lynchpin_castle | Challenge Zones

Challenge Zones

Challenges and Challenge Zones

Challenges between Champions will take place in designated areas at designated times, since this is ultimately a formal contest and competition between the Forces of Creation, and the Forces of Unmaking. The landscape in the void will and can adapt to provide these designated areas. Sometimes, a designated area will have a ‘base’ form, and be used again and again in various ways, with different options. These specific zones are listed below.

The Labyrinth (Primarily Mental)

The labyrinth is, in its simplest form, a complex maze. Long have beings used it as a tool of mediation and focus, navigating its walls whether in the physical or mental realms. The Labyrinth is one of the main challenge-zones that always exists, but what form it takes depends on what the current challenge is. What form it takes may also have limits and restrictions to provide a proper challenge to the champions.

The base form of the Labyrinth is an enclosed and complex maze that resists attempts to break out via any means other than navigating it from start to finish. It’s layout-changes every time, but there are ways to help one learn one’s way. (String, marking the walls, etc)

The Labyrinth Zone may be reached via a teleportation pad within the Observation room of the Castle.

The Mirror Gallery (Primarily Spiritual)

The Mirror Gallery has many names, but this is the most common. Mirrors are reflections, and reflections can be distorted or far too accurate for comfort. This challenge zone also takes different forms, but the theme always remains the same in that champions have their spiritual mettle tested, be it facing their worst fears and flaws, temptation fulfilled but with great cost, or making choices that are life-altering.

The base form of the Mirror Gallery is a small building full of mirrors of various shapes, sizes, and types. Depending on what one wishes to gaze on, one may find the mirror they wish to test themselves and attempt to learn what challenges they may face. (i.e: fun-house mirrors, mirrors that show your opposite, mirrors that show what you desire most…)

The Mirror Gallery may be reached via a teleportation pad in the Tapestry gallery of the castle.

The Field (Primarily Physical)

The Field is a designated challenge zone, that adapts and changes as needed for the challenge provided. It is an interdimensional space which may resemble a racing track one time, or a sparring ring another. It can be a vast prairie, or an arctic wasteland. Depending on the climate/atmosphere of the zone, there may be additional challenges for champions here.

The base form of the Field is a large area with mountains, plains, some rivers, and plateaus. It is reachable via a teleportation pad outside of the Castle-grounds along a set path. Where it exists otherwise is not known.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It all seemed to happen fast, her holding her breath and almost clinging to him. She wasn't able to get a good use of the Force to block the water from them, and she felt them shifting, moving, so she held both hands on tightly around him, face pressed into his shoulder and trying to hide her eyes.

So cold, so cold... and then they hit a wall, and water washed over them, flooding the dark room. Except it started to seep through the flooring, down and away. There was... a LOT of water coming into the room though, and it took a bit, but it was slowly going away.

Ahsoka didn't notice right away, her arms wrapped around the other, one over his shoulder, the other under his arm, hanging on. The roar of water started to slow, and it was more of a crashing on rocks feel as it dropped and went away. She let out a breath, still refusing to let go just yet.

As they were swept away, and into the wall, Trunks had curled more around her. Head bent against her own, arm tight at her waist and other along her back up to her shoulder. Aura flaring, and it only helped keep it from being ice--but still cold. Holding his own breath, eyes closed when they hit the wall, and then he floated.

The roar was leaving, lessening, and it was lowering, down from their shoulders to now along their waists. Lowering still, and he breathed, and still held her tight, still kept them suspended in the air with the energy of his ki flaring around them.

As the water lowered, lowered and washed away, she still held a bit too tightly to him, arms shivering a bit, even though he had a nice warmth about him. The flaring energy around him and all. It helped.

She took in a long needed breath and help it a moment, just to calm her racing heart. Then she let it out, opening her eyes to dark, and tried looking around, or down. "Nice job.." She said to him on a small breath, trying to see if there was a floor or not. "Water went down, but how far?" Then, because her eyes were adjusting, and because he gave off light, she papped at his shoulder and nodded down. "Looks like old metal grating for a floor. Makes me wonder what this room is normally used for."

