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.

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Trunks was back to looking out over the terrain, expression serious and thoughtful. Battle was in his blood, but he was more cautious than most with that blood. Similar thoughts ran through his brain--especially since he was used to hiding his power-level and ki signature as much as possible at first.

"Can your opponents study us here?" Turning back to Ahsoka and their host. "If so, then it makes no sense for us to do our best. Otherwise," A grin at his partner, and given how they'd reacted so far to sparring, she better not be surprised.

"I say throw whatever you want at us." Maybe a hint cocky, but the respectful bow took any affront away and showed he meant it seriously. They would rise to the challenge.

The being's robe rippled, as if it were laughing slightly. "This is merely a model of what the formal zones shall be like, so yes. It is shielded. We suspect that as we become aware of their champions, they too will become aware of ours."

Gesturing once more with a long sleeve, to the vast expanse. "Any injuries you take shall heal once you return to the castle. You will know when the exercise ends by a signal along boundary of the sky. An aurora borealis, this time. Should either of you be brought to death, then the exercise will also end and you will be immediately transported back to the Castle, to your own room." A pause, and the being's head tilted. "Both of you. We expect this first challenge to not be faced individually, nor should you train as if it will be."

Well, that settled it for Trunks, as he straightened back up. Rolling his shoulder and neck a bit, he was now more than ready for this. "I believe I got all that. Ahsoka?" Checking with her for confirmation as he's giving a thumbs up.

Oh good. It was like he was reading her mind. But as the Master said it was shielded, then that meant they didn't have to hide themselves much. She gave a nod to all that, already stretching her arms and neck a bit, pushing her legs to stretch her calves as well. Warming up, which is a clear sign of her getting ready.

"Got it. Go all out if we want. You said the landscape changes as needed, so that means if we destroy something, it wont matter much, I think? A few things to train on. Some exploring. Anyone wounded or dead gets fixed up. Sounds too good to be true, really." She let out a puff of breath and stood, hands on her hips, grinning at Trunks. "Yeah. I think we got this."

"Anything destroyed this time shall be reset before you come here again." The Master confirmed. "We regret that there is suspicion it seems untruthful. The stakes both sides play for are far more vast than mortals comprehend, even if they have been scaled down to a micro level like this."

The Master seemed a bit confused, but overall understood. Trying to reassure them that yes--this was all 'too good'...but that was because the stakes truly were that high. Even if it did not seem like it.

"Good luck, our Champions. We believe we have chosen well." A bow to them both, and the being vanished in a shimmer of energy.

Trunks stretched himself out a little, but immediately stopped masking his ki. Easily sensed by Ahsoka, and as strong as before in presence in the Force. "Do me a favor--get a few feet off this site, and then wait for me alright?" Not that he was necessarily waiting for her agreement.

Jogging off the teleportation pad himself, then jumping--and flying. A burst of energy around him, and he was headed straight up. Testing about that boundary theory--the corona of faintly-visble-light around him fading against the sky. Several hundred kilometers up, and there was a larger flash of light, before he reappeared on the teleportation pad. Looking a bit bemused, before he recovered. "Well, good to have that confirmed."

Look, for her if someone died they tended to be dead. That was it. That was fact. That was the end of all things. For her, a death and being 'fixed' from it was a damn good thing. And being able to fight, no limits, was also a good thing.

She said her thanks to the Master as he took off, and then, raised a brow at Trunks as he said that. "I ah, sure..." She said, bouncing off the teleporter and out a short ways, only to stop and watch, jaw dropped as he took off FLYING. Yes, the power spike was a mild surprise, but not a lot. The way he took off FLYING though. She backed up, head tilted back, hand over her brow and stared up into the sky, watching him take off. "So fast..." She whispered to herself, eyes wide still.

And then he was back in a flash of light.

She stared at him on the teleporter, eyes so very wide, so very blue, staring. Then she pointed, and spoke loudly, excited and happy. "You had the same idea as me! It worked! Oh wow. He said it would, but I wanted to test it. I was thinking that if we're ever in a bad spot and need to, we just charge off into the direction of a barrier and get brought back here. At least we can't lose our way forever. Good call! You can FLY!! I can't fly! I can't believe you fly!" It was all said very fast. Very fast, and with that last part accented more than anything, because it seemed the most important now.

That had him grinning as he came over to join her, excited himself. "I know right? It could save our lives, but I didn't wanna rely on it in an emergency untested." Just as excited as she is about that, and that they'd had the same thought. He hadn't had anyone who thought like him in...forever. Even Gohan hadn't been on the same train of thought as him, most of the time.

Then he's laughing slightly, and blushing again. "Ki. I've been doing that ever since I can remember too. Easy as breathing." Not bragging, just explaining. "The downside is, Ki does have a limit. When I'm out, I'm out until I rest."

