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

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar would rather be anywhere else then here. Which is odd because he usually likes all the socializing that comes after training day.
Not this time.
Because this time all he gets are flashbacks from his father's court in Pella. The look, the people, the place and times maybe different but the mood... this he recognizes perfectly.
The only comfort comes from the calm presence at his side. Waver doesn't look especially pleased to be here either but he weathers the oppressive atmosphere way better than Iskandar does. He projects that relaxed image occasionally commenting quietly from behind his fan.
It feels good to have him so close.]

You're right. Yet, it's still sad. We could have all worked together. If they only would let us. Sure, we're upsetting their status quo but it's not like we're invading. Or even want to. I'm sure a lot of the new gods would prefer to be at home, wherever that is for them, and not here.

[He smiles at the mention of drugs or spells. They used to do that too. Basic survival if you just happen to have a mother who is little too much into snake cults. And drugs. And poisons. And also happens to intensely hate your best friend.]

Thank you.

[hypomeneo]

[Relaxed and dangerously smiling at everyone. Waver's mood is foul. So foul that despite the lack of wisdom, the massive middle finger in the face of social rank and power, and the sheer number of panic attacks later, Waver thinks it would deeply be satisfying to fight one of these Old Gods himself on his own. Just to make a point of things.

Thankfully, he's not a stupid man. The smile turns much more genuine as the fan tilts for Iskandar to see the shift. Waver does not have a drink. Instead he's guarding a wine bottle.]

Not a problem. I have no intention to let anyone get near your cup.

[Then he frowns... pausing...

And the new shinki? What about us? Most of the new gods are only being offended on behalf of new gods if the commentary is any indication - bless Aymeric on being different, bless Zelda for the mic drop. The attack is two pronged after all. Most of the new shinki have been silent - bless Wendy - due to their deeds in their past being suppressed and their subordinate positions. But there are other stories. Shouldn't those be told? How much resentment is being bred at the silence? How much damage is being done at being told over and over that you're good for nothing but use, an object, to people who don't have their life experiences and thus their identities to protect them? How much damage is being done by saying all a shinki's possibilities is service?

Clever strategy beyond the intelligence gathering, isn't it? Remind of everyone of their roles. Reinforce them. Glorify the gods' past history, try to sabotage new gods' own sense of worth and seed doubt in the ability to fight back against Heaven's hordes if they step out of line of what's expected. Deny the shinki their history in all lives - remind them they can only be objects if they feature in those tales, remind them they can't be anything different. Force the comparison.

Ensure division, especially with the stressing of trust of the interviews. How many gods and shinki would band together if Heaven brought the hammer down? How many would flee to protect their people? There's a good question. What is he reading of the camaraderie of the people in this room? The overall mood beyond outrage?]

A week. Two or three at most before conflict starts. What do you think?

[... right. Let's leave that comment about home alone, shall we?]

I think... it was inevitable, though. Our presence, intentional or not, may be more threatening to them than we think. Gods and Heaven itself runs off belief. That may be more true to the natural order of things than we know.

And that belief is being challenged mightily.

[towards_okeanos]

While I am worried about the possibility, the resentment has been brewing for a long time and to no effect. So I'm not that eager to put a date on it.

[Even I there were some expressing their discontent quite vocally they were but a few. As long as it doesn't concern him, his allies or his people, Iskandar is not going to tell the Queen of Heaven how to rule her own country.]

I don't think they look very threatened. More annoyed. That's what this spectacle is about. Showing us foreign upstarts where is our place in the grand scheme of things.

[Yes, he's talking about the gods. Who else... All he sees is local aristocracy trying to impose a pecking order on the foreign one. While the retainers of both sides don't have much of a say in all of this. Never had. So Iskandar is totally oblivious to the thought process that Waver is going through.]

[hypomeneo]

Hmm... you think it's just that?

[The fans flutters, hiding Waver's expression. Uggh. Purifying that mana from Dark Precure is sure a thing right now.

Also, he lives here and is stuck here as a citizen Amaterasu would claim rule over. You can see where that point is going, modern-yet-ancient man he is.]

Tell me why I think it's not.

[Try to look at this through the shinki perspective, Iskandar. Waver takes the godly perspective all the time to see things that a retainer is blind to.]

[towards_okeanos]

I've seen them at their more reasonable behaviour. [This might part of a reason he got so angry in the morning.]

This? [Iskandar gestures in the direction of the current speaking person.] That's an attempt to regain some control without generating more direct hostility. How effective, well, that's entirely other matter. Yet, that is not how one acts when threatened.

[When something does threaten you, removing the source of the threat immediately is usually the best course of action. As they are not being actively removed the conclusion pretty much draws itself. They're not a threat, they're a nuisance. New gods and new shinki alike. All of them foreigners.

And no, he's not looking at things from shinki perspective because he's not even looking at them from god's perspective. At least not one that could pass as such by any Far Shore standard.
You can argue with him all night long, Waver. Just state it directly. Don't go all Lord-speak, vague open questions on him. Don't make him guess. He's not reading your mind, remember?]