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

[sing_for_me]

As soon as she finishes reading the text, Alex teleports to Wendy, not even noticing that she felt no fear from their question. Once she arrives, she stands for in front Wendy, glaring at whoever might be a threat.

“Don’t you lay a finger on her,” she practically snarls, glaring daggers at him. Alex is ready to blast out a pheremone attack of fear when she realizes who it is, faltering.

“Ja-Jakob..? What..” Was she facing the wrong way? No one else was close enough. Surely it wasn’t him. He’s been so nice to her. But Alex doesn’t move from her spot, still shileding Wendy. “What’s going on?”

[gentilitea]

Jakob stares at her in shock for a moment before quickly collecting himself. So this is Alex’s shinki all along?

That actually gets him to frown, though he doesn’t know who he should be disapproving of: Alex, for not reining in that little hellion, or Wendy, for ostensibly being a little hellion. Evidently, however, whatever Wendy had texted her hadn’t been anything good. But Jakob isn’t about to fall into such an obvious misunderstanding, either.

He sighs, rubbing at his temples as he feels another headache coming on.

“Perhaps you’d like to ask her what she intends to do to you, for a start?”

[nopixiedust]

Sorry, what was that, Jakob? Wendy can't hear you- first because she was staring in utter shocked surprise that Alex, of all people, would practically threaten a man in this manner. And second...

"Alex!" Absolutely elated, Wendy smacks into her from behind to hug her tightly. There are stars in her eyes. "That was amazing! You should do that more often!"

Threaten people? Yes. Listen. It was an amazing sight and Wendy isn't entirely sure she's ever going to see it again. Smooshing her cheek up against Alex's side, she grins over at Jakob. "And I was just telling her how you were mean to me. What kind of grown man threatens to send a little girl flying? You deserve to be tattled on."

[sing_for_me]

Wendy, no, don't have her do this more often. She's looking between the two, her arms lifting as Wendy suddenly hugs her. One hand settles around Wendy. A sweet and adorable gesture, but hard to admire with how confused she was.

"There..must be some misunderstanding. You wouldn't actually...right, Jakob?" She looks over at him. He could be sharp-tongued, she's seen that, but surely he didn't really mean it. "What exactly happened?" Because she can't imagine Wendy doing anything that bad to warrant such a threat. Or maybe she didn't want to imagine

[gentilitea]

Jakob rolls his eyes. How sickeningly precious of her. He has little patience for such displays, especially after what he’s seen. At this point he’s pretty sure that Alex will stay on Wendy’s side no matter what, and he’s resigned to whatever the fallout of that is.

By which I mean he’s already considering how to deal with Add should he ever get wind of this. At this point Wendy isn’t as much of a concern anymore.

“I’m perfectly willing to punish inappropriate behavior, Miss Alex. I certainly don’t need to pretend otherwise.” A meaningful glare at Wendy, before he continues—“And your shinki has intended, and I quote, to “ruin someone’s life.’”

[nopixiedust]

In a way that's sort of fortunate considering the bond they share, Wendy is utterly unrepentant as she smiles over at Jakob. "And this guy thought I was going to ruin yours, Alex! Although that's just silly, considering things." You know, like how she's her shinki.

"Besides, they would have deserved it. What goes around comes around, or something, right?"

[sing_for_me]

Alex is still trying to make heads or tails of this situation. But from what she's understanding, Jakob wasn't too happy about Wendy's phrasing, and somehow she got mentioned? Was he trying to help her out then?

"I..I can see why you'd be concerned, Jakob, but I don't think Wendy meant..literally." She looks over at Wendy, hopefully for her to confirm that. "But I do appreciate your intentions, really."

"And I'm really sorry for threatening you like that, but if Wendy were to do something bad..I'd prefer if either Hibiki or I dealt with it. She is under our care, so she's our responsibility." Not that she thinks Wendy would do anything without reason, but as much as she respected Jakob, it wouldn't sit well with her for him to punish Wendy for many reasons.

"And I believe Wendy wouldn't intentionally do anything that would harm us."

[gentilitea]

“Intentions?” It’s hard to disguise the irritation he feels from that one word, no matter what else Alex said. Just what did she think his intentions were? Because if she thought they were good intentions, then she’d be…

…Absolutely right, but it’s not like she has to know that or anything. Ugh. That glare he’s giving Wendy is firmly implying that this is all her fault, somehow.

With a scoff, “You’ll have to forgive me, Miss Alex. I have my doubts.” But she is right on one point. “And you needn’t worry about my intervention. I keep to my god’s business, and I dearly hope that she will do the same.” Because unless she gives Add or Zelda or one of the five people he actually cares about any shit, he doesn’t actually have the time to discipline insubordinate shinki.

[nopixiedust]

She's sorry for making someone think you're a decent person, Jakob, except in all the ways she isn't. Wendy just laughs a little. It's definitely, in some part, directed at Jakob. "But you don't do that at all!"

He sure got invested in her connection to Alex, after all. Still, Wendy won't say anything else on that, instead reaching up to take one of Alex's hands. "Anyway, you don't have to worry, Alex! I'll protect you, not the opposite." What else is she a giant crocodile for?

[sing_for_me]

"It's okay, really.." This was a rather awkward position to be in, when two people were saying some pretty concerning things, but it was in regards to her well-being? The important thing was no one actually got hurt.

Alex squeezes Wendy's hand back. "I know you won't." She believes that much. "Hey, why don't we find someone you can spar with if that's what you want to do?" Maybe separating the two might best best.

[gentilitea]

“I feel sorry for them already.” Then again, directing Wendy toward someone else who can do the thrashing for him might work out in his favor. In any case, the less Jakob has to deal with these two, the better.

“I’ll take my leave then. I apologize for bothering you, Miss Alex”—pointedly not addressing Wendy because hmph!!!, he turns around and walks away.