Challenge Zones

[lynchpin_castle]

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.

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

"Thank you, Ahsoka-san. You are generous to this poor amateur's ego." A hint of a bow of his head. Then leaning back on his arms on the bench, he too was dressed comfortably and like he was winding down for the evening.

"I do not know if my being able to read music and play will come in handy though. If nothing else, I can help relax others." Not that Tamaki seemed that upset by it.

"I don't know, Tamaki. I remember mom commenting once about how music was like coding. It's all about remembering and recognizing the patterns. Of course she meant computer programming." A hint of sheepishness himself. "I also remember being very very glad when I grew out of the stage she felt I needed her to sing lullabyes to me."

Bulma Briefs. Genius. Inventor. Adventurer. ...not a great singer though.

"We shall see then, although depending upon the level or sophistication of the technology, I may be outmatched." A wink. "Ahsoka-san, you look ready for an adventure. I thought we'd all had enough of that recently?"

[neveraknight]

"Believe it or not, I've had to help deal with some situations that required some base knowledge to music and notes. I really wouldn't put it past anything they are willing to throw at us." She did glance to Trunks with an amused smile though. Master Yoda used to hum once in a while, and she could remember Master Plo Koon doing the same when she was a youngling. At least Plo Koon had a nice deep voice. Master Yoda, not so much.

"That does bring up a good point though. We need to sit down at some point, with everyone, and go into depth about what each of us can do. No matter how small. I mean, I can fight, but music? That's not a skill I can manage."

"You never know, one of the others might know how to do this as well." And maybe they could all teach themselves basics of other things.

"Ah, but... I got a note. Something is waiting for me in the challenge zone." She pulled at her goggles to point them out. "And if it's what I think it is, I promised to drag this one around on it." She gave a small shrug. And if it was what she hoped it was, she wanted to teach the others how to use it as well. If possible.

[light_of_willpower]

"Oh ho!" Tamaki grinned, nodding along. "It sounds exciting, if it requires goggles though. I suppose I can wait to hear later, although now I have curiosity eating at me."

"I'm sure she'll drag you out sometime too Tamaki-kun." Trunks replied easily, shaking his head in amusement. "If nothing else, we should take you to the field anyways. Give you an idea of how to use the terrain to your advantage."

"That is true...I could admire the scenery I'm sure, but it would not do me much good in a fight. Although I'm not afraid to throw dirt at someone if I must." Tamaki shot back gamely.

"I would not object to learning about everyone, but then--some of us are more open than others. It could be perhaps we're meant to find out about each other more..." Pausing, trying to think of the right word. "...organically, I suppose is the closest I can think of." Moving to spread his hands outward, Tamaki continued softly. "One can not force close bonds, although a crisis often helps them along if it does not drive the group apart. It might be why we were all sent to the Labyrinth shortly after those of us who are newer arrived."

Trunks blinked, then made a soft noise. "...huh. But we also all need time to rest after things--as much as some of us could keep going, we're not all meant to be primarily fighters anymore than the challenges will all be physical."

Tamaki nodded, with a softer smile. "Even in times of rest though, there are ways to bond. Look at the video-games. So as much as we might all benefit from sitting and talking and laying out our talents as if were were assessing each other, it is not always the most comfortable solution."

Look at what his own pushing people towards had wrought? Even if it hadn't turned out as badly as he'd feared.

[neveraknight]

"Oh, if it is indeed what I think it is, Tamaki will indeed be the next one to come out with me." She said with a smirk.

When he mentioned not forcing bonds though, her head tilted at that, as if not quite understanding what she just missed. She rubbed a hand along the side of a lekku nearer to her head, and gave a small nod to that.

"I don't mean to say we need to just lay out important and personal information. Even I have things I don't want to lay out there, but I was thinking more... skill sets. Things we all might like to know that we can do. Like, I just found you playing this, and it's beautiful. Or the other day I learned that Logan has such a strong nose he can track nearly anything."

She gave a small helpless shrug, hands sliding back behind her again, an almost nervous habit sign. "I wouldn't want anyone to state talents if they were personal however." She gave a faint smile though. "It was just a thought though, that might help us in the future."

[light_of_willpower]

Tamaki blinked widely, then blinked again, then laughed softly. "I look forward to hearing your adventure then, my friends. And you are correct, Ahsoka-san. Perhaps I simply am over-thinking it. I am used to a high school, after all. Not any type of military situation."

Although that was interesting to know about Logan-san. Ahsoka was also correct that there were things he himself would not want to share without...great thought. But it was for another time.

