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

[hypomeneo]

[I-it's a Reality Marble? No. A Marble Phantasm?! Closer. DOWN MAGE INSTINCTS. It is clearly Mystery, and while Waver itches a little to study it more thoroughly - because how do you define PriPara? - he fears he'd invite on himself candy coated madness.

The reaches and differing facets of the Multiverse is a terrifying thing, truly. There exists true power to match and counter the rot of the Eldrich Horrors of Outer Gods and Alien Divinities with its accompanying Existential Terrors.

And apparently it comes out of a toy commercial. For little girls.

Hibiki wanting to be the swashbuckling High Prince of Princes seems refreshingly normal.]

Alright, why don't we go next to her favorite exhibit as a god.

[He's resumed writing in his notebook. Do we dare wonder what he's putting down?]

... I wonder what advice she's have for someone unused to being worshiped.

[That one might require actual divine intervention.]

[priforprince]

[ The goat leads Waver to the panel about CelePara Talent Agency, which introduces the members and their backgrounds. In short: Wendy - Hibiki’s exemplar, acrobat. Tsubasa - God, Queen of Music. Elfnein - God, set design prodigy. Natsuru - shinki, entire development as a performer overseen by Shikyoin Hibiki.

Waver will pass features about notable prayers on his way there. Unintentionally but strikingly, it seems the God Apollo keeps being called upon to assist two kinds of people: performers seeking inspiration......and little kids.

There is, and can be, no possible explanation for the little kids thing. While Hibiki doesn’t say so in the exhibit, she doesn’t know why this keeps happening to her either, and wishes it would stop. But even the phenomenal Apollo cannot obtain all she desires.

At Waver’s mention of asking her for advice, the goat swivels to look up at him, maa-ttentive. Should they go to where Maa-ster is next....? ]

[hypomeneo]

[But he is curious about the little kids thing.

But yes, take him to her.]

I do want to ask. Would you lead the way?

[priforprince]

[ Maa-bsolutely! Off we go, away from the exhibit, into yet another long and gaudy hallway......

....That is being guarded by a second spygoat with a soccer net and ball. Maa-ster only makes time for the maa-thletic! To see her, you have to score a goal!

Waver’s maa-ttendant wheels over to the goalie and they begin a silent consultmaa-tion. Should they maa-ke an exception for an actual new god?? What should they do?? ]

[hypomeneo]

[... you gotta be kidding him. Wait no, Hibiki.

While they're distracted, he walks up and kicks the soccer ball into the net. GOAL!

Hey... he scored. No one said when he had to. Problem solved.]

[priforprince]

[ Both spygoats stop what they’re doing and turn towards the net when they hear a raa-ther goal-sounding “thud”. Well. There’s that maa-naged.

Goalie goat pushes the net out of the way so Waver and his maa-ttendant may pass. They proceed down the hall, and stop in front of a pair of double doors guarded by a spygoat with a college history textbook. This spygoat is wearing a very maa-cademic tasseled pasteboard hat, and wheels forward to offer Waver the book. Maa-ster only makes time for the intelligent, as well.

Waver’s maa-ttendant looks at him. Should it consult, or will he read? ]

1/2

[hypomeneo]

[LOOKS INTO CAMERA LIKE HE'S ON THE OFFICE.]

[hypomeneo]

[Now that he's done with the necessary Judging and Contemplation Of Life Choices and weighing the pros and cons of just teleporting past the door now or saving it in the bank for that time in the future when he'll need to make an Extra Dramatic Entrance to impress a point.

(Because it's Hibiki, something will require it.)

No... appropriate use of Drama wins out, and... hey... guys? What's with the lighting? Oh wait, it's Waver's Dramatic Lighting regain kicking in to add some extra oomph to him thrusting out a hand to take the book.]

Let's do this.

[priforprince]

[ Within the office, unseen, someone sits up straighter in her chair when the Dramatic Lighting kicks on. Oh...?

The goats are impressed, too, and the maa-cademic hurries forth to ease Waver’s maa-cquisition of its tome. This person.....it bets he’s going to be able to read the difficult kaa-nji in that book!

THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAA-ZING. ]

[hypomeneo]

[The benefits of Japanese's wholesale plucking gentle borrowing of characters from Chinese means Waver actually has a leg up on the kanji deal thanks to Zhuge Liang.

And then there is what's downloaded from the Throne.

What an interesting book. Let's dive in and see what we've got.]

[priforprince]

[ It’s a world history textbook, with lots of complicated explanations of military maneuvers and the overarching philosophies of the time periods covered. From the elaborate vocabulary, it’s for at least a collegiate audience - and is by someone who likes to show off, at that.

There is one odd thing, however: everywhere a foreign location is written phonetically, someone has written in the book to add a “pu” or a “puri”. With decidedly....authoritarian handwriting.

This...blasted....puniverse....! ]

[hypomeneo]

[...

... oh. OH HO. OH HO HO HO. Does Hibiki want a history lecture?

... he's going to have fun with this...

Buckle up, nerd-goats, you have an expert lecturer of the Clock Tower to regale you and take you down the winding road of the past. Let's start in the Sumerian era. Or apparently the Purimerian era - some of these corrections are hilarious - and dive into all the detail and some that the book doesn't provide.

All of it.


We might be here for awhile.]

[priforprince]

[ At first, the spygoats look impressed. Then they look like they’re trying to follow along.

Then it looks like that’s going baa-dly. Smoke begins seeping from their ears.....

Which is when the door swings open and a voice from within interjects, saving the goats from a blue screen of deaaa-th. ] That’s enough. Enter.

[ Oh! Recovering quickly, the goats regain their awed expressions as they stare up at Waver. He is worthy! ]

[hypomeneo]

[That sure is a familiar sight as a teacher. That now not so metaphorical smoke pouring out of ears due to information overload.

Maybe he should dial it back some? Nah...

And then there's the command to enter.

Waver leans in towards the goats conspiratorially, basking a little in the awed behavior.]

Thanks. That was fun.

[And then he straightens, honestly curious about what he'll find inside those double doors. He expects opulence... nothing else would do for Hibiki... but aside from that, what surprises (and revealing things about the woman herself) is hiding inside.

He pushes them open. Now, how to make her take the matter somewhat seriously without brushing him off...]

My lady, I hope you'll forgive the intrusion, but I come seeking advice that only one of your celebrity and experience is qualified to give.