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

[hypomeneo]

Shockingly so. [And here's some of that jadedness bubbling up again.] ... I didn't expect the level of it. [Frown.] People in these situations are usually not so good natured.

[Waver dips his head as he grabs another apple slice. The hunger is... another thing he's discovering, but he is now dead and a separate existence from the stranger he was when alive. Different people and Waver is unconsciously weaving that logic to protect himself, as simple avoidance won't be enough for a shinki like him.

The rules are different. So why shouldn't he constantly crave?]

... a God of Fortune? Are you referring to a new arrival or one of the Old Gods, by chance?

[holygrailed]

Perhaps it says something about the gathered personalities.

[A willingness to serve? A good heart and patience? A desire to help? Irisviel doesn't judge the entire community based off her small sample, but that so many have been outwardly kind and helpful is reassuring.]

One of the old gods. Ebisu. He's quite friendly.

[hypomeneo]

Maybe.

[Definitely a cynic, this one, when it comes to human nature. Perhaps that's a natural disposition, or something left over from the person he used to be.]

I should ring him up, then, one of these days. Was it a good chat? I imagine he has some interesting stories about what this place gets up to.

[holygrailed]

Very much so! I learned a lot from him about some of the other gods and what a God of Fortune entails.

[She giggles, cheeks blushing as she remembers her earlier mistake. Child gods, that'll be a thing to get used to. So well-mannered though.]

Don't be surprised at how young he looks though. I thought he was a shinki when I spoke to him. [A beat, expression turning contemplative as she looks around the room.] There are so many children around today, aren't there.

[hypomeneo]

[Waver blinks.] He's a kid?

[Okay, outburst aside, that... tracks? Waver feels it tracks. There's no reason a god needs to have adult or even human form. No reason for human morality and logic either. Just some sort of internal logic as everything functions by their own rules. But... kid. Okay, and Irisviel thought he was shinki. ... and yeah, there are a lot of them around and that's both weird and has been acknowledged as weird. They act like kids too.]

There are...

Perhaps Amaterasu favors children? Otherwise... I feel things might be a little better handled by having a few more adults around.

[Waver is being much more careful talking about this after cooling down from his initial outburst upon waking up and getting the runaround. This is because in part he's talked to a variety of other people... and he's thrown off a lot of the initial shock waking up completely amnesic brought him.

Hopefully it will dismissed as that. Panic driving his reaction and the poor setup exasperating it.

Also he will get to the other gods and what a God of Fortune entails eventually. Hopefully. What flow of conversation permits will tell.]

[holygrailed]

[Under Ebisu's usual appearances - dressed well, flanked by his shinki - Irisviel might have picked up he was a god. But a child dressed casually, sitting far away from the others splashing (and working), it was an easy mistake to make. It doesn't change the fact there are still a lot of children shinki around.

It's tragic they died so young, but perhaps there is mercy this way. They seem happy. Perhaps Amaterasu does favor children.]

Yes, it would. This does not appear to be how training is usually run. I was told by others there's usually a pamphlet given out and more direct training. Though at least there were no violent corpses attacking people this time.

[hypomeneo]

I don't know. A zombie invasion would have made my day complete.

[Deadpanning to hell and back. Right, wait a minute, he actually met Ebisu. Did he forget that? It's been A DAY.

... and there's this lovely scotch in front of him. Time for a hard swallow of liquor.]

Some kind souls filled me in and told me much the same. Minus the corpses. [Or did they? The RP IC knowledge Space-Time continuum is a mysterious, ever changing thing.] They left that charming part out.

... haven't heard why everything's so over the place, but I have a feeling they'd rather not say.

[holygrailed]

I did hear of a cult causing problems. I wonder if it's related to that?

[The actions of the cult do seem to be a long-term problem, but anyone's that's kidnapped people for rituals or set off a volcano is a cause for concern. Given the reason they're here, Irisviel didn't expect things to be perfect in any regard, but to have problems so close... it's troubling.

She eats another piece of chocolate, finger idly tracing out a string of sigils on the tabletop. It's a strange sort of comfort even if she can't remember where the signs are from.]

Time will tell, I think.

[hypomeneo]

It could be... [Waver lowers the glass from his lips and stares down into the liquid.] Who knows what Heaven's concerns are at the moment.

[Waver looks oddly at the traced sigils, before lifting a finger and completing a few arcane signs with their imprint left in the tablecloth and adding a few of his own.

He can't remember but it is comforting.]

Time will tell.

[This they can agree on.]

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel studies his additions, knowing on an unconscious level they're correct. She looks at Waver, mouth parting as a question springs to mind, but she swallows it.

What's the point in asking a shinki a question about their origins? A handful of matching sigils mean nothing, especially when she can't even trace the source herself. Irisviel frowns briefly, a sigh escaping as she adds more sigils.

A barrier, a bounded field, a single string in so many layers and rings.]

Let us be friends, Waver Velvet. We are both new and acquainted with each other's gods. It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement, no?

[hypomeneo]

[Waver traces signs of protection to add to the working. Strengthening of defense, redirection of enemies' strength to be used to bolster their own, charms of fortune and good health in battle. A sigil to draw like-minded allies to their cause.

