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]

[Joke on you, Caster, because that sudden switch means that Iskandar is parrying your attack with his chakram and not the other weapon. As his grip is steady Caster's sword just glides of it. No matter the speed the attack would need more strength in it to succeed.]

Someone here could use a second breakfast once in a while.

[hypomeneo]

That brat.

[Waver growls even as he takes note that his attacks will still work from shinki space. OKAY. The feather fan appears, and he begins to use the wind spell already concealing his form to decrease the resistance of air around Iskandar to allow him to move and counter faster. Can he also hook Iskandar into his Caster-ly senses and abilities directly? Good question. He's already set the blood sigil as a direct conduit, so what he can pull off here is something to be seen.]

But the boy seems to be a never ending fount of mana. It comes in at a steady rate, so he can be overwhelmed with a strong enough drain, but that doesn't stop the flow. I expect Archer and Caster will take advantage of it and will expect me to drain them and their spells, if the boy has told them anything about how I reacted the last time we fought.

[There's the feeling of a sharp, awfully calculated grin.]

I do hope they counter me if I'm given the opportunity to try. I've set things up to look like I've learned bloody little from that last encounter.

Now Caster's using rune magic. Old, powerful. He's used one to physically empower himself...

[boneofsword]

[Judar's antics bring a smirk to Archer's face. Look, every single one in the temple of disaster is mature not. He watches with apt interest weapons forming in Iskandar's hands, eyes narrowing subtly. He recognizes this kind of spell, even when the nature of Heavens turns all they use in vessel forms into shinki magic.]

It looks like he's using magecraft. [he says slowly as he scans both weapons. Chakram is simple enough to be easily replicable, the other weapon he needs to see.] Besides I doubt his only skill is absorption of mana. I saw him analyze spells, and he's cunning enough to conceal his full potential.

[Time to change the tactics. Sword in Caster's hand glows with teal light and changes shape into a perfect copy of Satya's vessel form. Take that, Rider.]

[futhark]

[ The best way would be to be very careful about using magic, though runes are-- very specific in how they behave. Countering them is definitely possible, everything is counterable, but he can perhaps benefit from them being mostly forgotten.

Not that Caster gets to dwell much on it, because as he takes a swing, ready to strike again- ready to ask Archer for a second sword- the one he is holding changes into something very unfamiliar. ]

Huh? [ Archer what the hell you are doing, why is he now holding that-- bladed disc, chakram, whatever. He's too close to throw it. ] Archer the hell-

[ -you're doing? He wants to ask, as the state of confuzzlement gives Iskandar advantage. AT LEAST WARN YOU'RE GOING TO PULL A STUNT, THAT'S NOT HOW TEAMWORK WORKS YOU GODDAMN TROLL ]

[towards_okeanos]

[Well that was all fun and games. Just right until the point that Archer makes THAT ONE fatal mistake. Of course, Iskandar has no idea it WAS Caster's Exemplar and not Caster himself so the furious roar that comes after the change is directed at the druid. Caster's dumbfounded expression does not register on his radar now that he's already gone into a blind rage.]

THAT IS ENOUGH!

[Followed by a string of most horrendous Greek curses wishing them all, their ancestors and future corpses the worst treatment possible. Funny how the Ancient Greeks had a lot of curses involving maltreatment of corpses.
But Iskandar is not all words and thanks to Waver upgrading his speed just a moment ago and him being close enough now he's able to drop the golden circle onto his forearm and still has enough time to deliver the most splendid uppercut to Caster's jaw before his compliments elicit any reaction from the smaller man.
Needless to say, the punch does send Caster flying on a beautiful ballistic curve way beyond the borders of the training area.

Iskandar spits on the ground. ]

You do not take what is mine.

[kuroi_taiyo]

All of that is why I'm hanging back on my magic. A snowball barely takes anything, and borderlines are probably harder for him to deal with, given the nature of them.

[ If Archer hadn't had to deal with so many of the notes that were on Judar's original temple's site, it'd be hard to believe that he researched and learned as much about the laws of shinki magic as he had. Not that he's staying on that subject for long-

He's watching the way the weapon changes shape, and looks at Archer around the same time as the punch starts to land and send their god flying. AT LEAST HE BETTER PICK UP ON THIS BEING A GOOD CHANCE FOR USING OTHER TOOLS AT HIS DISPOSAL. ]

Are you trying to fuck with the big guy or Caster more?

