October Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: February 6th, 2017
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore (and optionally, the 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 are five or six white-robed shinki present, who 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. Both Sabimei and his animated straw training dummies are absent from this training session, but standard, inanimate straw targets have been lined up outside, and a few rings are laid out on the frozen ground for friendly sparring matches. (Shinki characters who are interested in learning more about the borderlines or want to learn new shinki spells or songs may approach any of the training shinki for advice or instruction. Please remember to comment on the Shinki Spells page when your character begins to learn a new spell, excluding the borderline.)

Physical Training

There is still clean-up left to work on from the volcano's eruption. Two tengu (one of whom characters might recognize as the hot springs' proprietor) have volunteered to help transport any gods or shinki who are willing to help clear trees, dig or wash away ash on roads and roofs, and repair damage to occupied temples. The abandoned temples that were damaged by the earthquake and volcano are being left to decay, although anyone who's curious about them could take the offer of a free ride to explore some of those abandoned and damaged buildings as well. Some might contain old books or mementos of the long-vanished owners; others have nothing left inside but dust, mold, and curious spirits.

Back at the training ground, characters who aren't helping clean up the Western district have the option of playing sparring games to test their reflexes. The white-robed shinki are organizing them into pairs in the marked circles and explaining the rules: each participant is given 10 seconds on offense to score a hit with any weapon of their choice, from bare hands to sparring weaponry to shinki magic, while their partner is only allowed to dodge or defend. After five rounds, the person with more points gets to declare a penalty for their partner: drawing on their face with a marker, ordering them to do something silly or embarrassing, making them fetch tea... it's up to the winner!

Rest and Refreshments

After the gods' training lecture is finished, a few of the white-robed shinki bustle back in to set up craft tables and a buffet area. This time, the theme seems to be a sweet English tea: little cakes, scones, jams, cookies, tiny finger sandwiches and a vast array of chocolates are available, as well as many different teapots, with hot water dispensers and loose tea available to let everyone brew to their own tastes as they venture in to rest or talk to their new partners.

Over on the craft tables, there's all kinds of art and craft supplies available, from construction paper to calligraphy brushes, glitter to gouache. Signs on the tables encourage gods and shinki to show their appreciation for each other with a valentine letter or card. It's a bonding exercise! There is a lot of glitter. And glue. Hopefully, no one's wearing their nice clothes.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Explore damaged temples or practice sparring
• Enjoy a tea and make some valentines
• Have fun~

Comments

[hattersgonnahat]

[God Training]

[Sleepy? Who's sleepy?]

[...Sorry, someone was used to faster tutorials then this. Heard a couple things about an ayawhatsit and vessels and strangers showing up... But after a couple more minutes of nonsense, eyes started to feel heavy and vision was going dark.]

[Um, is it over now? How long has it been?]


[Physical Training]

[Now this was a bit more interesting. But she was getting a few particular stares from robed shinki as she approached the circle. Not picking out any of the weapons that looked deadlier. No sense of magic either. Just an innocent looking blue parasol over her shoulder.] No no, I got this.

[Unless of course the kid would be the one doing the dodging. In which case, whoever she was going up against should worry even more.]


[Wildcard]

[The usual/surprise me. Try not to get glittered on at the crafting table. Grifstar for anything specific.]

training

[brynwieldr]

[Leo gently taps the girl on the shoulder when he sees her falling asleep.]

Excuse me.

[hattersgonnahat]

[--Suddenly tapping where what now. Was paying attention really!!]

--What? [Oh..was he one of the people giving speeches? Sorry about that.]

[brynwieldr]

[He wasn't, but he is going to gesture towards another room.]

They'll be at this for a while. If you want to nap without getting judged for it, this way.

[hattersgonnahat]

[Glances back over to the front. ...Sure enough, they were still going at it. And just as monotone and dull as ever. Looking back to Leo again and towards the other room. Actually, was not even aware there was another room. Has a feeling the guy has been around here for awhile even though he's dressed differently.]

...Is it usually like this?

[brynwieldr]

["Differently", he's wearing jeans and a hoodie! Rude child.]

