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~
artificialrose: (daydreamgalleries) (You're just mad because I have)

[personal profile] artificialrose 2019-04-18 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's right. You can go slow at first, and get a little faster whenever you get confident." He grins broadly. "And once you get the handle of that, we can learn all sorts of other ways to move a staff around! But there's no rush, right?"

Sure, they might disappear... But a rushed job is hardly any better.
chibisu: (technoheart-archive, tumblr) (I keep putting the back of this pen)

[personal profile] chibisu 2019-04-18 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Cheerfully, Kimi takes a break in translating to flash a pair of peace signs. "Con-fi-deeence~!" He eases up, laughing a little bit. "Although, for the most part, it's because I'm usually brought out to take care of someone. Even without magic, that's something I feel pretty well versed in, you know?"

This time, Kiwami doesn't need to be elbowed before he offers his own answer. "I... merely focus." He shrugs. "It's not unlike fishing, or my usual work for the temple..."

Hearing that seems to make Ebisu laugh slightly. "So it fits you and I very well," he says up to him. "A fishing rod shinki to a fishing god who fishes. It's very fascinating!"

Not wrong, really. Even among older gods and shinki, there's still a lot to learn. Yet that makes Kimi snaps his fingers. "Oh. You know, you should talk to one of the others who have an animal vessel form, like Grampa Unmi. It translates a little differently, since they work for Ebisu-sama in a way that can't be compared to an item shinki like us."
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (You are the patron saint)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-04-18 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone help these poor spygoats. Wendy shakes her head and reaches down to pat the goat, because, well. It's not like they pay them or anything. Or feed them. They're just... robot goats. Patting is really all Wendy can give.

"So nothing a little more personal than just some trinket, huh?" Sometimes, she feels her god really is the laziest.
priforprince: (pressure)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-04-18 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Their preferences will be suitably investigated beforehand." By the spygoats! One of whom is very happy to be receiving pats.

Wendy's comment, however, has Hibiki's attention almost in spite of herself. "Is something lacking?"

She must, you see, always give the Ultimate Gift. Should her shinki have insight, being a shinki herself, into what passes as the Ultimate Gift among that particular audience, Hibiki may debate taking it into consideration.
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Watching 4)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2019-04-18 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
It's no surprise at all Kimi draws on his confidence; he has the most of anyone she knows and she doubts anything could break it. Kiwami and focus makes sense too with how steadfast he is. She has her own levels of confidence and focus, but they don't seem like the right things to draw on. Polling the rest of the temple for their opinions should help. Maybe something in there will make more sense for her.

"I used to have an animal vessel form. Knowing how to strengthen my resilience then would have helped, maybe I wouldn't have picked up so many scars." Or maybe she'd have more from throwing herself headfirst into battle even more so. Who knows. Ginia gives a flickering smile as a light sense of sadness settles in.

"I miss that form." It was fun running around as a snow leopard, though it's the freedom more than the connection to her god she misses now. Even ignoring old wives' tales about shinki vessel forms, it suited her far better than it did Caster. "Is that strange to say?"
myblueskies: (followingdreams)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2019-04-19 09:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Well..." Romeo always wanted to learn all the things right now. But he knew he couldn't go fast all the time. He had to make sure to practice until he got good before moving onto the next thing!

"If we practice together lots we can get good and learn all the new things!"
nopixiedust: (sassybird) (He signed me a blank check)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-04-19 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, is she actually being listened to? It's sometimes a surprise, considering her demands like stop buying bloody useless carriages are often dismissed. Still, don't look a gift horse in the mouth...

"Well, if you just have one of the goats do it, then it's not a personal gift, right? So you should at least be involved in looking over some things. Add a personal tough or something."

A pause.

"That's not covered in gold."
chibisu: (technoheart-archive, tumblr) (...but it's a lot.)

[personal profile] chibisu 2019-04-19 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
With no hesitation, Kimi reaches up with some help of his tiptoes to pinch her cheek. "Or maybe you should be more careful!" he admonishes her lightly before pausing at a tug to his pants leg. After a second, he ducks down to pick up Ebisu and holds him up so that her god can also pinch her cheek.

They love you, Ginia. Be careful.

"It's not strange," Kiwami says while his god and coworker are busy doing that. "Vessel forms can all feel differently. And mean different things."
priforprince: (chin)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-04-19 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"I see. The ultimate present is eternally my personal attention...."

On the one hand, she doesn't see, not really. But on the other hand, the shinki may get a nicer apology gift this way?

