May Training

[brynwieldr]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: May 23rd 2017
Where: Odin’s Temple
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki; bonding opportunities for all other gods and shinki

Gods and shinki who arrive at the meeting hall are, for once, not led to the back for an introduction to their new roles. They’re instead rounded up and shown the way to Odin’s Temple, where "Odin" is waiting for them. Hopefully the sight of a twenty-something in loose pants and a t-shirt isn’t too shocking compared to the formally dressed old gods.

Basic Information

Unlike previous introductions, Leo has all the newcomers meet in the front room. There’s chairs and a sofa and ottomans for anyone who wants to sit, and they’ve brought in a dais of sorts for Leo and Kairi to stand on.

"Welcome to Heaven, or the Far Shore as some of the older gods call it. I am Leo de Borel, formerly a prince of the Kingdom of Nohr and currently the god Odin. This is my shinki, Kairi. The old gods have asked me to host training this time, but before we do that, you should know what you’re getting into. Some of this information is not my own, but was gathered by my husband, Aymeric de Borel. Unfortunately he's currently down with a sleeping sickness and couldn't join us today."

Leo then launches into basic rundown of Heaven and how things work here--the gods answer prayers, the shinki assist them, ayakashi are the monsters they fight and are generally the main thing causing the people on the Near Shore grief, and a brief summary of the greatly diminished cult--and asks for the gods and the shinki to follow either him or Kairi, depending on which they are. He’ll help anyone who’s not sure which they are figure it out, and then he and Kairi take their groups outside where Leo has set up some training grounds.

God Information

As they head outside, Leo explains a god’s role a bit more in depth to any newcomers and will answer questions should anyone else ask them. Once they get outside and most of the important questions are answered, Leo hands out pamphlets he had made that summarize most of the important information shared today, with an emphasis on not telling a shinki about their past no matter what, and tells them that today is mostly going to be about them figuring out their powers and perhaps finding a shinki or two they work well with, should they not already have one. If they have any other questions, they’re welcome to come find him and ask.

Shinki Information

All of the shinki, no matter how recently they arrived, are treated to a parallel speech by Kairi, but it’s with a bit of passion focusing on god-shinki bonds and what they could be, which she hopes applies to brand new shinki as well as shinki who are only as "new" as she is. She cites a shinki’s ability to help their god/dess with prayers in more ways than as a vessel, for one thing, and that temple structures will vary with the gods themselves. Some become families, for instance - here she looks to both Raichi and D2 - and deep friendships that can last beyond any struggle you can imagine - she looks at Lance and Dust. She explains how there was a time when just being attached to the same pantheon as your god meant that another temple might help you, and some of the new gods may still feel that way. Her point remains that if there’s a specific sort of bond you’re looking for, that god might be out there waiting for them, and she encourages them to ask an older shinki for advice if they’re uncomfortable in their current temple setup. "No one will understand better than your fellow shinki," she insists with a smile.

Speech over, she offers pamphlets to those who might not have received one previously and directs any shinki still struggling with spellwork to where Leo has arranged for a few of Amateratsu’s shinki to teach them how to cast a borderline. More experienced shinki are welcome to assist, but once you think you’ve got it the shinki are welcome to join the gods in the training grounds. Kairi tells the newbies the same thing Leo told the gods: their main goal for today is to get in some practice and maybe find a god they work well with.

Physical Training and Pair Ups

It’s a simple set up this month, since Leo’s yard isn’t really built for this sort of thing, but the basic set up is what you’d expect; there’s dummies for more solo practice, a sparring circle for some one-on-one training, and food laid out for anyone who gets hungry. (And if anyone asks who did the cooking or otherwise thanks Leo, he will direct them to Yoon because he did all the cooking, except for the pizzas. Praise him.)

Once everyone is more or less at the training area, Leo asks everyone to hold a moment so he can explain one last thing.

“The Heavens have asked that my shinki and I do our best to pair unpartnered gods and shinki up, be they new or old, in hopes of making stronger, more lasting bonds. If you meet someone you think you might work well with in the long term, please let either Kairi or I know and we’ll make a note of it.”

And that’s the last you’ll hear from Leo officially, unless you have questions.

Battle Tactics

Or maybe not. For those of you with a partner or who are just interested in learning new techniques, Leo’s arranged for something a little unique this month.

Perhaps you and your partner aren’t really fighting optimally, no matter what you do, or are just getting outmatched by some of the more intelligent ayakashi and have to resort to brute forcing your way through them. Leo has offered to spar against those who want to work on their teamwork (with or without his own shinki) or otherwise observe a fight so he can offer advice afterwards on how you might improve your teamwork.

If you don’t have a partner or are just interested in something not physical (which Leo totally gets), Leo’s also set up a few things inside. There’s a couple of chess sets out (always a good option) as well as, oddly, a few video games. Leo found a game that allowed him to set up simulated large scale battles if you want to try your hand at that sort of thing, as well as games to encourage cooperation between a god and their shinki. This includes a game where up to four people are trying to run a restaurant and one game that has one person reading from a manual and the other trying to defuse a bomb.

Have fun!

In Summary:

• Be baffled by this millennial looking god
• Attend the information meeting
• Train
• Eat, meet people, maybe find a partner
• Play video games
• Have fun~

Comments

[myblueskies]

[Oh no! Are her glasses on fire? That's bad!] Line!

