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

Training--first exposure

[lynchpin_castle]

Once both champions were ready and met at the Entry Hall, it wasn't hard to find the path indicated. A decent walk--maybe half-a kilometer at most--from the Castle, before they found what they were looking for. The teleportation pad was large and situated atop a small stone patio with 8 pillars surrounding the edges of the structure. 2 steps lead up to it, and when they moved up, it was clear where the borders were. It swirled in a lazy spiral, all colors and light.

Once they stepped on the pad, a coruscation of light and energy flowed over them and brightening to blinding levels. When they were able to see or hear again, they found themselves on a similar teleportation-pad and structure. The view stretched for many kilometers in either direction, made up of mountains and plains, with some plateaus and rivers seen as well. In the distance, small forests were seen at the edge of the mountains.

Stepping off the pad, the Master was waiting for them.

Re: Training--first exposure

[light_of_willpower]

It had become something of an unspoken agreement; they walked together. He and Ahsoka had learned enough, worked enough with each other, over the week, for him to trust her at his back. Hopefully the reverse was true. But whenever they seemed to do be doing something like this, or venturing to a new place, they walked together.

The view stretching out before him however, reminded Trunks of home. Both the home he knew, and the home he'd visited in the past and where he'd taken out Frieza, his dad, and his forces. Where he'd met Goku, and his father, and the others.

If they were expecting a fight, then this would be a good place for it. Looking over to the Master, head tilted and eyebrow raised in question.

[neveraknight]

For Ahsoka she had found him to be as honorable as any Jedi. She was more at ease with him then she was with the invisible servants. So walking together wasn't going to be a problem for her, and if she were back to back with him in a fight she'd feel as if she were covered and safe enough. She just got a good feeling from him. There was something more there, but there was still a good feeling.

The teleportation pad was... new. Different. She wasn't sure she wanted to deal with it, and had to hold back a comment that she'd like a speeder or something and just fly down to where they need to be. She held it back though, and as they ported to the new place she had to look down over herself, hands checking to make sure she was all in one piece. How did that even work.

It was then that she looked up to see the master, and the view. She blinked, blinked wide eyes a moment. "Whoa..." And then gave a small nodded bow to the master in greeting. A hello.

[lynchpin_castle]

The master seemed amused by the eyebrow-raise from one champion, and bowed in return to the other. "We wished to confirm for you, that yes--you two are the first of many we hope. It is a learning process for us, and we thank you for your patience and understanding." Polite, and then the cowled and robed figure, glowing with light and energy, looked over the terrain with them. "This shall be a zone that is always available to you, known as the Field. Its form and layout may change depending upon what is needed, but this we felt was best to start with."

Gesturing out with a sleeve, taking in the vast expanse. "It is fully large enough to accommodate a small army or two in all directions, before its boundary will simply place you back here at the teleportation site." The sky, the ground, under the ground...

"Our Steward also informed us of your questions. We may still only speculate, but given what we know of our opponent--it is likely that they shall attempt a direct confrontation for the first challenge. They will likely seek to test your mettle, to overpower you and wear you down, and secure defeat that way. It is the simplest path, and requires no innovation. We do not know whom they will chose, nor the tactics of their own champions however."

A pause, making sure that they understood--and that the being itself had understood their concerns correctly.

"If you wish, we have met you also to provide an option. You may indeed use everything you are in this zone, and we encourage that. We also are willing to provide enemy combatants for you, as preparation given what we suspect of the first challenge. It is entirely your choice however if you wish this, or simply to explore this first time."

[neveraknight]

Large enough for a few armies. If htey hit a boundary, they get brought back to the teleporter. Already her mind was working with that. If ever there was a bad situation and they were too far from the teleporter, maybe they can run away from it, hit a boundary, and make it back here. It was something to test out in the future. Something that could be a game changing tactic that could save their lives. She'd have to think on that later.

For now she took it all in carefully, rolling from heel to toe a moment. What she is hearing now though, makes her wonder if they should try to down play their skills a bit at first. If they are testing them, do they want to set the bar low to throw them off? Or will it really come down to being tested hard. No, she'd expect it to be hard.

She glanced to Trunks first at the combat idea, then to the master again, head tilting. "I can't talk for both of us, but I wouldn't say no if there were combatants out there while we explore? I'm not a fan of senseless deaths however, but if there are ways to train against something thinking, I'm up for it?" She said, and glanced to the other to see what he thought. "Unless you would rather explore first and get the lay of the land, but if it's going to change anyhow, that might not matter?"

[light_of_willpower]

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.

[lynchpin_castle]

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."

[light_of_willpower]

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.

[neveraknight]

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."

[lynchpin_castle]

"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.

[light_of_willpower]

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."

[neveraknight]

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.

[light_of_willpower]

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."

[neveraknight]

"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."

[light_of_willpower]

"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.

[neveraknight]

"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.

[light_of_willpower]

"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.

[neveraknight]

"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?

[light_of_willpower]

"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.

[neveraknight]

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.

[light_of_willpower]

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..."

[neveraknight]

"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..."

[light_of_willpower]

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.

[neveraknight]

"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..."

[light_of_willpower]

"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?