, she puts on her very best snob face. It could make a lesser person grovel from half a mile away. ]

I really, really, REALLY didn't want to summon you, but a deep and noble cause compels me.

[ ....Shoot. She missed a drop. On her chin. Better daub that away with stealth and nobility.... ]

[smilingbullet]

[ It will never make D2 grovel, though! He's just amused by her as always.



Graceful and Elegant: Hibiki Shikyouin. ]


And if you have summoned me despite that, [ though he knows it's an accident ] it must be a particularly dire matter.

[priforprince]

Indeed.

[ Hibiki can make this work. Granted, this plan involves associating with someone who derives pleasure from needling her, but, revolution requires sacrifice. ]

Preparations to shoot my feature film near completion. Your participation is required.

[smilingbullet]

My participation, huh..

[ Well, he'll roll with it for the time being. ]

How is it required, exactly?

[priforprince]

You are to report for filming and play the part assigned to you then.

[ And you are apparently not being given the option to turn this offer down. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ Now, this is a genuine surprise, and D2 blinks up at her in that surprise. ]

I am?

[priforprince]

Would I have spoken to you otherwise?

[ A genius sees no need for shame. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ It might do her well to learn some shame but that's not going to be an easy thing. ]

Besides telling me I'm an idiot or to leave you alone or something like that, probably not.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods. Those are indeed two things she never hesitates to mention, and she has no qualms about admitting them. ] Be that as it may, my film requires you. I'll have your cooperation.

[smilingbullet]

Right. Requires me how, exactly?

[priforprince]

Look forward to receiving your role at filming.

[ Wendy got to know ahead of time. But not you.

You, she wants to have fun with. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ Okay so... Apparently he's been roped into this without knowing a thing.. ]

Okay. I guess I might stop by.

[ As long as he doesn't have to take his top off. Nobody wants to see those nasty scars he's got. Least of all D2 himself. ]

[priforprince]

I'm counting on you.

[ The idea that this must be the most important impetus for anyone, ever, to do anything, ever, is so ingrained that Hibiki says this sort of thing without considering her audience.

Also, no worries. The role Hibiki has in mind for D2 involves...quite a lot...of cover. ]

[smilingbullet]

You are huh. Fun for you.

[ Well that's a relief. If he actually decides to show up. Maybe he'll be intentionally late. ]

[priforprince]

Heh.

[ Someone else's role rides on you showing up, sir. You are playing, though she will not say this ahead of time, half a cow.

...wait, she said her piece, and you're still here. ]

That's all. You're dismissed.

[smilingbullet]

[ She REALLY should tell him this. Or at least part of it. ]

Dismissed, huh. [ That just makes him want to not leave. ] Okay sure.

[ He's just staying where he's standing, though, peeeeeering up at her. ]

[priforprince]

[ ....THIS IS DISCOMFITING. ]

....What? I've no more need of you.

[smilingbullet]

Yeah I know.

[ Why do you think he's sticking around for. ]

[priforprince]

Then take your leave!

[ Does she know she's being played? Maybe down in the pit of her gut.

It's the surface that's making the decisions, though. And the decision is to be antsy that she told someone to leave and they did not.

The puniverse not aligning to her whims is an outrage against the natural order of things. It makes her tetchy! ]

[smilingbullet]

[ Hibiki should really learn that it's not that easy to get rid of D2. How has she not figured this out yet? ]

I've got nowhere to be right now.

[ So he'll just stay right here. ]

[priforprince]

I couldn't care less about the likes of your schedule.

[ Tea. Tea. If she refuses to listen, and instead loses herself in tea, will she be able to resume some manner of calm....?

Things had been going so peacefully, too....She'd almost re-evaluated her opinion of him. ]

[smilingbullet]

I'm sure that you don't.

[ But it means he has nothing to take him away for the moment.

So she might want to care a little bit. ]

[priforprince]

Preposterous.

[ You, not her caring or lack of care.

Tea....All right. Hibiki turns away from him, coaster in one hand, cup in the other. If she climbs back up to her lifeguard station, he shouldn't be able to follow. Perhaps that...should be the plan. ]

Unlike you, I'm busy. Find some other means of squandering your life.