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

[revolutionfalcon]

Sounds like you're having the opposite problem to me. Even with all the changes that have happened here, I can't not think of myself as human more than anything.

[Much to the chagrin of the old gods the few times it's come up with them. As a God of Fortune, he's seemingly supposed to be some kind of guidepost for the new gods, but when he's so vocally resistant to everything down to their very nature, it's definitely rubbed the old gods the wrong way to have him in that position.]

My world had technology, but not magic or supernatural powers. That sort of thing, I had to learn about during my time here, and I still don't really get it in full. Having answers would be better, but at this point, I suppose I've figured that if we want them, we're going to have to drag them out of someone ourselves, because nobody seems to want to offer them.

[The Heavens least of all, though at the very least, they seem to have started to learn to share the results of their investigations. It remains to be seen whether that's going to continue after the cult is dealt with, though.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

You're right. The only way any of us will get what we want is if we work for it.

[Ayumu's tired though and she's lost most of the edge that made her a force to be reckoned with. She's become colder and more ruthless since the end of her life, fragile and reckless in ways that could cost lives out on the field. Even if she trusts herself more now than she did as a shinki and isn't as frightened of the violent, sadistic streak that she remembers what made her that way, Ayumu still sees herself as a dangerous liability to others in the field.

She's already killed one person, nearly killed another, and put countless others at risk because she couldn't control herself. And that isn't even counting the human lives she took on the Near Shore before that.]

I think it's best for everyone's safety, if I stay away from the heart of any direct conflict with Heaven. At least for a while. That doesn't mean that I won't work to help us all in ways that I can, though.

[revolutionfalcon]

That's how it's always been for me anyway.

[Shun has tried pressing at the Heavens, digging and scraping and dragging them out in public where he can, but it only seems to have had minimal effect so far. On one hand, it seems like they've finally become willing to share investigation findings openly, but on the other, it's the questions they actually need answers to that are still being kept close.]

For now, the cultists are distracting from any direct conflicts with them, but once that common enemy is gone, I suppose we'll have to see how things go. I'm still prepared to keep them accountable as much as I can considering my position, but that's still not much.

[Even with the God of Fortune title, Shun doesn't exactly have the diplomatic side to take full advantage of it instead of just very publicly dragging people for their stupidity.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Good. Positions such as yours with them have their uses. They're more likely to open their doors for a God of Fortune than an unknown such as myself, for example.

[Not that Ayumu's obscurity itself doesn't have its uses. Her entire military career has been built on the concept of working in the shadows, pulling strings, and applying pressure from a place where she attracts no notice. Both her success and her survival has depended on masking her movements and agenda until it's too late for an opponent to launch an effective counterattack.]

You're right that we'll have to see how things go first before coming up with a proper plan.

[revolutionfalcon]

Opening their doors is one thing, actually listening is another, considering how the cultist business has gone. Though at least traditional seven Gods of Fortune seem more inclined to listen than Amaterasu's lot.

[He's only spoken to a few of them, but Ebisu, Bishamonten and Daikokuten have all been considerably more useful than his general experience with Amaterasu and her advisors. Bar, perhaps, Suijin, and even then, she gets rather stubborn about the same kinds of topics as Amaterasu does.]

In that case, there's not much to do but continue working on an outcome to this. Hopefully it comes to an end sooner rather than later.

[kagenonadeshiko]

We can prepare, at least.

[Ayumu looks thoughtful before she speaks again in a hushed tone.]

If it gets to a point that we can't live harmoniously with them within the Heavens, perhaps defection could be an option. The world is a vast place. Theirs is not the only group.

[The Roman gods in Italy had been quite happy and welcoming of her presence the one time she visited them so long ago. If this world is to be Ayumu's permanent home for eternity, it'd be prudent to get better acquainted with her brethren overseas on the off-chance she and others have to flee.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun knows he's not the only one to have visited his pantheon at this point, besides the ones who were around way back when their first overseas shrines appeared. He's had to speak to his own and even one other for various reasons, and they've generally seemed relatively welcoming when he's encountered them.]

It'd cause problems for anyone who was following us from this country, but it is an option. I know a few people have at least established contact with their gods' actual pantheons. Something like that wouldn't be a decision to make lightly, though.

[He doubts the Heavens here would necessarily begrudge someone deciding their other pantheon is a better fit, but framing it as defecting or doing it at a sensitive time? Could cause some problems if it's not handled the right way.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

I agree. Choosing to leave is something that should always be taken seriously. It comes with a hefty price. In some organizations, the cost is one's life.

[The penalty for leaving the Shinsengumi had been death and the Oniwaban had been about as strict in its regulations. She doesn't know if the Heavens would be just as harsh but it's possibility she remains mindful of.]

Regardless, I wish to become better acquainted with my patheon overseas. Perhaps foster an alliance or relationship with them for myself and my shinki. Still, I'd prefer to prepared. It's better to have options that aren't needed than get into trouble without any at all.

[revolutionfalcon]

Hopefully the Heavens don't run on honour codes or gang logic. [Shun puts that somewhat dryly considering how old-fashioned some of their other attitudes are, but he imagines the departure would have to cause a pretty massive infraction to draw major retribution. The Heavens are unreasonable in a lot of ways, but that strikes him as something they know would more likely stain their supposedly benevolent reputation.]

It's been a few months since I last talked to mine properly, though I see one or two of the gods from it more often than others. [Horus and Wadjet, mostly, the first god from there he'd met and Nekhbet's counterpart god.] Working more in the country the god you're standing in for is worshipped in makes it easier.

[kagenonadeshiko]

[It's good advice. All the work Ayumu's done as Vesta has been limited to Japan and while she intends to try to expand her influence in her native country, most of her predecessor's following had been in Italy. It's time that she focused her attention there more.]

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

[Besides, it might do her some good to start spending more time overseas. It's impossible for her to go anywhere in Takamagahara or Japan without being reminded of painful loss. Maybe a change of scenery would help.]

But I should probably let you get back to your training.

[She laughs a little bit.]

It was really nice seeing and talking with you again, Shun.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun isn't going to object to getting back to what he was doing, especially since that's plenty enough of a break for him already. So he inclines his head to her by way of a farewell, since he still isn't really much for the actual niceties of using words like "goodbye".]

With the disappearances recently, it's good to see a familiar face back as well.

[Which is something. In a situation like this, where numbers are dwindling and it doesn't necessarily seem to be anything external that's doing it, having people come back around gives some hope for the future.]