The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

[tarchon]

Do: Ti: Re: Ti: Do: Ti: Re: Ti: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

That to me seems like a common misinterpretation of infinity. Just as you have infinite digits above 1, 2 or any number of your choice, it is a fallacy to assume that every possibility is represented in an infinite "set". You could

It depends on which infinity is meant. I don't know that anyone ever said the levels of the Abyss had exactly ℵ₀ cardinality. Plus, we really don't know the cardinality of the minimum set of Abyssal scenarios that would necessarily contain a Riverdance performance.

 

[Turjan]

666 or inifinite? It think it's not so problematic.

If you, as the DM, have let your players clear out all of the first 666 layers, one after the other, just make up the 667th. Maybe they won't notice .

Turjan

 

[RSKennan]

Re: Do: Ti: Re: Ti: Do: Ti: Re: Ti: The Abyss: Infinite or 666 layers?

It depends on which infinity is meant. I don't know that anyone ever said the levels of the Abyss had exactly ℵ₀ cardinality. Plus, we really don't know the cardinality of the minimum set of Abyssal scenarios that would necessarily contain a Riverdance performance.

You're right Tarchon. I should have said, that infinite layers does not automatically mean that every possibility is represented. The fact that cardinality is undefined is part of the basis of my statement.

 

[s/LaSH]

Here's a thought: If the Abyss is infinite, what does that mean for the balance of other alignments? The Abyss is the plane of chaotic evil. Are any of the other planes (say Lawful Good) infinite? If not, then there's a problem. When I get around to detailing the cosmology of my campaign, it'll be very weird; probably not infinite, but assuredly bigger than the human mind can comprehend, and Earth is stuck somewhere in the middle.

But here's another thought: It takes infinite time to reach the center of a black hole, but you could fly around its perimeter in a spaceship in a couple of minutes (depending on the ship and the event horizon, of course). What if the Abyss is like that?

My brain hurts, so I won't try to describe how it would work. Food for thought, even if it does have razor blades in it.

 

[Demogorgon]

These questions are irrelevant. When you get to the Abyss ( and most of you will - especially you... "moderators" ) , I will have an infinite amount of work for you there attempting to quantify and explain concepts you don't understand.

The truth is that "infinite" only means you do not have the tools or means to measure and quantify in accepted terms.

If I choose to split one of my many realms in two, and no one was there to see me do it, did I add a plane?

If yes, are there still 666?

If no, are they still infinite?

King Stannis and I will soon be counting them together... one by one...

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

I like Meepo's idea, but you could easily call it infinite. The rest of the layers even demons are afraid to enter.

 

[Mulkhoran]

I prefer the 666 layers.

Then again, I'm ornery.

 

[WanderingMonster]

"Mr. Owl? How many layers are there in the Abyss?"

"One! Two-hoo! Three!...Four thousand five hundred and seventy-one! Four thousand five hundred and seventy-two-hoo..."

"How many layers are there in the Abyss? The world may never know."

 

[Psion]

Nope. I find the notion of infinite number of layers (or infinite Tanar'ri) whacked. And I have thought so since planescape days.

An unknown amount of layers? Sure. A fluid amount of layers? Sure. Truly infinite? Nah.

 

[Tewligan]

If you, as the DM, have let your players clear out all of the first 666 layers, one after the other, just make up the 667th. Maybe they won't notice .

"Well, looks like that's the last one. Whoo, I'm beat! Let's head home and...heeeeey, is that another layer over there? Son of a..."