[boneofsword]

[Okay, this looks bad. This looks very, very bad.

Well, it's not as planned. Caster's reaction is not quite what Archer expects, and the result is, so to say, explosive.

Nice display of temper, Iskandar. And such a mean left hook. Archer seriously wishes he could understand greek, those insults sound interesting.]

Not really.

[Nothing works better to rile Caster up like this. Ancient warriors and their brawls.]

[hypomeneo]

Satya, could you pin Caster to the ground with a barrier, please? They will have a hard time countering you and your abilities I believe. You may be the deciding factor in all of this.

[PLEASE TAKE THIS MOMENT TO GET REKT BY SCIENCE, GENTLEMEN. Waver has his finger on a barrier borderline to deploy if Caster tries to evade after that punch. Please crash into his shield headfirst and be stunned.]

Though, uh... Iskandar?

I think that was Archer. If he's never seen Satya in vessel form, he may have an ability to copy weapons. If my vessel form shows up next, that ability is linked to more than just sight.

[OKAY, LET US START ACTIVATING THOSE SPELL POINTS FROM EARLIER. MMM, YEAH! THIS IS A GOOD TIME WITH ALL THE CHAOS TO START PULLING SHIT.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar is pacing from one side of the training area to the other. Left to right. Right to left. To right again. He's just waiting. He won't oppose the barrier if Satya decides to listen to Waver. But he won't order her to do it either.]

If that was truly Archer then I hope Cu Chulainn would have a word with him. Because that was low. I thought better of him.

[He can't help though being impressed. If that's Archer's skill... Projecting weapons at will? Copying from the enemy? Ares balls! That's useful. He's jealous.]

Waver, can you see how he's doing it?

[Iskandar has trust in Waver's analytical skills. Especially, when it comes to breaking down foreign magic. Though he suspects shinki skills could more difficult, if not outright impossible to unravel. Still, there's no harm in trying. Why not copy the counterfeiter? He started it.]

gross, you want me to playercest, shame on you

[futhark]

[ Checking in on him? Well Caster has a nice ballistic curve of flight, as Rider's punch was very effective. His flight stops on a tree. He either hit or it caught him, who can tell with Sage of the Forest (no, please). The damage he just shrugs off. A bruised rib, a concussion, ehh who cares, he's just royally pissed now.

Check this now. Whatever barrier or else is aimed at his landing spot hits- nothing. Because Caster just disappears.

---And reappears 10 meters above, somewhere around Rider's six. Very pissed, fuming even. ]

The fuck was that, Archer?! Give me a normal weapon.

[ This was supposed to be... training, right? Word "was" is a good one here, because Caster is going full Territory Creation on Iskandar's. Something Waver will immediately recognize, but something that is also generally unique for different Casters. What is the Territory Creation of this Caster's? Pretty simple.

There lived once a Witch in the castle of Dun Scaith, she was a master of many arms and many spells. One, in particular, could open the gates of Land of the Dead, sucking the life out of everything around. Caster can't do the part oh physically opening the gates, but he... is bold? dumb? enough to simulate the effect. The area around Iskander lights up, invisible runes being placed in the air-- and thanks for Judar Caster has enough energy stored to consider even different options-

(Do not employ a Noble Phantasm on the training grounds, they will ban you)

But anyway, an attempt at hindering the movement first, sucking out the strength and rapidly draining mana is a bonus, obviously no one is going to die (right?). How merciful that Scáthach isn't here, because she would murderify her student for this copy. ]

Judar, I'm going all out! Let's destroy them.

[ Ah, an equip cue, the fun begins. Archer you-- you can eat cake or something. Or try to redeem yourself, IDK, THE TALK WILL BE LATER, can't allow an arguing within ranks right now. They have to win this, and Caster is now fully dedicated to this goal. Every advantage they got should be used. ]

are you kinkshaming them shuu?

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Honestly, Judar doesn't know any of the weird languages people use. If it weren't for some weird translation magic going on in this world for generally understanding one another, the teenager was sure he wouldn't know what anyone said.

Ah, but Judar glances at Archer as he's called out by Caster. One of those 'serves you right' looks, all things considered, but he doubts the guy would be surprised. It seemed that this was his time to actually get started. ]

I'm putting up a one-way line to cover you, then.