They're performing a working of something upon this tablecloth. A dry run, but who knows of what.]

Indeed. I can find no reason to oppose such an alliance, my lady Irisviel.

[He raises his glass of scotch in a toast.]

To friendship.

[holygrailed]

[Wards to repel, sigils to detect. Repeat in circles again and again, bind to an area and make it permanent with reagents and engravings. These are things she knows and understands and as she stares at the things they've temporarily etched into a theoretical existence, Irisviel smiles. It's good to have allies and good to have friends. Her offer is genuine and from a place of care, but it's nice to find reliable and talented people right away.

Of the three of her temple, she is the most personable. It'll be up to her to lay down the groundwork.

She raises her tea cup to Waver.]

To friendship. Will you be staying around the site?

[hypomeneo]

Not for long. It's been an exhausting day, and my god would rather see me safe at his temple before meeting with others.

[Taking another long sip of scotch.

... when there, he'll continue drinking or pass out face first on the couch. Whatever comes first.

(The stress coma. IT'S BEEN A DAY.)]

[holygrailed]

Yes, there is a lot to process. [Being dead, serving a god, the cults trying to dismantle things, it's definitely a lot. Even within her contemplative moment, a sincere smile returns easily enough.] But I'm sure the following days will be better.

[The people here are friendly, her god is considerate. There is so much to see and learn and she'll take it a day at a time. And if the more cynical were correct about the state of the place then that too will be faced as it happens.]

Please feel free to visit my temple if you're in the area!

[hypomeneo]

... hopefully. I think I shall be gray if all days match up with today. Never mind we shouldn't age.

[But there's one question and matter of protocol that needs to be cleared up. Berserker has an old air around him, just like Iskandar does, and Waver feels the need to be sure on this point as not to cause conflict between their two gods.]

Would your god be alright with that? I extend the same invitation to you, as long as it's fine with Iskandar.

[holygrailed]

Oh yes. I've already asked about inviting people over and he said I was free to do as I wanted.

[If there's anyone that will serve as the friendly face of the temple, it'll be Irisviel before Avenger or Berserker. It's not as if she'll host a dinner party every week - though wouldn't that be fun - but it won't hurt having people drop by now and then.]

I should warn the temple is... hmm, dour, one might say, but there's a charm to it too.

[hypomeneo]

Ah. That's good to know. Is there anything the household should prefer if I bring a small gift, such as wine?

[Honestly, if anyone is serving as the friendly face of his temple, it's Iskandar himself. His god is quite the gregarious one.

Though Waver senses he doesn't really care for the day to day intricacies of diplomacy, for all Iskandar could talk anyone around. So a gift, as is proper, as a showing of goodwill from his temple. Though speaking of his temple...]

... sober sounds more than charming. Really.

[A weak smile.]

The grounds at my temple are fine, but the building itself likes to trap and tease anyone not accompanied by one of us. It's best not to walk in alone and unaware it enjoys playing tricks.

[GODDAMNIT TEMPLE.]

[holygrailed]

[A gift... There's a thoughtful tilt of Irisviel's head as she considers what the rest of her temple would like. Berserker doesn't seem to be the kind who would turn down a gift, though she's inclined to believe he wouldn't place much stock in the gift as well. Avenger, on the other hand, feels like a bad gift would offend her.]

I'm afraid I cannot say yet what the others would like or dislike. I'll tell you if I know, but I also believe the gesture would be appreciated with whatever the gift is.

[She pauses and smiles.]

Though flowers would add color to everything.

[It's a dour place, but it's her place. She blinks at Waver's description of his temple, a giggle escaping.]

My, what a lively sounding place. I'll be sure to let you know in advance if I come visit. Shall I bring a gift as well?

[hypomeneo]

[Waver breathes a laugh.]

Alright. Color never hurts.

[He'll bring her a rose bush, then. If it's so drab, then bringing living things to overtake it with color seems like the only gift to grant.

Wine seems safe enough, otherwise. Mead or metheglin or melomel might also be wise choices.]

That's one way to put it.

[Lively.]

I don't think Iskandar would ever turn down something like wine. Satya... is harder to read. Maybe something warm? Otherwise a good book? We have a collection.

...er, sheep too. It seems to be a thing.

[holygrailed]

[Wine and something warm or a book. She'll have to give that some thought before she comes for a visit. However, there's a more important thought to focus on at the moment.]

Sheep? You have sheep?

[hypomeneo]

[Deadpan]

We have sheep. And sheep themed items in the Temple.

My god and Exemplar are apparently sheep people.

[holygrailed]

Sheep people?

[The image of Iskandar holding a fluffy sheep in his arms and wearing a wooly cap with ram horns spiraling out the sides pops unbidden into her mind. Irisviel dissolves into giggles, hand pressed against her mouth.

Maybe a sheep-related present would be good if she visits.]

[hypomeneo]

[Yep. Like cat people but with woolies. Waver smiles despite himself as Irisviel breaks into giggles.]

Sheep people.

... I suppose bulls too for my god, but the sheep really stand out.