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

[letteropener]

Since she is the Princess of Love, I daresay she is. [Celestia laughs gently at the understatement.] Still, even in her absence, I am willing to be of assistance if I can be.

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Princess of Love. We could definitely do with her right about now. [She would be a helpful person indeed. But since she wasn't there then Celestia will have to do.] What do you know of broken hearts?

[letteropener]

I've never experienced one myself for a romantic interest, but have suffered one over family. And I've been around to see quite a number.

I do know that often, just talking about it helps. If nothing else, you are more than welcome to unburden yourself to me.

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Oh! I don't have a broken heart. [Cats are tough, he misses Yunlan but he isn't pining the way Shen Wei is.] It's my god. His boyfriend has disappeared and I'm trying to figure out how to help him.

[letteropener]

Oh. Now that makes it more complicated. It's difficult to help somepony secondhoof. [So much depends on the sincerity and empathy that come with experience, after all.] And if it was very recent, he may simply need some time to be sad. It's justified, after all, I think.

[thetopofthefoodchain]

He's been sad for a long time. [Da Qing it has been literally two days.] I'm just trying to find a way to help him, we are very different. The things that cheer me up won't work on him I don't think.

[letteropener]

That is troubling. But the truth is, he must find acceptance within himself before he can truly recover. [Acceptance... is a terribly hard thing to find, sometimes. Celestia learned it long, long ago, but if she hadn't, her existence would have been agony.]

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Right... [Find acceptance... That sounds difficult especially since Shen Wei just seems so lost.]

How do you find acceptance within yourself?

[letteropener]

You find a way to acknowledge the truth you despise.

[In other words, not very easily at all.]

[thetopofthefoodchain]

That sounds hard.

[He doesn't even know what that truth that would be, never mind how to help Shen Wei acknowledge it.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia nods, quite somber.] Very much so, yes. The more so because not doing so is often the correct path as well.

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Ah yes the correct path is always the hardest.

[Like today. He could just ignore his gods heart break, mess about in training, eat fish and sleep. But he's out finding out the answers to these difficult and messy questions because it's the right thing for a loyal shinki to do.]

[letteropener]

Hmm, perhaps.... Tell him that if a person is worth living for, they are worth living for no matter where they are. And so, live.

[That is something that helps her, at least. By going on, by being happy and well, she cherishes the memory of countless ponies she has known in her life.]

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Right. [He nodded, it's good advice though he does laugh slightly.] So far I'm to tell him that it's his memories of Yunlan that are important and that he should live because Yunlan is worth living for. Remembering things and being alive aren't things I'm great at apparently.

[letteropener]

Details. You're alive enough here, in my opinion. And you are making memories here too. Do not discount those things.

[thetopofthefoodchain]

That's true. [He pointed at Celestia and grinned.] You have a good point. I'll make sure to tell him both of those things then.

[letteropener]

I can always try to help directly, too, if you feel you need it. And he would welcome it. Forcing myself into the situation would be unwise. [To put it mildly.]

[thetopofthefoodchain]

Well I'm going to talk to him, I think getting him to accept help off anybody might be the first step. He can be very stubborn.

[He and Yunlan were the same in that regard.]

[letteropener]

Yes, I can understand that. But I am willing to try. Sometimes being an alicorn has its advantages.

[Specifically, throwing people off their game enough that they aren't quite as able to be stubborn.]

[thetopofthefoodchain]

I'll definitely let you know. [He gets the feeling he will need the help. Some things are too much even for a cat.]

Allicorn's are good at talking then?

[letteropener]

Well, I certainly am, after long practice and experience. But I have also found that advice sounds just that little bit different coming from a talking pony, to humans.

[thetopofthefoodchain]

I can see that. [He grins, it's a pity people don't tend to take advice from a talking cat in his experience.] I'm sure we will get through to him.