April Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: May 8th 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, should they allow it, guided to the rear of the Meeting Hall, where a traditionally styled dojo and training ground have been made available for the day. The gods and shinki are free to take their time during this day to learn about the details of their new life from Amaterasu's shinki or from more experienced god and shinki volunteers.




Meeting Hall

God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a small meeting room, with tatami floors and a stage at the front of the room where the speaker stands. A minor deity is giving the speech, and none of the white-robed shinki enter. Paper and pens are provided to all the attendees as an unsubtle suggestion to take notes on the information they're given. The speaker delivers her welcome speech in the monotone of someone who's practiced it far too often.

Once the speech is over, new gods are joined with the rest of the gods in a larger room, although it still has a raised stage and tatami mats. There are worried whispers that they might be given another questionnaire to fill out as was the case a month and a half ago, while others are wondering if this is an impromptu conclave to follow up on Suijin's findings on behalf of Amaterasu.

Well, after a few minutes, Fuujin arrives - with Kaede close behind him. "I hear you all plan on sticking around, so listen up." He crosses his arms and walks towards the front of the stage. "You want to prove we can trust you so much, you can pull your own weight. This whole time, we've been training you and your shinki. Time to show us what you've learned and just how much effort you're willing to put in off the battlefield. Kaede, explain." Fuujin steps back, and Kaede steps forward.

"What my Lord Fuujin means is that we will begin accepting volunteers for temples of the New Gods to host these training sessions. Training should continue to cater to the needs of God and Shinki alike. Prospective Hosts should contact me, Lord Fuujin, or one of the other Counselors Lady Suijin and Lord Raijin, if they are interested in opening up their temple, so that we might make recommendations based on your planned activities." Kaede bows to the crowd. "Lady Suijin and Our Lady Amaterasu also send their regards in this matter."

Although Fuujin harrumphs a little at that final remark, Kaede steps back. "Alright, that's it! Go on if you've got other business."

Shinki Training

There are stacks of informational pamphlets sitting out on tables around the dojo. There aren't very many of the white-robed shinki around, but the few who are present 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. Shinki are encouraged to work together to practice what they've learned and discuss their perspectives. Each of the shinki is wearing a brightly-colored sticky name tag reading HELLO, MY NAME IS ________, and all of their names appear to end with the syllable "mei."

A variety of weapons are available in the dojo for shinki and their gods to practice with, and a row of straw targets are set up along one wall. Outside, in an area carefully roped off with red ribbons, are six animated training dummies, but they are damaged in a way that doesn't make them terribly useful as targets. A couple of shinki are trying to repair them on the fly without success, all by hand.

Physical Training

Amaterasu's shinki took the time to reassemble Bishamon's obstacle course on these grounds! Climb walls, crawl through mud, jump across randomly spaced stumps, find your way through a maze and collect one of each of five different-colored ribbons being handed out by shinki attendants for completing each section within the allotted time. Every so often, Amaterasu's shinki high-five each other for setting a good example for future training sessions and sound excited about being allowed to participate in trainings instead of managing them all the time.

There's another segment inside the hall though, away from the noisiness outside. There is a place set up to do low-strain stretching exercises called Rajio Taisou. Afterwards, this includes a duration exercise for practicing seiza sitting position. Those who succeed for at least 15 minutes are treated to an immaculately prepared hot drink of traditional green tea, or a similar sort of beverage upon request, then another at 30 minutes, and so forth. Don't worry, the drink cups are the traditional size - slightly smaller than a modern mug.

Rest and Refreshments

While the usual refreshments and snacks are available, for those who are still up for it, Amaterasu's shinki have one more session that everyone can participate in. They'd originally planned for it to be shinki songs only, but say they decided to make it more general singing practice. They'll sing a handful of kindergarten-age songs twice-through each as warm up, and then move on to some popular enka tunes as well. They have light koto accompaniment, a small piano, and a drum.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
  
• Discuss with your temple-mates if you'd like to volunteer to host training
  
• Choose your style of physical training: high- or low-impact
  
• Enjoy singing together
• Have fun~

Comments

training

[myblueskies]

[Romeo is hard at work, he has three ribbons already and is determined to collect all five! The training today is fun! He is covered in mud but clutching his third, blue, ribbon in his fist proudly!

There are always lots of people at the training days, some he knows, some he doesn't. He doesn't know this man. But he heard him talking to another man who Romeo guessed was his shinki as he went to practice borderlines.

He watched him for a little bit more, wondering why he didn't want to take part! Surely everyone needed practice, especially since Romeo had never seen him before, so he was probably new!

Maybe not but Romeo knew lots of people now!]

