godsoffortune: (anonymous jackass)
The Far Shore Mods ([personal profile] godsoffortune) wrote in [community profile] thenearshore2019-01-16 09:40 pm

January Training

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: March 24th, 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 (God or Shinki), the name of the god they will represent (Gods) or the god they will serve (Shinki), and directions to the temple that will be their new home, regardless of role. During these initial meetings for Gods, paper and pens are provided as an unsubtle suggestion to take notes on the information they're given. For Shinki, there are stacks of informational pamphlets sitting out on a table inside the room, and which new shinki are offered as they are leaving the Meeting Hall.

Gods and Shinki alike are cordially invited to a training session beginning in early afternoon - several hours later - after they've had the chance to return to their homes, meet their new partners, and have their questions answered.

This time, it is implied that the Training Session will have a different purpose, so it is highly encouraged for ALL new gods and shinki to attend, no matter how long they have been in the Far Shore.



Divine Service

    New gods are assigned a time to meet with an attendant in white robes with a chrysanthemum on their robes bearing a notepad. Gods can request a changed time slot, but they are not given an option to avoid the appointment entirely. Unless they are bullied into allowing multiple gods in one interview session, they insist on one god per time slot. All meetings take place in private rooms similar to those for New God and New Shinki meetings.

    The interview consists of questioning the God's commitment to serving the needs of their followers, the Far Shore, and in turn Amaterasu herself. There is the matter of "A God's Actions Are Always Just" and The Gods' Greatest Secret as well, to see if the God believes these are true and important. Do they espouse these opinions to other Gods? Will they respond to a summons by Amaterasu to defend The Far Shore? (If prodded, the attendant will admit that they are in fact an Old God, despite wearing clothing similar to Amaterasu's shinki. They will claim it an honor to do a favor for Amaterasu during her preparations.)

    The second round of questions are about their shinki. What vessel forms do they take, in order starting with Exemplar? How do you use them in combat? What sort of opponents have you faced with your shinki in vessel form - human, ayakashi, or other? Do you have any plans to personally train your shinki for battle ahead? For wielders of multiple shinki, when was the last time you used all of them working together?

    They insist that all questions are answered. Afterwards, the God is dismissed.

    (An OOC breakdown for you characters IC answers to the God Interview...)


Tempering the Vessel

    Shinki are assigned time slots to meet with the white-robed shinki as well. While their sessions are shorter, the conversations are similar, and likewise held in private meeting rooms.

    What is your vessel form? How many battles have you been in while in vessel form and what were your opponents? Do you have any opponents you would resist fighting alongside your God and fellow temple shinki? What have you done to increase your resilience while in vessel form? If you have other shinki at your temple, how often have you fought alongside them in vessel form? What spells do you know? Do you have any plans to further that training?

    The shinki are then dismissed after all questions are answered.

    (An OOC breakdown for you characters IC answers to the Shinki Interview...)


Shinki Training

    A well-appointed dojo has been prepared for newcomers to practice their physical or magical arts. There are five or six white-robed shinki present, who will willingly answer any questions or instruct newcomers in the use of the borderline. They accompany their answers, or their lessons, with an explanation of what is expected of a shinki and the importance of teamwork with other shinki and with gods.

    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 request a thread with one of them or if you have questions about handwaving an interaction. (Shinki characters who are interested in learning more about the borderlines or want to learn new shinki spells or songs may approach any of the training shinki for advice or instruction. Please remember to comment on the Shinki Spells page when your character begins to learn a new spell, excluding the borderline.)


Physical Training

    While each month the Far Shore attendants try to adapt the physical training to the Near Shore's weather and holidays, the weather is fair and any festive impulses have been subdued. This time, Physical Training encourages pitting a God with one or all of their Shinki against another God with one or all of their Shinki. This is touted as a benefit to the Shinki, so the white-robed shinki make clear that certain Shinki need this training more than others. For example, the ones who answered their Interview questions saying they hadn't spent much time in their vessel form, or fought in many battles, or hadn't fought with their fellow Shinki much - if at all.

    There are Old Gods (NPCs - not run by a mod) who can be targeted as opponents, allowing the temple residents to gel as one fighting unit. (OOC: So that your multi-person thread can be limited to as few players as possible, if you choose.)


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. Moreso than other Training Sessions, there is a wide array of international alcoholic options this time. If you've heard of it and you can get drunk by imbibing it, it's probably here in a bottle or glass. Guests can help themselves, settle in, chat, and make new friends.