"In any case, I am glad to see that my sempai will both be having fun. Go, go!" A brief wave of his hand, shoo'ing them. "And I will play for you some other time. I still plan to try and teach you both to dance, after all. Although I shall likely enlist Hima-chan's help for that."

Trunks chuckled softly, and grinned. "That's good to hear, as I think you're a bit too tall for me Tamaki-kun, and not exactly my type. Even if your smile is amazing."

The blonde just grinned like a cat under the joke. "You do not strike me as the type who would wear a dress well, my friend, so that goes both ways." Laughing as well, before turning back to his piano. "Ahsoka-san, I look forward to your surprise."

[neveraknight]

"No, you know for me, coming from my type of situation, having your side of view is actually a good thing, Tamaki." She gave him a soft, happy smile though. "And I would love to hear you play again."

She at least understands what Sempai means now! It always kind of made her smile to hear it, oddly. And then she giggled behind a hand at the two boys talking about not being each others type. She would say she had no type at all, but if she did, they both were appealing. Not that she wanted to admit that.

"And I look forward to seeing you and Tamaki try to dance anyhow, while I go steal away with Himawari." She teased, giving a salute to Tamaki as she started to back away. "Have a good evening, Tamaki-kun." She tried, still feeling out how those two talked, but she thought it might show a bit of respect to try also.

[light_of_willpower]

Tamaki grinned at her and brightened. From her, it was enough and he appreciated it. "Woe to us, my friend...we're stuck with each other." A wink at Trunks, before waving them both off.

Especially as Trunks was laughing too, as they headed back out into the hallway and towards the doors. From there, it would be a short walk to the teleportation pad.

"I'm glad he's feeling more comfortable, even if I can tell he's still nervous about things." Offered quietly, out of earshot, as the two walked. "But not all of these will be about physical, and Tamaki-kun..." Trunks paused, thinking how he wanted to phrase things. "Like you mentioned, it's good to hear the other side. Despite his enthusiasm he is more adept at social things than I am. And his skills in that area are different than yours as peace-keeper-general."

[neveraknight]

She walked along with him towards the porter. Out of ear shot and all, though she was still speaking softly. "I think that those in power wouldn't have brought him if he wouldn't be an asset. There are six of us here. You and Logan are the heavy hitters that could withstand most attacks. Ty Lee and I are the middle ground. Grace, speed, flexibility in a fight. Himawari and tamaki? They're the heart. The brains. The ones that can do the things that most of us either didn't learn or wouldn't know."

She gave a slight shrug, coming to the porter and standing there a moment. "I think once they get into a few more things where they can shine, they'll understand how important they are to all this. Like the maze. I don't think he understands just how easy they managed to get through all that. I honestly feel like that was set up to test all of our strengths."

She laughed at that, softly. "He impresses me, a lot."

[light_of_willpower]

"Considering that I still think this is all a 'new' thing to the Masters, it wouldn't surprise me to find you're right." Trunks murmured in agreement, standing with her.

"Tamaki-kun impresses me a lot too. Especially considering his background, but that he's so........genuinely nice. His ease at dealing with people is also impressive to me, as he's in his element in a crowd." A smile. "I haven't gotten to know him as well, as he's usually the one doing the questioning, as I've gotten to know Logan, for example."

The latter mostly being that they beat the crap out of each other as therapy and bonding.

"But Tamaki's energy and vibrant spirit is blinding. It's obvious reading him and his ki." Head tilted up, Trunks was quiet for a moment. "I want to give him time, too, just based on the hints of what we've seen, but he almost uses that energy and vibrancy as a shield, it's so overwhelming."

[neveraknight]

"I think everyone deserves some time. We're not here to push anyone." She said simply. She moved to the transporter and stood there, hands on her hips. "For now, we'll learn about each other as it comes."

She said and gave him a grin, looking over at Trunks with a strong smile "For now, I have a surprise and I think you'll enjoy it too. Shall we?" She asked and started to move for the transporter.

[light_of_willpower]

"Can't wait. Last time we got surprised, it was playing with clankers and taking them apart." A grin of his own, as he Trunks stepped up to join her. "Granted, I suspect we won't be dealing with clankers this time." Once both were on the teleporter-base they had only a few seconds before it activated.

Bringing them once more to the Field challenge zone, with the arrival area set-slightly apart. This time the terrain had shifted somewhat, to be more wide open-space mixed with canyons and rock formations. Less green, although hints of water-courses and rivers could be seen. The field seemed to encourage speed and agility rather than brute force, and was not designed for battle the way it had been before.