Edited 2017-02-25 08:26 (UTC)

"I wouldn't want to rely on it in general, just in case that rule changes somehow. Like we run to a boarder but it doesn't send us here, but zaps us or something? But still... that is a very good thing to keep in mind. Not that it looks like you will need a short path escape. I can't believe you fly! And so fast too." She really was excited about this. Of course she had seen flying beings before, but for one, they were never that fast, and for another they generally had wings (except for the brother and sister of the dark and light, but that was... special).

She stood with her hands on her hips, proud stance and grinning still. A firm nod. "I can understand that. The power you give off is massive, but there has to be a limit. Let's not push ourselves too hard unless we need to. And if it comes down to needing to, well... we'll figure something out."

"I'm well aware of my limits, and that is nowhere near them." He responded easily, coming back to join her. Holding out a hand, a half-smile on his face. "Come on."

Yes..yes Ahsoka--take the fast route of exploring.

"Good. I'm aware of my limits, but I like to try to edge past them." She said with a grin, and as he held a hand out her head tilted at it, but she smirked again and moved closer. Did he mean for her to take it, or...

"Come on, where?" She asked first, cautiously but curious.

"Would you rather be carried?" An eyebrow-raised, and that half smile turned into a full one. "Best way to explore is to start in the sky."

Trunks liked to edge past his limits too. Then again, whatever did not literally kill a saiyan, only made them stronger. Sometimes it took him a bit longer, being a half-breed, but it still held true for him as well.

Still holding his hand, up to her if she wanted to take it or not. No illusions that they were partners here.

"People don't carry me." She said with a snort, and though she gave his hand another moment's look over, he did at last reach out to take his hand. Did he really mean flying? Above the ground? Could he do that?

"How... does this work?" HOW did he DO it?

"It's..." Pondering how to explain it, as yes--he did mean exactly what she thought he meant. Closing his hand around hers, grip firm and secure but not tight. "It's hard to explain, but you sort of learn to throw yourself into the air, and not-fall. Using ki as a way to keep yourself there."

There was no aura of energy around him this time. Just slowly rising, giving her time to get used to it as she was being pulled with him. His presence in the Force remained steady and strong and controlled.

Her hand tightened in his hand as he started to move, her head looking down as she watched her feet slowly raise up and off the ground, hanging there from his hand. She could feel his control in all this, but her hand grasped tightly, looking up at him again.

She's not that heavy at least. A light weight young woman, looking up at him with slightly wider eyes. She's still a bit amazed that he can just... fly. "Throw yourself into the air and not fall. That doesn't normally work in a gravity controlled atmosphere. Just so you know." She then smiled, wanting to use the force to push her a bit. She knew some people could levitate. She had seen Master Yoda do it before, but levitation and flying were different.

Levitation and flying were not that different to him, not the way he did it. "Really? because I've been doing it in Earth's gravity since I was a toddler." Trunks countered, a hint of tease in his tone. "That's about 9.8 meters per second squared, by the way." A wink, and just gonna go a little bit higher now.

Concentrating, and that aura of energy appeared again. Especially since Trunks wrapped it around them both, as much as he could. "Sure you wouldn't rather be carried? We can go faster..."

"Since you were a toddler..." She repeated, then grinned. "You're pretty amazing, Trunks Briefs." She said and reached to wrap her other hand around his wrist, so both hands were holding on. Eyes widening a bit as that aura few around him. He was going higher. She didn't have a problem with heights, and if she was dropped she'd just Force land, which was easy enough. She'd thrown herself off buildings enough times to manage. But still, she used both hands to hang on a moment, peeking up at him.

"How fast..." She asked, a bit cautiously, like the idea of going fast was... appealing actually, but... carried. She wouldn't protest if he did though. "Because fast is good..."

Normally, he'd be blushing---right then, for the first time in a long time, Trunks was enjoying himself. "How fast do you think?" Oh Ahsoka, you should know better than to challenge him like that.

She was definitely not heavy, so Trunks pulled her up to be on a level with him, and looped her arm around his shoulders, other around her waist. Side-by-side, and much easier to extend his ki over her too.

"I have the advantage of good genes, so it's not entirely my own efforts." Making sure she was steady, and then they were off. Fast--heading towards the mountains and hints of river they'd gotten a glimpse of.

"Fast enough doesn't seem like the right answer." She said, and suddenly he pulled her up, like it took no effort at all. There were a few times that she had to hold onto someone so tightly to keep their lives, to try and haul them up over an edge, and here he pulled her up beside him like it was nothing.

She was completely amazed.

Arm over his shoulder and her hands not grasped to his wrist and hand, she tensed up a moment, and he might notice she clung to him. It's not like she was worried about falling, but if falling at high speeds? That might hurt. "Good genes and some super powers." She said and as he started to move, fat, she couldn't help the fact that the arm over his shoulder tightened, as did the hand. Her other hand had reached in to grab his jacket. "Whoa..."

"Good genes, and a need to learn." Said quietly, but Trunks has a secure grip around her waist, his other hand secure against her wrist at his shoulder. "I had to, and have to. I'm the last one who can fight back against them." Maybe a bit grim, a bit more of his past there.