    The Old Gods in particular will begin to regale the crowd at the end of the afternoon with War Stories from the ages past, speaking of their great deeds they performed as prayers for their followers, miracles to convert the unbelieving, powerful ayakashi they fought, and other amazing feats, especially if they involved a shinki at their side - who it was and the form they took. After many Old Gods have spoken, they turn to the New Gods as if in challenge to tell better stories, mocking words exchanged that imply the New Gods could not possibly have done anything so impressive in their short time in the Far Shore.




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
  • Answer Interview Questions
  • Tell the truth - if you dare - or lie through your teeth... if you dare
  • Tell War Stories
  • Have fun~
sing_for_me: (what do i say to that)

[personal profile] sing_for_me 2019-03-12 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think we're allowed to do that.." Alex wasn't trying to be full of herself here, but she had no doubt in Wendy's abilities to possible take out half of the guy.

The older god calls for his shinki who form on him, new attire and weapons appearing. That makes it easy enough if they're in one place. The giant axe was intimidating to look at though.

"Think you can use your tail instead? Maybe distract them with watching out for your mouth?" The tail would still hurt, but he should remain intact. She can also help keep the focus on her head.
sing_for_me: (Heh)

[personal profile] sing_for_me 2019-03-12 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
"It's okay, really.." This was a rather awkward position to be in, when two people were saying some pretty concerning things, but it was in regards to her well-being? The important thing was no one actually got hurt.

Alex squeezes Wendy's hand back. "I know you won't." She believes that much. "Hey, why don't we find someone you can spar with if that's what you want to do?" Maybe separating the two might best best.
gentilitea: (Thou seek the dark)

[personal profile] gentilitea 2019-03-12 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
“I feel sorry for them already.” Then again, directing Wendy toward someone else who can do the thrashing for him might work out in his favor. In any case, the less Jakob has to deal with these two, the better.

“I’ll take my leave then. I apologize for bothering you, Miss Alex”—pointedly not addressing Wendy because hmph!!!, he turns around and walks away.
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (You are the patron saint)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-03-13 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"He's a god, he'd come back." Is it really murder if the victim can come back to life? Still, Wendy lets out a long sigh, the breath rustling along the ground. "But fine. You know, I wonder if I could catch them off-guard in mid-transformation..."

That's an idea, huh? Going from little girl to crocodile to little girl again, throwing him off-guard. Wendy will keep that in mind. For now, she does a faux-lunge forward, just to see how this guy reacts.
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (You are the patron saint)

she'll do it

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-03-13 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Thematic, huh? Wendy has some opinions on that, which she'll gladly speak up about. "So are we the king, or is this about how we're getting checkmate...?" It feels like the kind of metaphor that might bite them.

Other things that might be biting them: their opponent. The rise up of the other planks makes it hard for him to swing around his spear from side to side, but he doesn't seem to want to give up yet. (Most people wouldn't in the face of Hibiki's obnoxiousness.) However, he can still swing it vertically. Another row of icicles are shot up, all along the side of the giant king piece.

It doesn't take a genius to know what he plans to do as he starts running right for it.
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (You are the patron saint)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-03-13 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
You mean being a god with a bunch of adoring followers and the power to make illusions aren't convenient?

[Because Wendy is fairly certain that's pretty dang convenient. Then again, she's not a god. And was also poor.]
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (He signed me a blank check)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-03-13 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, Shun would be really great. He has so much criticism of literally everything, I'm sure we could get gold of out of him." For all that Wendy finds it frustrating to deal with him sometimes, well, she does like and appreciate him, and this is one of the rasons why. He's reliable when it comes to matters like this.

"I guess we'll ask around and see what we can do, huh?"
priforprince: (withdraw)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-03-13 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Compared to the other indignities I'm forced to suffer, it's a drop in the cauldron of my discontent.

[ hibiki the idiom is "bucket"

but she knows that, of course

she is simply that discontented ]
priforprince: (dive)

:O

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-03-13 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Perish the--"

Hibiki's thought is cut off as the enemy goes on the offensive. "Using our tactics against us?!" she cries, legitimately surprised. "Curse you!"

Okay, fine. Close combat it is. Hibiki leaps from the top of the chess piece, summoning her God of Fortune wings and beating them to create a strong wind. She's aiming to knock him back where he can't move his spear as well. And then -

Well. Then, won't they be near enough to see if Bulleki can't put an end to that irritant?
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (You are the patron saint)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-03-13 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[...Hibiki]

Cauldron?

[Seriously... why can't she just use bucket like a normal person?]

Besides, there's been a lot of other good things too. I mean, you like Amaterasu, and other cute girls.
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (This is so stupid.)

