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]

"Twenty four hours is more time then I have had in battles to prepare. So that seems fair enough to me." She stated lightly. She heard what Trunks said, and nodded once in agreement to his estimate of time.

It was pretty big, but she had an idea that it would be big from the invitation. To help the Multiverse. Had that really been real? maybe. maybe not. She had no idea, but she had nothing to lose either. She had already lost it all. Helping here seemed like the right way to go.

She had no questions for the moment, nodding in agreement to Trunks' question. How do they get there. As far as she can tell, they were on a floating island.

[lynchpin_castle]

"We are in the process of linking the 3 zones to the castle or its grounds. Outside and a little ways along the path there is a teleportation pad that shall take you to the Field. We shall have linked a teleportation pad to the Mirror Gallery through the Tapestry Gallery, and to the Labyrinth with a teleportation pad in the Observation room within the next two days as well."

"We expect the first challenge to take place on a plane similar to the Field, and to be one dealing primarily with combat, to be primarily physical, and again to be the most direct. As this is new to both of the Beings, it is likely that our opponent shall...take some notes from us, as it prepares, so to speak." There was a wry tone in the Steward's next words. "It is not capable of creating, after all. Only of unmaking."

[light_of_willpower]

That seemed to put Trunks a little more at ease, even if part of this was still unsettling. He had said yes though, and he still believed in how important this was. He would rise to the occasion or die trying.

"Well, now I know what I'm doing after I grab a bite to eat." There's a smile, and he glanced at Ahsoka. "Up for some exploring? We can finally cut loose..."

[neveraknight]

Ahsoka soaked all that in, rubbing a hand over her chin thinking. That was a lot to take in but it did help. There put a lot of things to rest, as well as some questions. They had some time to train still, and a physical fight she can handle. So that wasn't too terrible a thought.

"Sure. I think exploring a bit more might be good. I want to know all the ins and outs if I can." She dropepd her foot to the ground, but didn't stand yet, looking up to the Steward. "One more question though..."

It's a big one. She paused then said carefully. "What... happens to those who lose a challenge? If we fight and are bested... or even, what happens if we lose the challenge? What is... lost? What are our consequences for taking part in this."

[lynchpin_castle]

"I could attempt to explain the large scale consequences, but I do not believe they would matter as much as your own personal stakes." There was no judgement in the reply, only approval.

"First, you are free to stop being a champion of your own choice at any point. Where you will then resume your life, as if you had never left it save perhaps brief imaginings as if this were a dream. No champion is coerced--indeed no champion of either side can be coerced as it depends upon free-will."

A pause to be sure that made sense.

"Secondly, as to your own personal consequences--we are capable of healing you, even of restoring you to life should you die. While you are a 'champion' you are...protected in some senses. But if you fall, then there are consequences. Your next challenge maybe more difficult--as you may be restricted beyond any that the challenge itself holds. There shall be shifts of tone and of atmosphere, symptomatic and representing the larger shifts of apathy and entropy that shall take place across the multiverse if you fail."

[light_of_willpower]

"That's quite a burden..." Trunks commented, a hint more frustration than he wanted, shown in the tone. Crossing his arms over his chest, he didn't move to rise yet either. "But...I think I get it." Glancing at Ahsoka. "Essentially, the same thing happening on a larger scale, happens to us. We lose, then we find it harder to try next time. We lose a lot, and we start to think 'why bother?' which just leads to more of that 'nothingness'."

The Steward said nothing, but there was a hint of approval in the cant of their cowl.

[neveraknight]

Ahsoka too seemed to take that all in with a little bit of a disapproving frown. But, she also supposed the small protection, or at least healing, was a plus. Also, going home when she wanted was gpood, but not remembering? How does one grow if they don't remember?

She said nothing on that for now though, just gave a serious nod of consideration to the Steward. And as Trunks explained his own thought on it, she gave him a stern nod as well. "Then I guess we better not lose, huh?"

Simple as that, yes?

She rubbed a hand over the back lekku at her head and sighed. "It is a lot to take in, but there is no way I am backing out of it right now. At least not yet. And if we return home as we once were, then I suppose nothing is stopping us from doing as much as we can here and now."

She gave a small bow of her head to the Steward. "Thank you. I think for now that is all the Questions I had ready, but if we have more, is it safe to assume we can find and ask you again?"

[lynchpin_castle]

"I am ever at your services here. Provided I am able to answer your questions, I will." The Steward inclined their cowl in turn to her, before their cowl turned to Trunks. Who nodded, murmuring a quiet "I'm not leaving either."

Then the Steward inclined their cowl towards him, before gliding out of the room.

[light_of_willpower]

Once the steward was left, Trunks took a deep breath, but still had his arms crossed. "I'm not sure whether to be honored or worried, that we're the first chosen and they are new at this." But there was a hint of grin at his mouth, and a shine in blue-eyes that showed he was more than willing to give this his all.

"So yeah, quick snack, then meet you at the entry?"

[neveraknight]

"Well, who better to be the first to give this a test then the two of us?" She said and gave him a wink, moving to stand and stretch a moment. "But honored and worried, in healthy doses, can work well enough together. I say take a bit of both, but be humble with out being too overly cautious?"

She chuckled and shrugged at what she said. "Something like that. And yeah. Let's meet at the entry and see what we can find. This place is huge after all."

[light_of_willpower]

That grin grew, and he tilted his head back, rolling it slightly as he grabbed the ends of the towel around his neck. "Got a lot of faith in yourself. I'll do my best to match that, Ahsoka."

What she said made sense though, and he knew it. Trunks had learned the hard way about being overconfident, and how dangerous it could be. Hard won lessons, but those were the ones that stuck with you.

"15 minutes enough time for you?"

[neveraknight]

"Sometimes all you have to hold onto is Faith and Hope." She said with a shrug, grinning. Anakin used to give her shit for it as well. She might play being overconfident, but it was just a show really. When it came down to it, she knew her limits. She might push them too, but she knew them. She said stuff like this, but he would learn, when she was in her go time, it was talk. In reality she took things serious.

"Fifteen minutes is more than enough time. You sure that's enough for you to get a snack in?" It's a tease, nothing more.

[light_of_willpower]

Faith and Hope huh? Trunks got that--it was what he and his mother had named the Time Machine. Hope.

A laugh with the tease, and he reached out and nudged her shoulder with a fist. Playfully and light. "If it wasn't, I would've asked for more." A hand-up in salute, and then he's turning on his heel to head for Suite 6. Bringing the towel up and attacking his wet-hair as he went.