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

[reformedsinner]

A shinki can have more than one god if they choose, but the Heavens won't assign a shinki to more than one god.

They think of it as disloyal, I believe.

[His eyebrow twitch betrays his own opinions on that, but he doesn't go into detail.]

[repinned]

[Uh.]

Aren't shinki humans too?

[reformedsinner]

Oh, we're not all human, but the new shinki and gods certainly are all people.

[That question makes a good answer, Oscar; Hakkai appears to be warming slightly, despite the sardonic tone of his response.]

[repinned]

Either way. Pretty sure it should be their idea if they want to help more than one god...

[reformedsinner]

That's certainly my opinion.

-- In fact, I think it ought to be their idea as to which god they serve to begin with, but I understand that it might be a bit difficult for them to be here without a god.

Shinki don't remember anything when they arrive, you see, and they don't have anything but what they're wearing. When you find yours, you should do your best to take care of them.

[repinned]

[Wait what.

Oscar looks down at himself, still in his somewhat patchy clothes from the farm.]

Uh...I'm fourteen...I can take care of chickens, but not another person.

[reformedsinner]

You aren't the only young god. [Hakkai's not softening; gods do have to look after their shinki, no matter how much or how little they might choose to direct them. It's a part of their position.

He should know, having failed so badly at it in the past.]

Unlike chickens, other people can tell you what they need and how best to help them, so it's not as hard as you might think.

[repinned]

Chickens also don't need much.

[Or require, you know. Talking to strangers.]

[reformedsinner]

It's never too early to learn how to be responsible.

[He folds his arms, considering Oscar.]

I think you'll manage. Although, if you need help... I've been here almost a year myself. You can find my contact information in your phone under 'Li Tieguai.'

[repinned]

[Small sigh. Why does he always get so many teachers?!]

Not the first time I've heard that in the last few months.

[But. Oscar frowns at "phone" before pulling his out.]

You mean this?

[reformedsinner]

[Those who need teaching attract teachers... or something like that. Hakkai nods at the appearance of Oscar's phone.]

Yes, that's right. -- Have you ever seen something like that before?

[His clothes are a little old-fashioned, and it's possible he hasn't.]

[repinned]

Yeah, I mean, my aunt had her scroll. This is just...really. Clunky and old-looking even compared to hers.

[reformedsinner]

Is that so? [Clunky and-- he blinks.]

Ah, well, in that case, it seems you'll be all right using it...?

[repinned]

[Don't ask. Remnant is weird.]

I should be. It's...weird, but it's probably not all that different? I haven't had a chance to look at it, though.

[Still, it's pretty easy to find the contacts list. Oscar's eyes widen as he scrolls through them.]

Wow...

[reformedsinner]

That's lucky! Some people show up here not having ever seen technology like this, so I always try to check, ha ha.

[Himself, for example. It had taken a while.]

All of the new gods and shinki should be listed there. Shinki are under their own names, and gods under our titles. -- Have they told you what your title is, by the way? The god you're here to represent?

[repinned]

Why not use their real names...

[Wait uh.]

Oh. Lugh?

[reformedsinner]

Yes, that would be it! Ha ha, unfortunately, we can't change our names in these, so we're stuck with what the Heavens prefers... and the Heavens seem to prefer to use our divine titles.

It's really quite inconvenient.

[He shakes his head, mock-disapproving.]

But there's nothing to be done about it as long as they see us as those gods....

[repinned]

But how many people actually use those titles?

[reformedsinner]

All of the old gods, and some of the newcomers as well. -- Of course, with the old gods, it seems that those titles are their names.

[So it's hard to blame them for using it as, well, a name.]

[repinned]

You'd think they figure it out after a while...

[reformedsinner]

But to do that, they would have to believe we were right about what our real names are.

[Hakkai has not been impressed, so far, by the Heavens' capacity to admit fault.]

[repinned]

[What. Oscar just sort of squints at Hakkai for a moment.]

So--wait. They bring us here and...expect us to just take up the job of whoever we're replacing and stop being us?

[reformedsinner]

Yes, that sounds about right.

[Hakkai shrugs, still smiling.] Not all of them, of course, and Amaterasu claims she doesn't know how we've been brought here. But they do seem to expect us to fall right into the roles.

[repinned]

[Oscar groans.]

At least the last time this sorta thing happened, I wasn't expected to stop being Oscar...

[reformedsinner]

Ah, please don't misunderstand!

[That's right, he'll have to tone down the implicit criticism a little for a young teenager. Especially one who's not yet used to Hakkai's particular deadpan judgement. He sketches a quick little bow.]

They may think we should subsume ourselves in our new roles, but that's a sign that they don't understand us well, not a requirement of the position.

You'll continue being yourself, although you may have some different responsibilities now.

Your shinki may help to support you, too -- and other gods can often lend a hand if you ask.