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]

"I've always assumed that, as beings of the Far Shore, we're simply more vulnerable." He looks up, the bleakness already smoothing away into his mild smile again, and spreads his hands.

"Not at all. It's a good question. I've seen shinki be lost to that fate before, that's all."

He'd almost lost himself to it, once.

[cloakedinruins]

"We are, as gods. We are offered a lot of powers but yet cannot do anything to defend ourselves against anything truly dangerous to us."

Which didn't seem to make sense at first. Shouldn't a deity have more power than those that served them? It seemed that way in the books and myths he had heard. But this was not like books and myths, and he felt that someone was playing silly buggers with all of them.

"Friends of yours?"

[reformedsinner]

"One was my shinki when she first arrived, although we had had our differences since." Hakkai shakes his head.

"As gods," he says, "it seems we don't dare come into contact with ayakashi corruption. It's like a poison that works on touch; only shinki in their vessel forms can resist it. Their magic is far more versatile than ours."

[cloakedinruins]

"Is it?"

Shen Wei knew that his own energy had changed; he felt that it had more to do with what he had done with himself than any outside forces but if they needed the shinki to do their tasks, then that meant something wasn't working right. The system shouldn't have to fully rely on just one thing to keep them safe.

"What about those that do not have shinki?"

[reformedsinner]

"Yes, it is. It might not be more powerful, except in special cases, but it's far more versatile. As for those who don't have shinki..."

Hakkai shakes his head.

"They'll have to be very careful about visiting the mortal world until they do find one. Most of the newcomers do have shinki assigned, though they're not always-- well. There's a certain type of shinki that's referred to as 'soulless.' They seem to lack personality and independence."

[cloakedinruins]

"I see."

Wasn't there a few systems in nature that he could look at to understand this imbalance? Shen Wei was not born to look at science favorably but he had to, in order to understand how things worked. He had a lot to learn about this place.

"'Soulless'... how do they work, considering most shinki were once people?"

[reformedsinner]

Hakkai breathes out, almost on a sigh, and looks up to meet Shen Wei's gaze evenly. "I don't think they're actually soulless -- although their souls might be damaged. I think you, and I, and all of the other new gods and shinki have been drawn here from wherever our souls should reside, and I don't think there's any innate difference between those of us who become gods and those who become shinki.

"Except, of course, that our shinki forget their lives.

"My theory is that the "soulless" shinki were somehow more badly damaged when being brought here than the shinki who retain their normal personalities."

[cloakedinruins]

The nothingness of chaos, energies living and dying inside the flickering powers of the Hallows. Shen Wei hands curl into fists, eyes narrowing behind his glasses. That would make far too much sense.

"So... instead of finding a cure at the source, they pull all of us here. In that process, some of them pulled are hurt to the point they are deemed 'soulless'? Is this a common thought among us 'new' gods?"

[reformedsinner]

"I don't think it's all that common," Hakkai admits, "but I also haven't heard any better explanations for the state of the soulless shinki yet. Some of us have recognized them as people we once knew-- but without their personalities."

[cloakedinruins]

"So a theory based off of what has been seen so far in some of these soulless," he said softly, his hands uncurling as he forced his anger down and away. There was no target for it outside of others like him, so it would do no one any good to lose it here.

"One last question: Do these soulless act in a similar way as normal shinki when it comes to fighting spirits, or is there something more I should be aware of?"

[reformedsinner]

"Exactly," Hakkai says, looking up to meet the other man's cold gaze. It's clear he's trying to hide his anger, but it's just as clear, in the little tells on his face, that it's profound.

It is, he notes, always nice to meet new gods who feel the same way he does about what this place does to shinki.

"The only difference is that normal shinki can speak to their gods when they're in their vessel forms. Soulless shinki are silent."

[cloakedinruins]

"Less of a person and less able as the ones who keep most of themselves besides their memories. Do they ever explain why the shinki are not allowed a memory of their lives before?"

[reformedsinner]

"The closest I've ever heard to an answer came from one of the old Gods of Fortune while I was a shinki," Hakkai replies. "It may not be true -- although I trust her, there are things they won't tell shinki.

"She told me that shinki forget because very few of them have the strength to fully remember their deaths without succumbing to guilt, resentment or despair. A shinki overcome by those emotions becomes an ayakashi, and so, when reminded of their lives, most shinki..."

He trails off, the image of Ayumu twisting before his eyes into an insectile monster too vivid for a moment to let him speak.

