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

[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.]

[timeforpink]

[ The block response is instinctual. She's light on her feet, stepping sideways and swinging upward in one fluid motion.

Already, she's enjoying this. ]

[eluci]

[She's not bad so far, that's a plus. She's faster than Gladio and that's sort of new, but it probably means that she also doesn't hit like a truck.

He nearly doesn't block her strike because of this. Nearly. He manages to backstep and knock the sword out of it's original path.]

Not bad.

[timeforpink]

[ He's right. Jen's pretty strong, but by far what sets her apart is her speed both in moving and thinking.

And hey, he's a good opponent. Stepping back and loweing her sword, Jen gives him a little smirk. ]

You're not bad yourself. I'm Jen, a new shinki.

[eluci]

[Just wait until he gets to show off.]

I'm Noctis.

[Though his name still shows up as 'Nyx' on the BBS...he's trying to figure out how to change that, because it's awkward being known by someone else's name.]

Jen, huh? I guess you're the shinki that's been assigned to me.

[He had a hunch, but didn't want to make an idiot of himself by potentially being wrong.]

[timeforpink]

[ Bring it.

--! Noctis. His statement on who she is confirms it. Noctis Lucis Caelum. Nyx. ]

Yes.

[ Jen stands straighter, like she has to be at attention. She doesn't remember, but the rigorous Time Force training drilled protocol and respect for hierarchy into her. Even if by the time of her death, she had learned when to break free of that structure, it's still part of her to respect authority and present herself appropriately. ]

I'm honored to be working with a god who's good at combat.

[eluci]

[He will. Eventually.

He's not awkward at her straightening up; he's used to that back home from people, but he doesn't know much about her aside from the fact that she's been assigned to him so while he appreciates the combat experience, it makes him a little wary at the same time.]

I'm glad to have a partner who can handle a weapon.

[timeforpink]

[ A partner who can handle a weapon — not a weapon who can handle a weapon. There's a little bit of discomfort at the thought of being a living (? Well, sort of) weapon or object; maybe this is what Chris meant by some shinki not taking their situation so well? Or maybe ir's just her. Anyway, it helps that her god is referring to her as a person in her own right. A partner, worthy of respect.

She gives him a little smile, nodding. ]

If you want me to head back to the temple, I will. Otherwise, I'd like to get to know the area a little more.

[eluci]

[She doesn't need to know it now, but he's having a hard time thinking of shinki as not-people in any sense. It's why, while his soulless shinki doesn't have much of a personality outside of 'motherly', putting her in her weapon form seems strange. Even if she doesn't seem to mind.]

Go wherever you want, I--

[Speaking of other shinki...]

--uh, hang on, have you met Moriyo yet?

[timeforpink]

[ She doesn't recognize the name, so— ]

No. Should I have?

[eluci]

No...I mean, she's my other shinki. She might not let you in if I'm not with you.

[Not that she's the most effective security system, but still.]

[timeforpink]

[ Hey now that sounds like pretty good security to Jen. ]

Oh. Well, I'll head back with you, whenever you're ready. There's enough to do here to keep me busy til then.