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

[subconmodo]

God, actually. Mephistopheles, who I wasn't aware was a god, but hey! I'm not about to complain!

[in fact, he sounds almost giddy about it. Faust happens one of his favorite stories]

Though if you want to get technical about it, "ghost" was a right option too.

[wildguardian]

Mephistopheles. Huh, so in other words, if I wanted to get really technical, "demon" is also right.

I love a perfect score. Pleased to meet you -- do you go by that or have you got a shorter name I could use?

[subconmodo]

[he doesn't answer at first, eyes narrowing and glowing mouth squeezing into a thin line. Wouldn't it be cool if he DID go by that? But... no. No, no. He already has a brand.]

[And just like that he's back to all smiles]

Snatcher. At least that's what I put on all my legal papers!

[wildguardian]

Snatcher. [Zhao grins.] They take that on your legal papers?

I'm Zhao Yunlan.

[subconmodo]

Ha! Like they have a choice!

Zhao Yunlan... Now that's a mouthful. Don't suppose you'd have anything shorter to go by?

[in a world with names like "The Conductor" and "The Badge Seller," family names are an enigma.]

[wildguardian]

You could always go with Mr. Zhao if you want to cut it short.

[His eyebrows lift.] It's not all that long, though.

[subconmodo]

[ugh, Mr... Too much formality for his taste.]

Let's just go with "Zhao." Short, sweet, and cut neatly in half.

...Just to make sure, you're not going to be one of those holier than thou types that'll rat on me for taking a few souvenirs, are you?

[wildguardian]

Not as long as you let me get a good look at them first. I doubt the owner's going to show up looking for their stuff.

[He casts a casual glance around the tumbledown, rotting, half-burnt remains of the building they're searching, and shrugs one shoulder.]

And sure, Zhao's fine. So what've you got in that box there?

[subconmodo]

No idea! Let's have a look.

[He flips the charred lid open to reveal...!]

[Tiny toy cars.]

Wow! This is completely useless to me!

[he's still grinning as he shoves the box over to Zhao, but the disappointment is palpable. When he heard metal in there he was at least hoping for some old coins to pawn off]

[wildguardian]

Toy cars.

[What the fuck. Zhao leans over the box, stirring the collection with a lazy sweep of his hand. Twenty-year-old die-cast toy cars, sure enough.]

Who knows, maybe they're collectible?

[What kind of god collects toy cars, though? That's weird. The collection does date the place's abandonment, though, so that's something: a few decades, ish.]

[subconmodo]

Maybe. Not like I can sell them.

[A hint of annoyance slips through at that. There are the occasional downsides to being a shadowy ghost dude.]

That is... unless you're willing to pay up. Or trade?

[wildguardian]

Sorry, man, I'm fresh out of cash.

[This is a lie. More importantly, though:]

Besides, how would I know if they're collectible or not? -- But, maybe we could go halvsies on it. I see if they're worth anything and sell 'em, you get a cut.

[subconmodo]

Is that so? Then let's make a deal, shall we?

[With a snap of his fingers, a piece of paper and a quill appear in a puff of purple smoke, floating in mid-air.]

I prefer to keep a paper trail when it comes to things like these. Verbal contracts just don't have that same punch.

[And then it turns into he-said-she-said and there's a whole to-do about who agreed on what when a bad deal eventually goes to court. Nope! All paper and pen for him!]

[Luckily for Zhao, since Snatcher's still testing the waters in this new place, this is one of Snatcher's fairer, tamer contracts. A simple affair, even if it is written anything but professionally.]

"I hereby totally agree to go halvsies (50/50) on any profit that is to be gained by the selling of these weird toy cars the Snatcher found.

Furthermore, I also agree to any punishment the Snatcher may feel inclined to dole out if I don't pony up the cash.


________________x"

[wildguardian]

[Zhao picks the quill up, and inspects the contract with interest before reaching out to strike out the final sentence.]

Nope, sorry, contract enforcement to be limited to you making me pay up if I don't do so promptly.

None of these open-ended clauses.

[Once the sentence is stricken out, he'll sign... but not before then.]

[subconmodo]

[Oh. Someone who actually knows how to negotiate up front. That's something he hasn't seen in awhile. Something annoying.]

All right, fine. Give me a moment.

[He grabs the paper back, scribbles out the sentence in question and writes something new]

Better?

"Furthermore, I also agree to any punishment the Snatcher may feel inclined to dole out if I don't pony up the cash.

Refusal to pay will result in the Snatcher forcing me to hand over every last cent he is due or the appropriation of property of equal value to the amount to be collected."

[wildguardian]

[Zhao grins, and signs with a flourish that would be more impressive if it were a little less messily written.

Look, he's not used to quill pens, and they don't play well with characters anyway.]

Done. I'll let you know if they turn out to be worth enough to sell.

[subconmodo]

Perfect!

[He stamps the contract with his seal, only to nearly drop the stamp in question as a sudden buzzing sensation passes through his body]

That's... new.

[He eyes the contract he wrote up suspiciously, but then shrugs. Probably nothing.]

I'll just go ahead and leave this in your hands so you don't forget.

[wildguardian]

Thanks. [He reaches out to pluck the contract from the air, planning to roll it up and stash it in a pocket. As for the toy cars, well... those are going to take more hefting. Luckily Bakugou's temple isn't that far away, as the Western District goes.]

So, what was that 'new,' there?

[Just checking.]

[subconmodo]

I don't know. Magic, I guess? Felt kind of magical.

[no harm in admitting it for now, he supposes. Not like he actually knows what happened there.]

Probably just something to do with the whole god thing.

[wildguardian]

Right! Well!

[He's glad he's taking the contract, and he's also very glad he checked the terms. What exactly did he sign, and what does that chop that Snatcher had put on it do to the contract....

Maybe he can get someone to check. In the meantime, he's going to be careful about appraising and selling those cars. And checking their dates of production, just to be sure.]

If my signing hand falls off, we're going to have a talk, so you know.

[subconmodo]

Look, if your signing hand falls off we're both going to have some problems, buddy.

[that's how word gets out and he loses deals. Not too mention he still has a few hundred extra contracts he needs the kid to sign to make sure she kicks the bucket]

ANYWAY...! Try not to die on me! I need that money for some new ink!

[wildguardian]

Maybe so, but my hand, more my problem than yours. I'll do my best.

[He grins, carelessly, and hefts the crate.] I'm setting this over by the front gate for now -- let's see what else we can find out here, huh?

[Maybe there will be something more useful than die-cast cars.]