Reason Why Dimensional Travelling Would be Restricted












13












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Alternate dimensions/timelines are an important part of one of my settings, a modern fantasy. Magic is wellknown, and it is possible for objects to be enchanted by a powerful magic user to connect to other universes. Traditionally mirrors are used for this. Each mirror can only be connected to a single alternate universe. These mirrors are very rare and expensive, but luckily one of my MCs happens to own one that he got as a gift.



A major plot point is that while the characters in the main universe, Universe A, can freely go to the other universe, characters in Universe B cannot cross over to Universe A. I have two ideas for the reason:




  • It’s illegal in Universe A to bring natives from alternate universes
    there.

  • It’s literally impossible, due to a magical lock keeping people from
    Universe B from crossing over.


Whatever the reason, this restriction would need to be removed at some point so the plot could progress. Any ideas?



Other Details:




  • Universe A is urban, very similar to our world, albeit with several
    nonhuman sentient species and magic.

  • Universe B is a somewhat dystopian version of Universe A, humans live in walled city states, and the other races are forced to live in disorganized settlements

  • All my MCs are not human, so the Universe B main
    characters live outside these city states.










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  • 1




    $begingroup$
    People do illegal things all the time, so that can make it easy to break that restriction if you go with that. Are these mirrors regulated somehow? Monitored? How could authorities know if you bring people from Uni-B to Uni-A?
    $endgroup$
    – Jorgomli
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site Sami No, please take the tour and read up in our help centre about how we work: How to Ask You've given some good details, but you will need to edit your question - at the moment "Any ideas?" is too broad to have a definite best answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    11 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Are the People from Uni-A able/allowed to return to Uni-A freely after paying a visit in Uni-B? If so, how are you able to tell whether someone is from Uni-A, Uni-B or even Uni-X?
    $endgroup$
    – Tobias F.
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Do you want travelling from UB to UA to become as common as it is currently for UA to UB? Or are you looking for a more rare travel opportunity? Ie once they find this method do you want it to be frequently used or more a plot device to get around the current travel restrictions, leaving the majority of UB in the dark about the new travel features to UA?
    $endgroup$
    – EveryBitHelps
    8 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Politics? If you had a topian world you wouldn't want all the dystopian natives to immigrate at once, and bring the dystopian culture with them.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    1 hour ago
















13












$begingroup$


Alternate dimensions/timelines are an important part of one of my settings, a modern fantasy. Magic is wellknown, and it is possible for objects to be enchanted by a powerful magic user to connect to other universes. Traditionally mirrors are used for this. Each mirror can only be connected to a single alternate universe. These mirrors are very rare and expensive, but luckily one of my MCs happens to own one that he got as a gift.



A major plot point is that while the characters in the main universe, Universe A, can freely go to the other universe, characters in Universe B cannot cross over to Universe A. I have two ideas for the reason:




  • It’s illegal in Universe A to bring natives from alternate universes
    there.

  • It’s literally impossible, due to a magical lock keeping people from
    Universe B from crossing over.


Whatever the reason, this restriction would need to be removed at some point so the plot could progress. Any ideas?



Other Details:




  • Universe A is urban, very similar to our world, albeit with several
    nonhuman sentient species and magic.

  • Universe B is a somewhat dystopian version of Universe A, humans live in walled city states, and the other races are forced to live in disorganized settlements

  • All my MCs are not human, so the Universe B main
    characters live outside these city states.










share|improve this question







New contributor




Sami No is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    People do illegal things all the time, so that can make it easy to break that restriction if you go with that. Are these mirrors regulated somehow? Monitored? How could authorities know if you bring people from Uni-B to Uni-A?
    $endgroup$
    – Jorgomli
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site Sami No, please take the tour and read up in our help centre about how we work: How to Ask You've given some good details, but you will need to edit your question - at the moment "Any ideas?" is too broad to have a definite best answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    11 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Are the People from Uni-A able/allowed to return to Uni-A freely after paying a visit in Uni-B? If so, how are you able to tell whether someone is from Uni-A, Uni-B or even Uni-X?
    $endgroup$
    – Tobias F.
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Do you want travelling from UB to UA to become as common as it is currently for UA to UB? Or are you looking for a more rare travel opportunity? Ie once they find this method do you want it to be frequently used or more a plot device to get around the current travel restrictions, leaving the majority of UB in the dark about the new travel features to UA?
    $endgroup$
    – EveryBitHelps
    8 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Politics? If you had a topian world you wouldn't want all the dystopian natives to immigrate at once, and bring the dystopian culture with them.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    1 hour ago














13












13








13


1



$begingroup$


Alternate dimensions/timelines are an important part of one of my settings, a modern fantasy. Magic is wellknown, and it is possible for objects to be enchanted by a powerful magic user to connect to other universes. Traditionally mirrors are used for this. Each mirror can only be connected to a single alternate universe. These mirrors are very rare and expensive, but luckily one of my MCs happens to own one that he got as a gift.



A major plot point is that while the characters in the main universe, Universe A, can freely go to the other universe, characters in Universe B cannot cross over to Universe A. I have two ideas for the reason:




  • It’s illegal in Universe A to bring natives from alternate universes
    there.

  • It’s literally impossible, due to a magical lock keeping people from
    Universe B from crossing over.


Whatever the reason, this restriction would need to be removed at some point so the plot could progress. Any ideas?



Other Details:




  • Universe A is urban, very similar to our world, albeit with several
    nonhuman sentient species and magic.

  • Universe B is a somewhat dystopian version of Universe A, humans live in walled city states, and the other races are forced to live in disorganized settlements

  • All my MCs are not human, so the Universe B main
    characters live outside these city states.










share|improve this question







New contributor




Sami No is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




Alternate dimensions/timelines are an important part of one of my settings, a modern fantasy. Magic is wellknown, and it is possible for objects to be enchanted by a powerful magic user to connect to other universes. Traditionally mirrors are used for this. Each mirror can only be connected to a single alternate universe. These mirrors are very rare and expensive, but luckily one of my MCs happens to own one that he got as a gift.



A major plot point is that while the characters in the main universe, Universe A, can freely go to the other universe, characters in Universe B cannot cross over to Universe A. I have two ideas for the reason:




  • It’s illegal in Universe A to bring natives from alternate universes
    there.

  • It’s literally impossible, due to a magical lock keeping people from
    Universe B from crossing over.


Whatever the reason, this restriction would need to be removed at some point so the plot could progress. Any ideas?



Other Details:




  • Universe A is urban, very similar to our world, albeit with several
    nonhuman sentient species and magic.

