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]

... 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.

[gentilitea]

[ He raises his eyebrows at that. As much as he’s used to dispensing advice to people—whether unsolicited or otherwise—it still tends to surprise him when people actually, well, ask him for it. Like they trust him, or something weird like that.

It makes him feel oddly…suspicious. ]

I…suppose I might give you a few pointers, seeing as you are new here. [ Or at least, he’s pretty sure he’s never seen someone like her around before, never mind how many weirdoes the Far Shore drags in on a constant basis. ]

You will hardly need to deal with the mortals of the Near Shore, as they will fail to notice you most of the time. But in here… [ He frowns. ] You might do well to avoid the cherry trees in the park.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I would presume that the cherry trees hide a dark secret? Perhaps someone should be bold enough to exterminate them.

[Stated matter of factly, like it was a simple matter.]

[gentilitea]

It's been done before. [ Hence he has no qualms about being blunt on that score: ]

Attempting to destroy them is a terrible idea. Don't do anything rash. That is not a lesson many here have learned.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I see. Can you tell me what it is precisely they do, and just why making the attempt is unwise?

[gentilitea]

I don’t know its precise nature, but they release some sort of…toxic substance or the other when threatened.

[ That’s not an entirely accurate assessment of those trees, actually, but Jakob doesn’t know enough about them to make a better description than that. ]

And that’s the problem with the Far Shore in its entirety. Things are never quite what they seem.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

I see. Perhaps some form of long range bombardment would be preferable. But you'd likely need some way of containing the hazard...

[Hm.]

But. I suppose that is not for me to decide.

[gentilitea]

Hmph. You are surprisingly sensible for a newcomer. [ Except…for the long-range bombardment thing, because the last thing this place needs is more disasters. ]

I'm almost impressed.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I'm sure there are some who would disagree with you. But. I thank you regardless.

[gentilitea]

And humble as well. [ Now he's definitely impressed, his usual scowl softening into something more…neutral.

This is a good thing. Keep it up, newbie!! ]

Most people don't take kindly to my advice. [ Even though it mostly has to do with his own attitude… ]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[Less humble, and more "was just involved in a very public battle that her god had to interrupt in order to stop Dark Precure from wounding someone."]

I cannot imagine why. Everything you have said to me is useful.

[gentilitea]

Yes, they are. [ He's certainly not going to be shy about it. ]

But you'll realize quickly enough that not everyone here is receptive to sensible advice. Quite the opposite, really.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

I imagine that's true of most beings. Humans truly are predisposed towards being fools, even when they ascend to divinity.

[gentilitea]

Certainly. [ Though that assertion about humanity gets him to pause. It's not that he has any particular love for his fellow man, but… ]

But they can grow out of it. [ But can she? Does she even—no, it's definitely impolite to ask what she really is. Demons and the like aren't exactly unknown here in the Far Shore, after all, and are accepted just as anyone else whether they are god or shinki. ]

We can only hope that they will not make too great of a mess in the meantime.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I have my doubts. But then, perhaps I am not the best judge.

[gentilitea]

Focusing on your duties as shinki is enough. The gods alone are enough of a handful as it is.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

That is what I intend to do. I am an instrument of my god's will. Even... even if she has other ideas about it.

[gentilitea]

Don't tell me. [ He sighs. He knows where that leads. ]

Your god wishes to befriend you.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

...

Yes. That is it, exactly.

[gentilitea]

They never learn. [ Not that he's completely against the idea, but… ]

But it cannot be helped. The gods have their whims and we have no choice but to satisfy them.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... I suppose. But something about the notion seems... antithetical to who I am.

[gentilitea]

There are demons residing within the Far Shore, you realize. [ He says it in a much kinder tone than he otherwise would have, whoops. ]

Not that it matters. We are all shinki in the end. Whatever we were in the past, it doesn’t matter in here.

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

... And should we not be taking matters to destroy them?

And in the end, you are right. I shall attempt to adapt, and overcome whatever lingering baggage I have unknowingly retained from my past life.

[gentilitea]

For your sake, I certainly hope so. [ Destructive tendencies are never a good sign around here, after all. But…it's not said unkindly. In fact, he'd be a little shocked to realize just how little of his usual biting sarcasm was used in this conversation later on.

It's surreal. ]

[inthemoonlightsshadow]

[In any case, Dark Precure does not take it as badly as she would typically.]

Yes, I am aware that I am... quite different from most of the people here. But I pride myself on my ability to rise to a challenge.