January Training

[godsoffortune]

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...)
On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being low and 10 being high, what is your commitment to serving the needs of...<blockquote><b>1. Your followers?</b> ## <b>2. The Far Shore?</b> ## <b>3. Amaterasu herself?</b> ##</blockquote><b>4. Do you believe that A God's Actions Are Always Just?</b> ... <b>5. Do you protect The Gods' Greatest Secret?</b> ... <b>6. Do other Gods know your opinions on the above matters?</b> ... <b>7. Will you respond to a summons by Amaterasu to defend The Far Shore?</b> ... <b>8. What vessel forms do your shinki take, in order starting with Exemplar?</b> ... <b>9. How do you use them in combat?</b> ... <b>10. What sort of opponents have you faced <i>with your shinki in vessel form</i> - human, ayakashi, or other?</b> ... <b>11. Do you have any plans to personally train your shinki for battle ahead?</b> ... <b>12. For wielders of multiple shinki, when was the last time you used all of them working together?</b> ...

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...)
<b>1. What is your vessel form?</b> ... <b>2. How many battles have you been in <i>while in vessel form</i> and what were your opponents?</b> ... <b>3. Do you have any opponents you would resist fighting alongside your God and fellow temple shinki?</b> ... <b>4. What have you done to increase your resilience while in vessel form?</b> ... <b>5. If you have other shinki at your temple, how often have you fought alongside them in vessel form?</b> ... <b>6. What spells do you know?</b> ... <b>7. Do you have any plans to further that training?</b> ...

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~

Comments

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[shinki training]

[One of the new arrivals seems to have taken well to their new role: an imposing young woman with a large, demonic-looking wing attached to one shoulder. Upon arriving, she wasted no time in employing the use of her borderline, carving lines across the ground, splitting apart targets, and even combining it with her own powers by creating lines of destructive, crimson-colored energy.

This "Dark Precure" seems to be a natural when it comes to combat. She goes about it all with a natural, focused intensity. That being said, her attacks favor power over fine control, and even her attempts at cutting targets end up hitting more than just the target. Eventually, her focus on training begins to wane, and she starts eyeing everyone else.

The reason why would become clear, when she approaches you, and says...]

I believe I require a greater test of my abilities. Do you wish to spar?



[Rest and refreshments]

[In contrast to the above, however, Dark Precure finds herself very much out of her element once there's no fighting to be done. She stands amidst the Meeting Hall, out in the open, standing almost like a statue... and feeling completely out of place amidst all the revelry and stories being told.

It's the last one that doesn't sit particularly well with her. Who was she? She was no god, with a long list of achievements. As a shinki, she might as well be only a day old. A weapon yet to be wielded as part of a great tale. The more stories and boasts she heard, the more resentment Dark Precure began to feel, until her lips curled into a snarl and stomped off, rather angrily, towards the food and drink...

... Where she didn't have any better idea of what to do with herself. In the end, she's ended up glaring at the offering of alcoholic beverages.]

This is all a waste of my time.

[wildguardian]

Sure, but at least the booze is free.

[Despite his airy claim, his eyes are sharp and entirely sober, and the smell from his glass of clear liquid is... nonexistent. As if, for example, it might be water. He's a little tense over the earlier spate of questions, and he doesn't really want to do anything to his concentration; not when effective borderlines take most of his concentration to nail sober.]

I don't think I've seen you around before. New, or have we been missing each other?

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

I have no use for... "booze", as you call it.

[She turns towards him, eyes crossed. What purpose does this man have for speaking to her? Is he gathering intel? She hasn't quite caught onto the necessity of social interactions just yet.]

I am a new arrival. Today is my first day upon this shore.

[wildguardian]

My condolences. And you're not drinking? Brave woman.

[He'd taken the opportunity to drink on his first day, and he hadn't even gone through that fucked-up list of questions about how good a weapon he's willing to be.

His eyebrows quirk up for a moment as he considers her, and offers a hand to shake.]

I'm Zhao Yunlan.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

There is nothing brain in refusing to embibe an alcoholic substance. I am simply choosing to be healthy.

[The fact she's a superhuman clone leaves the question of whether she even can get inebriated, but that's another matter.]

...

[She stares at his hand, very pointedly doesn't take it, and then looks up again.]

Dark Precure.

B

[mithrarin]

Sure, we can spar.

[The offer actually perks Dust up a little; till now, he'd just been going through the motions with a vague weariness. Setting the staff he'd been practicing with aside, he reaches for a practice sword, eschewing the real weapon wrought with glowing runes that hangs at his side.]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

Excellent.

[Dark Precure flew backwards, spreading her wing as she sailed through the air. She then curled it around her front like a shield as she landed, and a flash of light flickered from the brooch on her forehead just before her Dark Tact - a conductor's baton-like weapon - materialized in her hand.]