[It is a testimony to how hard he has been working and improving that his borderline is very small, just enough to knock the glasses off her face, sending them clattering to the floor.] Sorry miss but they were making fire!

1/2

[priforprince]

Fire?

[ Reluctantly, Hibiki’s eyes open. ] Ridiculous. My idiot-canceling cutglasses are of flawless desi—

2/2

[priforprince]

[ Two sparks, now.

Hibiki drops the cup of water. ]

[myblueskies]

See!

[Now there's water on the floor too! Hopefully that will put the fire on the glasses out!

Or just make them spark more...]

Uh...

[priforprince]

[ Don’t worry, Romeo! Spygoats in firefighter hats, one with a rubber-coated grabber and one with a platter, are coming to the maa-scue. Between the two of them, they whisk the cutglasses away while a third goat with a mop-bulldozer plow cleans up the spill. They are diligent maa-ssistants.

Hibiki turns back to the table, propping her head up on one hand. ]

Let’s discuss either chess or nothing.

[ If she doesn’t say or experience something elegant soon, the next top-class item requiring removal from the floor may well be Hibiki. ]

[myblueskies]

[Spygoats are the real heroes! Romeo grinned at them when they arrived in firefighter hats to clear up the water and the glasses and nothing set on fire! They get head pats for being great goat assistants.

He grinned at Hibiki and nodded, clambering back up onto the seat by the chessboard.]

Do you know the rules miss?

[priforprince]

[ ...and we’re back to that. Well, it’s better than -

We are not considering what it’s better than. ]

Of course. [ Another goat, this time with tea. Hibiki takes a rejuvenating sip. ] The notion of Shikyoin Hibiki remaining ignorant of the most elegant game is like a swan only knowing how to waddle backwards.

[myblueskies]

Can you show me miss? It looks really fun!

[He concentrates on the board, rather than trying to imagine swans waddling backwards, though that sort of fails and he laughs to himself as the image dances across his mind.]

[priforprince]

If you can focus.

[ High standards at this acadepri. Nothing but the best. Please adopt an appropriately sage expression. ]

[myblueskies]

I can focus really hard miss! I am good at concentrating!

[It is tricky but he can try really hard! He's good at trying hard!]

[priforprince]

You’ll yield being the judge of that to me.

[ She begins setting up the board, muttering to herself. To think she’d have no choice, if wishing to rejuvenate herself, than to instruct a child... ]

Honestly. What’s forced to pass for a first-class pastime......

[myblueskies]

[Romeo watched as she set up the board. All the small pieces at the front, then the bigger pieces behind with the biggest pieces in the middle!]

Is this your favourite game then, miss Hibiki?

[priforprince]

It suits my preferences, yes.

[ Hibiki adjusts the board so Romeo is the white pieces. The uneasiness in her soul cannot be assuaged but by playing the more cunning role. ] I’m granting you the first move.

[myblueskies]

[Romeo knelt up so he could see the pieces better. It was his turn first? He looked at the board, then at Hibiki, then at the board.] Do I got to roll a die?

[priforprince]

....Are you deliberately making it impossible to know where to begin retorting?

[ The combination of “got to” and “a die, in chess” is a lethal one, indeed. ]

[myblueskies]

No miss. [He's not being a good friend to Hibiki today is he? It is even trickier than normal to make her not upset!.]

I'm not doing it on purpose. I can be quiet and listen!

[priforprince]

[ Such is the unfortunate fate of those with the poor sense to be simultaneously sorted as FRIEND and IDIOT by those formerly wearing idiot-cancelling cutglasses. As Hibiki is undertaking this educational venture in an attempt to sort out her mood, however, she chooses to accept this promise. ]

In that case, select a pawn and move it forward.

[ A gesture, so he sees what direction of movement is allowed. ] Two spaces are permitted, for the opening move.

[ How well can he improvise? Hibiki has decided to learn this by using this first game as the lesson! Surely life with a genius such as Elfnein is inspiring. ]

[myblueskies]

[A pawn... Luckily Hibiki points and gestures and Romeo gets the idea. He can move two places for the opening move... So he picks... This piece. Near the side but not right at the end and he moved it forward two places before grinning widely. There!]

[priforprince]

[ Not bad. Hibiki moves a pawn of her own, one that will lay claim to as much of the board as possible. ] All subsequent moves by pawns are one space only. They “capture” other pieces by assailing on diagonals.

[ Two fingers tap the spaces her pawn could use for that before she sits back. ] Chess is the ultimate game of conquest, you see.

[myblueskies]

So you got to capture all the other persons pawns? [Go forwards, capture by going diagonally. He's got this! He moves another piece, just going one place this time!]

[priforprince]

No, they’re of little threat. Your goal - [ Hibiki taps one of the two tall pieces with a crown. ] - is to trap the king.

[ Surely he will understand the value of a King versus a pawn.... ]

[myblueskies]

The king? [He peers at the tall piece.] So if you capture the king you win?

[That makes lots of sense! You got to capture the boss of everyone and then they will be without their leader. It's trickier to fight without your leader!]

[priforprince]

Such has always been the rules of war.

[ Hibiki slides a bishop out on a diagonal. ] You’ll learn the other pieces from my example.

[ Explaining much longer would be beneath her, you see. ]

[myblueskies]

That one is allowed to go like that? [He finds the same shape piece on his own side.] Do I got to move the pawn first before it can get out? [It was still penned in.]

[priforprince]

You do. One piece alone may leap.

[ Can he figure out which, based on the shapes? ]