Unfortunately. It makes things more difficult on new gods, if you ask me. They can't be expected to listen or understand anything if all you do is drone at them.

[hattersgonnahat]

[Well everyone else she's seen had robes 'n stuff. It stands out!]

[But yeah, no kidding. Even textbooks were more engaging than this. There had to be a better way to find out what's going on here.]

[But hey, if there was other places to go, why stay here? She hopped to her feet to walk out.] I can figure this out elsewhere.

God Training

[reformedsinner]

Excuse me, miss.

[Don't mind him shaking your shoulder. It is a bit late in the tutorial...]

Excuse me? It's time to wake up.

[hattersgonnahat]

[Wakes. Oh geez finally, it's over.]

[...Oh, hang on. It's still going...]

Did I miss anything?

[Or you know, all of it.]

[reformedsinner]

Oh, maybe! [He chuckles quietly.] But that depends. What's the last thing you remember hearing?

[hattersgonnahat]

That-- Uh...

[What was the last thing? Towards the end it sounded like words mushed together.]

[And the child paused as soon as she realized.]

...I don't remember.

[reformedsinner]

In that case, I'm afraid you missed a lot.

[Honesty over sympathy. Hakkai tuts.]

Oh, well, there's no helping it now! Do you have any questions?

[hattersgonnahat]

[Ho boy, where to even begin.]

[Possibly from the beginning.]

This whole 'god' stuff isn't real right?

physical training

[yasei]

[ Obi in turn is equipped with a wooden sword. He's not yet entirely familiar with the JApanese styled sword, so he figured he'd go with that one for a bit. But now he's curiously eyeing the parasol the girl is carrying. They haven't decided who's going to defend and who's going to attack yet, but that's not his biggest priority at the moment. ]

An umbrella, Little Miss? Is it going to hold if it a heavy blow lands on it?

[hattersgonnahat]

[Was looking at the sword shaped stick. At least, thinks that was a stick? Then looking back at the umbrella and patted the tip of it down to her other hand, now holding it sideways. It feels about the same as all the other times she's used it.]

It should be fine...

[yasei]

[ It's safer to use a wooden sword instead of a real sword. Though this thing can be dangerous in the right or wrong hands. He figures the same might be applied to an umbrella but it's still an unconventional weapon. ]

If you're sure, then I won't protest giving it a shot at least.

Physical Training

[pirateofdragons]

Then by all means, be my guest.

[Jae-ha has no problem with letting her go ahead.]

[hattersgonnahat]

Alright. [Of course, with an opening like this, where even to start? Probably something a bit basic to test out, as she was not too sure what she was up against.]

[And thus, rushes towards Jae-ha with the umbrella in both hands, ready to swing sideways it like a club.]

[pirateofdragons]

[He easily sidesteps the swing.

Ducking low, he swings his leg out. Not quite enough to hurt her, but just enough to cause some dirt to rise up from the force of it.]

Physical without the physical

[onedrinkwithme]

[Aymeric isn't participating in this exercise but that doesn't mean he isn't watching. It's the fact that someone decides to use a parasol as a weapon that intrigues him and makes him pay attention.

Who is this person and what can they do...?]

[hattersgonnahat]

[Turns out, quite a bit. Okay so maybe it isn't the most effective weapon over all - apparently no one turns into pons when they're defeated in this world, or a shade of blue when they're ready to be hit. ...But even with those setbacks, the kid's holding out well on her own, and even giving her opponent a run for their money.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[Even umbrellas can be used as tools for knocking the crap out of someone and not in a humorous way.]

Hmm, consider me impressed...

[It's to no one in particular but enough that the kid can hear.]

[hattersgonnahat]

[Well this match does not last that long...]

[Oh?] ?

[Heard somebody who was watching. Were they watching? Actually could have sworn they were standing there the whole time. Now she was curious.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[The tol pointy eared man is. Once the fight is done, Aymeric is a bit more comfortable speaking to them directly.]

Is that typically your weapon of choice?

[hattersgonnahat]

[Very tol. Having to look waaaay up to see his face.] Uh huh.