  • Universe B is a somewhat dystopian version of Universe A, humans live in walled city states, and the other races are forced to live in disorganized settlements

  • All my MCs are not human, so the Universe B main
    characters live outside these city states.







magic law urban-fantasy dimensions






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share|improve this question







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asked 11 hours ago









Sami NoSami No

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663




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New contributor





Sami No is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    People do illegal things all the time, so that can make it easy to break that restriction if you go with that. Are these mirrors regulated somehow? Monitored? How could authorities know if you bring people from Uni-B to Uni-A?
    $endgroup$
    – Jorgomli
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site Sami No, please take the tour and read up in our help centre about how we work: How to Ask You've given some good details, but you will need to edit your question - at the moment "Any ideas?" is too broad to have a definite best answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    11 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Are the People from Uni-A able/allowed to return to Uni-A freely after paying a visit in Uni-B? If so, how are you able to tell whether someone is from Uni-A, Uni-B or even Uni-X?
    $endgroup$
    – Tobias F.
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Do you want travelling from UB to UA to become as common as it is currently for UA to UB? Or are you looking for a more rare travel opportunity? Ie once they find this method do you want it to be frequently used or more a plot device to get around the current travel restrictions, leaving the majority of UB in the dark about the new travel features to UA?
    $endgroup$
    – EveryBitHelps
    8 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Politics? If you had a topian world you wouldn't want all the dystopian natives to immigrate at once, and bring the dystopian culture with them.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    1 hour ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    People do illegal things all the time, so that can make it easy to break that restriction if you go with that. Are these mirrors regulated somehow? Monitored? How could authorities know if you bring people from Uni-B to Uni-A?
    $endgroup$
    – Jorgomli
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site Sami No, please take the tour and read up in our help centre about how we work: How to Ask You've given some good details, but you will need to edit your question - at the moment "Any ideas?" is too broad to have a definite best answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Agrajag
    11 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Are the People from Uni-A able/allowed to return to Uni-A freely after paying a visit in Uni-B? If so, how are you able to tell whether someone is from Uni-A, Uni-B or even Uni-X?
    $endgroup$
    – Tobias F.
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Do you want travelling from UB to UA to become as common as it is currently for UA to UB? Or are you looking for a more rare travel opportunity? Ie once they find this method do you want it to be frequently used or more a plot device to get around the current travel restrictions, leaving the majority of UB in the dark about the new travel features to UA?
    $endgroup$
    – EveryBitHelps
    8 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Politics? If you had a topian world you wouldn't want all the dystopian natives to immigrate at once, and bring the dystopian culture with them.
    $endgroup$
    – immibis
    1 hour ago








1




1




$begingroup$
People do illegal things all the time, so that can make it easy to break that restriction if you go with that. Are these mirrors regulated somehow? Monitored? How could authorities know if you bring people from Uni-B to Uni-A?
$endgroup$
– Jorgomli
11 hours ago




$begingroup$
People do illegal things all the time, so that can make it easy to break that restriction if you go with that. Are these mirrors regulated somehow? Monitored? How could authorities know if you bring people from Uni-B to Uni-A?
$endgroup$
– Jorgomli
11 hours ago












$begingroup$
Welcome to the site Sami No, please take the tour and read up in our help centre about how we work: How to Ask You've given some good details, but you will need to edit your question - at the moment "Any ideas?" is too broad to have a definite best answer.
$endgroup$
– Agrajag
11 hours ago




$begingroup$
Welcome to the site Sami No, please take the tour and read up in our help centre about how we work: How to Ask You've given some good details, but you will need to edit your question - at the moment "Any ideas?" is too broad to have a definite best answer.
$endgroup$
– Agrajag
11 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
Are the People from Uni-A able/allowed to return to Uni-A freely after paying a visit in Uni-B? If so, how are you able to tell whether someone is from Uni-A, Uni-B or even Uni-X?
$endgroup$
– Tobias F.
10 hours ago




$begingroup$
Are the People from Uni-A able/allowed to return to Uni-A freely after paying a visit in Uni-B? If so, how are you able to tell whether someone is from Uni-A, Uni-B or even Uni-X?
$endgroup$
– Tobias F.
10 hours ago












$begingroup$
Do you want travelling from UB to UA to become as common as it is currently for UA to UB? Or are you looking for a more rare travel opportunity? Ie once they find this method do you want it to be frequently used or more a plot device to get around the current travel restrictions, leaving the majority of UB in the dark about the new travel features to UA?
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
8 hours ago




$begingroup$
Do you want travelling from UB to UA to become as common as it is currently for UA to UB? Or are you looking for a more rare travel opportunity? Ie once they find this method do you want it to be frequently used or more a plot device to get around the current travel restrictions, leaving the majority of UB in the dark about the new travel features to UA?
$endgroup$
– EveryBitHelps
8 hours ago












$begingroup$
Politics? If you had a topian world you wouldn't want all the dystopian natives to immigrate at once, and bring the dystopian culture with them.
$endgroup$
– immibis
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
Politics? If you had a topian world you wouldn't want all the dystopian natives to immigrate at once, and bring the dystopian culture with them.
$endgroup$
– immibis
1 hour ago










13 Answers
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Universe B does not (yet) have magic mirrors.



Universe A magic mirrors do not connect with a corresponding Universe B magic mirror. Sort of like In Mary Poppins, Bert's sidewalk chalk painting does not connect with a sidewalk chalk painting at the destination - Bert, Mary and the kids enter the chalk painting and emerge in the countryside of the alternate dimension. The cartoon residents of that dimension cannot come into our dimension the same way. Your mirrors connect similarly - some way such that people come thru and go back the way they came, but not vice versa. B people cannot use this route to leave B.



In Mary Poppins they were pulled back to their own world when the chalk painting was destroyed by rain. Maybe something has to happen to the mirror in A to pull the travelers back through - like the lights go out. It would be a good story way to ensure you were not trapped - your magic mirror is set in the garden, and you have until sundown. Unless there are artificial lights...



-



Later in your story the Universe B people, realizing that magic mirrors are possible, eventually make their own. They too are one way and they are more Universe B; different, possibly sinister.






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    Because everyone knows they would die



    In Universe A these mirrors are well known and studied by some very smart people. Even though the average Joe cannot easily obtain a mirror, it is well known to the average UA resident that if you try to bring anything living from Universe B back into UA it will die. Everyone knows this in UA, it's a simple fact that everyone has heard. I mean have you ever met anyone on the street not from this universe?



    If anyone from UB asks to come with the characters back to UB, the character from UA will have to tell them that unfortunately it just is isn't possible. As everyone in UA knows, a UB'er will not survive the trip into UA. You can even add horrible details of how painful they heard the death was.



    But....



    Through a series of events someone from UB either decides to risk it, accidentally falls into the mirror, or is faced with a dire situation anyways, so hey why not. Much to their surprise they open their eyes to UA, and conveniently for them they are still breathing.



    Turns out those smart people had a reason to misinform people, and due to the rarity of the mirrors, and the high cost of proving them wrong those smart people were successful.






    share|improve this answer









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    • 2




      $begingroup$
      "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
      $endgroup$
      – Chronocidal
      9 hours ago






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      @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
      $endgroup$
      – TheJahh
      8 hours ago



















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    Disease.



    Before travelling from Universe A to Universe B, you have to get a set of vaccines to prevent you from contracting common Universe B illnesses. If you do show signs of contagion, there are procedures in place for returning to the Universe A medical center and getting treatment in quarantine. All Universe A citizens are well informed that allowing a Universe B resident to travel into Universe A has the potential to trigger a plague that could kill off millions of people.



