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

[kokuyoyo]

Yeah... The Heaven's believe it's a rogue god of some sort that wants to destroy them, which could be something of a link, I guess. [Certainly it's the most obvious connection.] But there's also a cult involved... Which makes everything so much more of a pain.

It seems they'll target any temple indiscriminately, no matter what they have to do with the greater Heavens or not...

[killercoat]

Do you think the cult has some relation to the rogue god?

[ If this god wishes to war against heaven, then it only makes senses to rally supporters. Gods need worshippers to be relevant, and a cult will constantly provide devotees.

Either case, it sounds like a very tricky situation. The Heavens have no idea who their enemy is--at least, that's what they say, and this rogue god is gaining power and strength in secret. It's dangerous, and more effort should be placed in dealing with the threat.]

[kokuyoyo]

I know it does.

[Through a variety of encounters... like interrogating a cultist. It's fine.]

We've seen examples of them doing things like setting up shrines... Although they've been careful to destroy anything that would identify them or their god. They're not entirely stupid...

[killercoat]

I see...

[ Not being entirely stupid, somehow makes it a lot harder them. They seem to know what to do to keep the Heavens off their trail.]

Then it must be a popular god if they can set up shrines, wouldn't that be enough to narrow down who the enemy is? The heavens must be able to keep track of something like that.

[kokuyoyo]

Not really.

[Trust him, he would love if that fact were true. It would make things a lot less of a pain in the ass.]

For example, the most popular god native to Japan seems to be Ebisu... but he's been recently reincarnated, and, as far as I know, no one seems to be pointing fingers at him. It might be because that reincarnation was forced by Heaven, apparently... and so they've probably already looked into him first ever since all of this first started.

Any popular gods tend to show up in the Central District, honestly... Including my own and a death god. No one has investigated my temple, either.

And, honestly... Any god can have a shrine. It's not a matter of how popular they are. They just need someone paying attention to it...

[killercoat]

The criteria for godhood seems to rather simple.

[ If the requirement is to be recognized, then anyone can easily fit the bill. However, it diminishes the caliber of what he would expect of a god. Maybe Heaven's downfall was not implementing stricter rules.]

So if they're not investigating the gods in their own backyard, then it just seems this matter is not of importance. The initial step in dealing with a threat is identifying the enemy. I don't understand their reluctance to handle the situation.

[kokuyoyo]

I think they're just stupid and stubborn.

[...Listen, he talked a lot just a second ago, it's time for less words now.]

[killercoat]

Maybe.

[ He can't really say for himself, but Chikusa does give convincing evidence. The Heavens definitely are doing things that he doesn't agree with. The method of how they go about impending threats just seems asinine. Though there must be a bigger picture to the little information that he knows.]

Both of those qualities don't befit how I expect the Heavens to behave. It's a shame if they truly carry themselves in such a manner.

[kokuyoyo]

I'm not surprised. [Reaching up, he nudges his glasses further along his nose. They don't really seem to need the help.] They like to say they're better than humans... but I've found they're just like any other organized power.

[Useless at best, and corrupt at worst.]

[killercoat]

I suppose trumping over the weak in some shape or form, is much too tempting. Greed could be another culprit, but I don't see how they would benefit from either. There's really not much to gain except to maintain their status.

[kokuyoyo]

Status seems to mean a lot, here.

[Says the hafuri vessel, with his God of Fortune.]