Heaven's BBS | Text

[misterfrumpyface]

Posted: May 22nd
From: Erk



[All right, he's had several days to figure out how to use this "phone" thing. Time to finally try it out.]

Forgive a new arrival for asking a question that has probably been asked many times in the past, but your advice would be appreciated.

What must I learn in order to become a capable shinki? Where should I begin?

Comments

From: Shuusei Kagari

[latentforlife]

I'm new to but I was told we're supposed to fight monsters, so learning how to fight is good. Also I hear we have magic and there are classes for that we can go to.

[misterfrumpyface]

I believe I may already know how to fight. I arrived here with a weapon.

The magic we seem to possess isn't of a type I understand, though. Do you have more information about these classes?

[latentforlife]

That's nice of them. I came defenseless for some reason.

As for the classes, some guy named Kazuma is teaching them. He's supposedly Bishamon's main shinki if you're looking for him.

[misterfrumpyface]

That's unfortunate. I know our gods are supposed to protect us, but they won't always be at our sides. I'd rather be able to fend for myself should the need arise.

Thank you, I'll look into it. Perhaps I'll see you there.

[latentforlife]

Well I found out I am pretty quick so I guess I'm not totally defenseless. I just don't have any weapons is all.

And yeah, maybe I will.

[misterfrumpyface]

I'm sure you could find something here if you needed to. There must be an armoury around somewhere.

[latentforlife]

I guess so. Though I wonder if that sort of stuff works. We aren't even supposed to be able to kill the things we fight, we just soften them up for the gods to finish them off.

[misterfrumpyface]

Softening them up is better than nothing.

But that's a good point... I'm not certain how effective my tome will be against ayakashi. I know conventional weapons can't kill them, but whether they'll even slow them down or not...

In any case, I suppose we'll need to be careful.

[latentforlife]

Tome?

[Yup, he's clung to that one word.]

from: Cho Hakkai

[reformedsinner]

That depends on what your god wants of you as a shinki!

I see Shuusei has already recommended magic classes. Kazuma, Bishamon's lead shinki, teaches them.

[misterfrumpyface]

My understanding is that we're to help answer prayers and fight ayakashi. Is there more to it than that?

Kazuma. Thank you, I'll look into that.

[reformedsinner]

"Answering prayers" may be different for each god.

But besides that, our gods seem to have different expectations. May I ask who yours is?

[misterfrumpyface]

Yukio Okumura. Or Satan.

Yes, it makes sense that different gods will have different areas of specialization. But in what way do their expectations differ? Are you not expected to help?

[reformedsinner]

Since our gods were, mostly, living people as well, they all have very different perspectives on the role of a shinki. I'd recommend talking to Yukio about it, rather than the rest of us!

[misterfrumpyface]

My aim is to learn from shinki more experienced in the role than myself. I'll speak to my god as well, but I would like to gather as much information as I can, which means seeking more than just one source. This seemed the most efficient way to go about it.

[reformedsinner]

That's a very sensible plan!

But the problem with it is that a shinki's primary role is to support our god and serve as a source of moral guidance. Every god will require a different kind of support, and some certainly need more moral guidance than others.

The most important requirement is to understand your god's needs and expectations.

[It's not hypocrisy. Really, it's not: it's a lesson learned the hard way, which is very different.]

[misterfrumpyface]

Moral guidance?

From: Kairi

[pure_radiantics]

Oh hi, I'm interested in this too! If you find a class to join, I'd love to practice with you!

[misterfrumpyface]

I've been informed that someone named Kazuma teaches classes.

...If you want. I suppose having someone to practice with couldn't hurt. Did you also just arrive?

[pure_radiantics]

I did! Only a few days ago, really. I'm over at Artemis's temple.

Oh but I met Lady Bishamon! She's really nice.

[misterfrumpyface]

It's the same for me. It's been almost a week.

That's good to know. I hope she doesn't mind newcomers imposing on her shinki's time.

[pure_radiantics]

We could always call her and ask? I asked her if it was okay to contact her again and she said it was fine!

[misterfrumpyface]

Call her?

[He is not yet familiar with phone-related lingo and is envisioning just standing outside and... calling her. How would that even work.]

[pure_radiantics]

Yeah, call her! She was really nice about putting her contact on my phone! So I could just call her and ask permission.

[misterfrumpyface]

[He still doesn't really get it, but okay...]

I'm afraid there's still much I don't understand about these phones.

But if you wish.