September Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: January 22nd, 2017
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore / slopes of a recently erupting volcano
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 at least one unrecognized god who the Heavens believe to be attacking them, and another recent incursion by an unrecognized god ended in his defeat and the extinguishing of the volcano he had caused to erupt. 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

There are stacks of informational pamphlets sitting out on tables around the dojo. There aren't very many of the white-robed shinki around, but the few who are present will willingly answer any questions or instruct newcomers in the use of the borderline. They accompany their answers, or their 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 who appears upset and visibly distracted is keeping an eye on the training dummies, and will intervene if anyone tries to destroy one. He is wearing a slightly battered nametag that reads HELLO, MY NAME IS SABIMEI. (Sabimei is an expert in shinki magic and will assist characters who need help with spells or who want to learn a new spell. If you want a thread with him or have any questions about handwaving something, please comment on the NPC REQUEST thread below. Characters who want to begin learning a new spell from him do not have to thread it out, but should comment on the Shinki Spells and Songs page to begin learning the spell.)

Physical Training

There are no special obstacle courses or training areas set up for the newcomers at this welcome session. Instead, the white-robed shinki will invite any gods or shinki who are willing to help with cleanup in the Western District of the Far Shore. A recent volcanic eruption has left heavy ash fall on temple roofs and fallen trees or mud clogging roads. Some of them are singing in chorus to summon small rainstorms or winds to clear away the obstacles; others are just using brooms and ropes to sweep away ash or drag away trees, and help of the magical or physical variety will be appreciated.

Rest and Refreshments

Once it begins to grow dark, everyone helping to clean up the Western District will be brought back to the dojo to rejoin those who chose to remain there. Traditional public baths are available for everyone to wash off the mud, ash and sweat of their hard work and soak comfortably in a warm communal pool afterwards, and a generous banquet has been laid for everyone. The tables are full of beer and sake (or tea and soda for the non-drinkers), plates of sushi and sashimi, deep-fried vegetables and shrimp, and warm soups to counteract the chill of the January weather.

After dinner, a middle-aged woman sets up an open mic. She starts out the evening by turning on her karaoke machine and performing a few jazzy older songs, and turns the mic over from there to a man with very old-fashioned manners who recites a few poems. Anyone who wants to take time at the microphone is welcome, whether they're performing, doing karaoke, telling jokes, or delivering speeches or information.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Help clean up ash and clear roads
• Enjoy a welcome banquet
• Have fun~

Comments

[galrarm]

god training
[ Shiro's already been through this, but he comes anyway! After the volcano eruption, he wants to know as much as he can, and if there's any new information, he needs to know it. He's a poor god if he lets the heavens get wrecked, especially if he can prevent it. So, Shiro is here, with a notebook that's already somewhat filled in.

Needless to say, that notebook will see a lot of use.

When they're allowed to disperse, Shiro sticks around. To the newer gods: ]

If you have any questions, I can try to answer them. I might be newer than most of the others, but... it's good to have different perspectives, isn't it?

[ And to the older gods: ]

It's troubling, isn't it? That the volcano eruption wasn't natural.

physical training
[ Shiro is definitely not one to pass up helping out, so after the god training, here he is! Time to put those muscles to work. He's not too good for this, after all, and this is his home. He's also willing to get up into the higher places, if he's needed; there are few things he fears, after all, and heights are not one of them. ]

rest and refreshments
[ Wow!! It's been a long day, for more reasons than one. Shiro is taking a well-needed rest, and he's... hanging out a little way away from the main group. He's eating, but he seems troubled.

>Investigate? ]

physical training

[missingache]

[Hopefully Shiro doesn't mind Roxas tagging along to help. The small blond likes being useful to his gods after all.

It's just really tiring work...]

How much longer do we gotta clean before they say we're done?

[galrarm]

I'm not sure, [ he says honestly, with a sympathetic look to Roxas. ] But if you're tired, we should take a break.

[missingache]

[They've been working for hours!!!] Can we? I can't feel my fingers...

[He didn't want to ruin the nice gloves Jakob made him with physical labor.]

[galrarm]

Of course. Come on--let's get some water.

[ It won't do to pass out, after all. ]

[missingache]

[Time to be like a duckling as he nods.]

Please. Maybe something to snack on, too. All I got is candy.

[galrarm]

Candy is good for a quick boost, but not when we're doing such intense work.

[ So that is absolutely a yes. Shiro sets his broom aside and leads him to where there are snacks and water. ]

So, have you had time or the chance to talk to your god?

[missingache]

[Yay for snacks and water!!!]

No... Not yet... I've had a lot of things distract me and keep me busy, but I'm gonna keep trying!

[galrarm]

[ He hands Roxas a bottle of water. ]

I'm glad to hear it. I hope he won't be too upset that I named you?

rest and refreshments

[wildguardian]

[The first thing a troubled man hanging out at the outskirts of a rocking party needs is a friend to come and sit down next to him, pour a beer, and insist on hearing all about his troubles. This Zhao Yunlan knows like he knows the backs of his hands.

In the absence of friends, a total stranger (and beer) is nearly as good.

He settles down next to Shiro, gesturing with the fresh bottle in his hand.]

Hey there, looks like you could use a refill, friend.

[galrarm]

[ Bless you, Zhao. He eyes the beer in his hand, and he seems to be considering it for several moments... before holding out his cup. ]

I'd appreciate it.

