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

[hypomeneo]

They've certainly gotten tired of me and the crowd I'm usually with.

[... Heroic Spirits are persona non grata to them thanks to some very out of control fights over the last couple months.

... and yet Waver showed up anyway this time. He might be in a passive aggressive mood. He might be in a very passive aggressive mood.

... also he might be trying to make use of the dojo for #reasons.]

[reformedsinner]

Wasn't there something about the landscaping back when there was a bit of spring snow left...?

[Things become a little fuzzier in his memory after that, but he's sure he recalls hearing some explosions then. It had been hilarious.

He spreads his hands with an innocent little smile -- passive-aggression is Hakkai's first and favorite language -- and adds:]

Although really, if they're encouraging us to practice combat, they ought to expect an outcome like that. So it's their own responsibility.

[hypomeneo]

Mmhmmm. In February there were no less than three separate fights that ended up with destroying a tree and ripping up the land. [Waver was involved in one of those.] Then a little later... well, two spars that got more than a little explosive. [And Waver was involved in both. Though the ending of one he still is not feeling good about.]

[Literally passive-aggression was one of the only weapons he had for years in mortality and even that had to be doled out sparingly. Waver smiles a small cheerful smile back. His only regrets about those fights is the potential for harm to innocents.]

They don't seem to learn, though. Oh wait. Never mind. They're shoving off responsibility onto temples that are much less equipped to handle it.

[He shakes his head, a combination of genuine and mock exasperation.]

Goodness. The things that could happen without their overseeing wisdom.

[reformedsinner]

Why, those of us who volunteer to host could tell those innocent newcomers anything.

[And considering the opinions that some of them have of the Heavens... Hakkai lets the silence after that statement stretch just long enough to be ominous before he breaks it with a light chuckle.]

I suppose you could look at it as a vote of confidence, couldn't you?

[hypomeneo]

Perish the thought.

[One of the only things Waver would be worried about that is giving Heaven an excuse to crack down. He does know about the massacre at Ebisu's temple.

He smirks slightly.]

I suppose. It certainly will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

[reformedsinner]

Yes, it will.

[He hums, tuneless.] I think I may have to volunteer my own temple. I do have a position to uphold, I suppose.

[God of Fortune, for whatever that's worth. Someone who can tell the new gods exactly what lessons he's learned from his time here, for whatever that may be worth -- more than the title, at least.]

[hypomeneo]

[... Waver thinks it would be better if people weren't so concerned about the roles. Leaving behind shinki in his mind has been nothing less than his salvation here. There's no guilt in his struggle living like this, no angst about his duties. He's a person coping with something that is not his fault, something that promises to kill him eventually if he doesn't get out of it first, but...

Hm. Is that the case here?]

I'd think you'd have a lot of wisdom to impart about many things. [Beat.] However, would Chikusa forgive you for that much work?

[reformedsinner]

Oh, he'd forgive me eventually. He'll complain, of course.

[But there's the soulless shinki, Ken, and Hakkai himself to help out, which does reduce the workload. His smile flickers brighter for a moment.]

Has he been complaining to you about his work?

[hypomeneo]

Not through so many words.

[Waver chuckles a little. Teacher instincts are striking.]

Not that he has to go to the effort. His entire bearing radiates 'Uuuuugh, do I have to?!?'

It's very teenager.

[reformedsinner]

Oh, yes. Perhaps a little more than most teenagers, considering his energy level.

[Hakkai's chuckle is easy. Honestly, it's a relief to talk to someone who does recognize that Chikusa is a teenager, and finds his more annoying traits as ridiculous as a teenager's often are.

Teacher instincts, after all.]

[hypomeneo]

That's his usual level, huh? [...] I have a question for you. Are his abilities always on?

[Since he was in close quarters with Chikusa for a while in the pizza van, and he would have had opportunity to notice certain things.]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai's eyes narrow thoughtfully.]

Since meeting him, I haven't noticed any dramatic changes in his chi, if that's what you mean.

[hypomeneo]

I've noticed they tend to be energy draining in nature.

[Hakkai would know more about their exact properties. Discerning Eye can be very hit or miss on magic and associated energies from other worlds, and the additional sensitivities that come from being a Caster can only tell him so much.]

Those energies tend to be directed inward mostly, suffusing the body, instead of outwards to affect the environment. The flow doesn't seem to be as controlled as I'd like to see either. It is difficult to say, given the variations on what is the norm between the people here - but it seems imbalanced...

[You can see where he's going with that.]

[reformedsinner]

My chi manipulation is largely self-taught. [Hakkai's reply is matter-of-fact, because it's leading into a more important question. If Caster can detect such minute details of Chikusa's energy flow -- more than Hakkai would be able to at his most precise -- he must be much better trained.

And so:]

Do you think that's something he might be taught to control? Or alter?

[Because if Chikusa's energy is unbalanced in a way that's contributing to his lethargy and insensitivity, it needs to be addressed, and Hakkai can admit he's nowhere near enough of an expert to be his teacher in that.]

[hypomeneo]

Again, it's difficult to say. I believe it's possible based on what little I've seen, but I'd have to see more of the mechanics in action before I'd be sure.

[He's saying nothing about the teaching so far. It'd be a case of the blind leading the blind at this point. Manually altering it is something he's more sure of... but well...

Shinki problems.

But this he can diagnose...]

[reformedsinner]

[Shinki problems. Hakkai's glad he doesn't have to worry about them personally any more, but he remembers the difficulty of working his way through the unknown terrain of his own knowledge.]

You'd have to ask Chikusa if he's interested, of course-- it's his decision.

But it sounds as though it could be very helpful for him if you could teach him better control.