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

Giant's Grave

[frenchfried]

[ Avenger had been wandering the grounds in an effort to take stock of the environment and get some sort of picture of what kind of God was seated here. she heard the faint echo of the knocking from her position and moved to the front just in time to see the door closing behind someone who had let themselves inside.

though she had not yet formed any sense of attachment to the Temple beyond what she was here to do, the idea of a stranger intruding upon the grounds did not sit well with her. quick footsteps took her to and through the front door, the wind whipping her hair about her back as the draft carrier cold air inside with her. ]

If you are here to worship, I suggest you do so outside. [ her "suggestion" was stated firmly, but there was no aggression in her tone or posture. Avenger's general gloomy visage and armored figure should do that work for her. ]

[holygrailed]

[Who leaves a dress neatly folded up and placed inside the glove box of a car? this is what Irisviel ponders as she enters the temple, a white-and-gold dress rescued draped over her arm. She's on her way toward the stairs when the door opens behind her, turning as the armored woman address her.

Irisviel pauses, taking in the long white hair that surpasses hers in length and her pale skin. The lighting in the best - hmm, she'll have to replace the bulbs in the fixtures - so she can't make out the other woman's eye color. How very strange.]

You are mistaken. I am not a worshipper, but a resident of this temple. [Irisviel's tone is polite and she holds herself firm and measured.] I am Irisviel von Einzbern, shinki to Berserker. And you are?

[frenchfried]

[ though the lighting may be poor, with the door at her back Avenger has no issues making out the finer details of the figure before her. she supposes introductions could have been performed better, but hey, at least she didn't point either of her weapons first and ask questions later.

then again she also doesn't appreciate being told she had made a mistake at the outset. Avenger's mouth turned up into a sneer briefly before she tore her eyes away from Irisviel to look at the entryway instead. ]

An easy error to make. [ she also stopped to half-turn and look outside behind her, seeing if their god was approaching the temple, too. seeing that was not the case, she stepped inside and closed the door behind herself. ]

It seems we owe our allegiance to the same god; the same purpose. [ it could be something about that fact making her feel some semblance of pride in herself, or the way Irisviel delivered her full name so formally, but Avenger's mind let her own full name slip. ]

I am Jeanne d'Arc. [ a beat, a hardening of her expression. ] —but you will call me Avenger. [ "will" not "may". her own slip-up is not to be repeated back to her under any circumstances. just uttering that name seems to leave a bad taste in her mouth. she won't let anyone else dare recite it. ]

[holygrailed]

[The change in Irisviel's demeanor is instant. She knew from Berserker there would be another shinki living with them and with her here, there is an instant burst of excitement and joy (sorry, Berserker). Her cool Lady of the House attitude drops as her expression lights up into a broad grin, rushing forward to take a closer look at her fellow shinki.]

I'm so happy to meet you, Avenger! Please, call me Irisviel. I do hope we get along. Have you already been shown around?

[She considers the dress in her hand and holds it up, sizing up Avenger. The color doesn't seem to suit her, but they're very close in height.]

I found this in the car, is it yours?

[frenchfried]

[ the sudden approach causes Avenger's aloof demeanor to fail and for her to take a half-step back. that was a contagious sort of enthusiasm and she doesn't want to catch any of it. ]

I- Huh? No, I have not been inside the Temple until now. [ then she took a look down at the dress. what was the woman doing? Avenger shook her head. ] And no, that isn't mine. The color wouldn't suit me.

[ white and gold. how, how... holy. the word also carried with it some deep bitterness that she couldn't find the root of. not that it mattered. any time her mind felt something to that end she made a conscious effort to disregard it, for the dangers that could come along with trying to investigate the cause too deeply. ]

[holygrailed]

[The mystery continues. Irisviel drapes the dress back over her arm. She'll try it on later. It's a strange way to find a dress, but if no one else claims it, might as well put it to use. For now, there are more important things to tend to.]

Would you like to choose your room then? Or perhaps I can show you around? Are you hungry? There's food in the kitchen.

[The urge to make sure Avenger is cared for is inexplicable, but it feels right too.]

[frenchfried]

[ it's not out of the ordinary to cooperate with her fellow shinki, but still the degree at which Irisviel moves through every phase of hospitality like that leaves Avenger feeling anything but eager. ]

I can select a room? [ that. well, okay, in all fairness she didn't have a reason to suspect that it wouldn't be the case, but it's somehow odd to her as a concept. ] I don't feel any need to eat as of now.

[holygrailed]

There are plenty of rooms upstairs, please choose the one you like the most.

[Irisviel steps aside so Avenger can head upstairs, though Avenger won't be rid of her so easily. She was on her way to her room anyway so now they're heading in the same convenient direction.]

I'm sure there's plenty you want to do and see today, but I hope the three of us can eat together at some point.

[frenchfried]

I have no particular preference. [ except once Avenger is at the top of the stairs she chooses the very first door and opens it without a second thought to poke her head inside and look. ]

Is this one occupied? Are there any others besides us who will be residing here?

[holygrailed]

[It's a well-furnished room in an older style with elaborately carved dark wood furniture. The curtains are open to let light in and the bed is made with a thick quilt, but it's not quite lived in either.]

This room is mine. The one next to it is Berserker's. The three of us are the only residents, but there's plenty of space for guests if they wish to stay overnight.

