June Training

[priforprince]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: June 7th, 2017
Where: Apollo's Temple, The Far Shore
Summary: FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAINME---er, training for extant gods and shinki



Determining which temple to visit for today's training is not difficult. For one thing, Apollo's Temple is setting off fireworks periodically to entice newcomers through its high, Hibiki-statue-flanked doors. For another, anyone leaving their own temples will find themselves immediately confronted with an adorable purple goat robot wearing sunglasses and a bow tie. The goat has a silver platform suspended above it, atop which has been set a single purple rose and a brief note:

I shall be maa-ttending you today. Follow me.

Said goat will continue to follow your character until they give in and do as the note suggests. In fact, even once they do, the goat shall accompany them for the duration of today's log, seeing to their every need. Ask the goat to fetch something, and it shall be fetched. Ask the goat for directions within Hibiki's castle - "Where is the god training?", "Isn't there an amusement park in here?" - and guidance shall be provided maa-ccordingly.

It seems, today, everyone will receive a full Celebrity Maa-xperience.



Introductions

Incidentally, Hibiki's temple does indeed contain an amusement park. Everyone shall be directed there first, to enjoy the roller coasters, spinny teacups, and merry-go-round to their hearts' content until all the TVs in the area switch on at once. (Should your character not be positioned by one of the many televisions scattered throughout the area, have no fear. Your maa-ttendant has just rolled away and come back with one.)

"CelePara Prince Hour!"

Hibiki's face appears on the screen. She's a decent amount of space back from the screen, for once, and seated upon her throne. There's a brilliant sun motif on the wall behind her - or is it a crown? It's both, perhaps.

"Everyone, it's been a while. Shikyoin Hibiki here. Have your hearts been astonished by the peerless excellence I've delivered to you today?"

The maa-ttendants all nod. Which is hard for robots without neck joints to do, so they rock in place on their wheeled platforms instead. Clatter, clatter. Hibiki, for her part, nods back as if she's witnessed this occurrance.

"Splendid. The three characteristics of divinity are - Majestic. Unparalleled. And...Possessing great love." A smirk. "It's as if the position exists just for me. But those of you tasked with a duty you're currently incapable of fulfilling need not despair. I've arranged a variety of beneficial exercises for gods and shinki alike. Engaging in them is best, so we can create it."

She raises an arm, as if showing everyone ascending from her beneficial guidance. "Together with me - the ultimate puniverse!"

The TVs switch off. Those closest to gods display, on a map, where the god training is. Those closest to shinki display the shinki training. All indicate the physical training and the refreshments. The refreshments seem to be.....outside? With a time marked for dinner?

Pay that no mind. It's probably fine.

God Training

Hibiki isn't at the god training, either, which is taking place in a banquet hall. And which appears to be, ah....a swanky tea party. With a sign indicating there's a sauna next door. She does, however, appear on a large TV a bevy of spygoats push into position once any new gods have entered the room. Behold!

"So-called gods, glad you could make it. Yours is the tremendous task of assisting me, the God of Fortune Apollo, to bring radiance to the scrap-heap puniverse known as the Near Shore. As satisfying your followers with anything less than a Top-Class showing is insufficient, I'll give this chance to steep in a celebrity atmosphere to you. The chosen deities require no throat-drying or sweat-inducing hardship. Open the new celeb world."

And, with that, the tea party begins. Those not wishing to enjoy the top-class light sweets or delicious first flush teas may rid themselves of their average-person cares in Hibiki's special detoxing sauna. Those seeking an example to follow may take in a movie (in a theater featuring opulent reclining seats) starring Shikyoin Hibiki, or enjoy that the Shikyoin Hibiki History Exhibit has returned for a limited time only to this wing of the temple. Learn all about her many accomplishments, and be inspired!

If you're looking for Hibiki, however.....Well. Your maa-ttendant is willing to show you the way, especially if you're a shinki or a god seeking suggestions for a matchup. But there are two obstacles to reaching her. First, you have to successfully kick a soccer ball past a spygoat goalie. Second, you have to read from a college history textbook provided by a spygoat in a pasteboard hat - and get all the kanji right.

Or you could force your way through, or raise a fuss until Hibiki emerges, but who'd conceive of that?! Clearly everything will go as Hibiki intends!