I will not hold anything back. You may make the first move.

[mithrarin]

[That's... showy. Well, all right. He's willing to play this game.]

[Dust lunges forward, sword spinning from reverse to forward grip as he moves to strike with it -- but that's a feint to bait out a reaction from her, a commitment to dodge or parry. He'll take the first chance he gets to vault lightly behind her and take advantage of that commitment with a powerful slash.]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[She uses her wing to block the blow, rather than her tact, keeping her arms free. Regardless, her stab at him with her Tact misses as he faults over her, so she's forced to spin on her heel (or rather, she's floating just slightly off the ground) to face him. As he slashes at her, Dark Precure's eyes light up, as she projects a wave of force and pressure designed to throw her opponent backwards.]

shinki training

[unlucky7]

[Part of the reason the information table is set up near the shinki training area is so Ginia can observe people. She watches the new arrival with neutral interest. A quick learner, yes, powerful and destructive too.

It's honestly not that impressive though. When it comes down to it, destroying things is easy. Hurting is easy.

It's a lesson Ginia knows all too well.

Ginia's chin lifts a little as the woman approaches her with a challenge. Okay. Sure. Ginia smirks and nods. Let's fight.]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

Excellent.

[Dark Precure floats back, and summons her weapon, which appears to be nothing more than a conductor's baton. Of course, if Ginia had paid attention, she'd have recognized it as a weapon she's capable of using as both a dagger and to launch energy attacks.]

You may make the first move.

[unlucky7]

[Strange as the weapon looks, a weapon is a weapon. Ginia saw some of the energy attacks and presumes it wouldn't be any more pleasant getting stabbed with it. There's a knife sheathed at her back under her jacket, but Ginia leaves it there, determined to keep the fight to long-range and borderlines only.

First move then. Ginia throws a borderline slash Dark Precure's way. An easy attack even with its speed, but Ginia wants to suss out how she fights first before she taps into all her tricks.]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[A borderline is easy to dodge with her speed, as quick as it is. She finds herself smirking to herself, before slashing through the air with her Dark Tact, firing of a wave of destructive crimson colored energy at Ginia.]

[gentilitea]

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.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Finally, someone who understands, and isn't going to try and tell her to be something she's not.]

It is always like this, then. The matters of heaven seem terribly inefficient.

[gentilitea]

[ Holy crap, someone else who just gets it. ]

Hah! They’ve been that way for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been here for quite some time already.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I see.

[She regards Jakob with a bit more focus and attention now.]

You must be quite experienced then. Any knowledge you could dispense to me would be appreciated, as would any... [This feels strangely awkward to say.] Advice.

[shinki training]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku has also been training. Alone for the most part though he is keeping an eye out for Saber and Edge. He has seen the group training. More practice is always a good thing even though they have had no real issues fighting as a team.

He had spotted Dark Precure in the training area, she had caught his attention with how extreme her attacks seemed to be. He caught her eye when she looked around and nodded, surprised that she approached him.

The surprise quickly faded into a smile.] I would. [He nods at the space in the middle of the room.]

Re: [shinki training]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[At this point, Dark Precure has already suffered the consequences of her fight with Ginia, so she knows to hold herself back, lest she receive admonishment from Tsubasa again. So, she simply nods, and floats gently towards the fighting area.]

Do you prefer to use a weapon?

[swordofzero]

I don't mind either way. I can fight unarmed as well as with weapons. [He was slightly better at unarmed fighting but he had found himself with a working knowledge of almost all the weapons he has picked up so far.]

Is there anything you prefer to practice against?

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I have no preference. I must temper my abilities against foes of all varieties.

[shinki training]

[hypomeneo]

A greater test, you say? I'm willing as long as we agree to keep the bloody destruction in reasonable amounts.

The gardeners already are out for heads today.

[Waver needs to vent, she needs to practice, he's a Servant and can survive a bit more punishment if things go out of control, and he will put her down cold via mana drain if need be. At least that's the plan if this gets too heated - dine off her energy for the potential chaos ahead.]

If that's agreeable to you.

Re: [shinki training]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[By now, Dark Precure has gone through the experience with Ginia, and doesn't exactly want to earn her god's ire again. So she is a bit more agreeable to his conditions.]

Very well. I will make an attempt to rein myself in. But don't expect that to mean I'll go easy on you.

[hypomeneo]

[... no, that would not be good. Waver would prefer himself that gods not be involved because he has only so much tolerance for them today, no matter how well meant the actions are.

He suspects more than one shinki shares his attitude today.]

My lady, I would be honored to face your power.

[... no anxiety for once. He just needs this so much.]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

Very well then. Prepare yourself!

[Her first attack is sudden and almost immediate. She summons two spheres of dark power into her fists and flies forward, shooting them at Waver in mid-flight.]