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

[cloakedinruins]

[ He rolled the lollipop around his tongue for a moment, frowning a little while he tried to remember just how to actually deal with the treat before tucking it into his cheek the way he had seen Zhao Yunlan do. The taste helped a little, though usually when he had the treat it was usually when he was trying to say something right before one had been shoved in his mouth after Yunlan had sucked on it.

But he was still going to try. ]

I suppose, though the lollipops aren't as bad. Do you want to try one? [ He nods at the pile with a friendly, though still pretty blank, smile. ]

[brynwieldr]

I'm not much for sweets, not like my husband.

[That smile has him concerned, but not enough to question it.]

But where did you get them?

[cloakedinruins]

Ah, then take a couple for him to try.

[ Don't worry, everything is just fine. Shen Wei was use to using this smile to hide the fact that he really doesn't human as well as other people. ]

I found them at a small import shop at the Near Shore. They have a lot of foods from the Mainland there. These were a favorite... [ His expression tightens slightly at the thought ] of a friend of mine.

[brynwieldr]

[Friend or "friend", huh? But Leo will happily take a few because Aymeric has a sweet tooth.]

The mainland being...mainland Asia? Or something else entirely?

[cloakedinruins]

[ 'Friend' with a heavy emphasis on that they may actually be an old married couple if it wasn't for Zhao Yunlan not remembering that fact. ]

Ah, yes. It's a Chinese sweet. If he likes it, I could always tell him where the shop is, or you?

[brynwieldr]

Just tell me, since if he doesn't like it there's no point in him knowing.

[Oh, right. He bows slightly.]

Leo de Borel, currently the god Odin.

[cloakedinruins]

Oh, that makes sense.

[ He's too refine to actually smack himself in the forehead in a 'duh' moment, but it was apparent he was thinking of doing it. Shen Wei rattles off the address and a description of the store. ]

Shen Wei, in the role of the god Xuanwu.

[brynwieldr]

What is Xuanwu the god of? I know I could just look it up, but I don't really trust "modern" scholarship on...almost anything, honestly, since anyone with an internet connection can say that the sky is blue because we're all colorblind and people would spread it as fact.

[cloakedinruins]

He's credited with a number of matters, but the chief ones include the elements, martial artists and dark magic. And also the North.

[ He shrugged, taking the lollipop out to study it for a moment or two before deeming that it was still tolerable to eat. ]

A dramatic character; his symbols include snakes and turtles. Apparently they were formed from his stomach and intestines after he pulled them out and washed them in pure water to clean himself of sin.

[brynwieldr]

[Blink blink.]

And I thought Odin taking his eye out to learn magic and gain knowledge was a bit extreme.

[cloakedinruins]

I suppose it's something that warrior gods have a gift for?

[ Since it seems to be a rather common theme from what he understood. ]

I have to say that I dislike some aspects of the role. The Imperial robes for one.

[brynwieldr]

Mmm, I'd say it's more a magic god thing.

[Mages are usually the most extra. Case in point: Leo himself.]

Then just don't wear them. Gods know I don't wear whatever Odin's supposed to have worn.

[cloakedinruins]

That as well.

[ He snorts softly, an eyebrow raising before relaxing his shoulders and shaking his head. Well, he understood where he was coming from but he wonders. ]

Is how you look now your true form or a mask you wear while among humans?

[brynwieldr]

[He looks down at himself. Plain dark purple shirt, loose pants, boots.]

This is just how I dress. I'm not a formchanger.

[cloakedinruins]

Ah, that might explain it. Myself and a friend of mine often found ourselves changed into our more true forms when we were in our temples.

[ Granted his true form wasn't too terribly far off from what he looked like now, but it was still a lot closer to the aspect of Xuanwu than it was to 'normal plain dull human' than he liked. ]

[brynwieldr]

True forms?

[Not surprised, just curious. His adopted sibling was a manakete, after all.]

[cloakedinruins]

We're not exactly human, though most times human enough to pass on a biological level.

[ Since it was possible to have children with human and even pass down their traits, though at a weaker level. It had been a surprise to some who nattered on being better because of their alien origins. ]