Shinki Training

The good news for the shinki in attendance- or any gods who ran away from Hibiki’s tea party to see what else is happening- is that they don’t have to further deal with Hibiki. Or being proper. Instead, everyone’s maa-tendants will guide them to a large indoor space that has been purposefully, uh, repurposed for today. As there are a lot of big extravagant rooms in Hibiki’s castle, it wasn’t very hard to change it into what is essentially the inside of an acrobatic circus. Wendy will already be waiting for everyone to arrive, seated happily on top of some push up bars. “That’s everyone, isn’t it? Alright then!”

Since there are no newcomers as far as Wendy can tell, she gladly skips over “how to shinki” issues and instead offers some quick explanations and instructions to everyone in attendance. People are more than welcome to do the usual borderline practicing, of course, and Wendy will give a quick instruction for those who somehow missed that particular lesson. But that’s the boring way, and she didn’t set up all of this to be boring. In fact, there’s a particular shinki trait that she feels not a lot of people have really utilized: the strange shared trait that they’re all extremely light and can do things like leap ridiculous distances.

So everyone will be encouraged to use the various pieces of equipment that are around. People who are unsure of themselves can use basic things such as monkey bars, low balancing beams, and the other sorts of things that they’ve seen Heaven use in their training sessions such as jumping from stump-like platforms to another. There are even some trampolines for those who want to see how high a shinki can go before their head cracks into the very high ceiling. (And an almost extravagantly large bouncy castle for the kids and kids-at-heart.) But they’re really encouraged to use things that are a little more… high skill. Such as the tightrope extended high above the ground, or the swinging trapeze set. For those who want a bit of a challenge, Wendy even has a route set up where they have to go through just about everything that’s set up in the space… while she has another person practicing throwing borderlines at them to either dodge or deflect. Also the goats might get in the way. Is that part of the training, or is that just how the goats how?

Any random god that comes in will hardly get a blink besides Wendy ushering them in with an off-handed, “Sick of the tea, huh?”

Self-Improvement Training

Those looking for something less...extreme...than Wendy's contribution will find it in Hibiki's gaming arcade, which has been newly restocked with a row of PriPara arcade machines. These machines encourage you to create a customizable character and dress them up, then perform a rhythm game with the character dancing in the background. Successful completion earns you a ticket with more clothes that can be used on your character. It seems that a sense of rhythm improves intuition, which is useful for gods and shinki alike.

Also of use to all: the ability to ad-lib with a partner in an unusual environment! Which is what anyone who ventures into this concert hall will find. It looks like there's an improv contest going on. Grab a partner and be assigned a random scenario. You now have to act out that scenario in hopes of getting perfect 10s from a row of extremely Judge-Looking spygoats (they are wearing berets and glasses, to look Artsy, except for one who got the kind of judge wrong and showed up in a powdered wig instead.)

Now, pick your chosen field of battle! No sparring prompt is required to hone one's competitive urges and divine might.

Rest and Refreshments

Anyone desiring a change of scenery, as well as everyone once the sun begins to set, will be guided out the back of the temple by their maa-ttendant. A splendid dinner table has been set out upon the pirate ship in Hibiki's backyard, and everyone has a place reserved just for them. Why, their favorite drink is already awaiting them in their glass!

Food is available from a variety of sources. For those who prefer self service, a buffet table has been laid out next to one railing, arranged with a variety of high-class, gourmet foods. Filet mignon? Caviar? Lobster? Fugu? Vegetable delicacies? All are available (though none come with instructions - do have fun with the lobster). The maa-tendants are also happy to double as waiters and fetch food, for those who prefer the full service celebrity treatment.

Those seeking a more low-key, though no less eclectic, dining experience can find it along the other side of the deck, set up on a nice table with a tablecloth and some flowers for decoration. It seems one of Hibiki's shinki has decided to grace everyone with a bountiful spread! Poke, acai bowls, salad, malasalada, chocolate macademia, strawberry mochi, and manapua are all available, with placards indicating what each dish is and any potential allergens. This entire temple devotes itself to hospitality.

Still missing, however: the host, though there's a throne awaiting her at the head of the table, a cup of tea already in place. Music is also being provided by goats in the corners, who seem to have full stereo systems hooked up where the maa-ttendants have trays. Baroque classical music recordings softly waft over the diners, lending the entire experience a distinctly elegant air.

This aura of peaceful refinement shall remain until everyone who seems inclined to go aboard has done so (the goats do seem to maa-ccomend you board, but it is not enforced - sit this out, if you wish). At that point, all goats will roll up to their gods or shinki, carrying another sign - Please take care. The music dies down. So do the lights.

