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

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[The only thing worse than being stuck in a tree is being stuck in a tree and looking foolish in front of a girl.]

I have to be thorough! But if a cute girl desires my presence on the ground, I can't very well disoblige, can I?

[He shifts his weight slightly and is rewarded by an ominous creak from the tree branch.]

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsuabsa stares up at him, nonplussed. She doesn't even really react to the compliment.

You get a lot of those from strangers as an idol, anyway. Upon hearing the creak though, her eyebrow raises, and she states calmly:] That's going to break.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'm man enough to admit that that's something of an issue. Hey, I don't suppose you could check over there to see if there's a convenient rope or something?

<[Edge points over to the borderline training area, even as the branch cracks and he jerks down another few inches.]

[beyondtheblade]

[She looks back and forth. There's tools and supplies and things, but...

She shrugs and moves away for a moment, returning with said rope. Tsubasa is nothing if not quick to act.]

You realize this will have to be braced against something, preferably the trunk.

[Effortlessly, she chucks one end of it up at him.] Before that breaks, which won't be long.

[Idly, she realizes she could solve this a lot easier herself, but - that's not what he asked for.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Truth be told, Edge had been hoping to use the time she went looking to get down with less dignity than he preferred anyone see -- but heck, she was quick! He'd barely gotten himself into a better position to jump before she'd popped back. Just his luck there was actually some rope there today!]

[Oh well, this works. Edge catches the rope, then draws a throwing knife from his belt and stabs it through one end. Pulling up a few lengths into his hand, he flicks the knife down towards the larger trunk, where it whirls around twice before thunking into the bark.]

All right, clear the landing area!

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa ... slides back a couple of feet. To be honest, she's fully prepared to have to catch him if the start of the situation is any indication, so she doesn't want to go too far, but she also does not wish for him to land on her, so... far enough. She figures she's fast enough should the worst happen.

Hopefully.]

Carefully, I am morally certain the blossoms will not break your fall.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Ha! I'm certain they don't need to!

[He might have gotten up here out of arrogance and pride, but that doesn't mean he has no skills at all! He twists, shedding the net of entangling branches lightly, then yanks hard on the rope as he begins to fall. The tug pulls him in towards the tree's trunk, where his legs flex to absorb the impact; then he kicks off, flips, and lands lightly on the ground in a swirl of cape.]

[beyondtheblade]

Well, then.

[She's glad she didn't have to dodge him plummeting to the ground.]

I suppose you do have some skill, at least.

[She still idly thinks her ninja assistant wouldn't have had that trouble in the first place, but what can you do?]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Edge is not without his flaws, and pride is what got him into that situation. Boy, does he hate to look less than cool in front of a girl!]

Hey, I could have gotten out of that easily -- but it wasn't the tree's fault, and it didn't deserve to be harmed!

[That's true, at least. He could have just broken branches or the like.]

[beyondtheblade]

I would hope not, I believe I would be making you answer for it, otherwise.

[She doesn't really ... have a tone like she's joking. Because Tsubasa isn't much of a joker to start with.]

Well, better both you and the tree is unharmed, then.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'm as happy as can be that you're glad I'm unharmed!

[Edge gives the rope an expert twitch, just enough to dislodge the knife so the whole thing tumbles to the round. With swift motions, he begins coiling it up.]

The name's Edge. May I have the pleasure of yours?

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa gives an appraising nod to how he handles the rope. She'll still file aside that she found him stuck in a tree, but perhaps that was just a fluke.

She gives a slight bow of her head in greeting.]

Kazanari Tsubasa. I have only recently arrived here.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I knew that had to be the case, because I couldn't have failed to notice and remember you! [Sorry, he's just like this.] Well, my condolences for you ending up here, but if there's anything I can do to make it better for you, I'm at your command.

[beyondtheblade]

Ah, of course. [Don't worry, he can't be worse than the people she already knows.]

It is... quite an inconvenience, but I appreciate it. People here have at least been very accommodating. I will bear that in mind. Are you a... god, or shinki, if I might ask?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'm but a mere shinki. Just as you must be a goddess, by all appearances!

[Edge is pleased with this; it's one of his better lines.]

[beyondtheblade]

[Sadly, flattery sails right over her head. Being an internationally famous idol does that. So does being kind of stupid about such things, which is also true for her.

So, she just nods firmly.]

Yes, I have been assigned as the God Susanoo.

[She just says it. Completely seriously, but gives an impressed nod.] You must be very perceptive!

[Why is she like this.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Honestly it's better than her being annoyed or put off by it, so who's complaining?]

I'd say that's not one I'm familiar with, but being honest, that's all of them. [Edge can only shrug. Shinki memory, different worlds, everything.] I hope it suits you?

[beyondtheblade]

[Yep, it just straight up flies over her head, instead.]

Ah... I cannot say whether or not it does or not, yet. In my world, Susanoo has ties to Amaterasu, which is somewhat bothersome given what I've been told here.

[She frowns a bit, crossing her arms.]

It is my hope that does not tie me to anything else I would rather not be dealing with.

[She has enough problems there with her blood given family, much less some other worldly heavenly decreed one.]

Beyond that... I will have to see. I suppose at least that a god tied to my home country makes some amount of sense...

[Given that she's the heiress to Japan's shadow ruling power. Really, not something to be proud of, so this is more of a "for better or worse" situation.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[There's a lot to unpack in her words, and this doesn't seem quite the moment. He does get a feeling of uncertainty, though. That much he can try to help.]

Well, don't worry too much about it! I may not be a god, but from what I've seen, the position is what you make of it! And you seem like you've got everything it takes.

[He lifts a fist to punctuate the statement.]

[beyondtheblade]

What I make of it... I've heard many say such things, but there's still a lot to accept with being pulled here in the first place. Most people, I'm sure, had other things in mind for what they should be doing.

[A shrug.]

But, I will manage, one way or another.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Ha ha, well, some of us don't have a lot of choice!

[What with the being dead and all.]

Still, I'm sure you'll manage! And I'll be first in line to offer aid if you need it.

[beyondtheblade]

[She winces, and smiles nervously.] Sorry, I ... suppose that's right. Apologies, I am still unused to the circumstances here.

[That was a bit embarrassing, honestly.]

But, thank you, all the same. I appreciate it.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

The pleasure's all mine, I assure you. Also, don't worry too much about the death thing. It is what it is, right?

[Even if they have come to what is surely hell.]

[beyondtheblade]

Ah... I guess it is. Still, I will try to mind myself. I expect others might not necessarily take it as well.

[Hell, heaven. As far as she's concerned, they can all speak and interact, so it's just as well either way.]

For now, at the very least we can all work towards hopefully making things easier. As well as we can, anyway.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Right! That's exactly the sort of attitude we need around here! [And hearing it makes him legitimately happy (as opposed to "hey it's a cute girl" happy).] There's no end of things we can do, not just for the Near Shore, but also for each other.