08-02-2012, 10:55 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2006
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[DF] Planes vs Dimensions
In my Df world there is a distinction between planes and dimensions. Dimensions are like the science fiction version where there are other dimensions of the material world like the 4th dimension, 23rd dimension, millionth dimension, trillionth dimension and so on. Within these higher dimensions live the Elder Things who are able (at times) to traverse the span between dimensions and enter the dimension of humanity. These higher dimensions are far beyond the understanding of mortal minds and those viewing it often end up insane. The dimensions are infinitely high and when high enough they approach chaos. The dimensions may also be infinitely lower as well but exploring whether this is true might cause even more insanity. All in all, the dimension of humanity is pretty meaningless in comparison the the infinite material world of higher and lower orders.
Planes, at least the planes that humans come into contact with, are spiritual and overlap the material world in that dimension. Heaven, Hell, Asgard, Olympus, the Abyss, Fairy-realm etc. are all spiritual connections to the material world. It is said they need the minds and beliefs of mankind to survive and in return for this they also help to protect the material plane from threats from higher dimensions like Elder Things. The fact that planes are separate realities from the material allow spells like Banish to work on those beings from other planes (demons, angels, fairies, spirits etc.) But Elder Things are from another dimension of the material world and that is why the can not be banished. But they could be shunted back into another dimension by the spell Dimension Shift however. |
08-03-2012, 01:56 AM | #2 | |
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
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Then again, "dimension" has acquired a lot of all-over-the-place slang meaning in sci-fi and in culture in general. In mathematics, there is even the idea of fractional or fractal dimensions, which may well turn out to have physical meaning and usefulness.
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08-03-2012, 07:03 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
One way of looking at "Things Mankind Was Not Meant To Know" could be that if entirely in this level of existence they couldn't exist, but by keeping most of themselves in other levels of an extra spacial dimension they can.
Like keeping just your hand in water too cold for your body, you can mess with the strange creatures in a tide pool. It also adds a level of terror in imagining what would happen if they figure out a way to come into this level fully, or just stick their whole "arm" or "face" in.
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08-03-2012, 07:06 AM | #4 | |
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
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08-03-2012, 01:20 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
Quote:
To be fair, worship of demons also "softens" reality to allow evil to enter but this is spiritual and brings forth purpose like evil into material reality. Extra-dimensional beings have no concern whatsoever for morality or the way that humans view life so that is a big difference. Spirits and fairies have a great interest in the affairs of humanity while for Elder Things humanity is just a chemical reactions that thinks they are alive. |
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08-03-2012, 01:25 PM | #6 |
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
What about the opposite, things that drive Elder Things batty?
A child's laughter burrows into their heads?
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08-03-2012, 01:31 PM | #7 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
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08-03-2012, 01:33 PM | #8 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
Ok, I'm not sure what the point of the OP is, but the inner mathematician is forcing me to bite:
are these "creatures from another dimension" three dimensional creatures who can move through more dimensions than the three we exist in, or are they multi-dimensional creatures of whom we can only see cross sections? what's three feet over in the fourth dimension? and don't use the "its not euclidean" cop-out, because everything is euclidean if you add enough dimensions for it to exist in (and you usually don't need to add very many). the other "planes": can they be reached through the other dimensions the "Things" travel through? or is that describing where the things live? If not, is there a dimension that connects them? just be aware you are using two terms that essentially mean the same thing, as "plane" as used in this context literally refers to another place separated by a dimension we can't travel through. I love thinking about this stuff, but to be quite honest lovecraft's "other dimensions" have more scientific holes in them than telepathy. He lampshades it, of course by saying "don't think about it or you'll go insane". |
08-03-2012, 01:51 PM | #9 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
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08-03-2012, 01:54 PM | #10 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: [DF] Planes vs Dimensions
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cosmology, myth |
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