And beneath everyone, the Starship PriPirates's...rocket engines...rumble to life. And a triumphant peal of laughter, high above everyone - rings out!

In Summary:

• Delight in your precious new robot BFF (maa-ttendants are OK to NPC & adopt!)
  
• Learn absolutely nothing from anybody actually charged with hosting this informational session
  
• Engage in various "training" activities with no ulterior motives behind them whatsoever
  
• Be kidnapped by pirates?????
  
• Have fun~

Comments

[revolutionfalcon]

[Considering how things went with Wendy last time he was doing one of these kinds of obstacle courses, Shun reacts seamlessly, wall-jumping from the borderline back against one of the poles that's holding up the higher platforms, then going over it with the additional height.

Once he lands, he glances down and inclines his head to Ginia when he sees her.] I figured you'd be a more likely sight here than me.

[Shun has never been quiet on his opinion of Hibiki, even if Wendy is a different story.]

[unlucky7]

Frankly, I'm amazed you're here.

[No vultures too, though maybe they're terrorizing Hibiki somewhere else. Who knows where Hibiki even is in all of this. The fact she hasn't made an appearance in person yet means something is in the works.]

But I guess a training session is a training session. What do you think about Heaven turning things over to us?

[revolutionfalcon]

I'm only here for this. [He indicates the room.] Wendy made it clear enough she'd be doing something actually worth showing up for when we talked about this last training, though I won't be here long.

[Even something like this can only keep his attention for so long until he wants to train on something else, so he'll likely depart later to work on his own thing. That said, he gives an audible sigh at the question.]

I think it's a bad idea in the sense that the people most eager to throw open their doors are going to be idiots like this who have nothing to offer when it comes to serious training unless someone else does it for them. But it's not as if we're getting as many newcomers who desperately need to be trained anymore.

[He doesn't think he's actually seen any outright newcomers today.]

[unlucky7]

Your feelings on Hibiki are clear, but don't tell me you're lumping Leo in among the idiots.

[She doesn't have any direct affinity toward Leo beyond being her Aymeric's husband and Kairi's god. She can appreciate his subtle trolling through video games though. For the first run by their generation, it was a decent setup.]

I haven't seen anyone new either. There might have only been one or two at Leo's training session too. People are still leaving though.

[Ginia leaps onto a higher platform so she can sit on the edge of it.]

I take it you aren't going to lead any sessions then?

[revolutionfalcon]

I haven't seen enough of him to form an opinion outside of when he shows up on the network.

[Shun puts that somewhat dryly, in the vague recollection that Leo's most recent appearances on the network mostly pertained to his marriage situation. Suffice it to say, Shun isn't the type who entirely thinks making that kind of life choice here is a good plan.

At least he's not the only one who's been thinking their numbers are dwindling, but he leaves that for now, instead shaking his head as Ginia asks that question.]

Not interested in letting that many people into my temple grounds. I offered to help Nanako sort out the combat part if she ever hosts, though.

[unlucky7]

Do you know who else has volunteered to host or is thinking about it?

[Private as Shun is, she couldn't see him hosting a training session. Maybe if there was a way to hold them at a different location. She hasn't heard anything from Chris or Tsubasa either. Iskandar, perhaps? Maybe even Waver once he's better settled?]

[revolutionfalcon]

No, Nanako was the only one I talked to who seemed interested. Though we're running out of people to do it, by the looks of things.

[They're losing people who've been here the longest, which means the number of people who probably have the space and experience to host something like this are dwindling. Some of the more recent arrivals could probably manage, but it still sounds like a lot of trouble for them to go through.]

[unlucky7]

I can think of a few people who might have hosted if they were still around.

[But no point thinking about the people that might have hosted if they aren't here anymore. Hakkai's departure has left a large hole and it's hard not feeling nervous if even a God of Fortune can disappear overnight.]

I wonder if it'd be any better if we used the previous training ground site? It has an implicit connection to Amaterasu, but if it's run by our people, that might be more welcoming.

But maybe these aren't necessary either. I think there's merit in getting everyone together and getting new arrivals up to speed, but if no one new shows up and people can train without it being a formal thing... maybe this needs to change too.

[revolutionfalcon]

It wouldn't be a bad idea, but it'd probably ruin the intent. Which seemed to be foisting the whole thing on us as much as they could.