Of course, observing all of that meant overlooking the nice and shiny speeder-bike that waited near by for Ahsoka. Seen just in front of a medium-sized shed like building, which would prove to hold mechanics tools and staging areas for other vehicles. That was also new, but welcome, as Trunks let himself smile at the faint scent of grease covering metal. (Also a familiar scent from his childhood.)

[neveraknight]

"I love that you call then clankers." She said with a grin, rubbing her cheek as she did really like that he picked up her slang like that.

She stepped up on the platform and as they appeared in a new field, her smile couldn't be larger. The speeder was standard yet modified looking, and the building would house it just fine. she wondered if that would always be there now.

She jumped down and over towards it. "Kriffing hell, this is a fast model." He said, starting to round it a bit before reaching out to touch it. "Trunks, I'd like to introduce you to a speeder. A fast model too, so none of this lazy slow business. I might even be able to keep up with your flying, maybe."

[light_of_willpower]

"It's a good name for them." With a little salute her way of thanks. How could he not pick it up when it was so appropriate?

It wasn't like any hoverbike he'd seen. Yet at the same time, Trunks recognized that was exactly what it was, in it's own way. Letting Ahsoka lead, and her excitement was infectious. "It's definitely different from hoverbikes where I'm from. Longer, for one...with...are those meant to stabilize? help with steering?"

Not touching yet--it was her bike. He'd been raised enough of a gear-head to understand.

"I so want to be here when you decide to examine it more, including it's components."

[neveraknight]

"Stabilizers, yeah. The longer bar helps with speed too, and the seat is good for two. the internals are under the seat though so it might get warm. And trust me, when I get then chance I want to get inside it. I'm not the best mechanic, that was my Master, but I know my way around."

She was now seated on it, looking as if she was meant to be seated on this chrome experience. She grinned, resting her hands on the handle bars, and leaning a bit, head tilting. "So how about it? Want to go for a ride? My turn to cart you around a bit." She teased, pulling her goggles down over her bright blue eyes.

[light_of_willpower]

"I can't say I know my way around this, but I will learn." Trunks replied with a grin. "And I will happily accept. Your turn anyways, after all." Trying for some friendly banter, as he fought to keep down a blush.

Now he approached more closely, and examined the bike a bit. Soft fingers along the chrome, then moving to carefully sit behind her. "Remind me to see if we can get some hoverbikes or motorcycles from my world for comparison. They won't be as fast, but I think you'll like 'em anyways."

Hands on her shoulders for now, until she said otherwise.

[neveraknight]

"I'm sure you'll do fine with it." SHe said with a grin still, leaning there and watching him look over the bike as well. She was hiding her own blush pretty well, but that smile couldn't be removed.

"Sounds fun. Might as well see if we can get a garage full of fun toys, even if just for us to play with. I bet Logan would enjoy that too. I hear he likes motorcycles."

as he rested his hands on her shoulders and she started the bike up she grinned. "Better hold on better than that." With a wink tossed over her shoulder, before settling in. "I mena it, hang on. These things have a kick."

[light_of_willpower]

"He does. It came up once when we were both exhausted." A garage of toys sounded like heaven, and Trunks wouldn't be surprised if said garage-and toys manifested in a few days. Maybe one of the future challenges would involve it somehow even?

"Show me what you've got then." Challenge accepted, and with her permission Trunks moved his arms and hands. Around her waist, head against her shoulder.

[neveraknight]

"You got it." She said as he sad to show her what she had. And when she was sure he was hanging on, she kicked it into gear and in a blink they were darting off forwards, out of where they had found the bike and into the sun shine of the day in this crazy magical land. She took it at a fair pace to start, making sure they were in the clear before gunning her and kicking it into high.

The flat lands were easy enough to navigate, but a forest would be more frightening. For now, she sped off almost as fast as Trunks could fly. At this rate she would be able to keep up with him in a fight instead of force him to carry her around.

Goggles down and grin on her face she let out a holler of joy, laughing as they sped off.

[light_of_willpower]

Definitely a kick, and not too different than he expected. Whatever was allowing it to hover was different enough from what he was used to that it took him a second or two. But going fast, and weaving over stretches of flat rock and low sparse-grasses, was familiar. It would be easy to transition from the flat-lands down into canyons too, with rock outcroppings and rivers and water-courses weaving through the stone.

Probably there were caves too, but that wouldn't be something they took the speeder through.

