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

[unlucky7]

New shinki, already sorted it out with their god.
My fault, accepted a fight I shouldn't have.

Ginia's still in the area. She's sitting under a tree on a side away from everything going on. Her jacket is off and wrapped up to serve as a pillow for her head as she takes deep breaths through the pain. Nothing broken, no damage to her lungs, that much she can gauge. More than her ribs, it's her pride that hurts.

Yeah, that was a bad decision. Good thing Tsubasa was around.

[chibisu]

It should quite possibly be of no surprise that, once Kimi can be seen jogging in her direction, he has Ebisu literally slung under one arm like he's carting around a spare bag. This doesn't seem to bother Ebisu much at all, and the young god points in Ginia's direction probably at the same time that Kimi spots her.

"You get into all sorts of trouble, don't you?" Kimi asks once he's close enough to not be yelling, hands a little preoccupied as he puts a wiggling god down on the ground once more.

[unlucky7]

The sight of Kimi carrying their god like a sack of potatoes almost gets Ginia to her feet in mild protest. As Ebisu doesn't seem to mind and she'll probably have to sit down again anyway, she remains where she is.

It's not a statement she can argue with, looking a bit like a kicked puppy in the moment. So it's the second time in about a week's time he needs to patch her up. It's not a record she's proud of.

"Can you cut through clothes or do I need to take my shirt off?"

[chibisu]

"It would be a shame if you lost clothing like that," Ebisu protests immediately, allowing himself to be seated with considerable help. It's probably for the better; he's too worried to sit himself down with minimal clumsiness.

"I mean, we do have tons of money for new clothing," Kimi mutters, even as he kneels down besides Ginia. "Although it depends on where you've broken it. When you breathe, where do you feel pain?" Because it's not a question on if she's hurting, after all.

[unlucky7]

Ginia makes sure she's not consciously or unconsciously dulling pain with her nanotech as she takes a deep breath. There's the pain; Ginia gingerly touches a spot on her left side. Lower ribs, under her bra band. Easy enough to get to if she lays on her side and lifts up her shirt.

"Let's just do this." She moves her jacket bundle to the ground and rolls onto her right side. Hiking her t-shirt up, she cranes her head to look at the injury. There's no torn skin or blood, but there's a visible bruise running along her ribs. There's a gut instinct to leave it and let time heal it. Her mistake for underestimating her opponent, she can wait out the pain. But with war on the horizon, she can't afford going into another fight injured either.

"Sorry."

[chibisu]

Kimi gives a low whistle, hand ghosting along her skin with no pressure as he gets a look at what he's dealing with. "Just judging by the bruising," he says slowly, "it doesn't look like it's going to easily pierce through one of your lungs or anything. That would be a little more obvious, too... Ah, young master, can you go to Kiwami and get some bags of ice? That should help with the swelling."

"Of course, I'll be right back!" It doesn't take much thought at all before Ebisu pops out of the space he was just in. Hopefully he doesn't get himself hurt... Well, Kunimi is with him, so it should be fine. In the meanwhile, Kimi continues to do a careful physical examination with a quiet professional air.

"When we get back to the temple, we can do an x-ray and see how bad it is. You could likely just leave it and not do any strenuous activity..." He glances up at her face for a moment, fingers stilling. "But I feel you aren't interested in that."

[unlucky7]

For as injury prone as she is, Ginia can be a good patient too. She holds still as Kimi conducts his examination, a little impressed. Well, he is a knife cleric. It stands to reason he'd have some medical knowledge outside his ability. Was it something he picked up because of his ability or was it knowledge he had in life?

Definitely not sharing that last thought.

As Ebisu leaves, Ginia sit sup slightly to watch him go, trusting Kunimi won't let him faceplant into the ground. She looks back at Kimi and smiles faintly.

"If all this wasn't happening right now? I'd let it heal naturally. It'll be a good reminder to not pick fights with new shinki." Her smile fades. Yeah... that was a dumb fight. That's what overconfidence gets you. "I'd heal it myself if I could too."

Ginia pauses, eyes meeting his as she carefully sits up more.

"Are you mad at me?"

[chibisu]

"Then we'll get the young master to get you back to the temple, since that's the quick and easy way..." They don't want to just jab a knife into her, even if he is technically different than a scalpel. It will also be a good way to tell if it's something too severe for him.

Her sitting up draws a faintly annoyed noise, even when his gaze is drawn automatically to movement. Pulling his hands back, he puts his examination on hold for a minute. "I mean this was going to happen eventually at these things. Why would I be mad?"

[unlucky7]

"I guess I worry." It's strange. Now that she thinks about it, Ginia isn't sure why she landed on that particular question. Worry, yes, but maybe also the deeper feeling she's messing things up by being her. Too quick to jump into action. Not fast enough to get out.

"Getting patched up twice in a week isn't a great track record, I suppose." Ginia scoffs, winces at the pain in her side. "You won't have to worry about future problems with the other shinki though. I know her god, everything is smoothed out."

