Yet another crazy Snarl theory.

[ghoul-n]

So, maybe I'm kinda late for the party, but was it ever considered that maybe...

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...we are the Snarl, so to speak?

I mean, it could be that the whole gate/rift/Snarl business works like this:

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The rifts are actually some kind of interplanar -- or, possibly, cross-setting -- portals that connect OotS-realm to multiple others. The "gates" built around those actually prevent any means of entry from either side (hence MitD's "What gate?" running gag -- since, y'know, no entry), but if any creature does enter the rift by some means, denizens of a plane said creature just came into will percieve and interact with such creature as with, for a lack of better word, Snarl's tentacle. Incompatible art styles and all.
Same reason why those rifts create all kinds of anomaly around them: different worlds have different laws and it's probably not the best idea to try and mix those.

Denizens of other settings/planes could also disbelieve gods of other settings' pantheons, if said gods somehow ended inside the other world without any of their worshippers' backup.

The rifts themselves could probably have been made in such a way as to show clearly what plane/setting exactly they lead into as a form of Silent Image or somesuch.

Thoughts?

[Kish]

Rich has specified that the world in the Rift is not Earth, for whatever that means to your theory.

[ghoul-n]

More like some other random world (or worlds), where the laws of the current setting do not necessarily apply.

Think Sigil, for example, except the portals could lead to the places outside of the main setting.

(by which I mean "Places that have something in their properties set in a such way that they can't exist in a main OotS world or its sub-planes, ever, nor could be travelled into by magical or any other means such as Planeshift -- except for traversing the rift directly")

[Razade]

I really don't get how any of these theories pop up. The planet is pretty obviously the previous world that the Snarl "destroyed".

[NerdyKris]

To be fair though, the Snarl is a metaphor for a gaming group falling apart due to arguments and in fighting. But just a metaphor, it's definitely not that in universe.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

To be fair though, the Snarl is a metaphor for a gaming group falling apart due to arguments and in fighting.

That is not as obvious as you are making it sound. I have always felt that the Snarl was a commentary on the absolute mess that is D&D "canon" - that you have a "medieval" stasis-locked world with weapons ranging about 500 years all existing and in use together, navies from the 17th century next to castles from the 14th, etc. Or, more generally, that "too many cooks spoil the soup".

GW

[NerdyKris]

It's literally formed by the arguments of the people creating the world. It grows the more they fight and eventually destroys the world/game. Fighting and disagreements is mentioned in every panel. Also:

The story of the Snarl, an unstoppable beast born of petty arguments and squabbles, is kind of an analogy for any kind of Gamer Drama. Lurking beneath the surface in many gaming groups, it threatens to devour the enjoyment you gain from playing roleplaying games. It can cause rifts between friends and eventually cause the gaming group to break up. Later, some of the same people might form a second group with new members, but the Drama still is lurking, threatening to break free if active steps aren't taken to listen and understand one another. (that is, to seal the rifts). Deep, huh?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

It's literally formed by the arguments of the people creating the world. It grows the more they fight and eventually destroys the world/game. Fighting and disagreements is mentioned in every panel. Also:

See, I would've opened with the quote. I can disagree with you, but not with the author

GW

[Mandor]

I really don't get how any of these theories pop up. The planet is pretty obviously the previous world that the Snarl "destroyed".

That MAY be true. There are other explanations. The planet could just as easily be BAIT, an illusion or shapeshift of the Snarl itself, to lure in the gods / more food. Remember that when Laurin psi-scanned through the rift to that ocean, she found NO signs of life what-so-ever... not even fish. Until her eyes went all purple-y from awareness of what was coming.

If it is the original world from the gods, i expect it's a dead husk. Empty water may slosh around, clouds may drift, but there is no sign of life, and every sign that the Snarl is still watching and waiting to strike.

[Morquard]

Another idea is, that the Snarl was locked up 1184 years ago (when the current world was made), in utter nothingness. Eventually it wanted to be more, and began to 'create'. In a way it's a divine being, just like the gods. It's made out of the threads of creation itself. So why not?

Unfortunately all it could do was create the planet, but not life itself. Or it just hasn't figured out how to do that part yet.

Laurin's probing might have been disruptive to it, or even painful, even if it wasn't meant to be. Imagine someone starts "probing" you by sticking a needle into you from behind while you walk down the street. YOu're gonna punch him too.

Of course, that has the problem that the world didn't really exist till after the Scribblers. At least there's no indication that they ever saw a planet or anything inside.

[TheNecrocomicon]

I really don't get how any of these theories pop up. The planet is pretty obviously the previous world that the Snarl "destroyed".

So, sort of a V'Ger-style "record it in perfect detail for all eternity in the process of destroying it" method? Amass enough knowledge to achieve sentience, and then return that knowledge to the Creator?

[KorvinStarmast]

So, sort of a V'Ger-style "record it in perfect detail for all eternity in the process of destroying it" method? Amass enough knowledge to achieve sentience, and then return that knowledge to the Creator?

Alternatively, it's a view of beach front property just west of Las Vegas after the great earthquake dumps California into the ocean. That isn't Earth as we know it, but it's an emulation of an alt-Earth.

(Yeah, too much Philip Jose Farmer in my youth, they were fun reads).