"Nice job yourself..." Trunks commented sincerely, after a long breath held in, then out. Trying to keep himself calm, and focused on the task. Business--which should've been easier while in Super Saiyan mode. Always bit more ruthless, a tiny bit more reckless...

Perhaps that smidge more in touch with his emotions, which is why he still held Ahsoka tightly, not simply to keep her from falling. Another deep breath, and then letting that power go. The energy dissipate, aside from what he used to keep them both floating.

"I think I'd rather not find out what this room is usually for." Letting them lower slowly, he wasn't going to let her go until his feet were on solid ground and they had some kind of light. "Can you see anything else about it?" Should be easier, since he was no longer being a flashlight.

What ever strange or tense emotions she had been conflicted with over Trunks before this, she hid for the most part, brain kicking into the test more than anything. Though she found her grip on his jacket comforting, and didn't quite want to let him go when their feet did hit ground. It was lumpy, like twisted metal rods that moved together and twisted through each other to make a flat flooring. Clearly open to drop to another level if you were water, but small enough that booted feet wouldn't have an issue standing on it.

"One moment. Light sticks coming up" She said, moving to untangle from him now, if he let her. Dripping wet, she shook her hands a moment, finding herself shivering as she pulled her lightsabers off their hooks. Making sure she was clear of him she turned them both on, yellow and green, lighting the area around them.

The flooring was in several panels. Able to open up and move out of the way. There were chains from the ceiling and pullies, as if to help hook and pull the flooring away as needed. For the most part, it was a very large room full of it. And if they looked careful, there were several different drops under the floors. Like different routes to take if they wanted to go down.

He didn't want to let her, not for a moment--but he knew better. Business--test, training..whatever this was. Trunks needed to focus, and they needed to be figure out where they were.

"They are far more than just lightsticks, and far more impressive." Reverently, with a hint of grin, but now he was cold. She wore less than he did and had to be cold. Looking up and studying the grates and pullies, then back to the floor as he moved to examine it.

Trying to connect it all, and nodding to himself, before coming to her. Touching her shoulder gently. "We can follow the water, or go back the way we came." Noticing her shivering, and she might notice him frown although he was just as soaked as she was.

She held both arms out, keeping one blades out and up instead of her standard down and backwards hold, She used them to help them see. The hall they came in was dripping with a slow stream of water coming in still, but nothing they couldn't step through. There was light out there at least. As little as it could be.

"More than light sticks, yeah, but they do come in handy in the dark." She admitted, glancing around and frowning as well. So now what? Her ear piece, that she had looped over the chair on her montrals had gotten swept away, so she was unable to check in on the others. At least Trunks was still here.

She shivered again, a full body shake for a moment as she tried to focus on what was around them, only to catch a glimpse of that frown from Trunks. She didn't think it was about her being cold though. "What?" She asked, then rolled her shoulder and looked away, looking for another exit. "And yeah, it's either the way it was leading us to, or down... because I'm not feeling anything else. I'm... not even getting a good feel for which way to GO."

Oh he noticed that full body shake, and was careful of her lightsabers. Stepping close once again, arms around her, curling around her almost with his head. Flaring his ki but not quite powering up, holding it, letting the water evaporate.

Protective, so very like the sudden hug when he'd not-woken up from that nightmare a little over a month ago.

Then stepping away again, and concentrating--eyes closing. Easier to focus, and reorient himself, as he stretched out to try and sense the others. Good, their signatures were still strong, and moving--but he couldn't tell anymore. Reaching up to his earpiece, speaking. "Everyone check in? We just had a flood over here, but Ahsoka and I are safe."

She can't help it. This room was cold and that water was cold. There was air coming from the floor from below, and she was wet. She was about to say something more but Trunk shifted in front of her, looping his arms around her and... warming up.

She stiffened for a moment, feeling her heart suddenly take off in a race in her chest as he seemed to... hug her? And then she realized he was just helping to ki dry them. The white markings at her cheeks would brighten a bit as she flushed, berating herself for having any other thought that wasn't just... well, warm up.

Or well, dry off at least. She still felt a chill, but it was manageable now that she felt dry. "T-thanks." She said as he backed off. Her lightsabers held away from her so her face was darker. So the room still ahd light.