It just might also come with a side of Hibiki (or, really, the gift is the side, and Hibiki the main course - let's get this metaphor right). Hibiki nods.

"Your suggestion will be incorporated."

The goat takes note. Find thing shinki likes, refer to Maa-ster, Maa-ster will find a way to make it complement her maa-gnificence.

A maa-rvelous plan.
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Attentive)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2019-04-19 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Ginia is more surprised than annoyed by the cheek pinch and admonishing, but as Ebisu is lifted so he too can can pinch her cheek, she accepts it with a defeated huff. Fine, fine, she'll do her best to be careful. It's not like she's doing near daily ayakashi hunting these days and she'll be better about picking her battles.

She sheepishly rubs her cheek and reflects on Kiwami's words. "Are there any forms either of you miss?"
nopixiedust: (insovereign) (I'll always be here to give you)

[personal profile] nopixiedust 2019-04-22 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, no, that's... That's completely missing the point. Still, it's not like Wendy can do anything about it besides gently nudge and sometimes more violently shinkick her god down the right way to being something that's a little bit less of a golden trashfire. So she shrugs, content with this for now.

"Then, I'm going to see if anyone else is picking fights with the old gods, alright? Don't get into too much trouble without me."
priforprince: (sewa)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-04-23 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Hibiki sniffs, amused. "You're over-concerned."

From the tone of her voice, she's....she's sincere about that. She sincerely believes that she can be left to her own devices without causing everything to go straight to heck.

Any and all difficulties she encounters are, of course, the other person's doing. Or the system's. Or some other external factor.

So really, Wendy has nothing to worry about at all.
chibisu: (sassybird) (i refuse to die until things are better)

[personal profile] chibisu 2019-04-23 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nope!" Kimi says cheerfully, in contrast to Kiwami's own shrug.

"...My first form was an anchor. It did what was needed, for my first god's location, so it's not sentimental in that manner."

All of this particular line of conversation seems to be drawing Ebisu into another thoughtful state as Kimi sets him back down onto the floor. "I wonder what the other forms were for the rest of the temple... I'm sure there some people have quite a few."
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Observing)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2019-04-23 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
In response to Ebisu's question, Ginia answers through her phone, needing to think about the list of what she's been herself.

"To date, I've been a sniper rifle, snow leopard, crystal sword, scarf, and an archery bow. Does it mean anything when forms are so varied versus following a theme?"

An anchor and a fishing rod follow a particular theme, though it could also be Kiwami's first god was also related to water. How much is superstition and how much is a reflection of a shinki's self?
chibisu: (technoheart-archive, tumblr) (How much caffeine is poisonous?)

[personal profile] chibisu 2019-04-25 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
As can be expected, Ebisu looks up once more towards Kimi and Kiwami for an answer. While it interests him deeply, and perhaps his past incarnations would have felt similar, it's not something that he's really investigated much.

Predictably in turn, both of his shinki seem to accept it, with Kimi speaking up first. "I mean, ideally, a shinki should be best suited to what their god needs or their domain. For example, from what I understand, the Yato god has gone through a lot of shiki himself, and they tend to be swords, including his current exemplar and hafuri vessel. But then..." NUDGE, NUDGE. KIWAMI.

It takes a couple to force him to speak. "Sometimes it doesn't make as much sense," he finishes, allowing the nudging. "Bishamon-sama has many shinki who take battle ready forms such as armor, a steed, or weapons, but her own hafuri exemplar takes the form of an earring." Pointedly, he stares back at Kimi. "And some shinki take forms more relevant to themselves..."

"Ah!" Ebisu bops one fist into an open palm. "Kimi is often cooking instruments!"

"Mm."
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Lineface)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2019-04-25 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Cooking instruments? Ginia raises a brow at Kimi, but it's not too a surprising theme for him given his interests. And like his medical knowledge, it's hard not wondering if it was also a reflection of his life or something he picked up in the afterlife. Nope, nope, not thinking on it anymore.

"So basically I'm a mess." It's pretty self-depreciating, but with such a varied list it's hard not feeling that way. Ginia can't figure out any notable pattern or reflection of herself, and a few of her forms definitely did not suit her god or fit the domain. Not even the soulless shinki she's named seem to fit a theme, though Luger's form is certainly fitting.

But it doesn't matter if there is or isn't a pattern. She belongs here, she suits Chris fine, nothing else matters.

