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

[reloves]

[ Make that two people being dragged out of their temples because otherwise they would've been staying inside. But the one upside of the combination of two people feeling bad here is that Minako always has a much harder time lingering in her own bad mood when someone else needs some help.

And Shen Wei sure seems like he needs some help. Yes, he's.. sleeping.. peacefully? (Can one sleep peacefully in that position?) But she sure doesn't want anyone she knows getting scolded for sleeping during training.

So Minako scoots over until she's next to him, closing her eyes as well and humming really loudly - it's barely a hum anymore, really - to pretend both of them are just focusing. Just that! Clearly Shen Wei isn't sleeping.

But she gets a little too caught up in her whole trying-to-seem-like-she's-focusing-really-hard act, and when someone next to her stands up, it startles her so much that she ends up falling sideways against Shen Wei with a shriek, toppling both of them over.

Sorry for the rough awakening... ]

[cloakedinruins]

[ Shen Wei doesn't need as much sleep as the normal person, but even he has his limits. Since Zhao Yunlan's disappearance, he hadn't slept at all so the fatigue was setting in. As for sleeping like this, well he had been a warrior for a long time. It was a warrior thing to grab sleep whenever and however he could.

Still it wasn't a position that lends itself a lot of ways to prevent a graceless toppling.

Heart pounding, eyes blinking wildly, glasses crooked, Shen Wei is quite sure that his legs were a little too numb and that he was playing pillow under a friend. He turned - nose bumping blonde hair - and reached over to hold her steady while attempting to stretch and sit upright again. ]

..Minako? Are you all right?

[reloves]

Ah.. Sorry, sorry! I'm fine! [ At least the fact she's startled makes her sound a lot more like her usual self than she has for the past few days. It's a little louder and energetic than her anxious quiet mood lately, at the very least.

When Shen Wei tries to sit up, Minako quickly moves along so he doesn't have to get up while also trying to move up her weight as well. Her hands move up to brush at her hair to make sure it doesn't look like a total mess, and she does manage to work up an apologetic smile. ]

You didn't get hurt, right?

[cloakedinruins]

I'm fine.

[ What were a few bruises to him? Shen Wei was more concerned that he had hurt her since she probably didn't heal as fast as he does. He reached up to pull his glasses off and double checked the arms for getting bent before folding them up and tucking them into a pocket. He then reached over to help with her hair. ]

Are you sure you're okay? I didn't hit you with my elbows at all?

[reloves]

[ She quickly shakes her head. ]

I'm alright.

[ The words almost come out as a sheer reflex at this point, honestly, with the amount of times she's had to say them - and lie, most of the time - over the past few days. But her current emotional state means she'd rather not have any of the focus be on her here, even though he's more interested in checking to see whether she's physically okay moreso than emotionally. Still not taking the risk! Time to change the subject to him! ]

Were you tired..?

[cloakedinruins]

[ He wasn't going to press her over it. She was fine. He was fine. They were both fine. It's okay.

He nods and unfolds his legs, stretching out and ignoring the look he was given for breaking his perfect pose. ]

I haven't been sleeping very well these past few days.

[reloves]

Oh..

[ Are you sure you're fine if you haven't been sleeping well, Shen Wei! Then again, it's not like Minako has been sleeping very well either, but she's been trying her darnest to hide that from the entire world. ]

I'm sorry, I don't really know how to solve that sort of thing.. [ She's the furthest thing from a doctor, after all. But she likes Shen Wei, and if there's anything that defines Minako, it's an Intense Need to help the people she likes. ] Are you sure it's alright for you to have come all the way out here today though if you're that tired..?