(。+・`ω・´)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-03-13 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"I guess it WOULD be a lot to ask for him to be good and stay there while we crushed him!" Wendy would have loved it, but she's not that stupid. It's why she proposed the idea of boxing him in to start with. Still, she guesses there's only so much for now... She'll have to keep this in mind for the future.

For now, trying to ascend is definitely difficult to do when he's begin blown back so much. However, he seems fairly aware of his situation, and digs his spear into the side of the chess piece with grit teeth. Wendy clicks her tongue. "So it's like that, huh? Hibiki, let's shrink it down again really fast, and catch him off-guard then."
medicinemaster: (sketchy; coming?)

sorry for the delays! I've been dealing with illness and catching up on everything

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-03-13 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose I could be considered a chemist. I formulate medicines and gunpowder. I work primarily with powders but I experiment with other concoctions as well in my spare time.

[Invention is something of a hobby of hers. There's something relaxing about the methodology of mixing different substances to produce different effects.

And maybe, just maybe, small part of Yaone just thinks finding new, innovative ways to blow something up is really fun.]
medicinemaster: (a new beginning)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-03-13 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I am afraid that I do not possess enough knowledge yet to come up with a solution.

[It's understandable, really, considering this is Yaone's first day. Even so, her natural inclination is to see that somehow as a failing on her part. This is just how she is - a tendency to somehow expect too much of herself while being painfully aware of her own flaws. Back home, she took on a role of taskmaster within Lord Kougaiji's group, bringing up suggestions and plans. However, she cannot to do that here when she knows so little about the situation she's in.

For a moment, Yaone looks vulnerable and completely lost. Without the prince to lead her, Dokugakuji to support her just now, or Lady Lirin to care for, just what is she to do? It's been years since she's been outside her lord's reach for this long.]
medicinemaster: (comfort; ministrations)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-03-13 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[After Yaone takes a seat on the bench by Dokugakuji's side, she simply listens. After a while, she rests a comforting hand on his knee. It all sounds horrible and stressful and she can see the toll it's taken on him with the intensity he's displaying now. Just how long has it been since Dokugakuji been dealing with all of this by himself alone? She's seen just how much he still cares for his brother, going so far as to act directly against Zakuro as she had tried to do.]

If I see Mister Gojyo, I will not tell him anything I know. I do not wish to endanger him unnecessarily or use this knowledge to Lord Kougaiji's advantage. It does not seem fair to him under these circumstances.

[As cold-blooded as Yaone can be when it comes to murdering Lord Kougaiji's enemies, something about taking advantage of Gojyo's present condition feels wrong to her. Dishonorable even. Besides, the plan she'd thought best had resulted in a complete defeat, anyway. All too often, she winds up choosing wrong.]

Taking care of our own sounds best until a way home can be found. Surely, the Sanzo Party is as determined to go back. That could be useful.

[Given the somewhat friendly atmosphere that'd existed between her, Dokugakuji, and the others back home just before Yaone had left, it feels natural for Yaone to include them, too, as part of their own. Especially after Goku had given her aid and she'd offered to treat Hakkai's mysterious illness.]

It would seem that Mister Hakkai is ill. I have offered Mister Goku my assistance.

[Perhaps it's a little ill-timed but Yaone wishes to be transparent on this matter. After a brief pause, she adds softly.]

I am sorry that you had to cope with all of this alone, Dokugaku. If I had arrived sooner, I would have tried to help you.
medicinemaster: (reaffirmation; slight smile)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-03-14 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
I hope that will be the case.

[Goku had recognized her, after all. Surely, Dokugakuji would as well. Maybe she is getting worried over a non-issue. She's prone to being overly self-conscious about some things on the best of days and this clearly isn't it.]

Thank you for all your help today, miss. I think I will be fine from now on.

[Yaone doesn't wish to impose any more than necessary.]

....My name is Yaone. Perhaps we shall meet each other again someday.
priforprince: (tsukkomi)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-03-14 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hibiki sniffs. ] I suppose....

[ She'd been trying to get on a roll here, but it seems Wendy is determined to make facts interfere. She sits up straighter.

Some admission to make...in the Far Shore's favor.... ]


Well, its relative lack of sentence enders is certainly unobjectionable.

[ THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING. ]
medicinemaster: (standing firm)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-03-14 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
I see.

[Yaone doesn't have a favorable impression of the old gods, at least. She had not appreciated the attempt to press her into service one bit. Though she has not yet decided to turn her back on them completely, she serves no lord but her own.]

The abductions are a regular occurrence, then. I wonder why the acquisition rate slowed down.

[Lack of manpower? Lower demand? Increased caution? It's a curious matter to her as are most things in this place.]