"Thank you for explaining things, it's something to think on." She bows her head to the other shinki and her god. "If I promise not to get any more fights, can I go back to the training session?"
junkyarddog: (Running in the dark)

[personal profile] junkyarddog 2019-04-26 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
Implying you're not the worst lowkey pain in the ass already, Chikusa? Why do you think Ken has you pegged so neatly?

"Well, I did tell them to go talk to Hakkai-sama...'cause I figured he wouldn't tell 'em anything, and he'd smile at him that way he does." Chikusa knows the way Ken means. The Stepford smile with razor blades underneath. "But maybe they'll actually do it..." He sounds a touch anxious. "Is Hakkai-sama gonna be mad at me?"
medicinemaster: (reaffirmation; slight smile)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-04-26 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's a position she can empathize with from her years at Houten Castle. Yaone's never been fond of Lady Gyokumen or many of the other youkai she works with, finding their careless disregard for life they view as inferior or inconsequential distasteful. Yet her survival had depended on not making too many waves with those same youkai.

Sometimes people have little choice except to commit necessary evils.]


Thank you. I believe I can find what I am looking for from here on.

[Yaone scans the area for the polearms which she'll start rummaging through soon. But first things first - she hasn't properly introduced herself yet!]

I do not believe that I caught your name, mister. I am Yaone.
smilingbullet: (Chapina carbine)

[personal profile] smilingbullet 2019-04-27 01:30 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome.

[ Polearms, huh? It seems she might be used to them, though that's just a guess. Somebody practiced in a weapon simply seem to handle them differently. ]

I'm D2. Well, Carl, but I prefer D2. A pleasure, Miss Yaone, Ma'am.

[ He has manners, and gives a little salute in greeting. ]
medicinemaster: (smile; happy to be useful)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-04-28 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
D2... What an interesting name.

[Yaone thinks she likes it. He seems like a very pleasant young man. Quite refreshing, honestly. She sifts through the spears until she winds one that roughly the same length as the one she wielded back home. This one will do.]

It's very nice to meet you, Mister D2.
sing_for_me: (cold mood)

[personal profile] sing_for_me 2019-04-28 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
No one would ever think such a bright giggle would come from such a giant lizard, but maybe that's what made her more terrifying. Just as fearsome as her human form.

"Oof!"

Wendy manages to make the hit, and the force has him loosen his grip on the sword. He tumbles to the ground, and once he does, Alex moves next to him and covers his nose and mouth with her hand.

"Stay down." Her intent is to get him drowsy enough to not move, but his eyes don't flutter shut. However, he does stay there on the ground, not attempting to get up. So ...it technically worked, didn't it?

"..I..I think we can go, Wendy."

smilingbullet: (Chapina carbine)

[personal profile] smilingbullet 2019-04-28 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose that it might be.

[ To him it's more, this is who I am, particularly now that he remembers the reason, but he knows some people can find it a bit strange. ]

I hope that you settle well for the duration of your stay here.
chibisu: (You don't get a refund just because)

[personal profile] chibisu 2019-04-29 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
For all that it's clearly a joke of some sort, Ebisu doesn't take it that way. Instead, he frowns up slightly at Ginia before reaching up to try and take her hand. "You also shouldn't say those things about yourself," he says solemnly, even as Kimi edges over to her side. "You're very dependable, Jitsumi."
kokuyoyo: (Apparently I kept telling people I was)

[personal profile] kokuyoyo 2019-04-30 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Listen, he feels he can be worse.

Right now, however, he pauses and tries to dig up some of his best. Occasionally it occurs to him how much harder he tries- or at least it feels like he's trying- to pay attention to Ken's moods like this. It's definitely a new experience, no matter how long they've been dead, and he still doesn't feel like he knows what he's doing... But he tries anyway.

"No... You did right, Ken. Hakkai-sama can say things better than either of us anyway..." That is to say, he knows the proper way to be passive aggressive instead of their default, which is just aggressive. "If they do come find us... We'll deal with it."
unlucky7: (STATUS :: Quiet)

[personal profile] unlucky7 2019-04-30 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
There's a tiny intake of breath from the gentle rebuke. A shinki can rely on a lot of things to strengthen themselves, but their weakest trait will always hold them back. She can't afford to cut herself down. Not if Ebisu's shinki are the best. Ginia pinches her cheeks hard and huffs before taking Ebisu's hand.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'll do my best to continue being dependable."

She looks Kimi's way and signs a small 'sorry' to him too.
Edited 2019-04-30 02:22 (UTC)