Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

[lynchpin_castle]

The servants are unseen and unknown. Residents are welcome to take over the Servant’s rooms or not, but it is not recommended. Likewise, it is unclear where the Master resides. Usually s/he will call a meeting of their champions and meet them within the reception all or Banquet room.

Meals are typically taken together as a group, and if requested--training times for the champions as a group may be arranged. Both of the mundane variety, and also recreations of challenge-zones, such as the Labyrinth and the Mirror Gallery. The castle and its immediate surroundings have been set to mimic Earth with its single moon and 24 hour cycle of time, along with a standard Julian calendar for convenience.

Comments

[neveraknight]

The floor plans seemed simple enough. She'd seen bigger plans than this, but this seemed easy enough to remember and understand. Talking about the Jedi and the Force was easy enough, so long as she didn't focus on Anakin or Obi-wan or the council, or Barriss...

Right. She was more interested in what he said about Ki. "Yes, but that sounds very... I mean, I suppose there are differences, but..." She squinted at him as she tried to get her brain around it. "No, no... it does sound a lot like the Force I suppose." She agreed and paused as they came to the training areas, looking around in amazement, going ahead of him a bit to peek into one area. "Wow, this is almost better than the temple in some ways..."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks was biting his lip at one point, trying to think of how to explain. "You said the Force is in all living things right?" Much more animated and content with this discussion. "Every living thing has ki. But it's not just 'life-force', it's more about your mind, body, and spirit being the sum-total."

Then his own eyes-widened, as he looked around too. There was a pool? Cool! Even if Gohan had taught him (the hard way) how to swim. "I'm not sure whether to be pleased by all the options, or worried about it." Called from somewhere over by the gym. Seems they'd kept it simple--a lot of free-weights mostly, and mats, and a few training dummies.

[neveraknight]

"The living Force is in all things. But that includes rocks and trees and the ground, and water, and entire planets. Not just one persons mind or body." She pointed out, as a last thought, before looking over the training halls and such.

"I think a healthy amount of 'pleased' and 'concerned' is in order. Clearly they want to give us everything to give us an edge, but for what?" She said, a hand rolling over some weights as she came around to this side too. "The pool will be nice though. It's been a while since I've had to swim."

[light_of_willpower]

"Where as ki can be..." Pausing, going back to the earlier conversation. "It's...it requires a will. A sentient will." That was the best way he could think of to explain it.

One end of the gym was a mirrored wall, and he went over to it. Resting a hand on it, as he thoughts. "Well...we don't know what we'll be facing. From what I understood, we're here to represent existence itself. And the other side will have its champions too..."

[neveraknight]

"One sounds more... personal than the other. In a way." The Force was for everyone, but only few could control it. Ki sounded very personal, and still only few could handle it? Maybe.

She turned from where she was looking past to the pool, and back towards the other in the room, hands on her hips, head tilted as she watched him in the mirror. "And those will be champions that should suit them, no doubt. I have a feeling if these trials come to battles, we're going to have out hands full, no matter how powerful we might be."

[light_of_willpower]

"I figured that was a given." Trunks mused, before turning to look back at her. "Besides, it might not be a battle physically. We also might not be alone."

Just the first--maybe.

"Look at the floor plan. This place is huge."

[neveraknight]

"That would honestly be a nice change for once. To have to use strategy and not just bumble into a battle for a change." She said, eyes rolling a bit. "Though, I am a bit concerned on that as well. This place is clearly made for more people. We're the first? How many more will show up, and, if they need that many more, how large is the other side? Will it be a fact that more of us are needed to deal with the demand?"

She should apologize. She's gone into War Brain, thinking about what the other side might hold. She hoped it wasn't Clankers, but then again those would be easy to take down.

[light_of_willpower]

Actually, her being in war-brain brought that hint of smile out again. It was how he was thinking, after all. "Well, we have a month to prepare. Maybe we'll get more information in the meantime."

Moving, waiting to see if she wanted to do so with him, as they found the locker-room and shower area. Then a long corridor that on the map was marked as the 'dueling room' and held various weapon racks, and what was clearly a 'dojo' modeled after the Earth-style he knew. That just made the smile widen, and he reached up with his arms in a stretch.

"They're definitely prepared."

[neveraknight]

"A month is better than nothing." She said, letting one arm stretch high above her head, rolling her shoulder a bit and taking a deep breath, before sighing and dropping her arm, following him as they wandered more. "That's more time then most the battles I've been in."

