December Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: March 8, 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 midafternoon, once 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, which are spreading out even further with the onset of Spring. Strangely, there are many fewer flowering trees than might be expected.

Shinki Training

A well-appointed dojo has been prepared for newcomers to practice the 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 what look like old clothes and sheets rescued from the rag pile and hung from trees or stuffed with straw to serve as targets. Some of the children are trapping their straw-stuffed targets by dancing in circles around them, hands held as they sing the Kagome song; others are using cutting borderlines to bring sheets fluttering down.

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 interact with one of them or if you have any questions about handwaving an interaction.

Physical Training

The cherry blossoms that had begun to bloom across the Meeting Hall grounds seem to have experienced a mysterious mishap. Buds and half-opened blossoms alike have rained down from the branches, carpeting the fresh spring grass below with soggy brown and black rot. Several gardener shinki, with their sleeves tied back and sensible heavy aprons to protect their white uniforms, are raking up the fallen blossoms and trying to coax the trees back to health with powders and straw wraps to protect the trees' trunks from nightly chill. They need help: climb the trees and sprinkle the knots along the branches with invigorating powders to encourage fresh buds, or help the gardeners hold the straw in place around the tree trunks while it's wrapped with cloth, or just help rake up the dead flowers.

Besides the cherry problems, the gardens are beautiful and just beginning to burst into spring bloom. Tulips, crocuses and daffodils are sprouting everywhere, and once the borderline game is done, the child shinki are quickly organizing a garden-wide game of hide-and-go-seek. Find the best hiding spot you can, and make a break for home base as soon as you're sure the seeker is too far away to catch you! But don't run into anyone on the way.

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. A fresh springtime menu is available: lightly flower-scented teas, plum wine, and a variety of little savory or sweet snacks to nibble on while waiting for dinner. Dinner turns out to be okonomiyaki: bowls with mixed batter and a plate full of tasty add-ins are brought out, and griddles at the center of the table heated to let every guest set out their own favorite add-ins, pour batter over, and make a savory pancake. It's a little tricky to flip with the tiny spatulas provided, but it should only take a few pancake disasters to get the hang of it, probably!

After eating, a few doves will flutter into the room, dropping off scrolls to certain people, and the frazzled-looking adult shinki from the earlier training session dashes to the front of the room to try to keep everyone occupied. He's reading from a handful of printouts with corporate icebreaker ideas: pin a secret card to the back of everyone's shirt and ask whoever you meet for clues to figure out what it says! Fill out a bingo card with different skills or experiences your fellow gods and shinki have! Figure out how to stack every piece of furniture in the room onto just one table... play a game where you're only allowed to reply with questions... switch tables every five minutes and see how well you can get to know the other person there before your five minutes are up. Wait, isn't that speed dating? He seems to be running out of ideas.

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 some icebreakers
• Have fun~

Comments

Jen Scotts | ota (max 4 threads), will match format

[timeforpink]

Shinki Training

[ It's a lot to take in all at once, but Jen prefers it that way. No time to think about death and dying or even about this brand new place, her new home. She has a job to do, and she's gonna do it.

Which means training. Jen immediately likes the dojo and goes right away for a sword, swinging it with ease as she goes through some forms by herself. She's really into it, face focused and intense. After a little bit, if someone hasn't approached her first, she'll say- ]

If you need a sparring partner, I'm free right now.

[ She's pretty confident she can take you.

OR you can find her looking on wih obvious interest at the shinki practicing line. Anyone next to her gets asked- ]

Do you know how to do that? I wanna learn.


Physical Training > Rest and Refreshments

Heads up!

[ Jen hops down from a tree, landing pretty gracefully. Of course she was up there helping out. She really likes pink flowers! ]

Break time. Unless you need a hand climbing up there?


Wildcard

[ do ur worst! feel free to hmu for plotting ]

Shinki Training

[in4apounding]

Oh, that would be sensational, thank you!

[Penny's been trying a whole bunch of weapons, might as well try swording next. She picks one off the rack, testing its weight like she knows what she's doing. It feels nice, at least?]

[timeforpink]

[ Yes good, this will be good for them both. But rather than go right into it, Jen watches her first for a few seconds. ]

Do you know how to use that?

[ Not "have you ever used one before" - if she's here, she's a shinki, so she doesn't remember, and won't want to think about that anyway. Jen sure doesn't. ]

Physical Training

[trustheart]

[Chris is raking underneath the tree, when she hears Jen's warning and scrambles out of the way.]

Uh geez, give me a warning earlier next time! And I have no reason to get up there.

[timeforpink]

[ Nah. ]

It's one of the tasks being performed here. People jumping down from trees is something you should expect.

[ Fact, not bossiness. Okay maybe also bossiness. Be nice, Jen. ]

Then let's grab a bite to eat.

[ She shoots Chris an expectant look. Come on, she's hungry! ]

[trustheart]

[Bossy meet tsundere. Unstoppable force meets immovable object.]

Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't give a common courtesy!

... And you don't think it's too early?

[The look on Chris's face betrays her barely hidden hunger...]

[timeforpink]

[ A match literally made in heaven. /rimshot ]

It's the welcome banquet. I'm pretty sure they're expecting people to eat all day long.

[ And sure enough, people have been coming and going from the food tables. ]

At least have something to drink. You can't work if you're dehydrated.

[trustheart]

[Chris let out a heavy sigh.]

Sure, fine. Whatever. Mom.

[Chris is going to dub you "Maria 2", Jen.]

I'll get a glass of water, maybe a sandwich.

[timeforpink]

[ She shoots Chris a look -- excuse you, okay -- but it's hard not to laugh a little. Maybe she's mom material, or maybe she just knows how to get people to do what they need to do. ]

My name's Jen. I just got here today.

shinki training

[kokuyoyo]

[Honestly, Chikusa just came over to see how dead the place was, and if he could get a better idea of what's keeping Heaven so busy. However, there's still nothing giving away any hints... So he's just browsing through the training grounds, seeing what new people have arrived and bothered to come.]

[He's not surprised when someone asks him a question, and his gaze flicks over to the shinki training nearby.]

Borderline. Shinki?

[timeforpink]

[ Borderline. Looks useful. ]

Yes. I'm Jen. I just got here.

[kokuyoyo]

Then you'll be able to make it.... if you have the right connection with your god.

[If she's been named, in other words.]

Try it.

[timeforpink]

[ A challenge? Oh boy oh boy.

Jen copies what the young shinki are doing with their hands—pointing two fingers, aiming at the ground. With a firm "line" she draws one on the ground.

It looks more like a spark than not, but at least it ws a line-shaped spark.

Jen frowns. ]

It's harder than I thought.

[kokuyoyo]

You could just suck...

[Helpful tips from Chikusa Kakimoto, everyone. Still, he says it in a particularly bland tone of voice, not really trying to sound nasty about it... even if it's just an inherently dickish thing to say. Whether that makes it better or worse, well...]

Have you met your god?

Physical training

[nopixiedust]

[Whoa- Fortunately, Wendy is pretty sharp eyed and agile herself, despite looking like a pre-adolescent girl. She hops back, looking curiously up at Jen.]

No, I'm fine. Would you believe that I'm more than acrobatic myself?

[timeforpink]

I could, but I'd rather not assume.

[ Wendy can choose to take that as a challenge or not. Either way is fine with Jen, who appreciates Wendy's quick reaction to her warning. ]

I'm Jen.

[nopixiedust]

[The afterlife is too short to pick fights with newbie shinki. Instead, she just gives a slight nod.]

Wendy. Let me guess, no one has really given you any helpful information on what's going on here?

[timeforpink]

Not beyond the basics.

[ You know. Who her god is, what it means to be a shinki. That kind of thing. ]

I know we can learn magic, and I will, but if there's anything else you think I should know at this stage, I'd love to hear it.

[nopixiedust]

You should know that me and another lady have a table set up with plenty of information for new shinki, including how to use the phone they've given everyone, since they just shove that at you and nothing else.

[Wendy isn't saying that as someone who had no idea how to use a smart phone or anything. Don't worry about it. She's not.]

Plus, there's also a Shinki Sanctuary, in case you ever lose your god, or think they're a right bastard.

Hello, mind if I also get in on the sparring too?

[eluci]

Depends on how good you are with a blade.

['Sup Jen? There's a god hanging out near the weapons. He was looking for people he knew, but hasn't found any yet, so he's been lurking in the dojo.]

Come on down!

[timeforpink]

[ The attendant who briefed her told her the name of her god and where his temple is located, but not what he looks or sounds like. To Jen, right now this is just another guy to spar with. ]

I feel pretty confident with one.

[ She's natural, if showy. Dramatic but efficient, she thinks. ]

[eluci]

[At least they told her he was a he and not a goddess like Nyx is technically supposed to be.

Small victories.]

Good...I won't have to go as easy on you, then. Let's try a round.

[timeforpink]

[ Nice. Someone who might be a challenge. Jen gets into position to start, clearly comfortable with both sparring and with a sword. ]

[eluci]

[Well, if she's comfortable with both, then she should be okay if he takes the opportunity to strike first. He's got a wooden sword in-hand, so if it hits, it won't slice anything.

And since they're sparring, he's just going to go for a basic horizontal swing from the front.]

If you're open to a late thread- R&R

[lookingforhead]

[While the others are using their break time to rest up and have something to eat, Celty's opted for a nice walk instead. The trees might not be in the best shape, but even as they're being taken care of they're still lovely to look at and walk amongst, not to mention the rest of the gardens.

The helmeted woman leaps back in surprise as the newcomer drops down before her though, flailing slightly before touching her hand to her chest as her shoulders rise and fall in a breath of relief. Her helmet shifts to look up the tree that Jen had just been climbing, but then she gently waves her hand, declining the offer.]