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

R&R

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako had noticed the man earlier, looking not very happy about any of this. And here he is again, still looking the same. She's a little shy about approaching him, but she is worried something might be wrong, so she wanders over eventually and peers at him from where he stands not far away from the refreshment table. ]

....Are you okay, Mister? You look upset. Is the food no good? My dad always gets grumpy when he's hungry, too.

[snowywolf]

[ She needn't worry about him. He may have lost a bit of blood but he's hardly woozy and he's not concerned about his own well-being. He is a little bit confused about all these children approaching him and wondering if he's unwell, however, and he squints down at the tiny girl. ]

I'm fine, I'm not particularly hungry. And I don't see why you would believe that I'm grumpy in the first place.

[welcome_home]

[ She blinks at him for a moment.

And then reaching up with her fingers to tug the corner of her lips down until she does an alarmingly accurate impression of his expression from a moment before. When she speaks, her voice is deeper, too, as if to emphasize her point. ]

This is a grumpy face!

[snowywolf]

[ .....This kid. Not that he hasn't seen that before, though it was years since Lady Lelederik did it actively. Though maybe not as many years since then as it feels like. ]

It doesn't look particularly grumpy.

[ It just looks like some children antics. ]

[welcome_home]

[ She tips her head up at him, still making That Face at him. ]

What do you think a grumpy face looks like then?

[snowywolf]

Hm.

[ His gaze flickers to the side, as he considers the question seriously. ]

The one Minister Louis makes when his well-laid plans goes slightly awry. The one Lady Lelederik makes when she has to do something she doesn't really want to do, right before it turns into pure annoyance.

[welcome_home]

[ Her mimicry melts away as she studies him curiously. ]

Who are they? What do those faces look like?

[snowywolf]

Like the faces of a conniving prime minister and a temperamental duchess?

[ He is not imitating their expressions. ]

[welcome_home]

[ She blinks at him in confusion. ]

I don't know what those look like. Can you show me?

[ Are you sure about that? ]

[snowywolf]

They look cantankerous. I will not imitate them.

[ He really won't. (He could have used a less archaic word, also.) ]

[welcome_home]

[ Spoilsport. ]

What's can... cantank... what's that thing mean?

[ Words are hard. ]

[snowywolf]

[ Why does she not know this? It is hardly a difficult word. ]

Cantankerous. It means ill-tempered.

[welcome_home]

[ It's a very difficult word when you're seven!

...even if it does describe her dad pretty well sometimes. ]

Ill-tempered? [ That's a new one, too. What language are you even speaking, mister? ] Are they sick?