[Shun puts that rather dryly - it had supposedly been something to do with proving themselves to the Heavens, but as if they hadn't done more than enough of that already by this point. The fact that it's taken this long for them to have supposedly been given a chance to prove themselves is a ridiculous enough idea already.]

I'd say it depends on whether this situation is going to continue. If we keep getting nobody or very few people, it's not really that worthwhile except for the occasional chance to spar people you don't know.

[unlucky7]

We might as well take training to the Near Shore then. A few experienced people or pairs leading a group to hunt ayakashi and learn how to move on the fly? Wouldn't be the worst way to get even new people up to speed on what fighting ayakashi is like. It'd make the training sessions a bit more functional too.

[Possible downside is the property damage that could occur, but it's not like there isn't already some damage when ayakashi fights get a little overzealous.

Ginia hops onto her feet, balancing on the edge of the platform. There's an antsy energy around her and she shifts to perch on top of a balance beam.]

If we're facing our final days here, I'd rather put all the training to use then playing it safe up here.

[revolutionfalcon]

Maybe. We'd need to find areas that had high enough concentrations to make a hunt worthwhile. Maybe vents, if there's enough of them around. [He hasn't seen a lot of vents in his time here, admittedly, but he does know they're supposed to be more common in the Near Shore than Far Shore.

She has a point about that observation, though, and Shun gives a faint hum of agreement.] Even if the cultists are dealt with, I'm not optimistic enough to think that's the last of our problems. Even if nothing else that major comes up, there's still questions unanswered.

[It might just be that they didn't get the chance to pull the answers from the cultists before handling them, or it might be a hint at further issues in future. Hard to say, at this point.]

[unlucky7]

Summer festivals are happening soon so those will be trouble spots. Amusement parks and beaches are going to get even more crowded and those always have a high concentration. I know a few people in Ebisu's temple track vents, I can see if there are any regular trouble spots.

[They could definitely make it worthwhile. With summer vacation looming around the corner, all the kids running around means ayakashi hunting is all the more important. It also means staying out of sight is just as important too.]

Still wondering about the damn crystal and dolls myself. And the masks. The bastard Ebisu took a fall for... I doubt he's giving up so easily.

[revolutionfalcon]

I don't know if staging a big hunt in the midst of something like a crowded beach would go so well. [There's definitely still enough of them to draw attention to themselves for observant enough mortals, or if anyone tries going after ayakashi attached to people and causing a panic. That seems slightly more of a sensitive matter to him.]

I'd say the original Gods of Fortune would have reasons to look into that. That might even be what Bishamonten left to investigate for a while. The crystal is still making me wonder what the hell was going on with it, though.

[The masks less so, since those just seem to be an advanced kind of magic that needs to be wielded by someone mortal, but the crystal disappearing leaves a lot of unanswered questions.]

[unlucky7]

We can split up people between the beach and the surrounding area. There's always going to be ayakashi.

[With some planning, they can play things off as some kind of action show. Or people can go the sneakier route, who knows. The concern is understood but ayakashi don't care.]

I wish I could have spoke to her when she was leading the old gods in clearing out the cult. [But time was of the essence. She might be one of Ebisu's shinki, but Ginia knows she's still a stranger with no pull anyway.] I'm hoping someone found it and has it safe. The fact I'm not dead and still here means it's either all intact or disabled.

[revolutionfalcon]

Would definitely need some advance planning on handling the numbers. [Especially if they wanted somewhere for people to come back to if they ended up injured or tired, like with the last hunt the Heavens organised.]

I'd say that would've been a bad time, with how focused everyone was on cleaning it out. But with the crystal, not hearing word could mean either nobody's found it or someone has it and just doesn't want to tell anyone.

[Neither option being particularly promising, really, though Shun can somewhat understand the latter if it's one of the new gods or shinki.]

[unlucky7]

A post on the network could gauge interest and who can help with logistics.

[Their number of healers are lower, but a few are around. Chris and Tsubasa would probably help out. Even if she ends up managing things, she could wrangle her temple into helping. Ebisu has enough shrines of varying sizes to serve as a safe area to use as a base camp, she could ask the shinki that already work at the shrines.]

True enough. And if it falls back into Heaven's hands, I doubt we'd hear anything about it again.

[Heaven does fall into a "need to know" basis and it feels like most times, Heaven feels like no one needs to know anything.]