    Later, you could have someone "find a cure" for the disease (or determine Universe A residents couldn't contract it in the first place), retracting the travel ban. Or you could determine that it's only actually contagious if you show certain signs within the last three weeks, or a Universe B resident stole a mirror and released the plague already, sending all Universe A citizens running to the doctor for a vaccine they wouldn't normally bother to get. At this point, why bother closing the barn door after the cows have gotten out?






    share|improve this answer









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    • $begingroup$
      You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
      $endgroup$
      – Peteris
      8 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
      $endgroup$
      – bta
      5 hours ago



















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    The level of ambient magic in Universe B could simply not be high enough for its natives to pass through a portal. Natives of Universe A are not creating a connection when traveling back to Universe A, but are just dropping their current connection.



    Perhaps the existance of the portals is actually bleeding magic from Universe A into Universe B, and eventually, the ambient magic of Universe B will rise high enough to allow B-to-A travel.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$





















      2












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      The Evil One



      Once, long ago, a great evil arose in Universe A. After a Great War, in which many heroic deeds were done and many horrible things happened, the mages of Universe A united in one last, desperate attempt to defeat The Evil One (whose name shall not be mentioned). They were unable to kill this being, but managed to imprison him in his home realm, Universe B. This prison is secured with seven great seals, kept hidden lest they be discovered and destroyed, freeing The Evil One to wreak havoc upon Universe A once more.



      Now, millenia later, the Great War is but a distant memory, and few people actually believe it happened, or that there ever was an Evil One. Dramatic progress has been made into dimensional travel, but the strange fact that only one-way travel to Universe B is not entirely understood. Experts suspect that it is caused by a magical shield, which is anchored somehow by physical objects, but they are not entirely sure how or why it was created. To solve this dilemma and to allow free passage and trade with the disadvantaged people of Universe B, they find an unlikely hero and his ragtag band of misfits, and task them with a great quest: to find a way to unite the peoples of Universe A and Universe B in harmony and great justice.



      Meanwhile, a Great Evil broods and watches, yearning to once more spread his malign influence over the delicious feast once denied him...






      share|improve this answer









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        $begingroup$

        One such possibility is that the laws of physics are different between the universes, and universe B biology is incompatible with universe A physics.



        For example, suppose that Universe A does not have quantum tunnelling. Thus, the lifeforms there don't need it. If they travel to Universe B, they are largely unaffected. However, The lifeforms in Universe B depend on quantum tunneling. If they were to travel over, they would die, or face medical problems, as you decide.



        This gets somewhat easier to justify if magic is involved. There could be incompatible magics, much like incompatible blood types.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$





















          1












          $begingroup$

          The planar travel is possible only if some particular restraints are met.



          Let's say that in the universe B there is a big abundance of metals in the environment, so that the majority of its inhabitants are slightly poisoned by heavy metals (think of mercury poisoning: it could also give an explanation of why the world B is a dystopic version of A).

          Planar travel is possible only if the person has "low content" of metals, otherwise he/she would simply slam against the glass; people of A have no problem, but people of B would simply contain too much of forbidden substances to cross the mirror.
          People of A, while in the universe B, would need to give big attention to what they eat, avoiding food that could contain metal, otherwise they couldn't come home. This would be a stimulus for the wizards of world A to improve the magic of the mirrors, reducing the limits that can prevent the travel, to the point that eventually even people of B will be able to cross the mirrors.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            1












            $begingroup$

            Mirrors are linked to their travelers



            Any one can safely travel through a Mirror from World A (I'll refer to all worlds merely by letter from now on) to B, and thence, back through that mirror return to A. However, Travelling through a Mirror from B will send the traveler to C. Unfortunately C is desolate, inhospitable and unpopulated. Normally anyone who travels there perishes since there are no mirrors to return to B through. Since no one ever comes back from B everyone just assumes it's lethal to travel by mirror originating from B. Eventually someone does bring a mirror through from B to C after which it's discovered that mirror travel from C to A is possible, and travelers from B can return from C to B through the one mirror that was brought there.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$





















              1












              $begingroup$

              They are missing a spacial dimension, such as in the tale of Flatland or Interstellar (2014 movie).



              Members of Universe A can interact with Universe B by ignoring their extra spacial dimension(s), but members of B cannot gain the dimensions that would allow them to enter or perhaps even properly perceive A.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$





















                1












                $begingroup$

                Explanation:



                The "magical lock" is actually placed on mirrors in Universe B by a secret order of humans tasked with preventing the other "savage" non-human races from traveling over to Universe A and obtaining technology that would be able to obliterate humans.



                Source of Magic:



                The source of magic in each universe is the combined wisdom and magical ability of all magic-wielding inhabitants. Universe A has many more highly adept magic users, owing to its relatively stable and functional society.



                The Lock:



                The strength of the lock is directly proportional to the magic abilities of the lock creator(s) and maintainer(s). In the case of Universe B, the human lock builders were very powerful and the secret order has maintained knowledge of and skill with magics that have been otherwise lost to the rest of the inhabitants. There has to this point never been an individual or group of magic users with enough ability to override a lock (many have tried). Killing one or more of the secret order diminishes the strength of the locks until/unless the order is replenished.



                Travel:



                Travelers from A->B maintain a magical connection back to the point of origin that allows them to return from any mirror in Universe B. In all but the rarest of cases, they do need to keep a talisman/device on their person that taps into the source of Universe A magic. The talisman temporarily unlocks (but does not destroy) any Universe B lock. The talisman itself is magic- and gene-locked, which means it cannot open a mirror portal without a willing, living magic user (i.e., no chopping off a hand or holding a gun to the talisman-holder's head).



                Resolutions:




                • A human from the secret order goes haywire and (magically or otherwise) forces the other members to release one or more locks.

                • A human from the secret order has a child with a non-human and over time, diplomacy prevails and the multiple species become allies. The locks are released.

                • A human from the secret order falls in love with a non-human and gives them a way to "overthrow" the humans.

                • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The child grows up with a connection to the source of magic in both universes. Whenever someone travels from A->B, the child is able to tap into the vast magic reserves of Universe A. Over time, they become the most powerful magic user in Universe B.

                • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The mother or father or both are killed at some point, leaving behind a talisman. The child's magic "profile" and genes match those of its parent from Universe A, allowing it to use the talisman.


                Anyway, variations on a theme. I hope something in here helps you.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                $endgroup$





















                  1












                  $begingroup$

                  Racism



                  Humans in universe B have all existing portals to universe A.



                  They refuse to travel to Universe A because they let all these subhuman species mingle together, also, they aren't terribly keen on letting their resident non-humans escape oppression via mass exodus through these mirrors, so the mirrors to Universe A are kept under close observation.



                  Likewise, Universe A isn't too keen on being a destination for refugees from this backwater hell hole of a universe - all the humans are bigoted jerks, and if they started taking in the non-humans it'd get to be a serious immigration problem. Similarly, if any of their own people went over, their either weirdo human supremacists, or they were insane enough to travel to a world where their own kind is totally oppressed, so in general Universe A isn't terribly keen on letting anyone from Universe B pop on over.






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$





















                    0












                    $begingroup$

                    Evolution of Conceptualization



                    That an item can be enchanted at all is a concept that requires people to evolve spiritually and mentally enough to enable the enchantment.



                    "A" people have spent countless generations becoming aware of this concept and gradually attained the ability at a societal level to easily enchant an item for travel to "B".



                    "B" people are in a younger universe and haven't yet evolved to that level of conceptualization needed to make the enchantment work for them... or at least they hadn't until plot progression event X occurred.