As Trunks pressed for a check in, Ahsoka moved to try and feel her own, finding it missing. She sighed, frowning and tried to hear over what they said on his.

Tamaki checked in for he and Himawari, both safe and in a room that had water and food. Another check point maybe. They explained that it was just as Ahsoka said, and they found it easy enough. There was no doubt in how they spoke that there was another riddle to find the right passage to the room. Clearly they were smart enough to find it and get safe.

Logan on the other hand growled back a STAND BY, and you can hear water on the mic.

Well, that explained where the water went.

When he noticed her trying to listen, he pulled the ear-piece slightly out and held it enough she might hear it better. While he still could. Trying hard not to look at her, though he wanted to. Be sure she was alright (stupid, of course she was), to worry more since it was still cold with the air flow of the room, even if they were dryer.

"Sounds like if we follow the water, we might find Logan and Ty Lee." Commented thoughtfully, chewing on his thumb for a moment while he thought. "Or, if we go back the way we came, I can try and get a better read on Tamaki and Himawari."

She leaned in just enough to get in to hear. Her hearing, for having no ears, was damn good. Still, she leaned a bit into him, shoulder to shoulder, holding her sabers away enough to be safe.

"Tell Tamaki and Himawari to rest there. If it's a safe room, they should be all right until we can regroup." She frowned, looking to where the water spilled, at the grate over it. "I suppose we could try to find the other two." She said, frowning as she stepped away again, looking through the room.

She backed away from him and moved gingerly over the flooring. When she moved from one panel to another it creaked, clearly loosely fitted into the floor. She held back a shiver again as a small gust of air came up from under her, making her lower in a crouch and try to project light down into the darkness under them. "I think something is moving down here..." Like the floor was moving. That... she didn't like the sound of.

"Stay put Tamaki, Himawari. Call if the situation changes." Relaying, and replacing the piece and then studying her as she moved. Noticing that shiver, and he frowned again. Then reached up, pulling his sword off. Removing his jacket, sword replaced, and then moving to join her carefully on the grating. "Here." Again careful of her lightsabers, but the fabric is looped as much as he can against her back and shoulders.

Studying the darkness below them, reaching a hand to press against the grating, and sensing. Trying to sense if it was something living, had ki and if so, what. Also letting some of that same energy gather in his hand, providing light, so she didn't have to use both hands for it.

Edited 2017-05-29 02:51 (UTC)

She was crouched there, looking down at whatever was down there. She could easily carve a hole in this grate and get a better look down inside, but she wasn't sure she wanted to. Or... she thought she should be able to. Normally she should be able to.

Before she could make a comment on it, she felt Trunks put something over her back and shoulders. Her head snapped up, surprised at first, but then realizing he put his jacket over her she...

She froze a moment. Her heart did that skipping rush thing again, and she opened her mouth to tell him she didn't NEED it. She was FINE. Just give her a bit to warm up and she'd be back to normal. That she--she sighed, deactivating one lightsaber, and slipping her arm through the sleeve. As he brought his own light into this, she hooked that lightsaber on her hip again, switched hands and slipped the other arm on.

Damn it, his jacket was comfortable.

"Thanks..." She said again, head down and not looking at him, but perfectly comfortable in his coat now. As for what was down there? It might not hurt them in a bad way, but that sure as heck looked like long noodles of rubber moving around on top of each other. Trunks would read life forms for sure.

"I get the feeling this is a great place to set up a trap."

Sarcasm.

If they checked another 'pit' under the floors, it had a black slim like substance. Maybe oil? Look, these things had to come from somewhere. What if there were rooms like this that released sand and bugs and things like this when someone sprang the wrong trap? Ahsoka shivered but not from cold.

He's frowning again, but not at her. "I think you're right. I'm sensing something that's producing a ki signature, but I can't tell more than that or how strong it is other than just it exists." Quiet again, before he's moving up holding his hand up, looking at the pulley systems more.

"Maybe we can find a way to use part of the grating as a shield, if we wanna head down that way?"

