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

[chibisu]

A - Morning

[Ebisu's skyscraper temple, and all the smaller buildings clustered in his land hidden behind brick walls and metal poles, stand out quite a bit from his fellow gods there in the Central District. Shining glass, towering metal... And a sizable parking lot of tar and concrete. Definitely a departure from the more traditional Japanese buildings many other old gods in the Central District seem to prefer. In a way, he almost matches with some of the newer gods which have joined their ranks, whose temples are quite unconventional as well.]

[Usually, the parking lot-like area before his temple proper is empty, and quiet... but today, that's not quite so. Instead, today in the parking lot, a variety of heavy construction equipment has been gathered. All of it is absolutely filthy from a combination of ash and dirt and general use... but that's apparently being taken care of.]

[There are a whole lot of people in the parking lot- recognizable as some of Ebisu's many shinki to those who've visited- all armed with hoses, buckets filled with soapy water, and sponges. For once in who knows how long, they're not dressed in the usual business attire which is so common for Ebisu's shinki, but... actual regular clothes? Clothes that, in other words, won't be too badly missed from a cleaning session.]

[While this should be a basic cleaning, some of his shinki are apparently taking the time out of the office really well. Some of them spray the water- not great in such gold weather- at their coworkers, who promptly swear. Others throw sponges at one another, sometimes in retaliation to above spraying.]

[And there, standing nearby and out of the blast radius of Wet, is Ebisu. He's not wearing a tiny little suit, or a waistcoat, or any of his usual too-formal attire. No, like his shinki, he's in something casual, a dark colored t-shirt with a white galaxy sort of pattern on it. It's... very clearly not his, considering that it's many sizes too big for a child, but he seems rather happy. Whenever one of his shinki manages to get someone, he claps his hands excitedly.]

[It's all quite the noisy affair! Perhaps enough to draw someone's attention? Well, hopefully there are no stray sprays of water or thrown sponges...]

B - Training

[Now this is... unusual. As someone who always attends the little god introductory lessons despite how utterly unneeded it is for him, the change in both schedule and shinki immediately has Ebisu's attention. The same for the two shinki who are accompanying him, who exchange quiet look with one another.]

[Unlike his shinki, Ebisu isn't afraid to ask questions. Instead, now clad in his usual attire (much like how his shinki are wearing suits now), Ebisu approaches someone to ask something.]

Do you know where Amaterasu-sama's shinki are? There are usually more, and there are some lessons...

[His shinki might end up having him leave early today... Changes in Heaven like this are usually nothing good.]

A - Morning

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel's meandering walk to her temple takes her through the Central District. The temples, the landscapes, they're all very magnificent. Among all the tradition architecture, the skyscraper rising up is impossible to miss. Curiosity draws her in and she finds herself wandering onto the parking lot.]

Oh my, what an fun sight.

[She smiles at Ebisu.]

Do you want to join them?

[chibisu]

Oh, no.

[Turning his head, Ebisu smiles up at the woman who's wandered in. He hasn't seen he before, but the Heavens are always changing. There's no reason to be concerned, probably.]

If I joined, I might get sick, and they would all raise a fuss. I'm still learning how to throw things properly as well.

[One day he'll surprise them all! ...Just not today.]

[holygrailed]

It does seem a little cold to splash around...

[He does look quite young. Can they still get sick here? An interesting idea. Irisviel looks back at the shinki busy at work (and play).]

This is a very interesting temple. Do you know what kind of god resides here?

[chibisu]

I don't entirely understand it myself, but everyone seems to quite appreciate it!

[So if they're happy, he's happy. He couldn't have imagined this would happen from simply cleaning the equipment, but that just means it's a bonus side effect.]

[Maybe one day he'll realize that it was the troublemakers' intent to cause a little bit of shenanigans to lighten the air.]

[For now, he's much more preoccupied with her question, and cheerfully offer his hand to her.]