Ginia leans back against the tree, remembering how easily Tsubasa had called Dark Precure into vessel form. It saved her life, sure, but it's a reminder of what they are.

"I think I feel sorry for her."

[chibisu]

"Worry more about yourself than about me and I'll be perfectly happy." Kimi sticks his tongue out at her before reaching over to gently roll her shirt down. The broken bones will be dealt with shortly, so there's no real reason to worry too hard about it now. Instead, he leans back.

"Was she a scared type?" That happens with new shinki, young or old, in both ways that could mean. He wouldn't be surprised.

[unlucky7]

Okay, fair. She could stand to work on her sense of self-preservation. Ginia takes into her nanotech and dials back her pain a few steps, making it easier to breathe in the interim.

"A little. I think she wanted to prove how strong she was." No one goes that destructively hard on training dummies unless there's something to prove. But isn't that what these sessions encourage? Show how strong you are, impress the god you've never met. "She challenged me. I should have turned it down and walked away, but I accepted. I shot down her attacks with my borderlines and that's when she really came after me."

Ginia smiles dryly and looks toward the training grounds, where the spars are still happening.

"I think the day's mood got to me. This is all stupid."

[chibisu]

"That's where you went wrong." Kimi closes one eye and sticks out a tongue. "You don't pick fights with other shinki, you act passive aggressive to the ones directly under Heaven until they get so sick of you that you can lead them into an embarrassing situation." Perhaps it's for the best that, during things like Amaterasu's meeting, Unmi was the one that was outside. He's the oldest, and used to putting on a polite face.

The conversation is cut short as Ebisu suddenly appears back into existence besides them, holding onto Kiwami's hand. Kiwami's other hand is holding a large bag of ice, and he immediately kneels down to pass it over to Kimi. Get ready for some cold, Ginia.

Ebisu, in the meanwhile, puts one hand on Ginia's forehead. "Just hold on for a moment, Jitsumi. We'll get a stretcher for you as well so that things are fine on the way home."

[unlucky7]

So that's his opus moderandi. Ginia gives a sharp bark of laughter, smiling easier. It's a tactic she can like and appreciate. It's very him and she likes that too. Any reply she might have had is interrupted by the return of their god and coworker. She holds still as her ribs are iced, barely flinching from the initial cold contact.

The only chill thing is the ice as Ebisu's suggestion brings a new flurry of fast signs, a bit of pink slowly creeping across her cheeks.

"You don't have to put me on a stretcher. I can walk! Or put me in vessel form if you don't want me to move!"

[chibisu]

Obediently enough, Kimi translates as usual, and just grins when Ebisu scrunches up his mouth. One of these days, she'll learn more about how their god is.

"If you walk, wouldn't that threaten to make them worse? We shouldn't take any unnecessary risks when it concerns your health. Your vessel form is technically viable, but I'm worried about the position you'd possibly come out in when released..."

[unlucky7]

One day she'll learn. There's an inkling already as Ginia realizes she can't actually argue against Ebisu's point. Also the scrunch of his mouth is both cute and makes her feel vaguely bad for arguing with him.

But even after a stretcher has been located and they're carrying her back to the temple, it's not as if Ginia is any happier with the decision. She's sulking childishly as she lays there, one hand clutching the ice pack to her ribs as she continues to type on her phone.

"I'm going to learn a healing spell so no one else ever has to heal me again."

[chibisu]

"Can't heal yourself if you're unconscious, beautiful," Kimi says once they're within the well maintained medical section of Ebisu's temple. It's quite the modern and well supplied place, even if it hasn't been used heavily in a while. Either way, he's helping to prep her for an x-ray. Hopefully it'll go alright.

Standing on the tips of his toes, Ebisu reaches over to squeeze her hand. "It's alright to rely on other people," he reminds her, smiling. "But that would be a very useful spell to have either way!"

[unlucky7]

Damn you and your logic getting in the way of her grumbling, Kimi. Ginia rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him. She gently squeezes her hand around Ebisu's small hand, unable and unwilling to argue with him. She knows, she knows, but being simultaneously prideful and self-conscious is a dangerous mix.

But wouldn't a healing spell be useful? There don't seem to be a lot of people with healing magic around the new generation. If there's a spell known among the old generation, no one is sharing. Sabimei did say she could consider creating a spell in a few decades.

She doesn't have decades. She might not even have a year. Time to research when she can.

"After this, I have some questions about what Amaterasu's shinki were asking at the interviews." But first, x-rays. She hands Kimi her phone to hold onto and holds still.

Thankfully, the damage isn't too severe. The crack doesn't penetrate through the entire bone and nothing has splintered off. What's more concerning are the signs of previous broken and cracked ribs. Also don't mind the strange graininess of the image. The machine is fine, it's just all the nanotechnology in her system interfering with the system.

[chibisu]

It's definitely the kind of crack that Kimi can fix, he's glad to say. That's the good news. However, with the images which come out of it... Having slipped out of his suit completely, now just in slacks and the button ups, Kimi frowns as he looks over them. It's... definitely worrying, to see how injured up she is, or has been in the past, rather. But bringing that up just feels awkward and potentially dangerous...

