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

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.

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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."

...Droids....close enough to Androids. If anything, that made blue-eyes narrow more and given how strong his presence was, Ahsoka would feel a spike of long-held bitterness and anger. Controlled though, as he remained calm and listened to what she said. Half-of-his attention taken though, by watching their surroundings.

"So, take out the tank and those tall-ones first right?" He could do that, maybe. Certainly he was up for the challenge. No time to ask, either--he'll apologize later, as another attack was coming in and he just grabbed her elbow. Pulling her with him out from the view, further along the side of the mountain. "Any way to stop them besides just destroying them?"

She could feel the spike of power and anger come off him, his presence in the force stronger and something darker, but it wasn't too worrisome yet. Something to keep an eye on at least.

As he pulled her back and out of view, she moved with him gracefully keeping her footing with ease. "Tanks as soon as possible, though they aren't much of a threat close up. Ion charges will stop half this group, if you could just deactivate them. They used to be ran on servers. Take out the main base and they all drop, but the Separatists learned from that. I doubt these run like that too."

She pulled away and tried to scramble over to peek past a rock, to try and see again, frowning, before moving back to him. "Those tall ones will be the most trouble up close. We could drop this mountain on them and they'll dig out to fight on."

Then taking out the tall-ones was his priority.

"Basic plan. Stay close-up then, we can. I can take out those jedi-killers if you can handle yourself with the others for now. After that, we work on those tanks?" Loose, easily adaptable, and counting her as an equal while trying to play to their strengths.

Absolutely confident he could do it too.

"I know you can fly, and I know you have some hidden power there, but keep in mind, destroying those is better than just deactivating them." She warned, frowning, low crouching and hands taking up her lightsabers. "It's a small army of them out there, but I think I can handle myself. I'm pretty sure you can handle yourself too so... let's do this?"

She knows he's holding back power but she doesn't realize how much. For her, she's seen armies like this before, in a way, but she always had Clones or other Jedi to help. Two of them seem... scant few. Still, it's training. There's no reason to fear this. There was no reason to fear at all right now. That wouldn't lead her to better skill.

It was a good plan though, and one she could follow. She gave him a nod, that yes, let's do this, and she'd start, by sneaking forward a bit more.

"I wasn't planning to deactivate them." A bit more grim than he intended, but not if they were that much of a threat. "I'm about to make a distraction. Use it to get close, alright?"

Warning her, a thumbs up and glance her way, and then he's heading back towards where they'd had fire coming at them. Flight--and that aura of energy around him, drawing their targeting as blaster fire started to head his way. The smaller blasts were harder than the big booms to get around. Trying to find...ah ha. There was the cluster of the taller droids.

Heading straight for them, and diving. Using his Ki as shield, small crater in the ground as he hit the center of the group. Crouched himself, drawing his sword as he eyed the tall machines with red eyes, their staves lighting up with energy as they picked themselves up from where they'd been driven back.

Blue-eyes narrowed, and into the fray he went.

Ahsoka might feel a sudden sharp rise as his presence magnified. Controlled fire that suddenly burned like a raging inferno and felt like the same.

"Good." She said flatly at his comment of not just deactivating them. But she nodded as he said he was going to make a distraction. Okay. He can make a distraction, and she can get down there and see what she can do. Her problem was... there was no goal here. Other than to survive, which is a good goal, of course, but it also meant there was no point in getting around them to get to an objective. This was just... fight against them. A training in mass. Stay alive. Both of them.

She started to sneak away as Trunks took off. One long, far distance Force leap sent her farther away in the other direction, and landing her on a garnet like rock slab. She crouched low and both lightsabers light up! From there she started to take off, running towards the forces. There was no objective other than to take them down. She could do that.

Her first conflict would be a mass of droid commandos, which was easy enough to deal with, or so she thought. There was a crate of something near by, and some other odds and ends around them. Something she took interest in. Why were they there?

Just as she was about to charge she felt it. That spike. That change. Her eyes widened and she felt her heart drop in her chest to her gut. "Trunks...?" She whispered to herself, eyes turning to where she thought she saw him, higher up, out of view but when he dropped down to take on something, she felt it. What kind of power was that, that one could be so... strong.

His distraction worked well enough though, as she watched half the commando droids that were at this edge turn and start running that way. "Damn it..." But it was good. Maybe. If he had that much raw power. She felt that was more frightening then she could explain though. No one person should have that much power, right?

"Get it together, Ahsoka." She said to herself, and started to move, out form hiding. Because of the distraction and half this cluster taking off, she had managed to surprise a few that were left, lopping off a few heads, slicing through torso's and taking off arms and blasters. As he deflected blaster fire as well, she snuck up to a crate, slicing just the lock on the crate open, and pushing it up.

"Ion bombs..." She grinned, dropping back as blaster fire peppered the side of the crate. She stood again a moment later, waiting for shots to come her way, and deflected them, taking out two droids with their own shots. Her hand reached for a small round ion bomb, activating it, and force levitating it to get it farther into another group that was headed this way.

In his own distance, Trunks might notice the blue flash of light and whoomp sound of the ion blast, which took out a small troop of droids.

Ahsoka stocked up on a few of them, before advancing through a forested area, to see what else she could find and what else she could take out. She kept an 'eye' on the others presence, to make sure it was still, well... active.

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