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

[artificialrose]

[With that level of arrogance and obnoxious high-class nonsense, Garry has to say he was expecting... something. Admittedly, he's not entirely sure what something he was expecting. Something... classy, he supposes? Elegant? Lots of curls and things like that.]

[This... He feels a little bad, but he kind of wants to say that a kindergartner could do better.]

[Stunned silent, he wordlessly hands her a thing of glitter. It's purple. It just feels like the kind of color he should hand her.]

[priforprince]

[ Three things froze in Shikyoin Hibiki at the age of five: her hiragana penmanship, her ability to trust or connect with other real human beings, and her skills at drawing. She has made tentative essays into improving one of these two categories, but the other two are beyond salvation.

Purple glitter is, however, absolutely acceptable. Hibiki tips it carefully onto her card, focused completely on making sure the glue is perfectly coated with an even layer. This is a stupid craft. But her execution shall be without flaw.

An intrepid goat breaks rank and rolls closer to where she sits... ]

[artificialrose]

['Without flaw' is, well... It's... Hm. Garry will just say that all art if subjective, and not go much further than that.]

[At least with Hibiki. He will gently stop the goat from getting too close.]

Now now. We wouldn't want glitter to get on your coat, would we?

[Or make the other goats possibly jealous, if that's even an emotion they can feel. Whatever.]

[priforprince]

[ Oh! No, that would not be good! The goat stops short.

Hibiki finishes her card. Now, all that remains is to tip it to its side, and shake the glitter loose.....

At which point the glue runs.

Hibiki twitches. ]

Another.

[ She sets the card aside, then picks up materials for a new card. ] This time, nothing shall defy me.

[ The cluster of goats gather around the finished card, runny glue and all, anyway. Who is that for? Who is that for? They like it. They want it.

But they are too polite and too unequipped with means of communication to say. ]

[artificialrose]

Oh, dear.

[She's really never touched art in her life, has she... Well, it looks like she's really trying, so Garry gives her another card from nearby. The goats really have brought everything that could be needed.]

Here you are... You don't have to rush, I think we all have time.

[He hopes that doesn't come off as too condescending... but, at the same time, he can't help it. This just seems so childish on some level.. But with that done, he glances over at the failed card.]

What do you plan to do with the first one?

[priforprince]

Distribute it where you wish.

[ Hibiki almost, but doesn't quite, shrug. If she has a suspicion what might happen to the card from here on out, she doesn't say.

But there is a goat cluster beneath it now. May they....have it??? To share???? ]

[artificialrose]

[So mess ups don't get any consideration at all, do they? Although he has a feeling that the end result won't really look any better. Still, it does make things easier, and he turns his back to her so that he can focus on the goats. Patiently, he starts to move some of them out of the way.]

Careful, let's not have it drop to the floor or anything... Let's have it dry, and then we can find a nice frame to hang it up somewhere, alright?

[Usually cards are placed on mantelpieces, and similar places, but, well. It might be easier for them if it's in a frame. It's more protected this way.]

[priforprince]

[ The goats seem to understand this. A framed card would be fun to film, when they are not out and about. (This will lead to Hibiki ending up with hours of footage of just goats staring at the card, but this does not occur to the God who is now intent on making sure that THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT).

As they follow Garry, one rolls up with full supplies to make yet another card. He is being so nice. Maybe he will want to make a card, too? ]

[artificialrose]

Oh- thank you!

[What does it say about him that he thinks he's starting to understand the language of robotic goats? Probably something peculiar, but oh well. Garry is pretty sure he's already in a pretty peculiar situation as it is. At least the goats are nice. This one in particular earns a pat on the head for bringing over the supplies.]

How about, when she's done, I'll make one for you all as well?

[That should work, he thinks. With one last glance over to Hibiki, he continues making his way to where the shrine connection to the Near Shore is. Maybe by the time he returns with a picture frame for what might be a couple of cards, perhaps she'll have figured it out.]

[priforprince]

[ The goats that provided the card supplies rattle in place. The card he makes - is going to be for them!? They'll look after these supplies really well, then!

