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

Yusaku Fujiki | OTA

[stormaccess]

[ A – Arrival at the temple (closed to Stelsa) ]

[Honestly, Yusaku isn't sure what to expect here – he's been told that this is his god's temple, that he has died and that he now is to serve this god here. He isn't sure how he feels about that just yet… he supposes it will all depend on what kind of god this is.

He'll keep his mind open for now, at least.]


[ B – Shinki Training ]

[Apparently he needs training – or at least an introduction – in order to be able to do his duties as a Shinki. That's fine. It's something to do – and to himself Yusaku can admit that he is craving some kind of direction right now – something to do with what is apparently his afterlife.

He watches those practicing Borderline with interest, tries to analyze just how they are doing that by watching.

Later he can be found walking along the weapons rack in the dojo, pulling off weapons randomly to see how they fit in his hand. …None of them do, really.]

…Interesting.


[ C – Rest and Refreshments ]

[Yusaku has settled at a corner table with tea and more sweets than he really knows what to do with – he doesn't have a sweet tooth himself, and really he is more of a coffee person too. Unfortunately for him and his ambition to order his thoughts on the results of training in peace, his table is within the range of the speed dating game.

Perhaps you are the one settling right in front of him, earning yourself a bit of a deer-in-headlights-expression.]

What are you doing here?

[Guess who hasn't been told about his participation in this game yet. Care to enlighten him?]


[ D – Hold Up Your Wildcard! ]

[What it says on the tin; either hit me with a prompt of your own or hit me on plurk (iceyly) for some plotting and I can write up something for you! :3]

B

[kokuyoyo]

[Yusaku can only get some moment of watching before something happens. Namely, a borderline, flying right towards him.]

[It's not meant to be too aggressive; so long as his reflexes are good enough then it should be manageable. Just surprising, and not that painful. Chikusa would like credit that he's holding back, at least a little.]

[Of course, this very much depends on how people take to random strangers surprise attacking them with magic.]

[Eh, it'll probably be fine.]

[stormaccess]

[Sadly that moment of watching was not yet enough for him to figure out anything… and his habit of focusing too much on what's right in front of him costs him any chance of avoiding that Borderline as well.

If Chikusa was expecting any impressive battle reflexes from this guy, he's going to be disappointed.

Yusaku flinches and stumbles back as the magic passes through him – holding his arm as he searches for his attacker with sharp eyes.

…There, that's the direction the magic had come from.

He glares faintly at the other Shinki, unamused… but also already calculating how best to return the favor. Clearly, this magic should be something he is capable off as well after all.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Oh. Huh.]

Wow... You suck.

[WORDS OF REASSURANCE AND FRIENDLINESS. Chikusa obviously doesn't seem to be sorry, and just tilts his head to the side a little sa he takes in the other boy.]

If you're going to be useful around here... then you'll want to keep a better eye on your surroundings. Especially if you don't want to get eaten...

[stormaccess]

Thanks for pointing that out.

[/dead pan sarcasm here, because wow Chikusa he's been here for like ten minutes. Give him a break.

Not that this means he won't take the criticism for the words of advice they are – he will have to watch out about keeping his eyes on his surroundings indeed… Then again, being told that he might be eaten… that's not reassuring at all.]

Eaten by what?

[kokuyoyo]

You're welcome.

[Is the Far Shore ready for this much deadpan heaped on top of as much sarcasm? Absolutely not.]

Ayakashi, generally... Once they're big enough, they'll start going after you. Even if you're not big enough. And they're all over the Far Shore. Small as fireflies, or larger than ships... Usually somewhere in the middle.

[Which is a very wide middle.]

Any shinki on their own, or who seems like they can be overtaken or tricked... That's prey enough for them. So you'll want to get better... and watch yourself.

...And learn borderlines, if you can manage that...

C

[beyondtheblade]

[Don't worry Yusaku, Tsubasa looks about as pleased to be plopping down in front of you as you might be at her doing it.]

Evidently, I should have left earlier, because I frankly don't know.

[A slight huff.] This isn't exactly getting anyone anywhere.

[If she was more suspicious, she'd think it was a distraction.

...

Who is she kidding, she's part of a government agency and in a position that literally distrusts everyone. That's almost instinctive.]

[stormaccess]

[He's not really pleased or displeased by her presence (yet)… he is however fairly confused by it. She hasn't actually answered his question after all.]

…What isn't?

[And, if she is this displeased by being here, why doesn't she just leave now?]

[beyondtheblade]

[She sighs.]

My apologies.

It just feels as though the shinki in charge of this gathering is running by the edge of his seat and just guessing at what to do.

[She shakes her head.] But I suppose I'm speaking out of turn, I do want to know who else is here. [She shrugs.] I was placed over here, that's why I'm here. [Behind her there are other people being shuffled from one table to another.] I believe they want people to ... talk. Or something to that effect.

[stormaccess]

…It's fine.

[He isn't really sure what she's apologizing about anyway.

Yusaku glances past her after she explains, frowning faintly as he watches the people nearby being shuffled around.]

…To talk? What are we supposed to talk about?

[Like… Training? Or something else? It's not like Yusaku really knows anything, not even about himself.]

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa merely has a sense she's letting her own feathers get a bit ruffled by being shuffled around like this.]

We are supposed to see how well we can get to know one another within five minutes before swapping elsewhere.

[A shrug. Even she's aware this is possibly a problem when shinki are involved. That just makes this whole thing seem even more haphazard and like the shinki in charge is just throwing darts at a wall.]

