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

[medicinemaster]

[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.]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Dark Precure regards her coldly, crossing her arms as she bows.]

I require no refreshment. The only variety available here is the sort that dull your senses. As an instrument of a god's will, I must remain sharp at all times.

...

Something cool may be appreciated, however.

[medicinemaster]

I will see if they have water. I will be right back.

[Yaone departs for the refreshment tables. Irisviel had been drinking tea from a pot of tea in front of her earlier; surely they would have to have water available somewhere for that. It does take her a few minutes to return between searching through all the bottles of booze and avoiding repeated offers from men to get her a drink. Yaone does come back with a plastic bottle of cold water, though, and hands it over.]

Here you are. I hope that this will be fine. It is all that I could find.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Dark Precure stands there awkwardly, waiting for Yaone to return. It feels strange, waiting for someone to do something for her. In her mind, it's easier to be served, than to be served... and the idea of being helped doesn't really enter her mind.

Nevertheless, when Yaone returns, she takes the bottle, looks at it, and nods.]

... Thank you.

[She opens it and takes a sip. It's... refreshing, but she still feels awkward somehow.]

[medicinemaster]

You are welcome. Please enjoy.

[It might be just a bottle of water but Yaone means means it sincerely just the same. Truth be told, the act of serving and helping another is a bit of a comfortable familiarity to her own raw nerves, too. It's been an overwhelming day and she still doesn't know what to think about any of this, even the status of god this Heaven has given her. It's all so far beyond her understanding and experience.

Casual conversation is a familiar refuge though so Yaone seeks it out despite any potential awkwardness. Proper introductions tend to be a good start.]

My name is Yaone. What is yours?

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Serving someone is a natural priority to Dark Precure as well... but she does it more in the vein of a soldier. Or an attack dog, some might say. It's all she knows.

Casual conversation, however... is not her forte.]

I am Dark Precure.

[medicinemaster]

[It's good that Yaone is gentle and patient by nature, then. It's helped her get along with a wide range of people, on both sides of the enemy line. She gives her companion a gracious and encouraging smile.]

Dark Precure. What a unique name. It rolls pleasantly off the tongue.

[And maybe sometimes Yaone is also a little eccentric.]

It is very nice to meet you, Dark Precure.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Huh. This one doesn't seem all surprised by her name.]

It is agreeable to have met you as well.

... Forgive me for being blunt, but most are not as nonplussed by my name as you are.

[medicinemaster]

I cannot say that I am surprised. Sometimes people can be very strange.

['Dark Precure' is an unusual name but then again, many of the names Yaone has heard today sound odd to her ears.]

Your name does not seem more odd to me than anyone else's.

[She's curious about it's origin but wary of just asking personal questions willy-nilly. For one, she doesn't like to pry or seem rude but one of the fews that did stick with her during the lecture she'd been giving was that careless questions could be dangerous for shinki. If this young lady is a shinki, that it is.

It'd be best to inquire.]

Dark Precure, are you a god or a shinki, if you do not mind me asking?

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Dark Precure's answer is ultimately immediate.]

I am a shinki. So unfortunately, I cannot tell you why I am named the way I am.

...

It is. Inconvenient.

[medicinemaster]

Do you like your name?

[A strange question, perhaps, but given how irked Yaone's been about Heaven trying to give her a new one, the subject of names are on her mind.]

It would seem that my memories may have been altered somewhat as well but I cannot be certain. I know that it is not the same but it is disconcerting, nonetheless.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I have no issues with it, ultimately, aside from having no context for it.

[She tilts her head to the side.] Memory alteration... without being a shinki? How odd.

[medicinemaster]

It is odd to me as well but I have met others from home and it would seem that our memories of events are not synchronized. I do not remember the same events other do and it is difficult to ascertain just whose memories have been tampered with. I cannot tell if is my memories that have been subtracted or if falsehoods have been added to theirs. However, it appears that they believe their memories to be genuine.

[She still doesn't believe that Goku would lie to her about remembering more events than either she, Hakkai, or Gojyo do. There has to be another explanation for the discrepancies. Disease? Illness? Forbidden science and magic experiments? Yaone just doesn't know.

She also sounds surprisingly calm and relaxed given the topic of conversation.]

It is a mystery that I would like to solve if possible.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Dark Precure narrows her eyes, and her brow furrows in thought. That... is something to wrap one's head around, certainly. But she does come to a conclusion rather quickly; she's not sure where it comes from... perhaps those she associated such things with in her past life gave her a sort of intuition.]

You have traveled through space and time. Perhaps you are simply from an earlier point than they are.

[medicinemaster]

Maybe you are right. That would make sense and explain the differences.

[Not that Yaone can begin to fathom what kind of science, magic, or combination of both could be capable of such a feat.]

Mister Goku had said that he had not seen me in a very long time and known of events that had not yet transpired for me.

[Yaone droops just a little bit. While she's not surprised to learn that her and Dokugakuji's brief alliance with the members of the Sanzo Party hadn't lasted in the long run, it's still a little disappointing. Travelling with them without trying to murder each other had been kind of a nice interlude while it had lasted.

That her lord would recover his senses and come back to her and Dokugakuji is a relief, however.]