[wildguardian]

[Without further ado, Zhao pours him a generous cupful, and sets the bottle down on the table, lifting his own cup in a casual toast.]

Cheers. -- So what has you all the way over here?

[He takes a swig of his drink before using the cup to indicate the space between Shiro's table of solitude and the rowdier side of the party.]

[galrarm]

[ Shiro does the same before taking a drink. ]

It's been a rough day. Between two of my friends showing up--one of which is a shinki, it's been...

[ He trails off, taking a breath. ]

Difficult.

[wildguardian]

[Zhao purses his lips in a sympathetic whistle, running the edge of his thumb around his cup to chase a stray drop of condensation away. 'Two of my friends showing up, one of which is a shinki--' well.

There's some interesting news in that sentence, all right.]

That sounds rough. And shinki -- all shinki -- they forget whatever they knew in life, right?

[He certainly has. It's a worrying void, his existence before about ten a.m.; a whole mortal life wiped clean except for tiny clues. A couple of lollipops in his vest pocket, a couple of cheap pens with corporate giveaway logos. And even thinking about it gives him a bizarre chill, as if he's putting one foot out over a cliff.]

[galrarm]

That's right.

[ His voice is soft, the look in his eyes more than somewhat distant. It's difficult enough for Keith to not remember him. His best friend looks at him, and doesn't even know everything they've been through. And Lance... Lance, who's given up so much already, who... died.

It makes him feel sick. ]

On top of my best friend being my shinki, knowing that Lance doesn't remember Pidge, or Keith, or me? I'm far from thrilled about it.

[wildguardian]

['Lance.' And this guy's shinki was his best friend, too: was that one of the other people he's named? Pidge? Keith? Zhao nods sympathetically, making mental notes.]

Who'd be thrilled?

[To have someone you cared about like that not remember a thing about you?

Zhao wonders, uncomfortably, if anyone here knows him. If he's someone's best friend who's forgotten. If he is, though, there's no getting around it; he's a dead man, and though it sounds like he might have a chance to get back some of the moments he'd lost, it's not going to happen just because he's been dwelling on it. Better not to worry about it, for now.]

But you know, it's not so bad.

[He reaches over to drop a comforting hand on the other man's shoulder.]

How many people get to have their dead friends back? They might've forgotten, but they're here with you.

god training

[distantfuture]

[Hope has a lot of notes from during the speech, but there's quite a bit he's still struggling to comprehend. However, he has some experience with gods. In a sense.]

I have a few, if you don't mind.

Exactly what kind of gods are we? Can any of them reshape the world or anything of the sort? That kind of power would be fairly troubling, and I dealt with that in the past. If that is not the case, what is their or our limitations?

[Have a fourteen year old who clearly sounds older than he looks. Sorry, Shiro. But these are questions he needs to know. Actually, this also leads to:]

...is Bhunivelze, the God of Light, here?

[galrarm]

[ Certainly, they're interesting--but understandable--questions. ]

Mostly, we answer prayers from our followers. As far as I know, we can't reshape the world; temples appear and disappear, but that doesn't seem connected to anything we can do. We do have powers, but they're unique and they come with their own limitations. But we can't directly manipulate the world.

[ He pauses. ]

It's not a name I recognize, no.

[distantfuture]

[He had unintentionally begun holding his papers tightly as Shiro answered his questions, but couldn't contain his sigh of relief at the answers. Although, the talk of a new power intrigued him.]

That's... good to hear, then. [A nod, and he smoothed papers out, straightening them and tucking them under this arm.] How do we know what our unique powers are?

[galrarm]

There's no single way we find out.

[ .... He clears his throat. ]

I found mine out when I was in the kitchen. I had a bit of an... accident, and thought about how I wished there were more of me to help out. Suddenly having more of yourself--literally--is startling when you don't expect it.

[distantfuture]

[His eyebrows raise just a touch and he very slightly bites his lower lip to stop the smile of amusement. Now probably wasn't the time to laugh, but he was pretty amusing. He also just didn't want it to bite him in the ass, too.]

I see. Were you able to control it shortly after?

[galrarm]

[ It was kind of a funny situation, Shiro won't deny that. Still, it's a touch embarrassing, but he's glad Hope isn't outwardly making fun of him...! ]

Luckily, yes, now that I know what my power is.

[distantfuture]

Makes sense. I suppose it would be prudent to find out soon, but where to even start would be a challenge.

[So, perhaps, to let it happen was probably the next best thing.]

Is there anything hear to help learn more about this world as well? I was told the god I was to be, Hecate, and was told a bit about her, but I'd like to know more. Especially about this world.

[Does this place have the interwebs is what he's asking, basically. Although, a library would also do just as well.]

God Training

[bartenderizing]

[ He'd mostly come with the idea of helping clean up in mind, but decided to show up to the gathering on the off chance new information is given. That, and with one acquaintance from home being around, a look to see if any other familiar faces showed up.

There's a lot that's been troubling lately. It's what has Shizuo tapping a cigarette against his lighter, but having the respect to not smoke indoors or anything. ]

Yeah. Most of the time something bad happens it's not natural.

God Training

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Why would that be troubling? Honestly, what were the odds of it ever being natural?

[Zetta, having come from a Netherworld, is totally on top of the idea of volcanoes responding to power. Hell, his own castle has a lava moat, as is tradition. So the book gives this guy a puzzled look, trying to figure out his angle.]

Same deal with the forest and all that crap.