That would be myself. I'm Ebisu, God of Fortune for commerce and fishing. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[holygrailed]

[Oh! Irisviel's eyes widen, cheeks reddening. A child can be a god? She smiles and laughs off her embarrassment, shaking his hand.]

It is a pleasure to meet you too. I'm Irisviel von Einzbern, I've only arrived today. I'm on my way to find my temple and god.

[chibisu]

Oh!

[That's- surprising, and Ebisu blinks up at her for a moment with wide eyes as he takes that in.]

You weren't asked to stay at the meeting hall...?

A - Morning

[unlucky7]

[Ginia is happy to see the rest of her temple enjoying themselves, taking a moment in a serious task to have a bit of fun even if the weather isn't the most appropriate. She gamely sprays her fellow shinki back with the hose, finger pressed over the nozzle for increased pressure and aim, dodging and blocking with borderlines as retaliation sprays back her way.

But her mood isn't all there. The moments in between as she goes back to spraying down the construction equipment, her expression is sober, contemplative, a resigned sadness carrying on the emotional link.]

[chibisu]

[The weather is definitely not appropriate, but, then, that might explain why those who've started this whole mess are getting some serious retaliation. It's cold, you assholes!]

[Everyone is very careful not to hit their small god who's standing not very far away, however, so Ebisu is fortunately still dry by the time he starts to wander over in Ginia's direction. He's been trying to understand things like this more, just enjoying moments with no consideration for money, and he thought that would help lighten up the feeling coming from Ginia... but, if it's still here...]

Jitsumi... Did something happen recently?

[He blinks up at her, having wandered over when the spray is not so frantically flying everywhere.]

[unlucky7]

[On some level, Ginia knew it was a matter of time before one of her gods came wandering over. She passes the hose off to another shinki and dries off her hands on her pants before fishing her phone out from an inside pocket, moving her and Ebisu away from the possible splash zone.]

Sorry.

I found out a friend of mine disappeared today. Sent home. Wherever new shinki move onto when we leave. He left me a letter so I wonder if he knew or had them written just in case.

[chibisu]

[Obediently enough, Ebisu follows her, especially since he knows a lot of his shinki are trying to avoid getting him too wet. It would be bad if he got hit in the face with a freezing wet sponge. Although maybe his luck wouldn't be that bad.... More the opposite, probably.]

[At her words, understanding passes over his face, and he reaches up to take one of her hands for a brief moment. Only a moment- he understands how important they are for her so that she can talk.]

Do you want to talk about his absence?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia squeezes Ebisu's hand, grateful for the slight contact. Her hands are important for so many reasons, so it only makes physical contact feel more meaningful. Her mood lessens a little and she manages a smile.]

I do.

[It's hard to admit, but she's trying. At the very least, she owes that to Lancer, for the words in his letter. To herself too, and her gods.]

I know people leave without notice. One of the strange things of our generation.

He's the first person to leave that I was close to though.

[chibisu]

[He's glad to know that, even though their partnership has only been so long and in such a large temple, she's still willing to talk with him. It feels a little easier, somehow, than talking with the others. Maybe this way, he can advance to being a better god for them all.]

[Patiently, he listens, and nods slowly.]

It's something I don't understand either... [The disappearances, the knowledge of names, the ability to remember memories that normal shinki would forget...] In that way, it's almost very human of all of you.

What was he like?

B

[sageprincess]

[Zelda is watching the goings-on of training from the sidelines, a focused sharpness to her eyes when Ebisu approaches. She blinks, mildly surprised when the boy addresses her, but his question mirrors more that a few of her own.]

I had wondered the same, but asking the one left behind about it only seemed to annoy him. He said if we found out, we should tell him, as he obviously has not been informed as to what is keeping everyone so busy.

[She brings a hand to her chin in thought.]

I would imagine they must be working on something of great importance if so few men can be spared to greet the newcomers...

[Whether that's a good or a bad thing is yet to be seen.]

[chibisu]

[So at least this god has been able to find some more information... even if it's only that the shinki that are here are just as ignorant as the rest of them. It's definitely not giving him any reassurance, and he can tell it's the same for Takami and Kiwami. The two are still looking uneasy, and Takami leans into whisper something to his partner.]