For what it's worth, my name is Kazanari Tsubasa. Or for the name that has been foisted upon me here, Susanoo.

shinki training

[trustheart]

... You know, this might be assuming a lot, especially if you're a shinki, but you don't look like you've ever held a weapon before.

[Chris walks over, a stern, but concerned look on her face.]

Want some advice?

Re: shinki training

[stormaccess]

[Yusaku turns, frowning faintly as he studies the approaching girl. God? No way to be quite sure, yet. He shrugs.]

If I ever did, I can't remember it anymore.

[He probably should be more concerned by that… or maybe not. His memories aren't something he can do anything about.

Anyway, about the weapons…]

Sure, if you have some to offer.

[He hasn't held any of those weapons before after all, and he has no memory to guide him. Getting advice, especially if offered freely, is only logical.]

Re: shinki training

[trustheart]

Hrm. [Chris studies him for a moment, tilting her head a few times as she looks him over.] You're pretty wiry. You look kind of agile. I'd guess you either move around a lot or are experienced in keeping your balance.

[She turns towards the weapon racks, and picks up a quarterstaff.]

Try spinning this around a few times.

[stormaccess]

[He frowns faintly at her analysis – she isn't wrong probably, but well… he hasn't moved around enough yet to make any judgment about his actual capabilities. Some practice with those weapons will probably be good in order to test his stamina and ability to hold his own in a fight.

He takes the staff from Chris, spinning it somewhat clumsily.

Between that and the lack of calluses on his palms, he's pretty sure this kind of weapon isn't quite for him – strangely enough there seem to be some at the tips of his fingers… though Yusaku has no idea what he might have handled for that kind of calluses.

But anyway, he dutifully does his best with the staff and asks:]

Like this?

[trustheart]

... Yeah, you're clearly not a staff guy.

[Chris's quick dismissal of it makes it sound like an idea that she wasn't very invested in. She does get a look at his hands, though, as he takes it, and makes notice of the ones on the tips of his fingers.]

Maybe you use throwing weapons. Would you be willing to try that out?

c

[phantomtrick]

[ Ren takes a sip out of his own coffee and looks up to Yusaku curiously. ]

Just taking a break. What about you?

[Training is so tiring, honestly. Maybe Yusaku's new around here because he's not a face that Ren's familiar with.]

[stormaccess]

[Okay. Yea. That's fair.]

…Same.

[He guesses? Yusaku is very bad at this social interaction thing, tbh. …Though as he takes a sip at his tea he can't help but note the other's beverage and ask curiously.]

Say, where did you get that?

[Because tea is all right sure, but coffee is like. necessary for his continued survival, probably.]

[phantomtrick]

I made it myself. Would you like to try some?

[ Ren's more than okay with preparing Yusaku a glass.]

Making coffee is one of the things I can do right.

[stormaccess]

Sure, if it's not too much trouble.

[Coffee sounds like an excellent idea always, especially if it's offered to be prepared. The way that the other words himself though…]

Are you a Shinki, then?

[Like me, he doesn't add. He had met a few others during training, but he hadn't quite had a chance to talk about the whole dead without memories thing yet. …Hell, he isn't sure if he really wants to talk about that yet, but anyway…]

[phantomtrick]

It's not a problem, no. [ Ren starts boiling some fresh water. ]

Yeah, I'm a Shinki as well. I'm still figuring things out here too.

[ He finishes brewing coffee for Yusaku and nods. ]

B

[revolutionfalcon]

If you don't know what you're doing with a weapon, I don't think you'll be calling it "interesting" for long.

[The voice comes as someone stalks past Yusaku to another part of the weapon racks, apparently returning a pair of large, metal bladed fans (with blunted tips, thankfully for anyone who might've been fighting him). Shun's set aside his coat for training, as usual, which makes it that much more obvious that he's more adjusted to this sort of thing, from the wiry muscle of his arms to the knife store's worth of blades he seems to be carrying on his belt. There's got to be at least five knives of various sizes, a sword barely longer than a dagger, and what looks like the back end of a set of throwing knives poking out of a pouch.

He glances to Yusaku as he closes the tessen and returns them to their place, as if calculating his ability.] You don't lose skills if you're a shinki, so if none of those feel familiar then you're going to be starting from nothing.

[stormaccess]

Maybe not, but it's the biggest clue to my past that I have yet to be given.

[Not that Yusaku is actively trying to figure himself out… but it's still interesting to note, that whoever he used to be… fighting clearly wasn't part of his agenda. It gives him more sense of identity, he thinks.

He turns his head away from the rack to take in the person that has joined him, glancing at all those weapon the other carries with him. Huh… now that seems very interesting too.]

You seem very used to all this.

[revolutionfalcon]

As long as you're just using it to find your feet and not chasing for details. [Shun puts that rather bluntly, lest it be mistaken for concern of any kind. Shinki taking an interest in their own pasts ends badly, he's been here more than long enough to know that already. However unfortunate it might've been for him at times.

At the remark on being used to it, Shun shrugs slightly.] I've been here about eleven months now. There's not many newcomers left who've been around longer than I have, so I've had to explain it more than enough times by now.

[He says that with a tone of faint irritation. He did update the timeline of events someone else started in hopes people would stop asking him about that, but it didn't really work that well.]

[stormaccess]

I can't do anything about what has or hasn't happened to me either way… knowing probably won't change a thing.

[Whether he remembers or not, he'll still remain dead, probably. Still, having more than just an entirely blank sheet to work with is somewhat comforting.]

I imagine that must have been quite a lot.

[The other seems fairly irritated by the mere thought of explaining anything… so Yusaku dismisses that idea right away.]

Then I suppose you would know the best people to go to for a beginner's training, right?