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~
disciprined: (Paprika Private Academy Rule #16)

[personal profile] disciprined 2019-01-19 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
Well, it's not as if I was uninvolved before. The day we returned from the forest was the day I first spoke to you.

[She smiles. Some good came out of that whole mess, after all.]

They wouldn't be referring to new Gods, would they? I didn't think that any of us had access to that kind of power. Even our new Gods of Fortune seem far more limited than that.
disciprined: (Paprika Private Academy Rule #836)

[personal profile] disciprined 2019-01-19 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Oh--!

[It's startling, but only for a moment. Mirei feels herself break out into a smile. And she thought this was going to be difficult!]

They really did choose well this time. Is this something you'd rather keep to yourself, though? I can understand if it is, I know I'd much rather be able to choose who I tell. That's why I brought you all the way up here.
replicatedform: (Stare - You called?)

A

[personal profile] replicatedform 2019-01-19 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
While he's waiting for his turn, Yamanbagiri quickly looks up and see Wendy. With a frown, he quickly walks over towards her. He can deal with the wait and whatever annoyances later.

Getting down to one knee, he speaks up.

"What's wrong?"
replicatedform: (Close Up - Comtemplate)

Refreshments and Stories

[personal profile] replicatedform 2019-01-19 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Considering how the day went so far, Yamanbagiri decided against drinking. Especially after seeing the Old Gods among them. He rather not show his embarrassing self around them.]

They're fine sometimes, but it's nice to hear other types of stories.

[Although Yamanbagiri is a swordsman, the glory the Old Gods speak of—bragging about—sounds a little too much for him. What he wants isn't glory, just something else... acknowledgement? Pride? Pride, but not arrogant ones.

After he listens to Aymeric's stories, he speaks up.
]

... Those are good stories.
ittenbari: (what no)

C

[personal profile] ittenbari 2019-01-19 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
Whoops!

[Sakon sidesteps her easily, then suddenly he's the one bowing apologetically.]

Totally sorry! I wasn't really paying a whole lotta attention.

[He's been kind of preoccupied all day. He's been reassigned (again) to a god he hasn't met yet and that coupled with all the weird questions he had to answer this morning is making him pretty uneasy.]
beyondtheblade: (032)

iii.

[personal profile] beyondtheblade 2019-01-19 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
[With certain things still fresh in memory, the way Mirei talks is enough to make Tsubasa look up as she tries to distract her mind from the blowhards running off at the mouth.]

...you... wouldn't happen to know Shikyoin, I suppose?

[Sorry, probably not what you're looking for, Mirei.]

The old gods appear rather high on themselves today, it would seem.
beyondtheblade: (190)

r&r

[personal profile] beyondtheblade 2019-01-19 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
[Tsubasa has plenty of her own irritations with this situation. With the old gods in general today. She's not terribly surprised to see this newcomer just getting up to leave, and she eyes him as he's moving.]

While I can't say I blame you, I'm sorry they're giving a bad first impression.

[She casts her gaze to the braggarts.]

For what it is worth, I largely get the impression we newer gods and shinki seem to do most of the work nowadays. [She gives a small, dark chuckle.] Considering that, it doesn't seem like many of us are really having a good time dealing with the old ones today at all.
beyondtheblade: (204)

Physical Training

[personal profile] beyondtheblade 2019-01-19 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
Extremely.

[Whether or not Saber was speaking towards her, Tsubasa hears it as she drifts nearby, also just observing for the moment. She's been trying to get her own licks in here and there, with an eye towards any old gods who want to step up today, in particular.

She holds her arms behind her back, shaking her head, before looking away from the fights to him.]
I take it your interview time could have gone better, too?
beyondtheblade: (007)

r&r2, rip your other prompts

[personal profile] beyondtheblade 2019-01-19 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Tsubasa idly looks at her glowstick.]

Huh. Normally, I'm on the other side of this.

[First time for everything, she guesses. Still, she sits back and watches then, or more like examines what is to come next. She's... fairly impressed, actually. Especially to pull this off on the spur of the moment.

Once the lights come up, she's just nodding approvingly, arms crossed. Glowstick still in hand.]


Well, I suppose it is good to have confirmation you can back up your words, Shikyoin!
medicinemaster: (standing firm)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-01-19 07:38 am (UTC)(link)
"I cannot tell if they are trying to gather information on potential enemies or allies. Regardless, it is a troubling situation to find oneself in."

Yaone, herself, is not quite sure who to trust. Not when she knows very little about this world, recent events, or any of the players involved. She knows Goku is here, at the very least, and perhaps others from their world. Without Sanzo or Kougaiji present, their groups are bereft of strong leadership. It is not ideal for either of them, especially if there is trouble on the horizon.

"This is my first day yet they wished to know if my loyalties lay with their queen. I questioned the intent behind it all but it seems as if I am not the only one," she adds softly, keeping her voice low in case one of the storytellers might overhear them.

Perhaps it's her inclination to resist any authority but her lord's flaring up. Maybe it's over-sensitivity brought on by a long and confusing day. But it feels as if there is something sinister afoot within this Heaven, even if she cannot begin to guess where the source may be.
medicinemaster: (into the dumpster fire)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-01-19 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
Please do not worry. It is I that did not pay attention.