[ And maybe Archer will back up with a second one-way barrier behind that as he swipes and brings up a borderline between Caster and Rider; something to stop the big guy, and any magic from them, but for Cu to get through without any problem.

And the equip doesn't come with any special music, or cgi ribbons around the body to replace things, but quickly takes over with a golden glow and morphs the Servant. The silver bracelet was gone, for dark feathers crawled up the forearms instead, and the blue hair was exchanged for a similar dark color as what clothing the god wore became... even less. And red. Put that with the markings and gold, it's certainly like he was taken over by something else, given the small horns and feathers. Of course it came with further access for some very large spells that Cu could use without the use of runes or anything.]

[boneofsword]

My apologies, Caster.

[Archer projects Cruaidín Catutchenn again. Had he not been in vessel form Waver would recognize the spell. Instead it seems to be creating a physical illusion of weapon. Odd, for it not only retains the physical aspects of said sword but also its mystic properties. Almost as if said weapon is a Noble Phantasm.

He focuses on a borderline to back up Judar, right behind the first one. Better to be safe than sorry, especially in dealing with a highly skilled mage.

Honestly, he has only one excuse for starting it. With both Caster and Rider pissed off by the patronizing of the old gods something's bound to explode. Better for it to be the training ground than face of a next holier-than-thou idiot insulting one of the ancient warriors.]

[hypomeneo]

[That's why he asked and didn't order. Other people may have other ideas.]

I'm working on it. It's almost like a mana construct, but it's not only physical. It contains Power and... Mystery as well. But if it's like a mana construct, the structure will have weak points to break...

... can I hook you into my senses and abilities directly? You're going to need to react fast---

[FUCKING HELL HE WANTS THAT TELEPORT POWER. ... but okay, if he can't have it, the next best thing is to figure out how to use a god's power to completely wreck the god, right? ... yes, yes, that sounds good!

(... sure Scáthach will never learn of this ever. That's just tempting Fate, Cu.)

BUT AS HE WORKS THAT OUT... remember those spell points that just got activated? Now Waver doesn't have High Speed Incantation or Divine Words to cut down his casting time in the heat of battle... he has a bunch of warriors who love to banter and insult each other, and that's great cover and prep time guys, really. YOU GAVE HIM PREP TIME. ARE YOU INSANE?

Territory Creation blooms over the field. Again. Now how that interacts with another Caster's Territory Creation... is up to a lot of things. Including rank, which Waver's is A. Waver growls as he triggers the first trap. It is actually draws from the base rules of magic all mages are taught, that he taught. He could go for a more complex counter, but here Waver chooses as his first move the simplest of methods, drawing from Iskandar's lesson so long ago.

Rule #1 of Magecraft. Spells can only work if the mana supplying them is stable.

So... draw their mana. Waver's trap insures that the energy begins to vibrate and collide at destructive frequencies, interacting with the mana of Caster's spells and mixing in and infecting it. Hopefully Caster isn't drawing that into them... that would leave all you fine folks with upset reserves like upset stomachs. And he'll increase the chaos until the drain stops or he's countered in turn.]

I am feeling very called out right now.

[UH, YEAH. ... this is gonna turn into a full Servant battle right quick, isn't it? Waver's Caster pride is being challenged, Cu's pissed... THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.

(no promises on the Noble Phantasms)]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar will treat neither Waver nor Satya to the many insults that he has on the tip of his tongue right now.
He came here for a fight, not a fucking light show. Real fight. With real weapons. All right, maybe not regular, mundane weapons but both of his shinki vessel forms are actual blades and Caster has no problem getting hold of a sword either. It could have been something proper. Apparently, that would be expecting too much. Cu Chulainn is a Caster after all.
Damned mages.]

Do it then. And while you do tell me where the hell did he go because I don't see him and I'm not exactly pleased with it.

[futhark]

[ Is this a plane, is this a bird-- well given the feathers that is a comparison to draw. There's no denying that this garment is quite, hmm, breezy, but fewer clothes is hardly a problem for Cú "what is shame?" Chulainn.

If he wasn't so damn pissed, he could even feel proud about, really. (If he only knew there might be a Very Important Audience, he could also behave better) But right now far more important is the power that this equip grants him ]

Wind, air that cuts like a blade-

[ This was supposed to be a normal duel, but shinki allies and the powers they wield immediately changes the nature of the fight. Not something they could see coming. The fact that it went full Caster vs Caster battle is-- accident? Or natural consequences of way too many mages on the field.