Are you alright sir? [After he gets a huff he decides to approach! Because if this god was new then he probably just needed help keeping his spirits up! Romeo often thought it must be scarier here for gods, because they could remember all the friends they had left behind.]

[snowywolf]

[ Good for him, effort is always appreciated if it's put in the right place. Exercise helps in making the body stronger.

However, Gralat does not see why this random child is approaching and addressing him. He tilts his head slightly to the side, his eyes narrowing in question, though it may look more like a glare. ]

I am fine. [ He's hardly about to tell a stranger, even if it's a child, about his wounds. ] Why would I not be?

[myblueskies]

You look sad. [And being sad is not fine.] Do you not want to do the practising? It's really fun and you get ribbons!

[He holds his up, as if to demonstrate.]

[snowywolf]

....sad? [ Why would he looks sad? That is a very confusing statement that makes no sense. ] I have no interest in participating, nor in any ribbons.

[ It's no tournament where he gets to defeat stuffy nobles (or stuffy gods) here, is there? ] And I am not sad.

[myblueskies]

Oh! Well that's good, if you're not sad sir! [Much better, even if he still looked like his spirits could be a lot more... up.]

It is fun though and it's important we practice so we can fight better!

[snowywolf]

[ He's more annoyed than sad, anyway. He would want to go to fight again, but not here. He has things to do. (So he may be slightly hung up on that question. Kid what is up?) ]

Perhaps so, but I have no interest in fighting for these people.

[myblueskies]

Oh. [He blinked, confused now.] Why not sir? [A few months ago he would perhaps not questioned an adult so openly but he has been in the heavens a while now and every adult he knew was kind and open to answering all the questions that filled his head at all times.]

[snowywolf]

[ No, question away, even Gralat for all his antisocialness thinks you should question things.

Plus, he has no intention of hiding where his loyalties lie. ]

Because it is not beneficial to Ellvaldez, and I only fight for the sake of Ellvaldez.

[myblueskies]

Ell...valdez? Is that where you are from sir?

[He's a god then and he's come here from a whole different world! Romeo understands a little bit more, he probably misses his friends from back home. It must be scary to come to a whole new place and not be able to go home!]

[snowywolf]

It is.

[ And what else is there to say to that question than that. ]

[myblueskies]

Oh. [Romeo nodded thoughtfully.] What's it like there? Is it like here?

[He's very interested in what other worlds might be like.]

[snowywolf]

It is not. Not at all. We would have neither temperature or wealth that seem to exist here. It is cold, and it is miserable, and people either starve or freeze to death for most part of the year.

[ And yet he loves it, and the people born there. ]

[myblueskies]

Oh. [That sounds like a really bad place. But this man fights for it, so he must like it. Maybe he had lots of friends there.] There's lots of food here sir! Are you hungry? We can get you some food if you want!

[snowywolf]

I have no intention to give in to luxuries that my brethren does not have access to. Lots of food is unappealing to me.

[myblueskies]

Oh... [He doesn't want to eat food because his friends at home don't have any, that is a really sad thing...]

I'm sorry you had to leave all your friends sir, but here is a really nice place and everyone is really friendly and kind!

[snowywolf]

That doesn't matter to me.

[ So what if people are friendly and kind? He's not particularly so, and he's not looking for it, either. ]

[myblueskies]

It doesn't?

[Romeo tilted his head. He's a bit stuck on how to help keep this mans spirits up, but he's sure he will figure a way if he keeps trying.]

[snowywolf]

No, it doesn't. I'm not interested in making friends.

[ Because how will that help Ellvaldez? ]

[myblueskies]

You're not? [Romeo sounds shocked. He is. He's never met anyone who doesn't even want to try and make friends before. Not even mister Zetta or miss Hibiki. They might say it but they don't mean it.

It's confusing.]

[snowywolf]

Yes, I'm not. What use would it be to do that?

[myblueskies]

Friends are really good things to have! They are people who all are together and have fun and help each other!

[snowywolf]

I have friends back home, people to fight with, that's enough. I don't intend to fight for these people so I don't need comrades here.

[myblueskies]

You still need friends. But it's okay if you find it tricky, there's lots of people who find friends tricky, you don't got to make them straight away. [A deep breath, because there is the reason he came over here in the first place.]

But if your shinki is trying to be nice to you you shouldn't send them away sir! It's really important you two are a good team!

[snowywolf]

[ Gralat huffs. That's what you think, kid. He doesn't really agree. ]

That is unnecessary. You don't need to be nice to work well enough together.

[ He's cold, not unnecessarily cruel. ]

[myblueskies]

You don't? [It's hard for Romeo to imagine, he likes everyone and believes in being nice to all. But he guesses you can be a team and not best friends...]