[revolutionfalcon]

Might be worth doing if this pattern keeps up next month. [This is the first time they've outright had no new arrivals, but if it's going to be happening more than once, they're going to have to adapt some kind of new method of dealing with it.]

That's about what I was thinking. Though at this point I suppose there's not a hell of a lot else we can do but wonder.

[Since there's not really any obvious signs of where it went, all they can do is guess.]

[unlucky7]

I'll begin thinking of locations and seeing what my temple knows. Taking a load off their hands is the least I can do if I get to enjoy a day out.

[Because even if there's a day of ayakashi clearing duty, it doesn't mean Ginia won't take a few minutes to enjoy the scenery or a ride. It'd be a shame not to.]

I suppose if something terrible happens and I die again or get dragged away or whatever happens to shinki when they leave, if I remember things, I'm clawing my way back here one way or another.

[She has to. Her family is here and she's not giving them up without a fight.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun remembers saying something very similar to that a long while ago, to someone who's disappeared now, and he gives something of a bitter, quiet snort at it.]

We'll see. I have things to do before I bother with that, but at this point it seems like this world's gotten attached to me for whatever reason.

[Most popular new god position and all. He's still not quite sure how that ended up happening, but if nobody returns to take over this position when he leaves, he'd be reluctant to cut away from this world entirely, especially if they return to the time they left like he's heard rumours of from others.]

[unlucky7]

The first of our generation's Gods of Fortune. [Or as Kimi called him, Popular-God-chan. That Ginia is not repeating to his face.] The three of you made an eclectic selection, that's for sure.

[And now it's two. There was no reason to think so, but it was a shock losing Hakkai. His time here, being a God of Fortune, he was no more immune than anyone else, but it felt more permanent.]

If I'm still around when you're gone, I'll check on your Tokyo shrine for you.

[revolutionfalcon]

Suppose we all covered different niches or something. [The remark is somewhat dry, since he's never gotten on with Hibiki or Hakkai terrifically well. Hakkai he at least grew to respect and find reliable, even if he hasn't formed the same opinion of Hibiki and probably will continue not to.]

That'd be helpful. I think my bigger issue would be keeping an eye on Ren's shrine in Samawah when I'm not here, because that can't just be accessed from one of my shrines.

[The one in Japan isn't that hard to find, and Shun's Egyptian shrine can be covered by his own shinki via teleporting from his temple, but Iraq isn't that easy to get to.]

[unlucky7]

In a way, but it's not as if the Seven Lucky Gods don't overlap in some way. [There's a reason Ebisu and Daikokuten are often pair gods at shrines.] Makes you wonder who else is up there.

[If the ones living in Central District are any indication, Nanako is certainly high up there.]

Since Chris is Ishtar, I'll have to check her shrine location outside of Japan and see if I could use that as a travel point. Does he have followers helping maintain the shrine?

[revolutionfalcon]

Whoever's in Central District would have to be close, at least, we all moved there before we got the title. [Which does have him wondering how close Nanako would be, because she'd have to be up there since she's been living in Central District for a while now.

Shun had almost forgotten about Chris being Ishtar, given it's been a while since they discussed that. In any case, he nods slightly at the question.]

I think he mostly handled it himself while he was here, but I managed to get one or two people onto doing it while I've been keeping an eye on it. I suppose in this case there's an advantage to it being the shrine of a minor god.

[Ren hadn't accumulated the same kind of follower base as Shun in his time, which now makes it a lot easier to handle his affairs in his absence.]

I still think it's odd we got an Ishtar while he was still here. They're essentially the same god.

[unlucky7]

Sometimes one or two people is all it takes. If they can get more to help out, that would make it easier on our side.

[Gods and shinki manage their own shrines and all, but it's not as if all the humans working and volunteering at the shrine aren't appreciated. Ebisu's numerous shrines stay functional largely because there are so many humans helping out.]

I found that odd too, but who can tell what the logic of things here are? It's interesting when a god is repeated across different people. I noticed we had another Loki for awhile. And Tsubasa is currently Susanoo.

[revolutionfalcon]

I'll look into it. I've been trying not to intrude too far, since I know the Sumerian pantheon aren't the most comfortable with me. [They understand what he's doing and as such allow his presence, but he doesn't want to risk overextending into the territory of another pantheon. It seems like potentially messy and unnecessarily risky business.

He does give a faint snort at both of those examples, though.] Good. Both of those roles needed at least one person in them who wasn't a complete megalomaniac.