They seem rather insistent on conscripting newcomers for their own purposes.

[While Yaone's tone remains mostly civil and polite, there is an underlying flatness hinting at her displeasure with this process.]
swordofzero: (aderp derr derp?)

it's okay!

[personal profile] swordofzero 2019-03-14 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Medicines and gunpowder. That was an... interesting mix. Healing and also blowing things up. It wasn't something Suzaku expected to see together.] I see. [He nodded.] It sounds very interesting, I'm afraid I don't know much about medicine or explosives.
medicinemaster: (reaffirmation; slight smile)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-03-14 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you, miss. That is a great help."

Yaone means it, truly. It certainly looks and sounds like a fascinating device. She'll have to play around it and explore it thoroughly to fully learn it and how to put it to use. It's simply how she operates.

"Does it serve any other function or is it used only for communication?"
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Neutral - Serious)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2019-03-14 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Shun is acerbic, but it's why Ginia likes him. He'll definitely give good information given how long he's been here. A pity they probably won't be able to get any fluffier questions from him like favorite food or how he styles his hair.

"I think so. I'll do some research on the publishing side of things and see what we need to do to get something printed."
letteropener: (that is how it is)

[personal profile] letteropener 2019-03-14 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, having a solution is quite different from addressing it! In fact, acknowledging that you do not know enough is an excellent way to address something -- much better than refusing to admit that and plunging off on some ill-conceived adventure that has no real hope of fixing things.

[Celestia, of course, takes the long view. The long and comforting view, for that matter, since the poor mare seems to need some reassurance at the moment. So far she seems to have a good grasp on things and the sense not to try to just Make It All Better, and those are good traits to have.]
priforprince: (kendo)

orz

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-03-14 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Persistent wretch. Hibiki will give him this much: such spirit in the face of overwhelming majesty does merit her defeating him. All of her worries about Wendy having challenged someone whose initial slight was unworthy of offense have melted like the ice with which he seeks to disrupt them!

"As expected of my shinki!" Extra power goes into this backwards spin - hope you don't get dizzy, Wendy. Shrink quickly! Before he seizes another chance to regroup. "Now, know the truth! Only a genius may perpetuate revolution!"

And you, sir. Are not a genius. Her top, on the other hand, is certainly doing plenty of.....

revolving.


IF YOU MAKE A REALLY ELEGANT PUN IT DOESN'T COUNT AS A PUN, BUT AS CLEVERNESS.
towards_okeanos: (content)

[personal profile] towards_okeanos 2019-03-14 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Perfect. That it is settled.

[Iskandar does feel pity for dropping additional work on poor Kunimi but hey, that's some work now that will lead to less work later. Doesn't sound that bad, eh?
If he were to spend his day just sightseeing or playing video games, he can as well go squash some ayakashi for Ebisu. Not that's anything bad in playing video games or going around and simply observing people with no other objective in mind. It's just that thing Iskandar is constantly in awe about this place and time.
How incredibly peaceful it is. Even with the unrest and the cultists and the volcano. This country is unimaginably prosperous.
A lot of prayers he gets is actually a plea for counsel and not the use of force. While that's not a problem in itself, he wishes his followers the best, but he wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of the action either.]
towards_okeanos: (haughty)

[personal profile] towards_okeanos 2019-03-14 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I doubt you would be able to even scratch her, Waver. Princess knew what she was doing. I’m glad she stepped in. In the unlikely event, she did knock me out you would just have to wait until I wake up. Don’t tell me you’re incapable of waiting.

[Iskandar is aware of how much you are uncomfortable with your vessel form, Waver. Now more than ever. He's already planning some countermeasures for it.]

If anything I’m more worried about the spectacle we made ourselves of. I’d lie if I were to say I didn’t want to see how I would fare against Cu Chulainn. I still think I could have defeated him. Still, this was not the time nor the place for such a thing. Not with that kind of audience. But what’s done is done. With some work, we may yet turn it to our advantage. All this mayhem sends a message. I just need a moment to decide what I want this message to be.
For that, we all need to calm down. [Yes, he's aware that means him too.]
I see that you’re unharmed even if shaken. We go back to the Temple as soon as I finish my business with the Princess. Only then we decide on the further course of action.


[Iskandar looks up. Quite a spectacle it was. Incredibly foolish but for all the destruction it was definitely a show of power. Though in truth the same result could have been achieved with a lot less damage. A word may reach Heaven’s upper echelons, maybe even the Queen herself. Now it’s time to shape what that word will be.
He stands up.]


I wish to speak with Princess in private. Waver, can you make it so that none would hear us?