                    Perhaps event X was simply some "C" people that were tired of waiting for "A" people to next conceptualize travel to "C" and nudged things along. After all, all "C's" know that A + B tranposed by X = C.






                    share|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$





















                      0












                      $begingroup$

                      Universe B is quite literally the opposite version of Universe A. So much so, that everything in Universe B is in fact made of antimatter.



                      Antimatter is perfectly harmless with itself and behaves exactly like ordinary matter (other than the fact that they have positrons and antiprotons instead of electrons and protons). However, we all know that matter and antimatter don't mix: when such particles interact, they violently transform into pure energy.



                      So how can people from Universe A use the mirrors to explore Universe B? Well, the mirrors are more than mere portals between universes. A better analogy would be an airlock. Crossing the mirror from A to B applies a magical "antimatter shielding" to each individual particle, such that they behave exactly like antimatter particles.



                      When returning to Universe A, the shielding is stripped away and the ordinary matter behaves ordinarily once again.



                      Unfortunately, the mirrors were developed with this explicit "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" rule. Therefore, if anyone or anything from Universe B tries to cross into Universe A, the mirror won't be able to place "matter shielding" on them... to horrendous effect.



                      Now, you can choose how secure the mirrors are regarding Universe B objects.




                      • They can be dangerously unsecure, such that objects and people CAN cross, but there are just rules forbidding it for the simple reason that if anything were to cross, it'd be the equivalent of multiple nuclear bombs the moment they crossed.1 This would be the equivalent of the mirror going "oh, this object has no shielding to wax off, so ignore it".

                      • They can be secure, forbidding non-shielded (anti)matter from crossing back into Universe A. You can also choose how severe this security feature is:


                        • It may be harmless to those attempting to cross: the mirror momentarily shuts down as soon as the first non-shielded molecule attempts to cross1

                        • It may be harmful: the mirror allows the molecules to enter,2 but upon detecting that they are unshielded, destroys them. So if someone from Universe B puts their hand through the mirror, they'll no longer have a hand.

                        • It may be lethal: the mirror allows entire objects/people3 to enter before determining whether they are unshielded. If so, the entire object/person is destroyed.






                      Later on, this problem is somehow overcome, such that people from Universe B can cross over to Universe A.



                      As others have suggested, this may be by people from Universe B developing their own mirrors. This would imply that members of each universe must use different mirrors.



                      Another option is that someone figures out how to "hack" the original mirrors to allow passage. You can once again decide how easy or hard this is:




                      • They just had to change the mirror's behavior from "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" to "unshielded = wax on", "shielded = wax off". This implies that the antimatter shielding for ordinary matter can be trivially repurposed as ordinary-matter shielding for antimatter.

                      • They had to develop shielding suitable to make antimatter behave like ordinary matter, and then make the mirror's "code" more complex: "if A-matter, A $rightarrow$ B = wax on antimatter shielding, B $rightarrow$ A = wax off antimatter shielding; if B-matter, B $rightarrow$ A = wax on ordinary matter shielding, A $rightarrow$ B = wax off ordinary matter shielding".




                      1 (yes, this footnote appears twice above) Some magic handwaving will be needed to explain why random air molecules from Universe B aren't a problem (either generating massive heat on the Universe A side or causing the mirror to constantly shut down). Or just ignore this point.



                      2 Note the word here is "enter", not "cross". This implies that the mirror isn't a door, but a bridge between the two dimensions, such that objects actually don't go A $rightarrow$ B (or vice versa), but A $rightarrow$ mirror bridge $rightarrow$ B. The travel between both ends can be virtually instantaneous as far as anyone is concerned, but this bridge is the "safe zone" where the unauthorized unshielded antimatter can be safely destroyed before it can enter Universe A.



                      3 Some more magic handwaving (or authorial ignoring) will be needed to explain how the mirror identifies what constitutes an "entire object/person".






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$













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                        13 Answers
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                        19












                        $begingroup$

                        Universe B does not (yet) have magic mirrors.



                        Universe A magic mirrors do not connect with a corresponding Universe B magic mirror. Sort of like In Mary Poppins, Bert's sidewalk chalk painting does not connect with a sidewalk chalk painting at the destination - Bert, Mary and the kids enter the chalk painting and emerge in the countryside of the alternate dimension. The cartoon residents of that dimension cannot come into our dimension the same way. Your mirrors connect similarly - some way such that people come thru and go back the way they came, but not vice versa. B people cannot use this route to leave B.



                        In Mary Poppins they were pulled back to their own world when the chalk painting was destroyed by rain. Maybe something has to happen to the mirror in A to pull the travelers back through - like the lights go out. It would be a good story way to ensure you were not trapped - your magic mirror is set in the garden, and you have until sundown. Unless there are artificial lights...



                        -



                        Later in your story the Universe B people, realizing that magic mirrors are possible, eventually make their own. They too are one way and they are more Universe B; different, possibly sinister.






                        share|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          19












                          $begingroup$

                          Universe B does not (yet) have magic mirrors.



                          Universe A magic mirrors do not connect with a corresponding Universe B magic mirror. Sort of like In Mary Poppins, Bert's sidewalk chalk painting does not connect with a sidewalk chalk painting at the destination - Bert, Mary and the kids enter the chalk painting and emerge in the countryside of the alternate dimension. The cartoon residents of that dimension cannot come into our dimension the same way. Your mirrors connect similarly - some way such that people come thru and go back the way they came, but not vice versa. B people cannot use this route to leave B.



                          In Mary Poppins they were pulled back to their own world when the chalk painting was destroyed by rain. Maybe something has to happen to the mirror in A to pull the travelers back through - like the lights go out. It would be a good story way to ensure you were not trapped - your magic mirror is set in the garden, and you have until sundown. Unless there are artificial lights...



                          -



                          Later in your story the Universe B people, realizing that magic mirrors are possible, eventually make their own. They too are one way and they are more Universe B; different, possibly sinister.






                          share|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            19












                            19








                            19





                            $begingroup$

                            Universe B does not (yet) have magic mirrors.



                            Universe A magic mirrors do not connect with a corresponding Universe B magic mirror. Sort of like In Mary Poppins, Bert's sidewalk chalk painting does not connect with a sidewalk chalk painting at the destination - Bert, Mary and the kids enter the chalk painting and emerge in the countryside of the alternate dimension. The cartoon residents of that dimension cannot come into our dimension the same way. Your mirrors connect similarly - some way such that people come thru and go back the way they came, but not vice versa. B people cannot use this route to leave B.



                            In Mary Poppins they were pulled back to their own world when the chalk painting was destroyed by rain. Maybe something has to happen to the mirror in A to pull the travelers back through - like the lights go out. It would be a good story way to ensure you were not trapped - your magic mirror is set in the garden, and you have until sundown. Unless there are artificial lights...



                            -



                            Later in your story the Universe B people, realizing that magic mirrors are possible, eventually make their own. They too are one way and they are more Universe B; different, possibly sinister.






                            share|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            Universe B does not (yet) have magic mirrors.



                            Universe A magic mirrors do not connect with a corresponding Universe B magic mirror. Sort of like In Mary Poppins, Bert's sidewalk chalk painting does not connect with a sidewalk chalk painting at the destination - Bert, Mary and the kids enter the chalk painting and emerge in the countryside of the alternate dimension. The cartoon residents of that dimension cannot come into our dimension the same way. Your mirrors connect similarly - some way such that people come thru and go back the way they came, but not vice versa. B people cannot use this route to leave B.



