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

[chibisu]

"That's right." Okay, so they're not going to be shaking hands anytime soon. Ebisu finally lowers his, fingers curling around the edge of the chair seat. "I can't say what the cause was... But something occurred which mixed people's dreams. Even if they were things that they shouldn't have been able to dream of..." His own brows furrow together, concerned about the topic he's about to breach. He's glad he was able to make this encounter here, instead of outside with his shinki. There's good reason he visits these meetings, even if the lectures themselves are useless to him.

"And... So, I thought, since I've seen you, I should warn you to be careful."

[cloakedinruins]

"...Then he is here but as a shinki."

That would be the only reason why someone would warn him. Zhao Yunlan, in person and probably in dreams, was not a man who hid anything from those closest to him. And if he was in a setting he was comfortable and thought he knew those around him? He would not have hid the way he felt towards Shen Wei. Of course, Shen Wei always tried to keep some of it muted because he felt his personal life should remain personal even in front of friends, but he could not control Yunlan. In fact, if he tried the man would become truly shameless to goad him into losing his cool.

And Zhao Yunlan loved it when Shen Wei lost his cool.

"I will." His expression smoothed out, the worry gone as he regained control over himself.

[chibisu]

"That's right." Ebisu keeps his eyes on Shen Wei, wanting to.. Well. He's not entirely sure. So many of the new gods are deified types, mortals that were elevated to divinity. That's fine, he knows there's plenty of gods like that in the world... but it does mean he has to stay concerned about their reactions, he thinks. You never know with people.

When it's clear, however, that he has nothing to worry about, Ebisu relaxes back into his chair and nods. "That's good to hear. I'm sorry that I had to tell you this."

[cloakedinruins]

It was hard to picture Shen Wei as anything than what he appeared to be: a fussy, old-fashioned professor that buried his head in his books and barely resurfaced from them to address the modern world. Few associated that face with that of the nearly immortal Envoy, feared and worshiped among the Dixing people.

"It is better I've been told now instead of finding it out the hard way," he replied. He reached up towards his neck searching for his pendant until he remembered that it was lost - in time or the foot of Ye Zun's prison, somewhere between there and here - and dropped his hand, lips pressed into a thin line. "I will do everything in my power to not hurt him."

And destroy anyone that does hurt him. Zhao Yunlan may not understand his level of care for him, but Shen Wei felt that it was only right. He gave him this life with all the wonder and pain. It was only fair that he repaid him the same.

[chibisu]

"I have no doubt about that!" Such a serious person surely keeps his word, right? It's not as if he's overly suspicious or anything, so it's all fine by Ebisu's book. At any rate, this person had clearly had been important to Zhao, if he'd dreamed about him. With that context... A promise holds some good weight.

Which means he has no qualms about making his next offer. "If you would like to come visit him sometime, I invite you to my temple! He works for me, you see. Oh-" Right, he should clarify. Ebisu tilts his head to the side. "I haven't named him or anything. It's simply part time work, since my temple needs all the assistance it can get. He's been a very reliable worker so far."

[cloakedinruins]

He tries to hold onto his promises. Most times, he succeeds in doing that, though there were moments when he couldn't due to how things had progressed. He couldn't kept his last one to Yunlan, not when he knew to keep that one was to doom everyone around them. But it sounded like the idiot went on ahead and decided to be heroic, even though Shen Wei had given up everything to keep him safe.

They were such fools.

"Zhao Yunlan can be a good worker so long he sees the benefit of his work," he said softly, a slight smile as he remembers some of their more interesting moments. "And he's a lot smarter than he acts. But.. are you sure? I do not want to impose."

[chibisu]

"It wouldn't be an imposition at all! Although I suppose I would have to work to fit it into my schedule." They're always so busy, after all, a fact which has been Ebisu's constant from almost Day 1 of his current incarnation. They're always working, always having to do something... It's a hard life, one that he knows should be much calmer and better staffed.. But it feels right on some level regardless.

Once they make it past winter, he thinks, they'll definitely have a lot more time on their hands. It's just a matter of making it there.

"Do you have anything planned in the coming month? As a new god, I'm sure there must be a lot of things which you'll be looking into."

[cloakedinruins]

"Anything planned?" Shen Wei frowned at the question. He knew some of the stories concerning the deity he was replacing thanks to his fascination with human legends and his study of Chinese literature, but not that much. "I should learn more of this Xuanwu and his role before settling on something concrete."

He could not just assume and continue on in this place, not without first knowing what was expected and what he could bend to suit his needs. He knew this game thanks to centuries of Dixing Palace politics even if he disliked playing it. He just never expected to have an afterlife filled with it. However, he did have at least one plan in mind.

"Though I do think that I may change the temple once I see it. As much as tradition is needed, I find parts of it stifling."

[chibisu]

"I unfortunately cannot tell you much on that end, as I am a Japanese god, and there are still many things regarding other pantheons that I'm unfamiliar with." If any of his past selves had any solid info, he hasn't found anything on it. "However, you may want to speak with my fellow Gods of Fortune, for they might be more familiar with it. Hakkai-san also may know."

But that's besides the point, and Ebisu digs his phone out. "At any rate, whenever you find some free time in your future, please contact me about it ahead of time, and we can organize a visit for you!"

[cloakedinruins]

"That's fine, I am perfectly capable of researching the available material to establish a working theory for my particular situation," Shen Wei said with a slight bow to show he meant no disrespect.

He was a fast learner, his talent giving him an added edge with any number of tasks that he needed it for, expect those requiring the use of electronics. For some reason, his talent found the machines odd and often would burn them out before he could grow use to them. He may have to learn the use of his phone without attempting to scan it first with his abilities.

Bemused, he pulls out the phone he had been given and looks at with the expression of someone who never seen such nonsense in the past twenty years, and then sighed. It seems that when he earlier gotten it, he didn't quite turn it off.

"I shall do that." He gave the phone a shake and then tapped a couple buttons until the poor thing dies of having no battery left. "Once I find a way to actually use this. My apologies. I'm not very good with technology."

[chibisu]

Ebisu won't judge Shen Wei if he's not particularly adept at using technology very well. After all, from what he understands, many other gods are in the same boat of not being used to technology. He's the one who uses it the most, and has apparently always tried to keep up alongside it even in his past incarnations. It takes work!

...But he will beam up at him with a particular shine to his eye.

"Do you need help learning about it?"