She shifted to move to another grate that squeaked a bit louder, her lightsaber held over to see the inky black sloshing around down there. She winced, looking over at the two. "We could, but... do we need to go down there with the moving things?" She said, and started to move to another one. As she stepped on that metal flooring piece, it groaned and dropped from under her foot, making her step back. The fall was a good 20 feet and...a soft crash. When she peeked over it, the entire shaft under them looked to be filled with sand.

"You get the feeling these are just traps waiting to be sprung?" She asked, drawing away from the hole. "Like we might have stepped into a room made for... well, holding stuff to drop on us in the made itself? Whatever the water went through has to be empty, right? That is, if it's the same water chasing Logan and Ty Lee."

She's thinking again. She's also getting an idea of how this place is laid out, even if it will be different next time. "Maybe heading back the way we came is a good idea?" Except they both might start feeling the presence and ki of a creature in that very wet hall. The keeper of the maze, maybe?

The squeak, he didn't pay attention to--but the groaning he did, attention shifting back to her with concern. Biting his lip too, as he was thinking. "We head back the way we came, we don't know what we'll find." Trunks countered, being reasonable. "I'm up for it though if you are."

Even if he'd started to pick up a the ki presence of the being he'd felt before. None of them had actually seen it, although Logan had scented it, along with Trunks and Ahsoka sensing it. "We might have company though, if we go that way." Letting the energy in his hand dissipate, leaving just her one lightsaber for light. "I have faith in you though, Ahsoka. Faith in us working together."

She shifted back to her feet, firm on the grate that was above the oil area and frowned. Go down, or go back? She opened her mouth to say something when Trunk's ear piece would beep.

'Think we've found something. It's big, it's messy and it smells worse now that it's wet.' Logan mumbled over the comms. 'Looks like sommething big lives down here, kids. And its not here right now.' By the sounds of it, Ty Lee and Logan, from the very massive sweep of water flow they took, had stumbled upon someones den.

Tamaki and Himawari were still safe in a room, waiting.

Ahsoka couldn't hear what was said though. Instead she was stretching a hand out, feeling for it. The thing coming. "We either leave now through one of these floor traps, or we need to find a place to hide." A pause, glancing to him. "Unless you want to fight? Though..." She knows it's just a magical set up. A battle ground for the smart and not the single minded strong. They could kill a beast easy, but that felt... wrong. Trap it, maybe? Or hide from it...

"What ever we do it's close, and doesn't feel friendly."

"You'd rather we didn't fight." Trunks pointed out, and while he wouldn't mind--he respected her. Besides, this was a magical set up to test their brains, not their brawn. Which means fighting alone wasn't necessarily the correct answer.

"The water tried to carry us off earlier..." He's thinking again, gesturing her to come over closer to him. "Which means there might be something that way besides dead-ends. We take our chances if we go that way."

And then he's looking up in the direction of the pulleys again, and smirking. "Or we set a trap, and give us time to get around it." Back to her. "Your choice, Ahsoka. I'm down for either option." He'd fight if he had to, but he wasn't the only one involved.

"I mean, I don't mind a good fight but, we don't know if this creature was dropped in here like us as a surprise, or if it's part of this place. Also, they wouldn't have sent us in here for puzzles and brain teasers if they wanted us to battle a monster in one go."

She let out a breath, looking to him as he mentioend the dead end, or set a trap. She rubbed her head, looking around the place. Oil. Could be set on fire for light. Sand pit had stopped the floor grate at an angel. There were the, what, snake like things. Another one looked like water. Some others here and there. She moved around a moment, then said... "Trap."

A very firm nod to this, as she came over to look over the pit that Trunks was over. "Let's drop it down with those things." The pull was already set to that grate anyhow. She looked to him and smirked.

"If we lift this grate up and leave a hole here, we can... lure it here and drop this on top to cage it? That way it'll be stuck, the others will be safe too, and we can try and sneak out."

"Alright, I'll set up, you direct." Because he figured out the pulley system and what goes where to do what. "Keep your lightsaber up for now." Because they needed the light, and he was busy.

To be fair, they were both busy--between using the pulley system (and in some cases just the Force and muscle as needed) to get things as they wanted. Trunks was less than pleased with her hiding in the sandpit, but he trusted her and he made an easier target. Better for him to play bait, as they were in position.

