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

[neveraknight]

She didn't have too many pride issues, really, and asking for help wasn't one of them. She was mostly trying to tease a bit. Keep it light. She was used to holding light conversations like this. Mostly the teasing helped from letting everything go to dark.

"I suppose grace is something you learn with my kind of fighting style." She said easy, and flexed her hand a bit as he asked about being secure the way they flew before.

"Is there another way to do it? I mean... Other than feeling like I might be able to fall? I think it was fine. I'll also have you know that if for some reason you do have to drop me, or we do fall, I'm pretty good at not dying that way as well." She said with a small shrug. "I think I'll be fine."

[light_of_willpower]

"Not sure whether I should be sad you weren't an artisan then like most of your people, or glad you're the you I know, considering your grace." Head down a bit after that, ducked into his collar as he blushed slightly.

"The other ways, are I carry you or I piggy back you." A serious response, for all that he still had a grin. "And I won't drop you. Not unless I'm dropping too. But I'm glad to know."

[neveraknight]

"I... honestly think I would fail at any form of creative expression." She said, grinning up at him as he ducked his head. "So just be glad to know me this way. If I had a paintbrush in my hand, we wouldn't get to play with tanks on a battle field." She teased back.

And his two choices of carry her or piggy back her made her brow raise. "I didn't think you would actually drop me, but if we did have to fall, I might be able to stop it for both of us." She said instead, and rubbed a finger over her cheek, glancing out at the area around them. "For some reason, you either piggybacking me or carrying me seems more strenuous to you than anything else."

[light_of_willpower]

His smile grew though, and it was like she'd seen in the dojo. Or when they'd been exclaiming earlier about the teleportation pad and his flying. "I'm not sure about the tanks, but I definitely enjoy playing with you on a battlefield. Rather know this you any day, Ahsoka Tano."

"Not as much as you'd think. Once we're in the air it's kind of negligible, as far as I'm concerned." And he was blushing again. He could feel the flush on his neck and face. "...'s part of that whole half-warrior race thing. You're not heavy."

[neveraknight]

"Yes, all right. I'll give you the thing about the tanks. That wasn't that great. I'm still feeling my head ringing a bit over that." She shook her head, stretching a moment to try and work out the pain in her ribs. "I do think this is the better Ahsoka Tano to know however. Maybe I will try painting in my spare time." She was shaking her head no as she said it.

Still, he said she wasn't heavy. She was pretty scrawny it seemed. She glanced down at herself, out at the land around them, then back to him again. She came over and tapped his back. Piggy back. "Okay so.... how do we do this again?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Well, for one--you watch the sword." Because that was the big obstacle. But otherwise he crouched a bit, to help make it easier. They were of an equal height after all. "Then just, as long as you're not choking me, you hold on."

Assuming she was able to manage around the sword, Trunks hooked his hands and arms around her legs, breathing for a moment to gather his concentration. She really wasn't heavy--but he would never think of her as scrawny. She moved like some war-dancer on the field and he liked it.

That moment done, and then just like before at first it's a slow-rise. Giving her time to get used to it. The feeling of his Ki wrapping around them both this time wasn't as strong--mostly because they weren't going to go nearly as fast. But it was there all the same, to help with the movement through the air.

[neveraknight]

"I think I can handle your sword." She said with a chuckle and honestly, she had no idea how that could be taken the other way. Or she did have an idea and just was too tired to notice what she said. She did however, manage to watch the sword and settle in at his back, easy enough. Her arms moved to his neck, but they were lose. Trusting. She leaned forward a bit to him, and was trying not to be such a burden.

When he started to move, the feeling of the energy coming off him growing, she did tighten a bit more around him, holding close, but otherwise she wasn't going to choke him. A very soft word of "Thank you..." was said near his ear as he seemed to have no issue lifting them off the ground and into the air. This was... she would admit... so much better of an idea than walking back after that battle.