Despite the speed, they had a pretty good view of the terrain. Not long at all before a large mountain in what seemed to be the center was seen, the rivers forking around it along with low valleys. Seemed as good a place as any to touch down.

Still quiet so far, but how long would that last?

She kept an eye on the lay of the land, trying to find landmarks if there were any, as well as targets that might be sneaking around. So far she didn't see anything. And after a moment of this flying stuff, she relaxed, just a bit. Not so stiff and unmoving. Peeking over at him for his comment, she frowned. "Well, right now you don't have to fight them. You just have to fight and win challenges. Everything will fall back in line later, in the end, but this is for now. And now, you aren't the last one."

She gave him a bigger smile. "I've got your back." She said it firmly, looking at the ground again, eyes searching. This was a good way to look around until he started to bring them back to ground level.

Trunks relaxed some, when she did--and he appreciated her words. As close as they were, he was reminded that her people weren't normally fighters. She'd admitted as much, and she was slim--and she would've made a wonderful dancer. He was used to being 'shield' though, and while he was slim for one of the fighters from his world, Trunks was solidly built and willing to be 'shield' for her as needed.

The big smile though, had blue-eyes glancing at her, and a smile as well. A brief tightening of his arm around her waist--almost a hug, rather than simply being close for practicality. "Thank you Ahsoka Tano. I've had no one at my back for a long time." Quiet, genuine--respectful and honest.

Where they touched down was, arguably, one of the better views. They were on top of a mountain in the middle of the valleys and canyons, with a clear view all around. "If I had to guess, I'd say this was the center of the zone." Letting her go, and carefully starting to climb and explore down the mountain.

Things were about to get difficult however, when a series of loud booms of impact shook the area near them. Turning to look, and they found the source visually. On one of higher grounds above the river, a tank had appeared, energy and flashes of light detailing more opponents arriving. Scores of familiar silhouettes to at least one champion. All in light-armor, and with other familiar shadows and forms scattered amongst them.

They had asked for thinking opponents, but no senseless deaths, after all. Flashes of light detailed more arriving all the time--as the 'challenge' became clear for this training bout. They would be at risk of being over-run and overpowered.

Trunks eyes narrowed, expression entirely serious now as he looked at their opponents.

Edited 2017-02-25 20:50 (UTC)

He might find she doesn't always need a shield though. At least if the forces they are meeting are somewhat normal in power and aren't like him. If they were all going to be like him she might have a small problem. Then again, she'd still try to fight.

SHe felt him pull at her, almost like a hug, which made her smile. She's personally used to having someone at her back. Anakin was there, and if not, someone else generally. Even if it was just Rex, or Obi-wan or Padme, or the Clones... or even Ventress that one time. She'd managed to do things on her own as well though. No one to have your back was hard, but manageable, which is why she had respect for someone who had to do it all on their own. She wont diminish that, but also, she'll gladly fight with him.

On landing though she shook out her legs and took in the view. "At least we can see from a good distance here." She said, moving a few steps behind and near by him, only to pause at the sound. At the shaking of the ground around them. She seemed to drop into a cat like reflex of 'ready' as she looked and saw it. The tank. Followed by other things. Her eyes narrowed.

"Clankers." Her hands flexed and she skidded to a stop right next to him, to make sure he saw what she was looking at too. "That is, if my eyes aren't deceiving me. I know those things." Or some of them, at least.

Having a partner, and someone whom he doesn't have to automatically defend or worry as much over? A new thing for him, but it was part of why Trunks was happier there. Glad of the choice he'd made, even if there was still a lot riding on it.

"Robots of some kind?" Trunks asked, his own stance relaxed and ready. Then braced as another boom shook the mountain, debris falling and some pieces coming dangerously close. "Give me the basics."

"Droids." She said, because where she was from a Droid and a Robot had a huge difference. Robots tended to be non-AIed robotic machines that do one task. Drodis did... so much more. Had personality. Thought.

No need to explain that though. As the earth shook again from the explosion, she shifted, hands curling. "Well, I suppose this is a good first training test. Clankers, or Droids, are from where I'm from. These were the opposition in the war I was telling you about."

She shifted, moving past him and around to his other side, as if trying to get a good look, frowning as she lifted a hand to shade her eyes and see. "Looks like... some advanced form of droideka. They roll fast and hard, and have canons mounted in their arms. Tri-pods. They have personal shields that withstand even my lightsabers and blaster fire. A real pain in the ass, but not as bad as what's with them."

"Those taller ones, with the staffs? Jedi killers. IG series battle droids. The count, he's this Sith Lord and former Jedi Master, he had them designed and built to dispose of us. Quick thinkers, adaptable and able to match most jedi in a fight."

"Other than the tanks, the rest of them are Commando droids. Dumb but good at what they were programmed to do. Follow orders and kill. In masses like this they might be a problem. Needless to say, if we wanted a good fight on our hands, this is it. Even in the war they didn't put this combination together much."

That was a lot and she should apologize, but giving him a quick glance she gave a faint smile. "None of them are living. Just machines."

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