While Kimi worries over where the x-rays have been put up, Ebisu just leaves his side to trot over to Ginia so that he can take her hand again. "Be more careful," he tells her quite somberly.

[unlucky7]

More troubling is while some of the cracks and bone scarring look like the result of heavy impacts, others are a little too precise, a little too straight, a tidy column of breaks down her right ribs. It's worrying and troubling and the kinds of implication too dangerous to voice.

Ginia sits up slightly, ice back on her ribs with the x-rays finished. Her hand closes around his and she blinks at his tone. Were they that bad? she wonders, nodding and looking over toward Kimi. Worry seeps in as she braces for bad news.

[chibisu]

"Very good." That seems to be enough to satisfy Ebisu, and he eases back a little bit. It's the best that can honestly be asked for, right? So instead, he looks back over to where Kimi is. "Kimi, are you ready?"

Tearing his gaze away from the x-rays, the shinki in question nods. "Yeah, young master. And you!" He points at Ginia. "Love your body a little more!" But just like that, he's vanishing into light at the call of his name and returning to Ebisu's hand in the form of a kitchen knife. Ebisu beams up at Ginia. "Please hold still, okay? The stinging shouldn't be too bad. At least, it can't be any worse than what you're already experiencing!"

[unlucky7]

Trepidation shifts to confusion and mild sheepishness. So she could stand to get into less trouble, such is the constant struggle. Ginia lays on her side and slides her shirt up. The bruise is slightly better from icing, but still an angry mark on her side.

She nods at her god, glancing at the kitchen knife. Even knowing it's Kimi and it's not actually cutting her, it's a little hard turning off the gut instinct of 'holy shit it's a knife.' Ginia holds very still as god and shinki work, barely flinching at the sting of the ability as she focuses on a spot at the wall.

Secondary goal for creating a healing spell: teaching it to Kimi so he no longer needs to knife cleric her.

The sting of a cracked rib and the lighter sting of Kimi's ability at work fade as they finish. Ginia takes a few deep breaths, checking for any residual pain or complications, giving a thumbs up when she finds none. Her thumb skates over her side as she sits up and bows her head.

"Thank you. Though speaking of being more careful," Ginia signs, counting on Kimi to translate for her, "there was an interview question about something I hadn't heard about. Is there a way to increase resilience in vessel form?"

[chibisu]

Ebisu is in the middle of returning Kimi to his human state when Ginia asks her question, and he tilts his head to the side curiously. "Mm... I'm not sure...?" He looks up at his two shinki, curious at their answers. It's something perhaps a previous incarnation of his would have known, but he can't recall it coming up in his own time. Then again, their focuses have been on keeping up with the backwork.

Fortunately, it looks like his shinki are on top of things. Adjusting his glasses, Kimi blinks. "Oh, that? It's not unlike having a strong will when casting a borderline, honestly." He looks over to his coworker. "Did I get that right?" When all Kiwami does is nod, Kimi snorts a little and reaches over to lightly thwap his arm. "C'mon, you can explain too!"

[unlucky7]

Yes, Kiwami, please explain more. Ginia's faces scrunches in thought, a hand resting on her chin. Focus, a strong will, superiority, it's the things that govern all the spells and abilities of a shinki.

"There has to be more to that, right? Increasing resilience in vessel form is something I've never heard mentioned in any form until now. Not in any of the pamphlets, not from any other shinki. And if they're bringing it up while drumming everyone up for war..."

Ginia shrugs as her hands flop to her sides. There's no denying that's the mood and direction things are going in. If there's going to be a fight, she wants to be ready.

[chibisu]

"It's probably one of those things that's assumed to be so common or basic that most older shinki like us don't think to really explain it," Kimi muses aloud, rubbing at his goatee. "Which is a problem, I suppose, and one we haven't exactly helped with... After all, it's not something you can exactly watch and pick up on your own."

"You've been busy," Ebisu points out, and Kimi smiles down at him.

"Still, young master." After a second, he pointedly jabs his elbow into Kiwami's side, making the taller man wobble a little bit.

That finally gets him to begin to explain a little more, putting his hands together with one thumb sweeping over his knuckles. "A strong will can be a part of it. It's more... overall fortitude. That's different for everyone... which might be why it's not information easily spread out." He inclines his head to her. "And why they're asking about it during a potential time of war."

After all... Fortitude is often just as important part of a fight as battle ability. Especially in a fight against other people.

[unlucky7]

"And this is why all us young shinki feel out of the loop," Ginia signs lightly, no anger or annoyance at all, but it's a true fact. There's probably no one else among the new generation that spends as much time in the temple of an old generation. If she's still out of the loop, what chance is there for anyone else?

With Kiwami sharing, it's time to listen. Overall fortitude, different for everyone. That makes sense. Everyone draws strength from something and what their strengths are in varies. What one believes in too or how they believe in it. But Ginia still feels like she's missing something.

"What is it for you two?"