She walked along with him, hand trailing down a locker as they passed them, and ducking off to glance through the long dueling room with a curious look. As Trunks passed the racks of weapons, she came up to it, hand reaching out to touch one. Hmm... for training reasons, she could use these, though they might feel wrong to her. Can't hurt to try them out.

She moved past that, glancing into the room. "This was listed as a... dojo?" She said, recalling the map names. "It reminds me of a mass meditation room, or a training room."

[light_of_willpower]

"It's something I'm familiar with, at least in stories from my Mother." Trunks definitely seemed more at ease in this room than elsewhere. A short bow, before he entered--respectful--then moving to the center. "It can be both. It's modeled after an Eastern-warrior style Martial Arts training room."

[neveraknight]

She stood there at the door frame, watching as he bowed and went in. She bit her lip, wondering if that was a respect thing or something you had to do to enter at all. Best not to chance it, and it reminded her of the bows given to the Masters anyhow. She came in, with a slight bow as well, before moving along the edge a bit, looking around.

"At the Temple, we had rooms like this. Mostly to train younglings, or for Masters to train with their padawans. To learn focus, as well as skill."

[light_of_willpower]

"That's about what it is, really." Trunks confirmed with a nod, turning to catch her bowing. His eyes widened, and that smile grew. "Yeah, you do that...as a way of showing respect to the space. Some dojos also have rules about not wearing shoes in them, or only wearing certain outfits, as well. It depends on the style, and tradition."

[neveraknight]

She wasn't much for blushing, but her cheeks darkened a bit as he had caught her mimicking his move as she came in. It WAS a respect thing. Good, so she didn't feel so bad. She smiled though, glancing down at her maroon boots. A toe turned in a bit. "I Wonder what the rule is here." A pause then, "not that I can't fight bare footed, but I'm so used to living life at the ready that I sometimes feel my shoes are stuck to my feet." She said with a soft chuckle. You sometimes had to sleep dressed and ready to run after all.

[light_of_willpower]

"I think if they wanted us to be specific, or didn't think one of us would recognize this, then they would've told us." Walking back over, and standing beside her. "It's a cultural thing too, where I'm from. Hand-shaking can happen as well, but is slightly less formal."

Hands at his side. "You bow, when meeting someone, or showing appreciation, or really for any occasion where you're showing respect. Like this." Again, from the waist with his upper body straight, and while this wasn't the full one he gave to the Master, it was enough for her to get the idea.

[neveraknight]

"I suppose you make a good point." She said, rolling her ankles a bit. She could admit that she might actually enjoy dressing down a bit, if she was sure they wouldn't be in a battle with out knowing it, or something.

As he came closer, standing beside her, and explaining, she chuckled to his bow. A bright smile at that. Bowing as well, but more like she would to a royal, she explained. "We have the same in some of our cultures. A bow for respect. Though we use it more for the Jedi Masters, or perhaps a Queen or Duchess or something like that." She stood once more, having faced him to do so. "It is interesting how there are things we have that are similar even though we are from vastly different places."

[light_of_willpower]

"Maybe that's part of it also, why we were asked and chosen." Straightening back up, and the smile is still there. "I mean, they want us to work together at the very least, so it'd make sense for us to get along right?"

[neveraknight]

She was smiling more. More than she had when she first got here. That was something she was trying to do though. Relax. She left the Order. That can't be helped now. She left Master Skywalker and that... that can't be helped. This was for her now. To fix a bit. To mend more. Maybe trust in someone again. She didn't WANT to make friends again. Not after Barriss, but...

This wasn't so bad. "You make a good point, Trunks Briefs. So let's hope you can keep up with me in training sometime, hmm?" It was a tease and nothing more. She didn't think she was the most skilled, but she had confidence in her abilities.

[light_of_willpower]

His eyes-widened, then he smirked. "Oh really? I sense a challenge, there Ahsoka Tano." Rolling his head to the side slightly, that smirk stayed in place. "Unless you're too tired from all that food you ate."

He'd eaten more than she had, after all.

[neveraknight]

"Look who's talking!" She said with a part laugh, grinning. "You're the one that went for two very large plates." Still a tease. She wasn't making fun of him for it though. "Though, I suppose I could go for a small spar for the night." Get some frustrations out maybe. "It depends on your fighting style. I see your sword, but what else do you know?" Because a lightsaber and that sword wouldn't be a fair match, right?

