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

God Training

[darkestbefore]

Yona is quick to smile at the apology, shaking her head, one hand coming out to make sure the other young woman was steady now as well.

"It's alright, there's no need to apologize. The first day here can be... very overwhelming. Are you alright?"

[cleansingstrike]

Overwhelming sounded about right. There was so much to take in, so much to discover. And so much to think about.

"To say that I am would be a lie, I'm afraid. And I am no liar."

Agrias had lived her life in service to the people, and that part remained familiar to her. The matter of her shinki, on the other hand, was troubling to her.

"'Tis more than I ever expected." The vision on her shinki was still so vivid, so fresh in her thoughts.

"But I forget myself." She sighed, trying to collect herself as she turned to look at her. "Agrias Oaks, knight of the Lionguard, at your service."

[darkestbefore]

"A knight?" Yona's eyes swing wide for a moment before she breaks into a bright smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Agrias. My name is Yona - I'm here as the Irish goddess, Áine." And she offers the other woman a slight bow in greeting. "And yes, I can safely say I don't think many of us expected to find ourselves in such a position - waking up one day in a strange land to be told you're a god?" She gives a sheepish wince and shakes her head. "Not something I would have even dreamed of. And possibly wouldn't have accepted either, if given the choice."

[cleansingstrike]

"Gods."

Her tone is disdainful and full of contempt. "I've my fill of deities to last more than one lifetime." Perhaps her view was skewed, as much of her experience had revolved around demons and other such evil forces. Though in the end, it made no difference to her. Had the choice remained her own, Agrias would kept herself far and away from deities and their meddlesome ways.

"Yet here I find myself, told that I'm now to be a god myself. Fortune is not without a sense of humor."

[darkestbefore]

Yona spares a moment to look surprised, but she merely cocks her head to the side to study her expression.

"You're not the only one who finds it to be an irony, but by whatever cause we were chosen to be brought here... It's real enough. And not always so easy a task. But maybe also a chance to do more good where we can, at the very least?"

[cleansingstrike]

"Few moments in life are ever truly so simple and carefree, much as we may yearn for such. 'Tis in overcoming these trials that we may truly appreciate those moments when we do find them." She spoke beyond her years, and truly, Agrias had seen much in her twenty plus years of life.

"I don't much care for the title of god, I fully admit. But I also find myself agreeing with the lady's words. An opportunity to do good in these lands, and provide aid to those who ask for it. Reasons such as those are why I remain a knight."

[darkestbefore]

"Maybe it's not the title that matters so much as what we do with the opportunities and abilities they have laid upon us here," Yona counters, offering her a small smile. Despite being only 16, she, too, has seen far beyond what anyone her age should. Despite having been a pampered Princess for most of her life, she'd had to grow up quickly to survive.

[cleansingstrike]

"Titles are often misleading. Often crafted to gain approval of the people, or mislead them." Agrias responded.

"I served many a moon under a man publicly denounced as a heretic. Yet I've never once doubted the strength of his character."