"...most shinki are destroyed."

[cloakedinruins]

"There must be pieces in their pasts that they could not get over," he said, frowning at the idea.

Everyone had regrets; he had regrets over how he faced the last battle with his twin, over not telling Yunlan what he had been doing. But he knew exactly what the price would be and what he was going to face after.

Would anyone else making the same choices also understand? Was it a little like how Sang Zan had come out of the Pillar, stuttering and lost? It made sense, but it was also cruel for those that had to look on shinki they knew in life and pretend otherwise.

"It would be cruel to leave them trapped, even though it is cruel to see them without their past. We are to guard them from that fate, but it sounds as if it is not a fail safe system.

"I'm sorry. The shinki that turned must have been close to you."

[reformedsinner]

"Yes. I could have survived remembering my death," Hakkai says, bluntly, meeting the other man's gaze. "But there are things in my past that I don't think I could have survived remembering when I was a shinki.

"The new shinki are... different, though. Sometimes they'll remember parts of their past on their own. The older gods and shinki don't seem to like even talking about that."

He doesn't answer Shen Wei's comment about how close he must have been to the shinki he'd lost. She's gone now, in any case.

He does incline his head in quiet acceptance of the apology.

[cloakedinruins]

"And that does not harm them?"

If he thought about it, Shen Wei probably could come up with a number of moments in his long life that would have shattered him, especially if he didn't know about what led up to those moments. His death may also be painful but he had been clear from the moment he was struck that he was going to use it to end the threat to the world. It was all he focused on. It shouldn't cause him any concern save for who he had left behind.

"Thank you for speaking with me. I'm Shen Wei, formerly a Professor of Biology."

[reformedsinner]

"Not immediately," Hakkai says. "Not the way that reminding them of things they haven't remembered can destroy them. But remembering things that are difficult... can hurt a shinki in the long term regardless."

He breathes out.

"The existence of the new shinki is-- inherently precarious."

That said, Hakkai offers a polite bow to the other man, straightening up with an interested light in his eyes; that's a name that suits his own homeland, after all. "Cho Hakkai," he replies. "Not a professor, unfortunately, but I do run a small school here for those who want to continue their educations -- or who need more practical instruction. Technology classes, for example, or home economics for those who haven't previously had to run their own household."

[cloakedinruins]

"I see. So proceed with caution even if they do remember parts of their past. Is there anything protocol I should be aware for the soulless?"

The idea of being the source for another's pain was not an easy one in his mind. As the Black Cloak Envoy he had to remain aloof and unapproachable but he didn't need to do that here.

"I may need some of that help. I am hopeless with technology, though that in part lays in the fact I never managed to keep a phone or computer for longer then a few days. I could always exchange help with them with my meager skills in biology or Chinese lit."

[reformedsinner]

"Oh no," Hakkai says lightly, "please, Professor, don't insult your own skills, as someone so accomplished you're certainly far beyond anything my humble school could merit."

It's been a while since he played the self-deprecating compliment game, but, like riding a bicycle, the skill never fades.

"I'd be happy to help you with your phone-- assuming that you manage to keep it beyond this week, of course."

His laugh is equally polite.

"--And your help would certainly be welcome. Most of our students working on reading are only just learning the characters, I'm afraid, but a bit of literature might liven up their studies."

[cloakedinruins]

"I shall try my best to not destroy it as it is a gift from the Heavens," he replied, the slight curl to his lips showing how laughable he was finding all of this. His people had long given up beliefs in gods in the dark weight of their home. Some even thought themselves as gods with the way they could bend time and space and other people's minds. The only thing he had seen close to the worship of one had been the way he was treated over the centuries - the Black Cloaked Envoy could even command the Palace if he so pleased, while others quailed under his gaze.

He hated it as much as he expected it and sometimes at night, he would growl at the ghost of Kunlun over how he dared leaving him with this burden through their promise.

"If that is the case, then it would be my pleasure to lend my skills to the benefit of your students."

[reformedsinner]

Hakkai offers a perfunctory bow, and produces a business card embossed with a phone number, his name, and the characters beneath for Li Tieguai.

"Please let me know when you're free," he says, "and I'll be happy to show you around the school."

[cloakedinruins]

He returned the bow, accepting the card with all due courtesy despite the current circumstances. After all, they were in a different plane of existence with new rules, but Shen Wei had always observed the boundaries of proper etiquette.

"I shall do so once I find where I am to stay," he replied. "Thank you."