November Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: February 21st, 2017
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki



Gods and shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are brought into small one-on-one meeting rooms as they appear, with a white-robed shinki offering them an explanation of their current role, the name of the god they will represent or the god they will serve, and directions to the temple that will be their new home.

They are cordially invited to a training session beginning in early afternoon, after they've had the chance to return to their homes, meet their new partners, and have their questions answered.



Morning/On the Road

New gods and shinki are being packed off to their new temples for the morning to settle in and meet their partners -- this is also a good time to visit with new neighbors or explore the area! What does your new temple look like? Are you headed straight there, or taking the scenic route to get a better sense of your new surroundings? The Western District is still scarred from the aftereffects of a recent volcanic eruption and earthquake, with fissures in some of the roads and burn scars in the wild landscape. The volcanic ash, though, seems to be serving as fertilizer for vast swaths of unfamiliar and colorful wildflowers that line the roads despite the fact that the weather is late-February chilly.

Shinki Training

A well-appointed dojo has been prepared for newcomers to practice their physical or magical arts. Outside, there are two impromptu target practice areas: one is for long-range weapons, with targets set up against hay bales at the other side of a wide, grassy area and a line drawn for the weapons' wielders to stand behind. The other is for borderlines, and a number of young children wearing short coats marked with Amaterasu's golden chrysanthemum on white are dashing around practicing their own borderlines against scary paper masks tied onto bushes or other haybales. The game seems to require a cutting borderline that will cut the mask without damaging the gardeners' hard work on the bushes.

Inside the dojo, there's room for several pairs to spar, and weapons are set up all along one wall, everything from polearms to rifles, chakrams to broadswords. They're all meant for practice, with edges dulled or padded to avoid any accidental deaths, but sparring partners will still have to be careful to avoid injury. Although there are many fewer white-robed shinki here than usual, except for the children, there is one adult shinki keeping an eye on things inside the dojo and one keeping an eye on things in the yard. They are willing to answer questions, help with borderlines or teach shinki new spells on request. Comment to the NPC REQUEST form to request a thread with one of them or if you have questions about handwaving an interaction.

Physical Training

The last vestiges of winter have melted away from most of the Heavens, but one section of the Meeting Hall grounds appears not to have gotten the message. Snow is piled waist or even shoulder high, the trees and bushes show no sign of fresh leaves, and an ornamental pool is frozen as hard as a rock, with the drifting shadows of koi barely visible under the thick ice. It's the perfect opportunity to play in the snow, and many of the shinki children are already taking advantage of it, sliding on the ice or throwing snowballs.

For those who brave the heavy snow, they may discover an an old woman in the center of the frozen area. She's wearing heavy white makeup and a straw coat, and humming cheerfully as she pounds rice into mochi. Anyone who finds her will be offered freshly made mochi and a cup of warm sake to fortify them for the snowball fights!

Rest and Refreshments

Gods and shinki who are finished with their training can step into a large room in the Meeting Hall that has been set up with comfortable cushions and low tables. Tea, liquor and a wide variety of savory dishes are available, with the drinks already set out on the tables and the savory dishes set up in chafing dishes on a buffet table along one wall. Guests can help themselves, settle in, chat, and make new friends. There's even a dessert table, well-stocked with plenty of chocolate, most of which seems to be mysteriously heart-shaped.

After eating, there are a variety of board and card games available for guests to play. From classic games like shogi, go and mahjong to more modern ones like Trivial Pursuit or Pictionary -- or Cards Against Humanity -- there's something for everyone.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Practice sparring or shinki magic
• Enjoy a buffet dinner and party games
• Have fun~

Comments

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[It's fine, he's in a pretty similar position when it comes to his perception of his role here... It's Fine.]

Sorry, [Still, it seems like that might not have been the kind of answer Roxas was really looking for, and for that he does seem genuinely kind of remorseful,] That might not be be why, just my guess.

But, the instructions make it sound straightforward. [He hesitates for a second, then offers,] Did you... want to try it out?

R&R

[cleansingstrike]

I'm afraid it remains unfamiliar to me.

Though truth be told, I find myself curious over why it was named as such.

[nonsenseprince]

[The stark contrast on its own is fascinating to him; Izuku stares at it with wonder.]

This is so cool.... [His eyes are wide. He reaches to get something out of a bag on his hip; a notebook, where he starts scribbling in it.

[Give him a moment, Garry.]

[holygrailed]

Oh yes. She mentioned how kind and honorable you are, that you truly exemplified the virtues of a knight.

[Her hands clasp together, warm smile unwavering. It's wonderful there are such happy relationships here.]

She hoped I would be as fortunate with my god as she is with you. Does that answer your question?

[hattersgonnahat]

[Is that-?]

[It is.]

[But where-- how did one of those guys get here!?] Hey!

[Sadly it's going to have to wait. Incoming kid with a hat with umbrella ready. It's doubtful it'll hurt that much but it would probably be a hard enough swing to knock the minion over.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar nods. Certain people. The word Babel has familiar ring to it. Though it is difficult to pin point where exactly he heard it. Or from whom.]

All right then, so what would you like to know? Granted I will know the answer. It was pretty much in disrepair when I arrived at Babylon.

[trustheart]

I just want to know if you know what happened to it. And... [She looks up, trying to appear more resolute.] ... Have you ever heard of something called the "Curse of Balal"?

