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~
subconmodo: (Hard Mode)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-06 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Heh... You're right. I don't.

[The room goes dark save for Snatcher's face, flickering and pulsing eerily in the distance]

Now answer me this question: what... does that mean... for you?
kolus: (Default)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-06 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He steps back, his fists raised out of pure instinct when the darkness envelops him. What was this? What happened to the party? With a quick glance around the room he finds himself alone and the distant eyes of the Snatcher watching him. Did... Did he do all this? Just how powerful was this guy?

His gaze shifting to his feet, Stan mulls over his options. He can ask change God's. All he has to do is put in a request and survive until he's transferred. Do the job, stay valuable, don't die. Easy, right? But would this guy release him when he asked or would he eat his soul right there and then?

Stan takes a deep breath and listens to some ghostly advice: calm down. No, he doesn't trust this guy, or like his history, but there are other ways around this. He's the only one being hostile and if they were to fight this display alone is enough to convince him he'd lose. Hesitantly, Stan lowers his fists. ]


... You still need me. We work together, as agreed, but I don't want this bond type deal yet. And I'm not killing anyone either.
subconmodo: (Which to use...)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-06 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[There's silence for a moment, and then something is lit up by Snatcher's eyes, now cast downward, the silence filled by the scratch of pen on paper and Snatcher's mutterings]

All right. No killing. I can allow that.

[the scratching stops and he looks up again]

Bonding is... questionable.

[the lights come back on, Snatcher thoughtfully tapping the corner of his mouth with the pen cap]

Simply put, that's your main purpose to me. I could sign you on as a normal minion--partner, but I'll be honest... [he laughs with a little shrug, as though he's sharing a joke with a good friend] That's gonna lower your usefulness exponentially.
kolus: (liar liar pants on fire)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-07 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Ugh! [ Yeah, a warning would have been nice, pal. Stan shields his eyes, blinded by the sudden light. After blinking a few times to adjust them he looks around, then turns back to Snatcher. Is he writing something? Kind of a weird time to be taking notes... ]

It's only temporary. I mean, why rush into things? S'not like I'm goin' anywhere. We're dead; we got eternity or whatever.
subconmodo: (Thinkin' about Snatcher Stuff)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-07 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[That's a good point. The old man's dead. Snatcher can't exactly kill him when he stops being useful. However...]

Wow. I didn't know you were so eager to let yourself be mobbed by a bunch of Ayakashi. Looking forward to Blight that much, are we?

Unless... you actually think an old geezer like you would do a better job keeping them at bay than I would.
kolus: (people don't 'like' or 'trust' me...)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-07 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not gonna get Blighted. Just because I don't have some flashy powers doesn't mean I can't take care of myself. I'm not helpless.
subconmodo: (keikaku means plan)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-07 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
That's what they all say. Then they end up dead.

It's up to you, old man. I can work out a trial membership if that's what you want. Not like the paperwork's that hard.
kolus: (Spooky Journal)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-07 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, he's just going to ignore the chill that ran down his spine at that. ]

Paperwork? What, you mean like some kind of contract? [ Huh. That actually doesn't sound that bad. ] Yeah, I could do that.
subconmodo: (You want some drugs?)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-07 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Got it in one.

[An old, parchmenty piece of paper, somehow singed on all sides, appears before Stan along with a quill.]

I've already pulled all the necessary details from our conversation, so there's no need to worry about those. All you need to do is sign.

[If he bothers to read it, it says the flowing:]

I hereby agree to enter a trial period as Snatcher's minion, doing whatever dirty work he asks me to do as long as it doesn't involve killing anyone.

Three weeks from now, this contract will be reviewed, upon which I will either be released from service or I will participate in the Bonding Ceremony with Snatcher.

Also, if I ever decide to double cross Snatcher, he has free reign to make my afterlife a living hell.

__________________x
kolus: (text me a photo?)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-07 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He takes the parchment and reads it over for a moment. Ever decide to double cross... Was that in the three weeks he was under contract or just ever? More importantly-]

Who's this Snatcher guy? I thought this was just between us.
subconmodo: (My patience has expired)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-07 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[He opens his mouth, shuts it, and then facepalms.]

That's my name.
kolus: (OHDYH WKH OLHV WR WKH OLDUV)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-07 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Seriously? Your name was your job? [ As serious as soul snatching goes, Stan can't help but laugh at the corniness. ] Did you actually choose that or...?
subconmodo: (Oh no I'm 10 minutes late for my crate)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-07 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[Snatcher immediately grabs the quill]

Oh no! My body is totally acting all on its own! I think something's trying to make me alter this contract to make it so that any tasks you perform are automatically upgraded to being the most awful, embarrassing things possible!

If only someone here would STOP INSULTING ME and end this terrible curse!
kolus: (=O)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-08 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Stan looks alarmed at first, but as Snatcher goes on it becomes apparent he's just hamming it up to force his hand. Still, he could easily change the contract so Stan gives in. ]

Alright, alright. You’ve made your point. [ He says with a sigh in defeat. He hangs his head to hide the small smile on his face as he holds up his hand. ] Gimme the pen and we can seal this thing.

[ At least he can pronounce this name, which made for a lot less insult in the long run. ]
subconmodo: (keikaku means plan)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-08 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[Damn straight he made his point. And Stan is less likely to be assigned whatever the godly equivalent of toilet duty would be]

[Looking every bit the cat that caught the canary, he hands the quill over.]
kolus: (but i would follow you)

[personal profile] kolus 2018-11-08 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He lays the contract flat against a table and reads it over one last time. With a deep breath he signs his name, STANLEY, and a deal is made. ]

There. It's official.

[ Just a temporary gig till he finds something better. ]
subconmodo: (I FUCKIN LOVE MAIL)

[personal profile] subconmodo 2018-11-08 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Perfect! And now... We're... in...

[he stamps the contract with his personalized wax seal and just like that magic buzzes between the two of them--a binding pact agreed upon]

business!