[And now Yaone is bowing again, too, this to the young man she'd almost run into into. She had been informed by the white-robed ones that she'd been assigned a shinki to work with but with all her worries about her lord and uncertain circumstances she'd been dropped in, that fact had completely slipped her mind. It comes back to her now, however, as she straightens again, her gaze settling on this new fellow.

There's something about him, an odd tug of sorts on her heart that compels her to take a step closer to him. Yaone watches him a moment, head tilting and brow furrowing quizzically when a vision suddenly fills her mind.

A night sky, two men, one repeatedly slashing at the other who merely stands there at takes it. In her mind's eye, she sees him fall, hears his words about winning, at last - then the vision fades. It's such a new and vivid experience that it takes Yaone completely offguard, causing her to slump and pitch forward toward him a little. She lifts one clawed hand to press against her forehead.

She doesn't feel feverish as murmurs.]


I am sorry. I saw something and it startled me. Are you...

[She trails off mid-sentence, sounding a bit bewildered. What had been that name again...? It's not like her to forget names but it's been a day.]

Are you my shinki?
Edited 2019-01-19 09:12 (UTC)
gentilitea: (With an unsheathed blade)

[personal profile] gentilitea 2019-01-19 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
1. What is your vessel form?
I was once a tea tray. I expect that won’t change. [ Oh yes it will ]

2. How many battles have you been in while in vessel form and what were your opponents?
I recall about three major encounters, most of them ayakashi. However… [ Biting his lip, ] At one point there had been the undead, as well. [ And he won’t say anything further than that. ]

3. Do you have any opponents you would resist fighting alongside your God and fellow temple shinki?
Certainly not! Anything that threatens my master and his work is to be eliminated immediately.

4. What have you done to increase your resilience while in vessel form?
I’ve been honing my body and my skills since my arrival. Alone, of course.

5. If you have other shinki at your temple, how often have you fought alongside them in vessel form?
I don’t recall such a time. Add and I have been alone together for so long…

6. What spells do you know?
Aside from my healing spells? None. For the moment my skills are sufficient.

7. Do you have any plans to further that training?
…Perhaps. But I have yet to encounter anything that would be of particular interest to Add’s line of work. [ Especially in issuing the inevitable damage control. ]
gentilitea: (Thou seek the dark)

[personal profile] gentilitea 2019-01-19 09:16 am (UTC)(link)
Of course it is. [ Wryly, as he takes a sip of punch and makes a face. Ugh, the amateurs here can’t even mix a drink right. ]

Why the powers that be insist that our training must include these tedious social activities I’ll never know.
gentilitea: (With an unsheathed blade)

C!

[personal profile] gentilitea 2019-01-19 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
Jakob looks down at her, entirely unimpressed.

In a deadpan voice, he responds, “If you ever make an attempt upon Miss Alex’s dignity I am going to personally send you flying all the way to the Near Shore.”

But he doesn’t mind seeing Hibiki get the worse end of the deal, though.
onedrinkwithme: (with a smol nerd)

[personal profile] onedrinkwithme 2019-01-19 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
[He nods to acknowledge her words because they are very much true.]

For it is them why this realm exists. It would be a grave injustice not to remember why we are here in the first place.

[He can hear an older god scoff and walk away (good riddance) and when the rest of the group turn to talk to their comrades, Aymeric returns his thoughts to Ginia at the same volume.]

The questioning was unexpected, I will not lie. But that only shows that the Heavens are indeed planning for warfare. It is only a matter of when they will strike. [Because of course.] But what about yourself? How are you feeling?
medicinemaster: (bowing profusely)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-01-19 09:46 am (UTC)(link)
[At first, Yaone thinks she's collided with a man, perhaps an old god on his way to the table she'd been departing from. However, that's not the sight that greets her when she turns around to apologize. Instead, she sees what appears to be a young woman. For a moment, Yaone looks stunned before dropping into an apologetic bow.]

I am sorry for bumping into you, miss. I shall be more careful from now on. Would you let me get you a refreshment as an apology?

[The only refreshments around are the same ones that Yaone herself has been avoiding all day but it's a friendly reflex of hers when she's made some sort of misstep.]
reloves: (♥ painfully these frustrating feelings)

[personal profile] reloves 2019-01-19 09:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Minako knew it. Small children are all secretly demonic. And now there's one here with a knife, the true proof that they were out for blood all along!!

.. except with the way Zelda addresses him, it's more likely to just be a tiny god rather than an actual child, huh. Whatever. She was still right!! Kind of!!

It's super hard to find a politeness balance when you're A) Minako Aino and not very inclined to being polite to begin with and B) faced with what outwardly looks like a child with a knife. But she doesn't want to totally embarrass Zelda either in front of other people, so she keeps her whispering to appropriate whisper levels as she turns to her two fellow shinki instead. ]


Does he have a knife? [ Clearly this is the important part. ]
reloves: (♥ i'll be in pain forever and ever)

[personal profile] reloves 2019-01-19 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's one good thing about the other's reply - if there's anything that can give Minako some energy back after being stuck in self-doubt all day, it's seeing someone else doubt themselves. Because while Minako is totally fine with tearing herself down, there's no way she's just going to sit there and watch someone else do it.