[Which probably won't be any time soon given how new they are and the intimidation factor of the overall temple. But perhaps in time!]

[frenchfried]

[ honestly, the grounds were suitable in appearance and overall mood for two of the three of them. it's Irisviel that seems out of place amidst all of this.

her gaze lingered on the interior for a moment before Avenger retreated back into the hall and shut the door. ] Hm. I don't plan to invite anyone over, myself.

[ Avenger does an about-face and goes to the door directly across from this one and opens it. regardless of the contents or amenities, she announces: ] This will do.

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel reopens the door to her room and steps in to drape the dress across her bed, rejoining Avenger in the hall.]

Wonderful, we'll all be in close range of each other. Were you going to stay around the temple or are you thinking about heading back to the training session?

[frenchfried]

[ oh. it was kind of rude for Avenger to just shut the door like that, huh. oops. ]

I was not particularly welcome in the training hall. [ she stepped into her room to take a better look around. ] They would not let me in unless I relinquished my weapons in favor of the dull variety. Obviously, it would have been foolish to trust a stranger with them.

[ rather than bother with a rack of any sort, Avenger simply propped her standard in the corner, leaving the cords about it to keep the flag wrapped about the end. ]

[holygrailed]

[The specific style of furniture in each room varies, but they're all furnished similarly: bed with pillows and sheets provided, a chest for storage, a wardrobe, a desk or table, and an end table. There wasn't much else in the rooms, though Irisviel did find a modern smartphone in the end table with a cable and charger, and a radio and a few books in the chest. Further exploring found the bathrooms already stocked with soap, shampoo, and hairbrushes and combs.]

I can only imagine they were thinking of safety, but what would have happened if something happened to your weapons? Who would be held responsible? Let no one take your sword, Avenger.

[Irisviel admires the wrapped flag. A curious thing to have.]

There's an armory in the basement if you wish to store things there as well. There is also a variety of weapons.

[frenchfried]

[ the overall look appeases her. though the object on the table catches her eye and she moves to inspect it. Avenger's still got half her attention on Irisviel, at least, appreciating that they can agree on the handling of one's weapons. ]

I am... fine with what I have... [ she picked up the phone and turned it this way and that. then she tugged on what she had assumed was a smooth rope of some kind but it plopped off of it rather easily to clatter onto the floor. ]

What? What is this?

[holygrailed]

[At the sound of something clattering, Irisviel moves further into the room to take a look.]

Oh, I found one of those in my room too! One moment.

[Irisviel hurries back into her room to retrieve the phone she left on the nightstand, bringing it back to compare it to Avenger's. They're identical, even to the icons on the screen.]

Ah... there's an icon for calling. This must a phone?

[frenchfried]

A... what?

[ she takes off one of her gauntlets and gloves so that she can feel the surface better. when her finger runs across a bump on the side that makes the screen come to life, she nearly drops it out of surprise. the look on her face persists even after the LCD dims again and Irisviel has returned. ]

Did you see that?

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel presses the same button on her phone, the screen coming to life. The background is a generic geometric pattern, colorful icons with small white labels laid out on a grid. She presses one of the buttons on the side and the volume slider pops open, the phone giving a small beep. She presses it again and it beeps again as the volume tics up. A giggle escapes.]

I didn't have anything on me when I arrived and found it in the bedroom. You found one in the bedroom too...I wonder if everyone gets one?

[frenchfried]

[ Avenger rolls her eyes as Irisviel apparently finds this all amusing. was she laughing at her ignorance? that had best not be the case... ] Yes, yes, this is all entertaining, I'm sure.

What is its purpose?

[holygrailed]

Communication, I think?

[Her words aren't entirely confident though. Some of the icons are straightforward enough: the colorful icon that looks like a phone receiver labeled phone makes sense. Camera also makes sense, though that's not right; where does the film go? But email? Messenger? Network? There's a logic she can parse out.

YouTube? Facebook? Completely lost.

Therefore the best solution is to poke buttons, right?

Irisviel presses the camera button, a tiny "oh!" escaping as the screen displays the floor and her feet, moving as she swings the phone around.]

[frenchfried]

[ the object seemed to go crystal clear in an instant, but as Avenger watched closer it was delayed heavily and the coloration and lighting was off from what she could see around Irisviel's grasp. she just sort of stared. ]

Is it magecraft? [ for some reason the desire to ask if it was the work of a witch, specifically, twisted itself into that wording instead. once more the strange subject with unique context that Avenger has zero basis for.

her eyes aren't glimmering. it's just the light, okay? ]

[holygrailed]

No... I don't think so.

[Magecraft Irisviel understands in an innate, unhesitating way and this strange isn't it. It's closer to the realm of technology, though this is far more advanced than anything that comes to mind (which isn't much right now). She lifts the phone and points it at Avenger, awkwardly poking the round circle at the bottom and jostling the phone in the process.

Click.]

[frenchfried]

[ Avenger froze instantly, staring right at the device in Irisviel's hand when it clicked at her. ]

What did it just do?

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel turns the phone around to show the picture of Avenger's shocked face, slightly blurry, a finger covering the bottom of the frame.]

Isn't that incredible? I wonder if to tell how much film is left?

[frenchfried]

[ Avenger makes an even weirder face. ] It's - like a mirror, but... [ she reaches out to poke the screen, tentatively, but the tap of her armored finger against the surface is far duller than expected.

click.

oh. there's that, too. ]