Garry will still have a few goats trailing him on his errand. And Hibiki, no matter when he returns, will still be working on a card when he comes back, looking increasingly more intent (and intense). All the goats who had been surrounding her each have cards propped up on their stands.

She didn't want ANY of these. They are ALL THEIRS. ]

[artificialrose]

[...Maybe he should have gotten more picture frames.]

[Cautiously, as if approaching a live bomb, Garry makes his way around to the various cards that have been propped up. He takes care in framing the first card that Hibiki made, after confirming that it's dry, before daring to check on her.]

Do... you want some help?

[There are so many cards... and she's making a really scary kind of face right now.]

[priforprince]

I can do it.

[ She has glitter smeared on her face from where she's unconsciously brushed her bangs out of her eyes. ]

One....more....

[ The glitter glue....hovers over the page.... ]

[artificialrose]

[Oh no... She has glitter smeared on her face just like a dumb little kid. Garry starts feeling about his person for a spare tissue, even as he watches in rapt attention, just like the many goats no doubt are. Will this really be the one... or should he go get a book for a long wait?]

[Well, he guesses he'll find out, and fall silent for now just so that he doesn't disturb her attention. Face fussing can happen later.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki squeezes the glue tube. A bead appears on the tip.

Then there is a sputter, like an air bubble popping, and nothing happens. Hibiki frowns, hunching over. She crushes the tube in her fist, squeezing it. Nothing.

It's out of glue. And it was the last one of that color.

Hibiki's shoulders are shaking. ]

[artificialrose]

[Oh boy.]

[Automatically, in expectation of the kind of childish tantrum that he would expect from a kindergartner, Garry quietly intervenes and moves the unfinished card away.]

It does seem ike a lot were made. I have an idea- why don't you go with some of the goats and find the exact shade of glue that you need at the store?

I'm sure you could pick out the perfect one.

[Does he sound condescending? Sorry, he's just really lost in this kid impression he's gotten off of her.]

[priforprince]

No, I'm done.

[ This is 100% a mature adult decision, not a petulant childish one. But on the bright side, Garry's distracting her did nip the tantrum in the bud! Progress. ]

My time is better-spent on more refined pastimes.

[ She still has glitter on her face. ]

[artificialrose]

Well, alright then.

[Her sulking is much more preferable than her throwing a tantrum, so Garry will accept this result. Still, if she's talking about being refined... Going through his pockets, he leans over to her.]

If you're done here, can you stay still for a moment?

[priforprince]

....Hm?

[ She's still. Out of puzzlement. ]

[artificialrose]

[There, he knew he had a handkerchief on his person somewhere! The cold weather practically demands it. Leaning in, he carefully begin to dab at her cheek just to see if there's anything more stuck on.]

Let's see...

[priforprince]

Wh-what---

[ Oh. Hibiki catches on and remains still. Being waited upon is as it should be, so she doesn't feel patronized.

If anything, her demeanor grows even haughtier as she waits for him to be done. ]

[artificialrose]

[Yes, yes, she can get as haughty as she wants while he cleans... glitter glue... from her face. When he's certain he's got the majority of it off- or at least nothing that wouldn't blend in with her natural glitter- he takes a step back.]

It's good to have passion, but watch out for yourself.

[priforprince]

Hmf.

[ Hibiki stands. The mess is someone else's problem. ] I'm done here. Dispense the detritus as you see fit.

[ CARDS FOR EVERYONE!!!

The spygoats throw as much of an impromptu party as it is possible to throw when lacking movable limbs. ]

[artificialrose]

You're welcome.

[Just as much of a brat as she is a kid... Well, whatever. Garry very patiently turns his attention to the goat card party happening, and does his best to put what he can into frames.]

[priforprince]

Nn.

[ CARD PARTY CARD PARTY

Hibiki, meanwhile, heads off in search of tea. The sea of spygoats parts for her, one breaking off to follow in case she runs into anything she can't be bothered to carry herself.

The others make a silent unspoken promise to save a card for that one. ]