                            In Mary Poppins they were pulled back to their own world when the chalk painting was destroyed by rain. Maybe something has to happen to the mirror in A to pull the travelers back through - like the lights go out. It would be a good story way to ensure you were not trapped - your magic mirror is set in the garden, and you have until sundown. Unless there are artificial lights...



                            -



                            Later in your story the Universe B people, realizing that magic mirrors are possible, eventually make their own. They too are one way and they are more Universe B; different, possibly sinister.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 10 hours ago









                            WillkWillk

                            110k26206461




                            110k26206461























                                9












                                $begingroup$

                                Because everyone knows they would die



                                In Universe A these mirrors are well known and studied by some very smart people. Even though the average Joe cannot easily obtain a mirror, it is well known to the average UA resident that if you try to bring anything living from Universe B back into UA it will die. Everyone knows this in UA, it's a simple fact that everyone has heard. I mean have you ever met anyone on the street not from this universe?



                                If anyone from UB asks to come with the characters back to UB, the character from UA will have to tell them that unfortunately it just is isn't possible. As everyone in UA knows, a UB'er will not survive the trip into UA. You can even add horrible details of how painful they heard the death was.



                                But....



                                Through a series of events someone from UB either decides to risk it, accidentally falls into the mirror, or is faced with a dire situation anyways, so hey why not. Much to their surprise they open their eyes to UA, and conveniently for them they are still breathing.



                                Turns out those smart people had a reason to misinform people, and due to the rarity of the mirrors, and the high cost of proving them wrong those smart people were successful.






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$









                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Chronocidal
                                  9 hours ago






                                • 1




                                  $begingroup$
                                  @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – TheJahh
                                  8 hours ago
















                                9












                                $begingroup$

                                Because everyone knows they would die



                                In Universe A these mirrors are well known and studied by some very smart people. Even though the average Joe cannot easily obtain a mirror, it is well known to the average UA resident that if you try to bring anything living from Universe B back into UA it will die. Everyone knows this in UA, it's a simple fact that everyone has heard. I mean have you ever met anyone on the street not from this universe?



                                If anyone from UB asks to come with the characters back to UB, the character from UA will have to tell them that unfortunately it just is isn't possible. As everyone in UA knows, a UB'er will not survive the trip into UA. You can even add horrible details of how painful they heard the death was.



                                But....



                                Through a series of events someone from UB either decides to risk it, accidentally falls into the mirror, or is faced with a dire situation anyways, so hey why not. Much to their surprise they open their eyes to UA, and conveniently for them they are still breathing.



                                Turns out those smart people had a reason to misinform people, and due to the rarity of the mirrors, and the high cost of proving them wrong those smart people were successful.






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$









                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Chronocidal
                                  9 hours ago






                                • 1




                                  $begingroup$
                                  @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – TheJahh
                                  8 hours ago














                                9












                                9








                                9





                                $begingroup$

                                Because everyone knows they would die



                                In Universe A these mirrors are well known and studied by some very smart people. Even though the average Joe cannot easily obtain a mirror, it is well known to the average UA resident that if you try to bring anything living from Universe B back into UA it will die. Everyone knows this in UA, it's a simple fact that everyone has heard. I mean have you ever met anyone on the street not from this universe?



                                If anyone from UB asks to come with the characters back to UB, the character from UA will have to tell them that unfortunately it just is isn't possible. As everyone in UA knows, a UB'er will not survive the trip into UA. You can even add horrible details of how painful they heard the death was.



                                But....



                                Through a series of events someone from UB either decides to risk it, accidentally falls into the mirror, or is faced with a dire situation anyways, so hey why not. Much to their surprise they open their eyes to UA, and conveniently for them they are still breathing.



                                Turns out those smart people had a reason to misinform people, and due to the rarity of the mirrors, and the high cost of proving them wrong those smart people were successful.






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$



                                Because everyone knows they would die



                                In Universe A these mirrors are well known and studied by some very smart people. Even though the average Joe cannot easily obtain a mirror, it is well known to the average UA resident that if you try to bring anything living from Universe B back into UA it will die. Everyone knows this in UA, it's a simple fact that everyone has heard. I mean have you ever met anyone on the street not from this universe?



                                If anyone from UB asks to come with the characters back to UB, the character from UA will have to tell them that unfortunately it just is isn't possible. As everyone in UA knows, a UB'er will not survive the trip into UA. You can even add horrible details of how painful they heard the death was.



                                But....



                                Through a series of events someone from UB either decides to risk it, accidentally falls into the mirror, or is faced with a dire situation anyways, so hey why not. Much to their surprise they open their eyes to UA, and conveniently for them they are still breathing.



                                Turns out those smart people had a reason to misinform people, and due to the rarity of the mirrors, and the high cost of proving them wrong those smart people were successful.







                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered 9 hours ago









                                TheJahhTheJahh

                                93624




                                93624








                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Chronocidal
                                  9 hours ago






                                • 1




                                  $begingroup$
                                  @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – TheJahh
                                  8 hours ago














                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Chronocidal
                                  9 hours ago






                                • 1




                                  $begingroup$
                                  @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – TheJahh
                                  8 hours ago








                                2




                                2




                                $begingroup$
                                "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
                                $endgroup$
                                – Chronocidal
                                9 hours ago




                                $begingroup$
                                "Hey, we've run out of lethal injections for all these mass murdering psychopaths!" "Eh, no problem - just chuck 'em through a mirror portal" "... Whoops!"
                                $endgroup$
                                – Chronocidal
                                9 hours ago




                                1




                                1




                                $begingroup$
                                @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
                                $endgroup$
                                – TheJahh
                                8 hours ago




                                $begingroup$
                                @Chronocidal that flaw is left in intentionally, I am assuming the mirrors are rare enough that this unlikely, and in theory no-one in UB owns a mirror. Plus there are better things like volcanoes, middle of the ocean, vat a piranhas, etc that could be used.
                                $endgroup$
                                – TheJahh
                                8 hours ago











                                5












                                $begingroup$

                                Disease.



                                Before travelling from Universe A to Universe B, you have to get a set of vaccines to prevent you from contracting common Universe B illnesses. If you do show signs of contagion, there are procedures in place for returning to the Universe A medical center and getting treatment in quarantine. All Universe A citizens are well informed that allowing a Universe B resident to travel into Universe A has the potential to trigger a plague that could kill off millions of people.



                                Later, you could have someone "find a cure" for the disease (or determine Universe A residents couldn't contract it in the first place), retracting the travel ban. Or you could determine that it's only actually contagious if you show certain signs within the last three weeks, or a Universe B resident stole a mirror and released the plague already, sending all Universe A citizens running to the doctor for a vaccine they wouldn't normally bother to get. At this point, why bother closing the barn door after the cows have gotten out?






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$













                                • $begingroup$
                                  You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Peteris
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – bta
                                  5 hours ago
















                                5












                                $begingroup$

                                Disease.



