godsoffortune: (Default)
The Far Shore Mods ([personal profile] godsoffortune) wrote in [community profile] thenearshore2018-10-16 08:15 pm

October Training

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~
ofnovalue: art by yu gray (pain just like strange rain)

physical

[personal profile] ofnovalue 2018-10-20 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
If milady insists, I can attack, but I've no talent for it. My abilities seem far more oriented towards defense.

[ Ovelia straightened out her dress before stepping into the circle, letting out a few calming breaths, her anxiety starting to spike as it always did before moments like this, before facing the other woman with a look that hopefully read for determination, and not how anxious she actually was. ]
mersunary: (Give the audience a grin)

[personal profile] mersunary 2018-10-21 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ah... Heaven continues to bring in some awfully cute newcomers. Soleil's smile brightens in the face of such an honest attempt at determination, hoping to put the girl at ease.]

Practicing something you aren't very good at could be advantageous, right? Even then, we can always trade off if it feels at though it isn't working out. [Here, she offers Ovelia a wink.] Does that sound good?
ofnovalue: art by harusame (build me a future slendid and graceful)

[personal profile] ofnovalue 2018-10-21 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I appreciate your encouraging words, milady, but I do feel more comfortable on the defensive end. [ She'd prefer to start off on a strong step. She could learn the basics of attacking later, she figured, from Agrias. ]
Edited 2018-10-21 23:19 (UTC)
mersunary: (That's the thing!)

[personal profile] mersunary 2018-10-23 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
[So polite, how is Soleil supposed to argue with that?]

Understood. There's nothing wrong with playing into your own strengths, after all. [So, one of the dojo's practice swords in hand, Soleil takes a moment to size Ovelia up. She knows better than to potentially underestimate an opponent, but maybe approaching this with a 'test the waters' sort of mentality would be for the best. And, goodness she's as charming to look at is she is with her words, going all-out right out of the gate wouldn't be very easy for her regardless.]

Whenever you're ready, we can begin.
ofnovalue: art by yu gray (pain just like strange rain)

[personal profile] ofnovalue 2018-10-23 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ovelia gave a small nod, placing her hands together as if in a small prayer, a glow brightening between her hands before washing over Ovelia's whole form, leaving her with a sort of luminescent quality all around her, before opening her eyes once more. ]

I am ready. Have at thee.
mersunary: (And this will help)

[personal profile] mersunary 2018-10-30 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Oho? Well, that's interesting. Soleil nods once, as if in approval of this development, before squaring up and preparing to rush in with a strike.

For all the caution she's exercising in aiming her sword, she's still swift in her approach, movements honed through countless sparring matches and fights alike, angling to strike at Ovelia's side. It's not a particularly stealthy move, but at this point, she's a bit more interested in seeing what that glow might be signaling rather than scoring any points.]
ofnovalue: art by reina (shock to the core)

[personal profile] ofnovalue 2018-10-30 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her eyes went wide at first, almost losing her nerve on the first attack, but she seemed to sidestep Soleil's thrust easily, moving far faster than a person her size should have been able to, or at least a person her size in that particular dress. ]