[trustheart]

[Chris does just that, leaning on Natsuru as the other girl wraps her arm around her. Which is something Chris tries very hard not to think about. Instead, she tries to just focus on business.] By boots are over there. Can you help me over there so I can finally take these off? ... And uhm. Nice to meet you.

[towards_okeanos]

[There is no way around it now. He promised her answer. So there it goes.]

It was in truly in bad shape. It was a brick structure, huge, bigger than everything I've seen save only for temples and pyramids of Egypt. Still it was just bricks and they don't hold as well as stone. When I returned from India I ordered the site to be cleared so it can be properly rebuilt. Unfortunately, I was interrupted.

[Because he died... not even a full month after the work has begun. And his generals were more interested in squabbling over succession than finishing anything he left. Fools.
That's right. Two thousand years later, he's still angry. And a bit disappointed maybe.]

I'm afraid I haven't heard about the curse though. What did it do?

[declamando]

[Maria coughs slightly into her hand at that, in an impressive effort at disguising a laugh.] Alright, well, you've got it right that it's good to have your legs a bit wider and a bit low, but you're too stiff like that. Try it more like this.

[Maria sinks into a more naturally balanced stance, knees bent and feet separated a little, but only enough that the width is maybe just out past her shoulders.]

[thirdbeauty]

[Natsuru wordlessly complies, shifting direction along with Chris to help her over to where she can put her normal shoes back on.]

Yeah...

[She's still a little nervous and flustered. But it's nice that they've gotten around to a normal-ish meeting.]

Have you never tried ice skates before?

[It occurs to her that she doesn't know if this girl is a god or a shinki yet. But if they don't think too deeply on that question, it should be fine either way.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Oh, he cares. He cares a lot. Sometimes even too much. It just doesn't exactly lead to him not murdering them. Or the other way round. Welcome to wonderful world of ancient warriors, Minako.]

Is that true? It seems quite obvious to me.

[subconmodo]

[Turns out they are! And he immediately draws his hand back, giving it a shake.]

Seriously? Fine to do it to me, but not you? Kind of hypocritical, don't you think?

[Nevermind the fact that he was just doing it because Chikusa had done it to him]

[subconmodo]

[That's the nice thing about being a soul inside a stuffed bundle of clothes. Not much really hurts. Doesn't stop "ow!" from being an instinctive response to being whacked with an umbrella.]

[Jeremy tumbles over, spilling mail from his bag into the floor.]

Hey! What's the big idea?!

[kokuyoyo]

[This is very good information to know. Chikusa was worried, after all, that he wouldn't be able to deal with this kind of theft, but, hey, so long as he can hit it...]

Yes.

[...He's honest?]

You were complaining anyway.

[subconmodo]

[Snatcher narrows his eyes. He's not sure what to make of this guy, other than the fact that he's quickly climbing his way to the top of the ghost's list.]

[His voice is low, threatening. Sure, it's over chocolates, but it's also over the principle of the matter.]

Someone should really teach you some manners.

[priforprince]

[ She's learning on the go. That's exactly what Hibiki had been hoping to see. That's the ability worthy of a spot in her film.

She hunches low on her skis, tracing the path in the snow that will permit her the ultimate momentum. All courses have this - this one sweet spot - and Hibiki intends to ride that line all the way down.

There's a rock in it, though, and Hibiki swerves to avoid it, kicking up a bit of snow in so doing. It arcs through the air, graceful as a swan's wing. ]

Hm.

[ ....If you wanted to follow a path down this hill, Chris, there's a. Trail of purple sparkles. In the air. ]

[auditerrorizer]

"Ohhhhhhh you mean like pailmates wait your species gives birth without a mother grub equivalent how do you I mean don't tell me the specifics because frankly it sounds disgusting," Stelsa says, completely oblivious to how insane she sounds. Wow, troll reproduction sure is weird!

[auditerrorizer]

"Oh it's not all that hard really just a hundred sit-ups a hundred push-ups a hundred squats a ten kilometer run thirty minutes of weights and thirty minutes on the exercise machines just after sunset and just before sundown every night nothing compared to what indigobloods do for a warmup!" Stelsa says. The torrent of snowballs finally stops, the other team having finally admitted defeat, and Stelsa gets up and starts brushing snow off her outfit. "Well I have to admit that was quite fun perhaps I should do this more often."

[holygrailed]

Oh my, does someone need so many names? It seems it would be awfully confusing.

[But that's perhaps the point. She only has the one name--ah, no, that's not right. Irisviel looks at the kanji stamped plainly on the back of her right hand. There's another name now.]

And now you have one more to the list as you're a god.

[eluci]

Beats me. Probably has to do with some of the answers on the cards.

[He holds up a black card that says 'During high school, I never really fit in until I found _____ club.' and a white one that says 'being on fire'.]

[kokuyoyo]

[The principle of the matter, huh? Chikusa can agree with that, because, at that low threat of a tone, he narrows his own eyes...]

[And, with a snap of his wrist, he draws a line between him and the chocolates versus Snatcher.]

No.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Fun and games are meaningless terms to Berserker. His expression doesn't change, still slightly annoyed. ]

What's the point of that distinction? They became my enemies, so I did what was necessary.

[ He doesn't understand his own Madness Enhancement. It's a dangerous thing that would need to be addressed sooner rather than later, to avoid any deadly incidents. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

Berserker.

[ A stark distinction with that name. ]

It's rude to ask a stranger's name without giving your own.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker is finished with words and stands, Gae Bolg suddenly in his hand, just waiting for him to get out of sight. The spear is a warning, yet another courtesy of his. ]