                                Before travelling from Universe A to Universe B, you have to get a set of vaccines to prevent you from contracting common Universe B illnesses. If you do show signs of contagion, there are procedures in place for returning to the Universe A medical center and getting treatment in quarantine. All Universe A citizens are well informed that allowing a Universe B resident to travel into Universe A has the potential to trigger a plague that could kill off millions of people.



                                Later, you could have someone "find a cure" for the disease (or determine Universe A residents couldn't contract it in the first place), retracting the travel ban. Or you could determine that it's only actually contagious if you show certain signs within the last three weeks, or a Universe B resident stole a mirror and released the plague already, sending all Universe A citizens running to the doctor for a vaccine they wouldn't normally bother to get. At this point, why bother closing the barn door after the cows have gotten out?






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$













                                • $begingroup$
                                  You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Peteris
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – bta
                                  5 hours ago














                                5












                                5








                                5





                                $begingroup$

                                Disease.



                                Before travelling from Universe A to Universe B, you have to get a set of vaccines to prevent you from contracting common Universe B illnesses. If you do show signs of contagion, there are procedures in place for returning to the Universe A medical center and getting treatment in quarantine. All Universe A citizens are well informed that allowing a Universe B resident to travel into Universe A has the potential to trigger a plague that could kill off millions of people.



                                Later, you could have someone "find a cure" for the disease (or determine Universe A residents couldn't contract it in the first place), retracting the travel ban. Or you could determine that it's only actually contagious if you show certain signs within the last three weeks, or a Universe B resident stole a mirror and released the plague already, sending all Universe A citizens running to the doctor for a vaccine they wouldn't normally bother to get. At this point, why bother closing the barn door after the cows have gotten out?






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$



                                Disease.



                                Before travelling from Universe A to Universe B, you have to get a set of vaccines to prevent you from contracting common Universe B illnesses. If you do show signs of contagion, there are procedures in place for returning to the Universe A medical center and getting treatment in quarantine. All Universe A citizens are well informed that allowing a Universe B resident to travel into Universe A has the potential to trigger a plague that could kill off millions of people.



                                Later, you could have someone "find a cure" for the disease (or determine Universe A residents couldn't contract it in the first place), retracting the travel ban. Or you could determine that it's only actually contagious if you show certain signs within the last three weeks, or a Universe B resident stole a mirror and released the plague already, sending all Universe A citizens running to the doctor for a vaccine they wouldn't normally bother to get. At this point, why bother closing the barn door after the cows have gotten out?







                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered 9 hours ago









                                ChelseaChelsea

                                1,31636




                                1,31636












                                • $begingroup$
                                  You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Peteris
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – bta
                                  5 hours ago


















                                • $begingroup$
                                  You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Peteris
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – bta
                                  5 hours ago
















                                $begingroup$
                                You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
                                $endgroup$
                                – Peteris
                                8 hours ago




                                $begingroup$
                                You can combine this with Universe A having developed (based on previous encounters and risk analysis) a strictly enforced standard quarantine procedure for any incoming native organisms from Universe B that prescribes incineration. No questions asked, if stuff came in and the magical detector says it's not "ours", cleanse it with dragonfire until there's not a single living cell remaining. Assuming there's a way to "catch" incoming connections (by magic - so there's the asymmetry, Universe B can't do the same thing), that policy would provide a restriction but may be circumvented in story.
                                $endgroup$
                                – Peteris
                                8 hours ago












                                $begingroup$
                                TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
                                $endgroup$
                                – bta
                                5 hours ago




                                $begingroup$
                                TLDR version: Universe B is the antivaxxer universe.
                                $endgroup$
                                – bta
                                5 hours ago











                                4












                                $begingroup$

                                The level of ambient magic in Universe B could simply not be high enough for its natives to pass through a portal. Natives of Universe A are not creating a connection when traveling back to Universe A, but are just dropping their current connection.



                                Perhaps the existance of the portals is actually bleeding magic from Universe A into Universe B, and eventually, the ambient magic of Universe B will rise high enough to allow B-to-A travel.






                                share|improve this answer











                                $endgroup$


















                                  4












                                  $begingroup$

                                  The level of ambient magic in Universe B could simply not be high enough for its natives to pass through a portal. Natives of Universe A are not creating a connection when traveling back to Universe A, but are just dropping their current connection.



                                  Perhaps the existance of the portals is actually bleeding magic from Universe A into Universe B, and eventually, the ambient magic of Universe B will rise high enough to allow B-to-A travel.






                                  share|improve this answer











                                  $endgroup$
















                                    4












                                    4








                                    4





                                    $begingroup$

                                    The level of ambient magic in Universe B could simply not be high enough for its natives to pass through a portal. Natives of Universe A are not creating a connection when traveling back to Universe A, but are just dropping their current connection.



                                    Perhaps the existance of the portals is actually bleeding magic from Universe A into Universe B, and eventually, the ambient magic of Universe B will rise high enough to allow B-to-A travel.






                                    share|improve this answer











                                    $endgroup$



                                    The level of ambient magic in Universe B could simply not be high enough for its natives to pass through a portal. Natives of Universe A are not creating a connection when traveling back to Universe A, but are just dropping their current connection.



                                    Perhaps the existance of the portals is actually bleeding magic from Universe A into Universe B, and eventually, the ambient magic of Universe B will rise high enough to allow B-to-A travel.







                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited 5 hours ago

























                                    answered 6 hours ago









                                    Michael RichardsonMichael Richardson

                                    7,3741434




                                    7,3741434























                                        2












                                        $begingroup$

                                        The Evil One



                                        Once, long ago, a great evil arose in Universe A. After a Great War, in which many heroic deeds were done and many horrible things happened, the mages of Universe A united in one last, desperate attempt to defeat The Evil One (whose name shall not be mentioned). They were unable to kill this being, but managed to imprison him in his home realm, Universe B. This prison is secured with seven great seals, kept hidden lest they be discovered and destroyed, freeing The Evil One to wreak havoc upon Universe A once more.



                                        Now, millenia later, the Great War is but a distant memory, and few people actually believe it happened, or that there ever was an Evil One. Dramatic progress has been made into dimensional travel, but the strange fact that only one-way travel to Universe B is not entirely understood. Experts suspect that it is caused by a magical shield, which is anchored somehow by physical objects, but they are not entirely sure how or why it was created. To solve this dilemma and to allow free passage and trade with the disadvantaged people of Universe B, they find an unlikely hero and his ragtag band of misfits, and task them with a great quest: to find a way to unite the peoples of Universe A and Universe B in harmony and great justice.



                                        Meanwhile, a Great Evil broods and watches, yearning to once more spread his malign influence over the delicious feast once denied him...






                                        share|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$


















                                          2












                                          $begingroup$

                                          The Evil One



                                          Once, long ago, a great evil arose in Universe A. After a Great War, in which many heroic deeds were done and many horrible things happened, the mages of Universe A united in one last, desperate attempt to defeat The Evil One (whose name shall not be mentioned). They were unable to kill this being, but managed to imprison him in his home realm, Universe B. This prison is secured with seven great seals, kept hidden lest they be discovered and destroyed, freeing The Evil One to wreak havoc upon Universe A once more.