While his territory creation does drain and hinders his enemies, it doesn't draw the energy to him, so at least no upset stomachs are there. Waver interference draws a grimace from Caster but- why should he stop or pull back? Even if it means the effect being constantly nullified and challenged, it still means that Waver is busy with something to do.

The two offensive borderlines thrown can keep them all more busy, as Caster figures first big advantage- ride the wind. So instead of falling with full force he glides down with sword ready to strike-

Surely in almost last possible moment, he yells ] Above!

[ Because why to keep an advantage, better to announce your incoming attack. (Hey they're not trying to kill each other for reals, he still remembers that). Worry not, he got something up his sleeve- metaphorical sleeve. ]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ See, at this point, Judar can relax in the white-space meant for a shinki as the vessel form does most of the work. Mind, he's able to cast a shield of integrity that only a magi (as his world considers them,) could manifest, but it's still something small that he cast up in an instant and set down just as quickly. He'll do it when it seems important. ]

[hypomeneo]

[Accident, too many mages on the field, and the fact that Waver is very... feisty and will answer a perceived challenge.]

Above.

[Caster... are you trying to slay everyone with you sex appeal? Your abs are cutting but! Nope... he's rattling on about air and since one of Waver's elements is wind...]

Beware of cutting attacks by pressurized air. He could probably create blades of wind from long range...

... so can we.

[Waver is busy with something to do indeed. Namely using that blood sigil to give Iskandar as much access to his abilities as possible. Not that he recalls, but he was able to forge a connection with Iskandar's younger self to transfer mana remotely during that battle with Goetia and if you have magic circuits and you can connect them... mages can share power like Luvia and himself did so long ago in the Castle of Separation.

The process leaves the mages with complete understanding of the other's magecraft afterwards, and Waver's unknowingly banking on similar principles working for Heroic Spirits.

First step mana... next his sensitivity to mana itself so Iskandar can detect attacks coming faster... here goes...]

[boneofsword]

[Here comes interference - rain of swords. All aimed perfectly, to create a half-circular barrier a mere hair width from Iskandar's feet. Each of the weapon is a perfect physical replica, and each comes from the king's times. Who knows if his army has been using those exact swords.

It's a tribute and a warning at the same time.

What Waver can recognize is that it comes without a spell at all, save for the one he has seen earlier when Archer projected a weapon for his Caster.

The fight has merely started.]

[towards_okeanos]

[It's as if he gained another sense suddenly becoming aware of the incoming hail of blades. Caster's up there gliding down with his sword drawn. Iskandar may have time to block Caster's sword if he decides to strike but it's too late to react to the torrent of weapons from above. Though he does not need any particular extra sense to recognize all too familiar shapes of many of the falling blades.
Yet the final straw is no sword at all.
A mere hair width from his face ground strikes a 6-metre pike, its two parts connected in the middle by a brass ring. A design so unique and effective it remained in use for two hundred years.]

You're clearly intent on stealing my stuff, Archer! One can even think you're trying to compete with King of Heroes on grounds of varied armoury!

[As much as he hates being on the defensive Iskandar has no intent on calling his ultimate weapon. No matter how angry he might be he has not forgotten that they have an audience. And not everyone in that particular audience deserves the sight of his army.
And it's not as if they're trying to kill each other, right?]

[hypomeneo]

[Waver... is not sure about the killing each other bit. Is this approaching murder-death-kill? The kinda-youngest Heroic Spirit in the bunch has... questions... for his seniors about this.

That sure was a sarissa that just got planted in front of them - how Waver knows this, he can't recall. That sure was a title that stirred something briefly, then passed.

There's going to be a limit to multi-tasking and Waver's not sure when he's going to be hitting it but probably soon. Next step... try to hook into Discerning Eye. Which may or may not work as well (or at all) for Iskandar, as he doesn't have Waver's knowledge that goes into how the ability works... but it's something, right?]

[futhark]

[ The swords were a surprise, but guess Archer is set on rehabilitating himself from his earlier blunder.

That sent them on a tree.

And all those things.

If Caster had any modicum of self-restraint maybe he would pause and notice that they are doing way too much damage to the area than it should be allowed. But he's himself so instead, he lands, hitting and parrying with his weapon then jumping (flying) back to get out of the area affected by Territory Creation x2. From the distance, he can test (go overboard) with spells granted to him by Judar.

