pure_radiantics | Kairi's pamphlet for new shinki at The Far Shore

Welcome to The Far Shore! You'll also hear it called Heaven. I like The Far Shore better because it reminds us that there's a Near Shore too - which is basically the life we left behind, and where we can sometimes return to. It's risky for a shinki to go alone though, so please refer to this pamphlet so you can meet new friends before going.

My name is Kairi and I'm a shinki like you! I had to go through the same things you are right now, so let's talk about what kinds of things might happen on your first day!

Meet other shinki, especially ones who have been around for several months, like me. We can help you if you'd rather talk in person instead of reading this pamphlet.
Meet your god or goddess. Every shinki is assigned one, but don't worry - a lot of us understand it may not work out. Give your god/dess a chance, they're probably just as nervous as you are about all of this. If you're still not feeling comfortable with that partnership, please make sure you pick out a new god/dess to be assigned to first. It's dangerous for shinki to be alone. More on that later. Your god/dess doesn't know exactly what you look like, but they know your name and may try to find you on their own.
Get a lecture about what shinki are supposed to do here. This is important to learn, even if we don't all agree with it. It's important to know what shinki are historically to the people here in The Far Shore, that way we can all work together to improve things for shinki and gods alike!
Some of the things that shinki are supposed to be here for:
- Help your god/dess accomplish their duties and other acts they deem correct, according to their beliefs and divine responsibilities as assigned by Heaven, but generally helping humans, usually their followers. This can be all kinds of random things, so it's okay to ask for help from other shinki!
- Answer prayers. This is usually just more specific requests from your god's followers, but it can involve fighting ayakashi. "Ayakashi are monsters made of negative emotions" is the best way to sum them up. A god/dess can ask you to turn into your vessel form and cast a spell called Rend to get rid of ayakashi.
- Ayakashi are why it's dangerous for shinki to travel alone. They like attacking people who are from The Far Shore, gods and shinki alike, but gods can get away easier since they can just teleport. We don't have that power as shinki, so please be careful! A shinki can't use the Rend spell alone. We want you to be safe, that's all!
- Your god/dess may ask you to become your vessel form outside of combat too, since one of our special powers as a shinki can only work when we're in our vessel form. Work with your god/dess or other shinki to figure out what this is - it may be super useful and you don't even know it!
- Unfortunately we can't pick our vessel form or special power, or change it at all. However, your form and power will probably change if you switch gods. This is totally normal!
- Shinki can also cast spells when we're not in our vessel form. The most basic one, and the one that will protect you from ayakashi, is called Borderline. Find someone to practice with now or later. I'm always up for it! Here's a good description a friend of mine put together on the technique:
  First, make your fingers into a halberd. Make a loose fist and extend your thumb, middle and index finger. Then, while thinking about drawing that line between you and what you want to be kept out, draw a line with your hand.
  Line! Swipe your hand through the air there will be a line that gets transcribed on the ground.
After meeting your god/dess they'll take you back to their temple. This is your new home, so if you can think of something that will make it more home-like, try to ask about it. Your god/dess should already provide food, clothing, and a room for you. Heaven provides your phone for you, so you can contact the rest of us.
Speaking of your phone, if you need help getting a little refresher on how this kind of technology works, you can call me or find me in person to talk about it. If the phone really doesn't look familiar to you at all, then please try to reach... [tba]
It's possible for a shinki to have more than one god/dess. They're called nora, or strays, and seen as unreliable or even traitors. Some of us are trying to change that. Generally, the worst thing you can do is keep something a secret from your first god/dess. Talk to them about why you want to become a nora to another god/dess first. Trust me, your god/dess will find out sooner or later, because of the bond you have with them; they can feel your strong emotions, good or bad, but bad ones are easier to notice. It's called "stinging" when your god can feel your bad emotion. So talking any problems out is always better.
Stinging can make your god/dess blighted if it keeps happening or if you. Blight is like a dark-magic kind of disease that can be transferred by touch, or from shinki to their god/dess. If it's taken care of right away with holy water, then it shouldn't cause any lasting damage. If you've gone a long time without a holy water bath, please contact me right away so I can help you set one up in private - it's for your health!
If your blight gets very bad, it can only be healed with a special ceremony by three shinki you trust and who know the ceremony. (I know how to do it, but not many do.) It's painful for you and your god/dess and sometimes it doesn't even work, so please don't let it get this bad for you. Talk to someone - preferably your god/dess, or a friend, or one of the people listed here as a contact - before your blight gets this bad.
Shinki can be named against their will, which may result in becoming a nora or just becoming a shinki to a god you didn't agree to. If this happens to you, there are several people willing to support you getting out of this position:
- Gods:
  * Aymeric / Forseti
  * Ayumu / Vesta
  * Celestia / Inti
  * Zelda / Metis
- Shinki:
  * Ginia
  * Kairi, me, naturally
  * Yata
When shinki get too blighted - from doing things they don't like, negative emotions, touching an ayakashi, being told something about their past life, or a combination of these - they can turn into ayakashi. We don't want this to happen to you, I promise. Other gods and shinki - even ones you don't know - may be willing to help you if your blight gets that bad, just to make sure we don't lose you forever.
Sometimes shinki remember things about their past life. At least, the 'new' shinki like us. Historically, shinki never remembered anything. Anyway, these memories won't turn you into an ayakashi.
If your god/dess disappears, I'm sorry for your loss, since the temple disappears too. You can choose another god/dess on your own, or the same people who assigned you to your first god/dess - the Heavens - will reassign you. Again, I hope you won't be alone for long, because you need a name - and thus a god/dess - in order to cast your Borderlines and other spells to protect yourself from ayakashi.
Sometimes gods return to The Far Shore as shinki, or vice versa. We don't know why this happens. You can talk to former-gods-turned-shinki about their time as gods, just not their original lives. You can of course talk to former-shinki-turned-gods about their time as shinki, but they may not remember it right away. It's not their fault. Please be understanding.