Waiting, her lightsabers off as he gathered ki once more in his palm--making himself a target. The pulley had been rigged so it'd be easy to trip from a distance, either by her or by him, once the beast was in the whole with the...whatevertheywere. Wrigglers.

Trunks was positioned just behind the trap, keeping his senses alert and dropping some of his own masking of his signature. Better to be a good target right? Who knew how this thing would find them.

She beamed, telling him her plan. SHe hooked the hilt of her lightsaber up in some chains near by, leaving it hovering there as light as she moved to the sand pit, explaining to him that while he holds that and plays bait, she can hold this grate in place and drop it when the monster was there. She can do it hiding. It would be fine.

As she said that, both hands were used to lift, carefully, the grate, levitating it towards Trunks, and sliding it in place over the top. She twisted it so it was askew for now, not being held by her yet. She then checked the sand pit, leaning over to force push on it. It didn't budge. "It'll be fine." She said again.

And as she called her lightsaber to her again, she held it up and grinned at Trunks. "Okay, he's ... near. I can feel it." She said, and looked at their set up. She gave him a wink as she backed off towards the broken door way in. "Ready?" Okay so her going back out the door? Not part of the plan. Any protests? Say them now, though... she's going to do it anyhow.

If Trunks protested or not, she ducked out the open door way and... he'd see her jump. "Sithspit.." She said faintly to herself, then lifted her hands and did a force shove at the creature. There was an angered roar, and Ahsoka stood there a moment, hands out, shoving again and...

Hooves stomped loudly down a wet hall. Ahsoka ran back in, into the dark, and darted across the floor. "Be ready." She said, hands up to lift the grate into place and force hover it there, while losing sight of it and dropping out of everyone's sight, into the sand pit.

She had just gotten out of the way as the big fuzzy bull beast hit the main door, roaring inside at... well, just Trunks now.

Wasn't hard for either of them, working together, to move things in to place. Her beaming made him blush--but hopefully it wasn't obvious too much. Also made his heart skip a few beats, but he could ignore that.

Her going through the door though was new--and her cursing, just as he'd started to protest didn't help. Not much time to react though, eyes narrowing, and he's shifting his feet slightly. Letting a small burst of ki fly at the beast--just enough to sting, and help it realize he was the target.

"Over here!" In case it had missed it, as he prepared to move too. Just in case Ahsoka had any more surprises. Or this place did.

Minotaur were smart creatures that... Ahsoka had never heard of before. Or seen, though it reminded her of a smaller rancour. With less sharp teeth. Crossed with a nerf. Dumb looking, which is why taunting it was easy enough. She had moved to hide and the smaler grate over the pit was held steady with the force. She couldn't see, but she stood, feet sinking into the sand a bit, and held her hands above her, eyes closed, waiting. Holing. If Trunk's said 'Now' she'd let it drop.

The minotaur was smart, and knew that it wasn't chasing this boy, but the orange girl. So it looekd startled at the change at first, standing there sniffing around, annoyed. It started more towards the sand pit at first, until Trunks had thrown energy at it, stinging.

The shiny boy was now his target, growling as it stomped that way. The grates it DID step on creaked or groaned, clattering at the massive weight. It stormed in, charging right for Trunks.

Minotaurs were new creatures to Trunks too--but he did know how to make himself a target. Which was his job, right then--and he did it well. Waiting, waiting, even moving to take a step closer as if to meet it's charge.

Ignoring the creaks, and then "Now!" He'd let it get to where it could grab him, he almost felt the horns as he moved. Yelling as he did, ducking and diving to the side as fast as he knew how out of the way. Coming up in a crouch with ki in both hands--either to trigger pulleys further or to blast as needed.

For Ahsoka's part, the moment she heard now, she let the Force go on the flooring, and the weight of it dropped on it's own, falling with a scrape down one side and bouncing off another, fitting almost perfect, and crushing down on a very large pile of wiggling things. The creature would be falling with it, a startled yell and roar as it did, dropping into the hole, it's large hands trying to grab the sides before it went all the way in.

Almost as soon as she dropped the force, she pulled her feet from the dropping, sinking sands, and force Jumped out, a bit higher than needed, but lightsaber in hands, bringing more light to the situation.

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