So some light returns to her eyes as she quickly shakes her head with much more energy than a moment ago. ]


That's not true! You look so cute and pretty, you'd be amazing even by yourself!
medicinemaster: (comfort; ministrations)

[personal profile] medicinemaster 2019-01-19 10:05 am (UTC)(link)
No, I have not yet. Thank you for the tip.

[Yaone hadn't missed how preoccupied and dazed the girl had seemed before answering her question. She offers the girl a polite smile as she starts browsing the shorter weapons as had been suggested. Yaone still isn't seeing any spears, though. It's mostly knives and short swords - a little too personal for her tastes. The only weapons here seem to be ones for training, too, and Yaone's not confident enough in her combat skill to make blows from those count in a real fight.

No, she'll need to escape from the Meeting Hall and go about about crafting her own weapons from what natural resources she can find in the area.

In the meantime, she turns back to the girl, calling out to her quietly.]


Miss? Um. Is everything all right?
Edited 2019-01-19 10:05 (UTC)
gentilitea: (Lost in thoughts all alone)

rest and refreshments!

[personal profile] gentilitea 2019-01-19 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
That was well said, my lady. [ Might as well announce himself that way, as he comes out behind her. Being around those stuffy old gods, like the pompous nobility that they are, had been the worst, even for a man meant to serve them.

But then she…well, he couldn’t help but follow, and gladly. Attending parties where he isn’t working has never sat right with him, anyway. ]


The party has been considerably more peaceful for it. Why, I believe the younger gods have finally managed to get a word in edgewise!
defensivematrix: (looking down)

[personal profile] defensivematrix 2019-01-19 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Projecting the perfect Exemplar/royal secretary, she's here to make sure everything is in order ]

1. What is your vessel form? A circular blade known as chakram. [ An answer delivered with calm confidence. She sees no reason to hide it, Iskandar has been seen wielding it in public. ]
2. How many battles have you been in while in vessel form and what were your opponents? Ayakashi. All enemies have been eliminated- should I have kept a tally? I wasn't aware there was a ranking... [ There might be a hint of sarcasm there ]
3. Do you have any opponents you would resist fighting alongside your God and fellow temple shinki? We stand in perfect alignment. [ She says it in very definitive way, and doesn't bother to explain if it means "yes" or "no" ]
4. What have you done to increase your resilience while in vessel form? [ Satya interlaces fingers and puts them on a knee. This question unnerves her a little. ] What could have been done? I feel this is a piece of very crucial information many of us have been missing. Why?
5. If you have other shinki at your temple, how often have you fought alongside them in vessel form? Enough to know that everyone perform their function perfectly. As it should be
6. What spells do you know? Borderlines.
7. Do you have any plans to further that training? Naturally. There is always a way to improve yourself and reach new peak of performance and skill.
Edited (ugh i keep borking the html, sumanai for all the edits) 2019-01-19 13:50 (UTC)
defensivematrix: (focus)

[personal profile] defensivematrix 2019-01-19 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
It can be easily handwaved but after the interview, Satya would question the shinki mentors, how one can "increase their resilience while in vessel form" because it is something that made her curious.

Since she'd be speaking with them already, she would also inquire about learning spells, being most interested in learning spell of silence as her first one
towards_okeanos: (thunder)

[ Rest and Refreshments II ]

[personal profile] towards_okeanos 2019-01-19 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Most of the new gods are just avatars of the powers they stand for. The exceptions being him and Cu Chulainn. Still, Iskandar had a growing suspicion they're not the only ones. That suspicion only gets stronger as he watches the magnificent spectacle that is Hibiki's song.
It has all elements it should...the colours, the light show, the completely smitten and utterly captivated audience.
With a very modern flavour. The glowsticks were a nice touch for example. Still, Iskandar would fight anybody, even Hibiki herself, who'd dare to suggest that THIS IS NOT APOLLO.

Once all is over and the dust has settled, he goes to personally give praise where praise is due.]


Greetings, Shining One, that was a splendid performance!

[Technically speaking they are brothers, right?]
priforprince: (refuse)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-01-19 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't believe so?

[ Hibiki doesn't particularly feel like continuing to mingle, but having seen someone less than fully receptive to amore has intrigued her. ]

Can you look at this satisfied audience and claim nothing was accomplished?

[ Right at this juncture, a couple of shinki are having to carry a co-worker out of the hall on a stretcher. She's swooned with a dreamy smile on her face. God, forgive her.....she shouldn't....

But....Apollo-sama! ]
priforprince: (drone)

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-01-19 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm pleased it met with your approval.

[ Honestly, lingering after the show is giving the audience too much of a good thing. It's about time for Hibiki to head home, and watch the fallout on goatcam. But she makes a Special Exception for Chris. Or perhaps for smarming.

Either way, here's Hibiki, appearing suddenly behind her new fan. She sawwwwww you.

She knoooows. ]