I see... If it's something like that, then perhaps something came up with no forewarning, and it required many people on hand. Still, for no one to know...

[Either the shinki she asked is lying, or, well. He's not sure. Anything he can think of does a disservice to the Heavens' reputation, such as thinking that they're not as organized as his own. Still....]

Do you plan on staying for very long to see if the situation changes?

[sageprincess]

... During my time here, I have yet to hear of a crisis that might have endangered the populace of the Heavens or our followers after the fact, so I can only assume whatever requires so much attention is not something immediately dangerous to us or our own...

[A cold comfort, to be sure, but it's not as though there's much else they can say to narrow down the possibilities. Something is being planned, and it's unlikely that anyone outside of Amaterasu's immediate circle is going to know what it is until it's ready.

... Unless someone were to sneak in, she supposes. Though no doubt Amaterasu's temple is warded specifically against that. She shrugs lightly.]

But I shall stay as long as my shinki wish to. If something should happen, better for me to already be here rather than rushing in late. [She glances up briefly to Takami and Kiwami, noting their clear discomfort, but, as a virtual stranger, not wanting to point it out. Carefully, she instead adds:] ... And yourself?

[chibisu]

Mm, that all makes sense. If they needed any additional help, I'm certain that they would request it, after all.

[At least, he hopes that the would. The downside to this is that none of them, old or new, might be told about what it is that the Heavens are up to, even if it may affect the rest of them overall.]

[Ebisu is certain that this is a reassurance to some gods. It is Heaven's duty to look after the Far Shore and not have the rest of them get concerned over matters that aren't in their own domains. At the same time, all it does is make him all the more curious. Is this really the way things should go?]

Oh, my shinki are wondering if perhaps we should leave early. I think they're rather nervous at this sudden and unexpected change of routine.

[sageprincess]

[More than most of the "new" generation, Zelda understands the need for a bit of secrecy when it comes to rulership and administration. The person at the top will always have a target painted upon them, and so measures must be taken to protect them. Weaknesses must be hidden; gaps in information must be obscured. That is what it means to be in power.

But this...? It's blatant enough to be concerning, especially knowing there are those who suspect the existence of traitors within Amaterasu's trusted circle.

Zelda hopes she will be alright.]

Is that so. That would not be an unwise course of action, I would say, but... [She glances back up to them again.] ... May I ask what they believe this change in routine might herald?

[give her your theories--]

B

[pirateofdragons]

No, I haven't seen them at all.

[It really is different compared to how these things usually go.]

[chibisu]

I see.... That's very strange.

[Needless to say.]

I hope it hasn't caused too much of a bother for you and the rest of your generation.

B

[boneofsword]

[Archer recognizes him, even if they only met briefly during the forest rescue. One of the old gods, though just as lost as the new ones.]

I have no idea. Neither has the one they left behind to tend to new arrivals. [he narrows his eyes in thought. It's suspicious, given the absence of any shinki around, which doesn't bode well.]

[chibisu]

Yes... That's what Metis-sama said as well, that she had asked and not gotten very much information in turn.

[So nothing said even to a fellow shinki... He rubs his chin.]

There shouldn't be any festivals around this time of year which would require all of Amaterasu-sama's shinki and attention. It has to be something more serious than that.

[boneofsword]

[If Archer had not met Ebisu earlier he'd guess his status from this little mention. None of the new gods use their god title while referring to others.]

As serious as cultists making their next move, I suppose. [a shrug.]

[chibisu]

If it's that sort of thing, then surely they could benefit from assistance...

[From even the new gods. Perhaps especially from the new gods, in his opinion, considering what he knows of it. Although if it has to do with the cult... Nervously, he glances to the side.]

Or perhaps it has to do with the rogue gods...

[boneofsword]

Or both. [Archer narrows his eyes. His next question is aimed at Ebisu's shinki rather than him.] Has anything similar happened before the new gods started to appear?