[light_of_willpower]

"Hand-to-hand mostly." Trunks replied, unbuckling the sword and moving to place it against a wall. Then pulling off his jacket, and stretching his arms out. "Fighting is in my blood--you can't have thought I wouldn't take that bait."

Maybe teasing a bit himself, and as he stretched she could see for herself how true his statement was.

[neveraknight]

"I'm pretty good with hand to hand." She said, moving as well, to unhook one lightsaber, and one shorter one. The blades shouldn't even be with her. She wasn't a Jedi anymore, but she had them and she was glad for that.

Placing them to the side carefully, she mentally made an idea of where they were, in case she needed to call them to her for anything. "I figured you had it in your blood. You look like a fighter. Also... a non-combatant wouldn't carry a sword around."

She did notice it too though, with his jacket off now and all. She rolled her arms and stretched a moment as she walked to the center of the mat.

[light_of_willpower]

He watched as she placed the strange tubes at her waist and hips away. Some kind of blaster maybe? But Trunks didn't think it likely. "You carry yourself like a warrior yourself." Taking her seriously, as he moved to the center too.

Enough away from her that they could move. "Besides, I'm used to beings that don't look dangerous, but can tear you apart easily. I know better than to underestimate them." She looked slim and light, but it was in how she moved and held herself. Not to mention what he'd learned about her already. Also that she was an alien, so who knew what was in her species' capability. Definitely not going to think she was some pretty girl who didn't know what she was doing.


Again, with the bowing--this one the lightest yet--as it was barely more than an incline of his head and shoulders. "Which means come at me, Ahsoka Tano, with all you've got." Trunks was absolutely in his element.

[neveraknight]

That was the thing. She was alien, yes, and had the force, and was fast, but she was not on his level of fast or strong. At least, she will find that out at some point in time. The force was strong, yes, but the user was still mortal. Still had to train their body and care for it.

At a normal basic level, she was a damn good warrior though. Even as a Youngling she had advanced faster than most students. When Anakin had started throwing more responsibility on her ,she had even heard him told Obi-wan that he sometimes forgets she's so young because of her skills.

She could keep up in battle with Sith Lords. But she also took her knocks. Like any one warrior did. This might not be any different, to her. In her head, she was already placing him on a level of a Sith or Jedi fighter, and intended to take it seriously, even for a spar.

"I'm not sure I could tear anyone apart. Warrior, yes, but the Jedi are also Peacekeepers. We... they try not to fight senselessly. But... I wont hold back." She said, giving a bow as well, which felt natural as she did it in training, then took a stance, moving a bit, slender and profiled, hands up, before stepping forward to try for a blow, already assuming it would be blocked, to the point that she was aiming a second blow, and mentally prepping a third. Again, she assumed most of them would be blocked, like they are with Jedi training.

[light_of_willpower]

The Force would be her advantage, along with her experience with the wider galaxy. AND her training as a peacekeeper--something he had never gotten to be. He'll find that out eventually, and they can learn from each other. He was mortal too, and had to train as well to increase and surpass his limits.

Her first strike was blocked, Trunks pivoting to dodge the second and let it glance off his fore-arm. That third strike wouldn't come though as he strike back, off-leg moving in a knee-strike that was pulled only enough that it would toss her some if it connected. It wasn't like the Jedi though, where they let themselves flow with the Force.

His was practice, a life-time born of fighting, with the speed and power that came with it, and the ability to read and react on a second. She had finesse and planning, whereas he was instinct. No clear style, simply what was effective.

[neveraknight]

She expected the blocks and was trying, for her part, to think a few steps ahead, but also, through the force, trying to read his moves as well. She knows hand to hand isn't her best. Give her her sabers and she would take on who ever the heck the Sith Lord turns out to be. She's battled Anakin AND Obi-wan once and held them off pretty well. Though she had been in a near death experience trace at that point, but... still.

Here she was fast, moving swiftly, trying to dodge a kick or a hit. Feeling it graze off her side or her thigh or her arm, giving back swiftly when she could. She felt blows land, but only in the same way, where they were deflected off their target and if she didn't move fast enough she'd miss blocking a blow herself.

When one blow caught her unaware from him, it knocked her back, which she rolled with, dropping to a hand to push herself away and flip back over to her feet, graceful, fast and steady. She slide back into a stance and hands up, palms flat, an let out a huff. "You're... fast."