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]

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?"

[chibisu]

Cheerfully, Kimi takes a break in translating to flash a pair of peace signs. "Con-fi-deeence~!" He eases up, laughing a little bit. "Although, for the most part, it's because I'm usually brought out to take care of someone. Even without magic, that's something I feel pretty well versed in, you know?"

This time, Kiwami doesn't need to be elbowed before he offers his own answer. "I... merely focus." He shrugs. "It's not unlike fishing, or my usual work for the temple..."

Hearing that seems to make Ebisu laugh slightly. "So it fits you and I very well," he says up to him. "A fishing rod shinki to a fishing god who fishes. It's very fascinating!"

Not wrong, really. Even among older gods and shinki, there's still a lot to learn. Yet that makes Kimi snaps his fingers. "Oh. You know, you should talk to one of the others who have an animal vessel form, like Grampa Unmi. It translates a little differently, since they work for Ebisu-sama in a way that can't be compared to an item shinki like us."

[unlucky7]

It's no surprise at all Kimi draws on his confidence; he has the most of anyone she knows and she doubts anything could break it. Kiwami and focus makes sense too with how steadfast he is. She has her own levels of confidence and focus, but they don't seem like the right things to draw on. Polling the rest of the temple for their opinions should help. Maybe something in there will make more sense for her.

"I used to have an animal vessel form. Knowing how to strengthen my resilience then would have helped, maybe I wouldn't have picked up so many scars." Or maybe she'd have more from throwing herself headfirst into battle even more so. Who knows. Ginia gives a flickering smile as a light sense of sadness settles in.

"I miss that form." It was fun running around as a snow leopard, though it's the freedom more than the connection to her god she misses now. Even ignoring old wives' tales about shinki vessel forms, it suited her far better than it did Caster. "Is that strange to say?"

[chibisu]

With no hesitation, Kimi reaches up with some help of his tiptoes to pinch her cheek. "Or maybe you should be more careful!" he admonishes her lightly before pausing at a tug to his pants leg. After a second, he ducks down to pick up Ebisu and holds him up so that her god can also pinch her cheek.

They love you, Ginia. Be careful.

"It's not strange," Kiwami says while his god and coworker are busy doing that. "Vessel forms can all feel differently. And mean different things."

[unlucky7]

Ginia is more surprised than annoyed by the cheek pinch and admonishing, but as Ebisu is lifted so he too can can pinch her cheek, she accepts it with a defeated huff. Fine, fine, she'll do her best to be careful. It's not like she's doing near daily ayakashi hunting these days and she'll be better about picking her battles.

She sheepishly rubs her cheek and reflects on Kiwami's words. "Are there any forms either of you miss?"

[chibisu]

"Nope!" Kimi says cheerfully, in contrast to Kiwami's own shrug.

"...My first form was an anchor. It did what was needed, for my first god's location, so it's not sentimental in that manner."

All of this particular line of conversation seems to be drawing Ebisu into another thoughtful state as Kimi sets him back down onto the floor. "I wonder what the other forms were for the rest of the temple... I'm sure there some people have quite a few."

[unlucky7]

In response to Ebisu's question, Ginia answers through her phone, needing to think about the list of what she's been herself.

"To date, I've been a sniper rifle, snow leopard, crystal sword, scarf, and an archery bow. Does it mean anything when forms are so varied versus following a theme?"

An anchor and a fishing rod follow a particular theme, though it could also be Kiwami's first god was also related to water. How much is superstition and how much is a reflection of a shinki's self?

[chibisu]

As can be expected, Ebisu looks up once more towards Kimi and Kiwami for an answer. While it interests him deeply, and perhaps his past incarnations would have felt similar, it's not something that he's really investigated much.

Predictably in turn, both of his shinki seem to accept it, with Kimi speaking up first. "I mean, ideally, a shinki should be best suited to what their god needs or their domain. For example, from what I understand, the Yato god has gone through a lot of shiki himself, and they tend to be swords, including his current exemplar and hafuri vessel. But then..." NUDGE, NUDGE. KIWAMI.

It takes a couple to force him to speak. "Sometimes it doesn't make as much sense," he finishes, allowing the nudging. "Bishamon-sama has many shinki who take battle ready forms such as armor, a steed, or weapons, but her own hafuri exemplar takes the form of an earring." Pointedly, he stares back at Kimi. "And some shinki take forms more relevant to themselves..."

"Ah!" Ebisu bops one fist into an open palm. "Kimi is often cooking instruments!"

"Mm."

[unlucky7]

Cooking instruments? Ginia raises a brow at Kimi, but it's not too a surprising theme for him given his interests. And like his medical knowledge, it's hard not wondering if it was also a reflection of his life or something he picked up in the afterlife. Nope, nope, not thinking on it anymore.

"So basically I'm a mess." It's pretty self-depreciating, but with such a varied list it's hard not feeling that way. Ginia can't figure out any notable pattern or reflection of herself, and a few of her forms definitely did not suit her god or fit the domain. Not even the soulless shinki she's named seem to fit a theme, though Luger's form is certainly fitting.

But it doesn't matter if there is or isn't a pattern. She belongs here, she suits Chris fine, nothing else matters.

"Thank you for explaining things, it's something to think on." She bows her head to the other shinki and her god. "If I promise not to get any more fights, can I go back to the training session?"

[chibisu]

For all that it's clearly a joke of some sort, Ebisu doesn't take it that way. Instead, he frowns up slightly at Ginia before reaching up to try and take her hand. "You also shouldn't say those things about yourself," he says solemnly, even as Kimi edges over to her side. "You're very dependable, Jitsumi."

[unlucky7]

There's a tiny intake of breath from the gentle rebuke. A shinki can rely on a lot of things to strengthen themselves, but their weakest trait will always hold them back. She can't afford to cut herself down. Not if Ebisu's shinki are the best. Ginia pinches her cheeks hard and huffs before taking Ebisu's hand.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'll do my best to continue being dependable."

She looks Kimi's way and signs a small 'sorry' to him too.

[chibisu]

For the time being, that seems to be enough, and Ebisu smiles up at her. "Your best is always apparent," he says simply, and doesn't say anything when Kimi ducks over to kiss Ginia's knuckles.

"Then we can return again, so long as everyone makes sure to behave." He looks back, taking Kiwami's hand as well. "Alright?"

[unlucky7]

The slight kiss to her hand earns Kimi a surprised expression slipping into a shyly pleased smile. Ginia considers returning the kiss in turn, but doesn't act on the thought. It'd be a little embarrassing in front of her god and coworkers. Instead, she settles for closing her hand around Kimi's and closing the loop. Ready to return.