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

[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. ]

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel blinks as the phone takes her picture, catching her expression in a state between a half smile and mid-blink, head slightly tilted toward. It's a very unflattering picture.]

[frenchfried]

[ she very slowly pushed the device back toward Irisviel so that she could take a look for herself. then she turned her own over and stared down at it somewhat ominously. ]

This is all so unusual. [ Avenger will just. put it down on the end table again. face down. ]

[holygrailed]

There seems to be a lot we'll have to learn.

[Irisviel pokes at the phone a little more before slipping the device into the waistband of her skirt.]

What is your impression of Berserker?

[frenchfried]

My impressions? [ Avenger took her eyes away from the device and walked over to the nearby window to get a feel for what sort of a view she would have from this side of the temple. purely for defensive measure and not that there was anything of a "view" to speak of. it gave her a moment to mull over her thoughts. ]

There's nothing to say. He is strong, respectful, yet straightforward. These grounds suit his nature and purpose, so I could say they have chosen well in giving him his duties here. [ she turned back to Irisviel and gave a shrug of her shoulders. ] As of now, I see no complications or complaints to come from serving him.

[ translation: "it's whatever." ]

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel remains where she is, hands lacing together as she watches Avenger move about the room. With her armor and weapon, the thematic similarities of their names, she has the vague notion Avenger is better suited to Berserker as a shinki. But many gods have more than one shinki and though the assignment is new to their generation, it was an assignment with meaning all the same.

They are united in a goal. That has meaning.]

I am glad you feel similar. I look forward to getting to know our god better, you as well.

[Irisviel smiles, warm and kind.]

I do hope we can get along.

[frenchfried]

[ the compatibility advantage of pure #aesthetic is not to be underestimated, but in all things there should be a balance, and Irisviel might just be that. not that Avenger particularly wants or needs that balance. she would be just fine performing her duties on her own. Avenger has half a mind to be offended that someone higher up thought her incapable of being on her own in such a position of power.

power, though, is something that can come from numbers as much as anything. and since influence is what governs the strength of their god - and, indirectly, their place as shinki - Avenger can easily admit that someone like Irisviel would be more popular with the common folk. call it a hunch.




sometimes, Avenger really hates feeling right. ugh. seeing how much of that other woman she can see in Irisviel brings something of a pout to her lips. ]

All that's important is that we can communicate clearly when we must.

[holygrailed]

[There is steel and there is silk; both have their applications and strengths and weaknesses. Irisviel's charming and cheerful can be just as detrimental with the wrong crowd.

She inclines her head toward Avenger, disagreeing on what is only important, but it's not a point to press. They've only met and there is so much to learn and take in. If they are to get along, it will be through time.]

I'm always happy to talk if you would like to.

I'm going to take inventory of the kitchen before I return to the training grounds. If you would like me to cook anything, let me know.

[frenchfried]

As you like...

[ that didn't seem to interest her much, but Avenger didn't want to just sit around in this room alone with that device. ]

You said there was storage for weaponry? I'll be there if you need anything. [ the implication of "it had better be important" is in her tone but, again, no expectation. it's a day of getting used to their new environment so she'll probably check out the kitchen just as a formality. so long as it has the basic utilities it will be enough. all she would truly need is a fire pit and a sharp blade if desperate enough. ]

[holygrailed]

Yes, take the stairs down to the basement.

[Irisviel smiles and gives a small nod of her head before departing for the kitchen. It fits the rest of the temple in terms of style and mood. The appliances are functional if not a little dated, and the fridge and pantry are surprisingly stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, bread, and meat. Perhaps ironic given none of the inhabitants actually need to eat and the chances of guests coming over seem low, but it's pleasant seeing how prepared things are.

It's entirely superfluous, but after taking stock of everything, Irisviel takes out a large pot and begins gathering ingredients for stew.]