                                          Now, millenia later, the Great War is but a distant memory, and few people actually believe it happened, or that there ever was an Evil One. Dramatic progress has been made into dimensional travel, but the strange fact that only one-way travel to Universe B is not entirely understood. Experts suspect that it is caused by a magical shield, which is anchored somehow by physical objects, but they are not entirely sure how or why it was created. To solve this dilemma and to allow free passage and trade with the disadvantaged people of Universe B, they find an unlikely hero and his ragtag band of misfits, and task them with a great quest: to find a way to unite the peoples of Universe A and Universe B in harmony and great justice.



                                          Meanwhile, a Great Evil broods and watches, yearning to once more spread his malign influence over the delicious feast once denied him...






                                          share|improve this answer









                                          $endgroup$
















                                            2












                                            2








                                            2





                                            $begingroup$

                                            The Evil One



                                            Once, long ago, a great evil arose in Universe A. After a Great War, in which many heroic deeds were done and many horrible things happened, the mages of Universe A united in one last, desperate attempt to defeat The Evil One (whose name shall not be mentioned). They were unable to kill this being, but managed to imprison him in his home realm, Universe B. This prison is secured with seven great seals, kept hidden lest they be discovered and destroyed, freeing The Evil One to wreak havoc upon Universe A once more.



                                            Now, millenia later, the Great War is but a distant memory, and few people actually believe it happened, or that there ever was an Evil One. Dramatic progress has been made into dimensional travel, but the strange fact that only one-way travel to Universe B is not entirely understood. Experts suspect that it is caused by a magical shield, which is anchored somehow by physical objects, but they are not entirely sure how or why it was created. To solve this dilemma and to allow free passage and trade with the disadvantaged people of Universe B, they find an unlikely hero and his ragtag band of misfits, and task them with a great quest: to find a way to unite the peoples of Universe A and Universe B in harmony and great justice.



                                            Meanwhile, a Great Evil broods and watches, yearning to once more spread his malign influence over the delicious feast once denied him...






                                            share|improve this answer









                                            $endgroup$



                                            The Evil One



                                            Once, long ago, a great evil arose in Universe A. After a Great War, in which many heroic deeds were done and many horrible things happened, the mages of Universe A united in one last, desperate attempt to defeat The Evil One (whose name shall not be mentioned). They were unable to kill this being, but managed to imprison him in his home realm, Universe B. This prison is secured with seven great seals, kept hidden lest they be discovered and destroyed, freeing The Evil One to wreak havoc upon Universe A once more.



                                            Now, millenia later, the Great War is but a distant memory, and few people actually believe it happened, or that there ever was an Evil One. Dramatic progress has been made into dimensional travel, but the strange fact that only one-way travel to Universe B is not entirely understood. Experts suspect that it is caused by a magical shield, which is anchored somehow by physical objects, but they are not entirely sure how or why it was created. To solve this dilemma and to allow free passage and trade with the disadvantaged people of Universe B, they find an unlikely hero and his ragtag band of misfits, and task them with a great quest: to find a way to unite the peoples of Universe A and Universe B in harmony and great justice.



                                            Meanwhile, a Great Evil broods and watches, yearning to once more spread his malign influence over the delicious feast once denied him...







                                            share|improve this answer












                                            share|improve this answer



                                            share|improve this answer










                                            answered 8 hours ago









                                            Adam MillerAdam Miller

                                            1,632716




                                            1,632716























                                                1












                                                $begingroup$

                                                One such possibility is that the laws of physics are different between the universes, and universe B biology is incompatible with universe A physics.



                                                For example, suppose that Universe A does not have quantum tunnelling. Thus, the lifeforms there don't need it. If they travel to Universe B, they are largely unaffected. However, The lifeforms in Universe B depend on quantum tunneling. If they were to travel over, they would die, or face medical problems, as you decide.



                                                This gets somewhat easier to justify if magic is involved. There could be incompatible magics, much like incompatible blood types.






                                                share|improve this answer









                                                $endgroup$


















                                                  1












                                                  $begingroup$

                                                  One such possibility is that the laws of physics are different between the universes, and universe B biology is incompatible with universe A physics.



                                                  For example, suppose that Universe A does not have quantum tunnelling. Thus, the lifeforms there don't need it. If they travel to Universe B, they are largely unaffected. However, The lifeforms in Universe B depend on quantum tunneling. If they were to travel over, they would die, or face medical problems, as you decide.



                                                  This gets somewhat easier to justify if magic is involved. There could be incompatible magics, much like incompatible blood types.






                                                  share|improve this answer









                                                  $endgroup$
















                                                    1












                                                    1








                                                    1





                                                    $begingroup$

                                                    One such possibility is that the laws of physics are different between the universes, and universe B biology is incompatible with universe A physics.



                                                    For example, suppose that Universe A does not have quantum tunnelling. Thus, the lifeforms there don't need it. If they travel to Universe B, they are largely unaffected. However, The lifeforms in Universe B depend on quantum tunneling. If they were to travel over, they would die, or face medical problems, as you decide.



                                                    This gets somewhat easier to justify if magic is involved. There could be incompatible magics, much like incompatible blood types.






                                                    share|improve this answer









                                                    $endgroup$



                                                    One such possibility is that the laws of physics are different between the universes, and universe B biology is incompatible with universe A physics.



                                                    For example, suppose that Universe A does not have quantum tunnelling. Thus, the lifeforms there don't need it. If they travel to Universe B, they are largely unaffected. However, The lifeforms in Universe B depend on quantum tunneling. If they were to travel over, they would die, or face medical problems, as you decide.



                                                    This gets somewhat easier to justify if magic is involved. There could be incompatible magics, much like incompatible blood types.







                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                    answered 8 hours ago









                                                    BillThePlatypusBillThePlatypus

                                                    915




                                                    915























                                                        1












                                                        $begingroup$

                                                        The planar travel is possible only if some particular restraints are met.



                                                        Let's say that in the universe B there is a big abundance of metals in the environment, so that the majority of its inhabitants are slightly poisoned by heavy metals (think of mercury poisoning: it could also give an explanation of why the world B is a dystopic version of A).

                                                        Planar travel is possible only if the person has "low content" of metals, otherwise he/she would simply slam against the glass; people of A have no problem, but people of B would simply contain too much of forbidden substances to cross the mirror.
                                                        People of A, while in the universe B, would need to give big attention to what they eat, avoiding food that could contain metal, otherwise they couldn't come home. This would be a stimulus for the wizards of world A to improve the magic of the mirrors, reducing the limits that can prevent the travel, to the point that eventually even people of B will be able to cross the mirrors.






                                                        share|improve this answer









                                                        $endgroup$


















                                                          1












                                                          $begingroup$

                                                          The planar travel is possible only if some particular restraints are met.



                                                          Let's say that in the universe B there is a big abundance of metals in the environment, so that the majority of its inhabitants are slightly poisoned by heavy metals (think of mercury poisoning: it could also give an explanation of why the world B is a dystopic version of A).

                                                          Planar travel is possible only if the person has "low content" of metals, otherwise he/she would simply slam against the glass; people of A have no problem, but people of B would simply contain too much of forbidden substances to cross the mirror.
                                                          People of A, while in the universe B, would need to give big attention to what they eat, avoiding food that could contain metal, otherwise they couldn't come home. This would be a stimulus for the wizards of world A to improve the magic of the mirrors, reducing the limits that can prevent the travel, to the point that eventually even people of B will be able to cross the mirrors.






