Difference between revisions of "Beyond Time: The Bend of Time"

Latest revision as of 23:27, 5 February 2014

Mechanics

Standard Time:

(Although the Bend of Time doesn't exist in any dimension, its timeline runs parallel to those of Home and Another.)

Nature

The Bend of Time has similar architecture to the End of Time with ten pillars of light that allow the party to battle monsters from areas they've previously explored, a single streetlight with an octopus-like creature sitting at its base, and a door which opens in a New Game+ to allow battle with Ozzie, Slash, and Flea. The Bend of Time can be accessed from a small island chain in both Home and Another.

Analysis - There are two main theories regarding the nature of the Bend of Time:

1. The Bend of Time is the decommissioned version of the End of Time.

YbrikMetaknight wrote:

"OK, this is gonna be pretty out there, so just bear with me. Perhaps the End of Time went to the El Nido Archipelago where it became the Bend of Time. The reason it would go there is to follow the massive temporal energies of Chronopolis after the Time Crash."

Ingonyama wrote:

"As for Gaspar, I think he left with the others to live out a life in another time period. Maybe he joined Belthasar in the revamped future? Or became a royal advisor to King Guardia XXI in 600 AD? I doubt he went as far back as 65,000,000 BC, but it's possible. Most likely, though, I bet he went back to the Last Village to help them rebuild civilization after the fall of Zeal."

RabidTurtle" wrote:

"Or he's still in the End of Time, and the Bend of Time are two separate areas. The Bend of Time may just be a temporal distortion created by the split in dimensions."

YbrikMetaknight wrote:

"I still believe that the End of Time and the Bend of Time are one and the same, or at least closely connected. They're too similar to not be. I, for one, support the idea that Gaspar went out into the world, or possibly retains the ability to travel through the eras even though the gates are inaccessible, while the End of Time was pulled by the Time Crash to El Nido, where monsters seemed to come towards it (and how exactly did Ozzie, Slash and Flea end up there anyway?)."

2. The Bend of Time is the dimensional equivalent of the End of Time.

Leebot wrote:

"I personally would explain it as the dimensional equivalent of The End of Time. Where TEoT is the point of least resistance on the timeline, TBoT is the point of least resistance between different dimensions. It has certain parallels to TEoT: You can access it from either dimension (although you can't travel to the other), it has portals to different places (rather than different times), not to mention the similar architecture.

Leebot wrote:

"A supplement to my theory of the Bend of Time being the point of least resistance:

The party can only access the Bend of Time after the following events:

• Serge takes on Lynx's body.
• Serge (as Lynx) is sent to Sprigg's dimension.
• Lynx, Sprigg, and Harle cross from Sprigg's dimension to Home.

It's possible that the Bend of Time appeared in Home due to a violation of a "Conservation of Dimensions" theorem. Lynx's party crossing to Home was the first instance of dimensional crossing that didn't involve a "Missing Piece" (unless Sprigg or Harle qualifies) so this may have caused the availability of the Bend of Time. On the other hand, it could have been Harle or Sprigg that caused this. Harle, as a dragon, may not have been intended to use this type of portal. Sprigg may not even be native to our dimension, or even compatible with it. Whichever the case, this dimensional cross may have violated the "Conservation of Dimensions" theorem. Then, when they finally went to Another, they violated it again, and the Bend of Time became available there."

Sir Frog wrote:

"The Bend of Time's translation is Ultima Thule of Time. The word Thule (it is generally capitalized) has several meanings, but all relate to the concept of a place (often insular) in the far north. Ultima Thule is an ancient Roman phrase referring to any place beyond the edge of the (esp. northern) world. The phrase is usually used figuratively. So, if the translation in question is to be believed, then Bend of Time is more properly End of Time."

There are also a couple of other theories regarding the Bend of Time which aren't inconsistent with the major theories:

1. The Bend of Time is another connection point between the timelines.

ZealitY wrote:

"I have a small note on the Bend of Time under theory 2; since the End of Time is the weakest coordinate on the timeline, would the Bend of Time be the weakest coordinate dimensionally for each world or interdimensionally? The former demands that space, like time, has a point of least resistance, or something to that effect, while the second, which I believe is more plausible, holds that among the strong differences and connections between the two dimensions (which stemmed directly from one another; see this thread), the Bend of Time exists as a coordinate of connection between the two. I would say weakest, but this is self-contradicting; how could the weakest point of connection between the two also exist and be accessible from both?"

