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

[cloakedinruins]

"Some would find it rude," he replied lightly.

Shen Wei didn't, at least here he knew people would not look at him weird if he revealed some of his heritage. While he was use to hiding, there had been a time when all three races were proud of saying who they were to the rest of the world. But then the war happened and changed the world.

Reaching for a plate, Shen Wei cut a slice of pancake, placed it on the plate and added a little bit of garnish before offering it to Ain.

"Here you go."

[abgrund]

That would be the difference between them. Shen Wei has a community and an identity; a mission. Ain would have resided within the void for ever if he had not come here. He has nothing to hide, out of his lack of attachment to the corporeal world.

No comment in reply to Shen Wei's words until the food is offered to him, other than a slight close of his eyes.

"Thank you."

He'll eat it carefully, trying to focus on the texture in lieu of what he can't feel. It's meticulously made without anything burned.

"I think it's good," he supplies after finishing the food. Not that he's good at telling but that's what he believes from his limited experience.

[cloakedinruins]

He understands a little. When he came crawling out of the ground all those years ago, his appetite never was the same. He didn't need to eat, not like other people though he still appreciate the flavors and textures in his food. Like with other changes in his body, it was something that he misses.

Shen Wei smiles at the compliment all the same, bowing a little in response as he pours another cup of tea.

"Thank you."

[abgrund]

It's been a while since they've actually talked in person, but Ain has heard a little of what Shen Wei has been doing from other people. It's interesting to consider his relationship with Zhao, which gives him an opportunity to observe such things close hand. Love can go both ways, as he's seen during Valentines' day; but Shen Wei seems wise enough to keep it under control.

"Would you mind teaching me how you made this? I would like to learn."

Ain has to feed his shinki even if he doesn't eat. So far he's been cooking soup and noodles, but sooner or latter they'll get tired of it.

[cloakedinruins]

"Oh, certainly. I can help teach you how to cook."

Shen Wei relaxes more, his smile curving as he looks at his assembled ingredients and the hot grill. Taking a sip of tea, he picked up a small jar of oil and drizzled some around the pan. It rolled along the hot surface as he starts talking:

"First, start off with a hot pan, oiled well."

[abgrund]

Ain is quiet as he listens, his attention focused on observing. It's one thing he's good at; without the need for a notepad as he can commit most of what happens to memory. He's managed to follow recipes well by copying the instructions, but he's never made anything new. Only replications.

Hmm. He might need to ask about where they got the pans from. The more accurate the starting materials are, the more likely for success.

[cloakedinruins]

Shen Wei falls into teacher mode, slowing down each step and explaining it as he went along. How to chop up the ingredients, how to check for freshness, how to determine when it was ready to flip. As he finished up the last cake, he then banked the small fire and moved the grill to the side.

"There. Do you have any questions about what I just did?"

[abgrund]

It is very detailed, something that Ain can appreciate. After watching carefully, he now has confidence that he can replicate the process if he has the starting materials.

"I do not. You make a good teacher. Thank you for your time."

Both compliment, and that Ain thinks he's just stating the truth.

[cloakedinruins]

"I do try, but there are times that I feel that my skill is lacking."

Some students are hard to reach or have problems that a teacher can't get through. Shen Wei tries as much as he can, but some days it doesn't feel like he could reach them like he could with others.

"You're happy to ask me any questions about any of this later, in case you need help with cooking."

[abgrund]

"I will. I want to take care of my shinki better."

So far he's just been doing what he observed other people do, and from what Ren has asked him for. It's not a lot, but there's still a distance before he can be on the standards of gods here who are human, he thinks.