Trunks chuckled slightly, then leaned up enough to make sure she heard him. Trying to not brush her montrals, while still letting her hear. "You should laugh more often. It's nice hearing you happy."

[neveraknight]

Oh they were definitely going to hit the canyon up. Because that was going to be a good show of how this baby worked, and her grasp on the force would keep her from killing each other too. She was headed off that way, laughing as they went.

As she heard him say that, she turned a bit to try and peek at him, blushing. A montral bumping him a soft moment before she turned to look forward again, going bright in the face. "W-Well.... if it's one thing my Master taught me, it's that I like going at high speeds." She said loudly back, focusing on the flight and not the fact that he was tight around her middle to hold on, or that he was so incredibly close right now.

[light_of_willpower]

Likewise, Trunks was trying to not be so aware that yes--his arms were around her. He was holding her, and close--but it was practical. No need to blush...damnit he was blushing.

"I like fast." With a grin, and then he ducked his head as his blush intensified. "Mom definitely had a risk taking streak, and while she got more cautious--from what Gohan taught me--after I was born, I can't really blame her." A hint of sadness but also so very full of fondness. "You'd like her a lot."

[neveraknight]

Yepp. Blushing. It was hard to not think about those strong arms around her middle like that, holding on as she jinked and janked through an area and headed for the canyon, taking a dive down towards it.

"She raised you!" she started, grinning. "I bet I'd love her." She said thoughtlessly, but honestly too. "Hang on..." And they were whizzing through a canyon now, turning and twisting here and there. She'd take it on it's side up a wall and back again. Darting through arches and out the other side. An adrenaline rush and a half.

[light_of_willpower]

Perfectly at ease holding her, aside from that he was *holding* her. She might think she was scrawny, but Trunks would argue with her if she ever voiced it around him. Slender yes, but lithe and toned--a warrior if she needed to be, but more grace and dexterity and agility than pure power. He'd been trying hard not to think about it before, and with his arms around her waist, those thoughts came back. Especially from his head on her shoulder, and how close they were together.

Warm and lithe, and she felt relaxed. Not truly relaxed because well--she was driving. But relaxed in the sense that he could tell she was enjoying herself. He liked her being relaxed because she was having fun and happy.

A slight head-shake, more for himself than anything else. "Oh I have got to show you a motorcycle. It can't fly like these, but it has it's own charm." Enjoying the adrenaline rush too, and then another thought that made him grin. "Betcha between us we can make this thing faster. I'm not quite the mechanic or inventor Mom is, but her lab was my first playground."

[neveraknight]

"Alright. If there's one in the garage, you can take me out on one." She called back, laughing. Yeah, this felt good. The speed and the air whooshing by, the feel of the other warm against her back. She tried not to think of that much at least.

She whizzed them through the canyon and out the back of it, back up on land, and curving through a short forest, wizzing past trees at a dangerously close call. Woosh Woosh Woosh! She had literally no issues passing them either. And then coming out into a open field near a lake she slowed and came to a stop at last, giggling. Literally giggling.

"So, what do you think?" She said, turned to peek back at him as she lifted her goggles to the top of her head once again.

This is my better blush icon ;)

[light_of_willpower]

"If there isn't now, I'm sure between Logan and me, we can get one. Whether we play nicely and share with each other is a different issue." His own amusement clear in his voice, laughing with her. He had definitely inherited his mother and father's adventuring spirits and this was fueling it. For now he tried to focus on enjoying her warmth, on his head against her shoulder and his arms around her.

Except not too much, because then he'd go bright red again.

As they whizzed through the canyon, he moved with her when she jinked or janked, zigged or zagged. Picking up very quickly how to lean into the turns with her, so she wasn't off balance because of him. The trees were as close as he himself would've gone, and it made him laugh louder. "My mother would probably love you!" Especially this dare-devil side.

The open-field and lake were nice, with a light breeze as they slowed and came to a stop finally. Leaning back, removing his arms from around her waist as they did so, and with a big grin of his own. His hair was only slightly mussed, likely because he'd been doing whatever he did while flying to keep the speed-and-windshear from affecting him.

"I think you're cute when you giggle." Her laughter had been wonderful and he liked seeing her have fun, knowing what she'd told him about always being on a battlefield. Her giggle however, that she was so very at ease....she lit up.

Of course, as soon as the words were out of his mouth, his eyes went wide and he ducked his head. Pulling back and hunching into himself, blushing bright red. Stupid thinking before he spoke.