Leebot wrote:

"It works as the weakest point if you look at it this way: "between" the two dimensions is some type of force pressing everyone away from the other dimension and keeping them in their own. If the Bend of Time is the weakest point of this force, it's plausible that people could enter the gap here. The Angelus Errare point, to extend this metaphor, could be like quantum tunneling across the barrier. Back to the Bend of Time: The reason people return to the same dimension they left could be explained by an extension of the "Missing Piece Theorem"; they left a hole in the dimension they left, so they have to first go there to fill it."

2. The Bend of Time is QC-like.

Leebot wrote:

"From a quasi-philosophical standpoint, one can look at them as more of "states of existence" than physical places. As such, only the spirit would truly exist there. The body, air, and structure are all created to provide a metaphorical structure to this space to provide travelers an image they could comprehend (like how the Q Continuum is shown in Star Trek: Voyager)."

Epsilon wrote:

"The problem with that is (going by the idea that the minds of characters "create" the EoT/BoT using things they're familiar with..) is that there is no other area in CT that looks like the EoT (I haven't replayed CC in a while, so I'm not sure about that...), so how could it be made out of things they are familiar with?"

Leebot wrote:

"If we accept my theory as true, we can take it a bit further. We don't know that all characters see the same thing, or even that we see the same thing as the characters. If not, the End of Time would be a representation that is supposed to evoke a certain image for the players (I get the impression of a 50's (or so) metropolis at night, evoking a sense of loneliness and isolation).

If all who are there see the same thing, then it's likely that Gaspar created that image. It's possible he saw something like that peering through a time-portal, or heard it described from some other traveler.

The only other place in either game that resembles the End of Time is (not surprisingly), the Bend of Time from CC."

Residents

Octopus - An octopus exists mysteriously in the Bend of Time. When approached by Janice, it mentions the "God of War."

Analysis - The "God of War" comment is potentially important given Spekkio referring to himself as the "God of War" and the similar appearance of the End of Time. The Octopus may function as a guardian or custodian of the Bend of Time.

Zeality wrote:

"Gaspar probably envisioned the End of Time as being able to take on a separate function, and installed a simple keeper (the punching bag monster in the Bend of Time)."

Alternatively, it may simply be a creature who got lost and wandered into the Bend of Time.

Ozzie, Slash, and Flea - Recurring villains from Chrono Trigger. They were encountered in Magus' Castle and later in Ozzie's Fort if one chose to complete Magus' sidequest.

Analysis - How they arrived at the Bend of Time is unknown. Theories include:

1. They were teleported there after the battle in Ozzie's fort.

ZealitY wrote:

"As for the Ozzie Crew, all I can think of is that they were homeless after 600 A.D., and perhaps discovered a gate. Ozzie might have a few time tricks up his sleeve."

Ingonyama wrote:

"Well...we don't know what happened to Ozzie and crew after CT. Last we saw was him falling down that big hole after the cat jumped onto the switch. Maybe that hole was a time portal of some kind? And when you fight him, Flea, and Slash, they run away from you, usually before you can beat them. Though it seems unlikely that time travel is among their powers, it's conceivable that a resonance with Lavos interfered with it to throw them off course. After all, that's fairly late in the game, when things are coming to a head, and in 600 AD, the last major event that happened was Lavos creating a Gate to 12,000 BC after being summoned by Janus. I'd think after an event like that, teleportation magic of any kind would be thrown seriously off-kilter."

2. Gaspar or the Octopus brought them there.

Leebot wrote:

"The portals might be connected to the memories of the travelers, allowing them to relive (in a sense) past conflicts. Ozzie, Slash, and Flea, on the other hand, wouldn't have a portal as they hadn't previously been encountered. "Why them?" is extremely hard to answer in game terms. Possibly the octopus (or Gaspar, or whoever) has some manner of control there and brought them there on a whim."

3. They don't actually exist there. Their appearance is an extension of the QC-like theory.

From: Beyond Time