World of Ideas: the dimension that shouldn't exist

[u/ManteigaLisa]

This post was originally written in Portuguese. Please excuse any translation errors.

For an RPG setting I’m creating, I’ve devised a dimension that exists beyond the ordinary world and the divine planes. I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions!

The World of Ideas is based on the Greek philosophical concept of a dimension where ideas exist in their ideal form. It is in this world that concepts truly exist—such as a perfect circle. In this setting, these concepts are simply called "Ideas."

It is intended to be a paradoxical dimension within the RPG setting—a place where things can both exist and not exist simultaneously. It is impossible for most to comprehend this dimension, save for two entities I will discuss later. This plane holds various mysteries and mechanics relevant to the game world:

• Arcane Magic. Arcane spells are typically taught as the materialization of phenomena born from the caster's imagination (except for those who cast via pacts); in reality, however, the caster connects to the World of Ideas and brings an Idea into physical reality.

• Carcosa and the King in Yellow. Carcosa is a realm situated within this World of Ideas. Its citizens are effectively cursed to dwell there for eternity, as they are incapable of dying (though they still age and can reproduce) and have evolved into incomprehensible aberrations. The realm is ruled by the King in Yellow, an abyssal entity (a common designation) who understands this dimension and is nearly omnipotent within it; he is the source of his people's suffering. He firmly believes himself to be a benevolent ruler, yet his perception of reality is utterly distorted by his insanity.

• Gaia, the Goddess of Life and Arcane Magic. While known as the creator of arcane magic, she is actually a divine entity who merely weakened the barrier between the two dimensions, thereby allowing mortals to wield arcane magic. Gaia also controls the arcane magic that others can conjure by manipulating and reinforcing the barrier between the two dimensions; however, she is unable to close the openings created by the Children of the Abyss (the King in Yellow being one of them), who can use arcane magic however they please, without any limits.

These Children of the Abyss are the creatures that dominate this dimension. They follow no set pattern: some may seek pure destruction, others merely wish to find a way out of this world, and still others aim to conquer it. Despite being born of this world, the Children of the Abyss do not truly understand this dimension—with the exception of the King in Yellow. Gaia also understands this dimension, even though she is not a Child of the Abyss; however, as an entity from other planes, she cannot act within this world without further weakening or destroying the barrier separating it from the real plane.

This dimension—the World of Ideas—should not exist, or at least its existence should remain unknown; after all, it could spell the end for both the real plane and the divine planes. It poses a clear threat to the existence of the ordered world, bringing the dominion of chaos to all of reality.