[light_of_willpower]

The words went over without him commenting too, as his mind was not thinking about anything other than getting back and how to do that. Food, a shower--maybe not in that order--and then he might hit the Library. It might him later, given how tired he was.

He nodded though, to her words--as they weren't going nearly as fast as last time but it was still easier. Higher, high and straight up, and then turning to sight where--there! Adjusting his hold on her a bit, so her arms were more around his shoulder and collarbone, as they shifted and flew at a more relaxed pace in the direction of the teleportation pad.

[neveraknight]

She held on and relaxed as he raised up and up. Still the thank you was because, as much as this kind of hurt and she ached, it was better than walking. She realized how sore she was and it would only be worse later.

She would need to go and take a shower, hot, and then change. Do some stretching, find a book to ready maybe, or simply meditate. Actually, meditation sounded so good right now. Maybe she could do it in the shower, if she can get past the idea that it's not a waste of water to do as much.

She held on comfortably, her face down a bit in his shoulder, eyes just peeking over to watch the ground below. She'd grown a lot more easy with this then before. More relaxed.

She's also going to ignore the fact that her brain just supplied the thought that he smelled good.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks was certainly relaxed, adjusting his head slightly where it rested near hers where it rested on his shoulder. Absently noticing how smooth...what WERE they called? He'd have to ask later--because the blue and white whatever-they-were really were pretty. Comforting, kind of, how their heads curved together as they soared.

His brain was focusing on lots of things at once, not staying on any one task but the one he'd set right then. Not much longer before they were descending again on the stone patio the Teleportation pad was on. He could probably let her down now, but honestly? Trunks just kept walking.

She was comfortable, or so he thought. He felt comfortable with her, warm where she was held and rested against him and soft but he knew her fire and there was no one he'd rather have at his back right then. Metaphorically, or literally.

[neveraknight]

He felt comfortable as well. She didn't feel awkward or unsure with him. Not really. She liked hearing him talk. Liked hearing his story, and yes she also felt comfort in just being there. They didn't NEED to talk to get a point across. So the flight was silent but fine. It was nice, and she was glad they didn't have to walk it. She might be concerned that he would be too tired after, but as they landed she noted he seemed fine still.

She also noted that he didn't put her down, and just started to talk towards the teleport pad. She didn't push to get down either. "Much faster." She said with a soft smile near his ear. "We could have been out here for ages otherwise."

[light_of_willpower]

He'd enjoyed hearing her stories, even if he found it odd at times. She had so much more experience than he did with the wider world and people of all kinds. But they didn't need to talk. He'd grown up fairly isolated at times, withdrawn--and that she didn't push for the silence to always be filled was very welcome.

"Agreed. I mean, we could've found another way but I'm glad we didn't." He could hear her smile, which made him smile too. Stepping on the warp-part of the pad, and then there was that sensation of energy and light washing over them both before they reappeared back on the site with the castle and its grounds looming up above them.

[neveraknight]

"We could have used a tank, had I not blown them all up, and had they not disappeared anyhow." She teased, and as he got on the pad, he might have felt her tense up again for a moment. She's not sure she likes this. She's never had to go from point A to point B like that before. Generally there was... some other mode of transport, thanks. As soon as they are in the castle, she loosens her grip a bit. "Thank you for the lift, my good friend." She said, giving his shoulder a pat and smiling still. "Hopefully the Master is pleased with todays training, but I hope that's it for a little bit. I think a shower would go well after that."

[light_of_willpower]

"You read my mind, Ahsoka." Rolling his shoulders slightly, but he's smiling in turn. "Shower, then food as far as I'm concerned."

Reaching out, hand on her shoulder in turn. Appreciation, gratitude, camaraderie. Holding it for a bit before turning and heading in the direction of the Library. Easiest way to get to his room really, given he'd chosen Suite 6.

Both would find notes in their rooms--congratulating them, thanking them, and letting them know that any resources available in the Castle were theirs to be used. The trials and challenges they will face shall not be easy, so it is the least that the Master and the forces they represent can do, to help aid those who take on this burden.