Temple vs temple, combines with Servant vs Servant, makes him take little precautions. Iskandar has enough of his own crafty- and sturdiness and help of his two shinki (one of which clearly on protective side, given the barriers showing up in just right times, and the other being an analytical mage with Servant elements to a boot). He can either avoid the attacks or tanks them if they hit.

The nearby trees are not taking well stray cutting wind though.

Will the gardener curse their names again? ]

[towards_okeanos]

[They should be forever banned from the training grounds after this nonsense. No matter the gardener's opinions.]

So that's how we're playing right now?

[If Archer is going to supply him with weapons it would be such a pity not to use any of them. So Iskandar forfeits his most glorious weaponry for a moment and grabs the sarissa instead. He throws it in Caster's direction. The only problem being it's a pike. Long and heavy. Not the kind of weapon designed to be thrown. So when it is the object it hits, the tree, explodes in a cloud of splinters. The sarissa disintegrates on contact.
Hopefully, no one was near enough to get hit because there are some truly vicious pieces of wood and drops of molten brass flying around.

Not holding back, eh? Maybe they should start.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ See, that's a time for one of those bubble-ish shields to come up and protect Caster from some of those splinters. Judar wouldn't have, but it seems that convenient barriers seem to be showing up for the other one. So, why not? It's a very strong barrier of his own, but more flexible.

His attention is on the surrounding environment more than that, though. Not because he doesn't care, but because the magi is good at multi-tasking. ]

If the staff don't come to murder you two, I'd be surprised if you're allowed back at all.

[sageprincess]

[Come for the fan-service, stay for the property damage. Such is her relationship with the Servants of the Far Shore.

She had hoped, perhaps, that at least one of them would acknowledge the destruction they're causing, or the risk they're posing to the others who have come to train. Maybe not Rider or Caster - prideful hotheads that they are - but there are plenty of shinki involved in this battle as well, aren't there? Surely at least one of them would be able to reign this disaster in a bit before the whole Training Hall is leveled.

She had hoped, and as per usual, reality has fallen short of her expectations. One tree explodes and others are looking like they're barely standing up, and just beyond the din of the battle she can hear distressed cries and shouts of alarm, no doubt coming from white-robed shinki that cannot believe their Lady is letting this happen again. Zelda sighs.]

So be it.

[Caster would know what the sight of golden light meant if he were to see it, so he's the one that has to go down first. A bright beam forms seemingly out of nowhere given how little the combatants are paying attention to their surrounding and aims to blast him right out of the sky. Iskandar doesn't get a moment to wonder where it came from because in the next moment, two more beams are leveled at him, one at his back and one at his head, the wielder of this new magic apparently not trusting that one hit would be enough to stun a man of his stature. The analytical minds of this battle, if they are not so thrown by this sudden interruption, might be able to tell that the magic the gods are being riddled with is explicitly divine in nature and extremely raw in practice, appearing to be the very essence of light and law in a marginally tangible form.

In another, less potentially blinding flash of light, Zelda teleports between the two "human" fighters, a glowing golden hand leveled at each of them. Some would consider it suicide to get between such clearly powerful fighters (that's probably why no one has stepped in until now), but she is confident that the gods in this equation at least would not risk harming a hair upon her head.]

All of you! [Shinki, you're included here too.] Stand down this instant!

[Yeah, she's... she's not impressed with this dick measuring contest training battle dick measuring contest.]

[hypomeneo]

[... irony is, Waver gets into a fight with Dark Precure after this, and what happens? BOOM - though not by his hand.

Yes, the Servants of the Far Shore should be banned. They just egg each other on and their instincts don't help. They get battle-swamped.

For instance, instinct is faster than thought and there's a pulse of sheer surprise-fright-worry for Iskandar's safety and Waver yells:]

Barrier!

[Even as Discerning Eye tears into the magic, deduces it as light and law and raw divinity, even as Waver's swinging for the counter and throwing up a Borderline and preparing for the drain...

THWUMP!

Contact.]

WHAT THE HELL, YOU IDIOT!

[... oh, give him a moment to snap out of it and realize the property damage. But if intimidation's the name of the game, smacking Iskandar turned on Waver's full protective mode.

Especially if he's now unconscious.]