                                                          share|improve this answer









                                                          $endgroup$
















                                                            1












                                                            1








                                                            1





                                                            $begingroup$

                                                            The planar travel is possible only if some particular restraints are met.



                                                            Let's say that in the universe B there is a big abundance of metals in the environment, so that the majority of its inhabitants are slightly poisoned by heavy metals (think of mercury poisoning: it could also give an explanation of why the world B is a dystopic version of A).

                                                            Planar travel is possible only if the person has "low content" of metals, otherwise he/she would simply slam against the glass; people of A have no problem, but people of B would simply contain too much of forbidden substances to cross the mirror.
                                                            People of A, while in the universe B, would need to give big attention to what they eat, avoiding food that could contain metal, otherwise they couldn't come home. This would be a stimulus for the wizards of world A to improve the magic of the mirrors, reducing the limits that can prevent the travel, to the point that eventually even people of B will be able to cross the mirrors.






                                                            share|improve this answer









                                                            $endgroup$



                                                            The planar travel is possible only if some particular restraints are met.



                                                            Let's say that in the universe B there is a big abundance of metals in the environment, so that the majority of its inhabitants are slightly poisoned by heavy metals (think of mercury poisoning: it could also give an explanation of why the world B is a dystopic version of A).

                                                            Planar travel is possible only if the person has "low content" of metals, otherwise he/she would simply slam against the glass; people of A have no problem, but people of B would simply contain too much of forbidden substances to cross the mirror.
                                                            People of A, while in the universe B, would need to give big attention to what they eat, avoiding food that could contain metal, otherwise they couldn't come home. This would be a stimulus for the wizards of world A to improve the magic of the mirrors, reducing the limits that can prevent the travel, to the point that eventually even people of B will be able to cross the mirrors.







                                                            share|improve this answer












                                                            share|improve this answer



                                                            share|improve this answer










                                                            answered 8 hours ago









                                                            McTroopersMcTroopers

                                                            6555




                                                            6555























                                                                1












                                                                $begingroup$

                                                                Mirrors are linked to their travelers



                                                                Any one can safely travel through a Mirror from World A (I'll refer to all worlds merely by letter from now on) to B, and thence, back through that mirror return to A. However, Travelling through a Mirror from B will send the traveler to C. Unfortunately C is desolate, inhospitable and unpopulated. Normally anyone who travels there perishes since there are no mirrors to return to B through. Since no one ever comes back from B everyone just assumes it's lethal to travel by mirror originating from B. Eventually someone does bring a mirror through from B to C after which it's discovered that mirror travel from C to A is possible, and travelers from B can return from C to B through the one mirror that was brought there.






                                                                share|improve this answer









                                                                $endgroup$


















                                                                  1












                                                                  $begingroup$

                                                                  Mirrors are linked to their travelers



                                                                  Any one can safely travel through a Mirror from World A (I'll refer to all worlds merely by letter from now on) to B, and thence, back through that mirror return to A. However, Travelling through a Mirror from B will send the traveler to C. Unfortunately C is desolate, inhospitable and unpopulated. Normally anyone who travels there perishes since there are no mirrors to return to B through. Since no one ever comes back from B everyone just assumes it's lethal to travel by mirror originating from B. Eventually someone does bring a mirror through from B to C after which it's discovered that mirror travel from C to A is possible, and travelers from B can return from C to B through the one mirror that was brought there.






                                                                  share|improve this answer









                                                                  $endgroup$
















                                                                    1












                                                                    1








                                                                    1





                                                                    $begingroup$

                                                                    Mirrors are linked to their travelers



                                                                    Any one can safely travel through a Mirror from World A (I'll refer to all worlds merely by letter from now on) to B, and thence, back through that mirror return to A. However, Travelling through a Mirror from B will send the traveler to C. Unfortunately C is desolate, inhospitable and unpopulated. Normally anyone who travels there perishes since there are no mirrors to return to B through. Since no one ever comes back from B everyone just assumes it's lethal to travel by mirror originating from B. Eventually someone does bring a mirror through from B to C after which it's discovered that mirror travel from C to A is possible, and travelers from B can return from C to B through the one mirror that was brought there.






                                                                    share|improve this answer









                                                                    $endgroup$



                                                                    Mirrors are linked to their travelers



                                                                    Any one can safely travel through a Mirror from World A (I'll refer to all worlds merely by letter from now on) to B, and thence, back through that mirror return to A. However, Travelling through a Mirror from B will send the traveler to C. Unfortunately C is desolate, inhospitable and unpopulated. Normally anyone who travels there perishes since there are no mirrors to return to B through. Since no one ever comes back from B everyone just assumes it's lethal to travel by mirror originating from B. Eventually someone does bring a mirror through from B to C after which it's discovered that mirror travel from C to A is possible, and travelers from B can return from C to B through the one mirror that was brought there.







                                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                                    answered 7 hours ago









                                                                    aslumaslum

                                                                    4,8771326




                                                                    4,8771326























                                                                        1












                                                                        $begingroup$

                                                                        They are missing a spacial dimension, such as in the tale of Flatland or Interstellar (2014 movie).



                                                                        Members of Universe A can interact with Universe B by ignoring their extra spacial dimension(s), but members of B cannot gain the dimensions that would allow them to enter or perhaps even properly perceive A.






                                                                        share|improve this answer











                                                                        $endgroup$


















                                                                          1












                                                                          $begingroup$

                                                                          They are missing a spacial dimension, such as in the tale of Flatland or Interstellar (2014 movie).



                                                                          Members of Universe A can interact with Universe B by ignoring their extra spacial dimension(s), but members of B cannot gain the dimensions that would allow them to enter or perhaps even properly perceive A.






                                                                          share|improve this answer











                                                                          $endgroup$
















                                                                            1












                                                                            1








                                                                            1





                                                                            $begingroup$

                                                                            They are missing a spacial dimension, such as in the tale of Flatland or Interstellar (2014 movie).



                                                                            Members of Universe A can interact with Universe B by ignoring their extra spacial dimension(s), but members of B cannot gain the dimensions that would allow them to enter or perhaps even properly perceive A.






                                                                            share|improve this answer











                                                                            $endgroup$



                                                                            They are missing a spacial dimension, such as in the tale of Flatland or Interstellar (2014 movie).



                                                                            Members of Universe A can interact with Universe B by ignoring their extra spacial dimension(s), but members of B cannot gain the dimensions that would allow them to enter or perhaps even properly perceive A.







                                                                            share|improve this answer














                                                                            share|improve this answer



                                                                            share|improve this answer








                                                                            edited 6 hours ago

























                                                                            answered 8 hours ago









                                                                            ti7ti7

                                                                            1154




                                                                            1154























                                                                                1












                                                                                $begingroup$

                                                                                Explanation:



                                                                                The "magical lock" is actually placed on mirrors in Universe B by a secret order of humans tasked with preventing the other "savage" non-human races from traveling over to Universe A and obtaining technology that would be able to obliterate humans.



                                                                                Source of Magic:



                                                                                The source of magic in each universe is the combined wisdom and magical ability of all magic-wielding inhabitants. Universe A has many more highly adept magic users, owing to its relatively stable and functional society.



                                                                                The Lock:



                                                                                The strength of the lock is directly proportional to the magic abilities of the lock creator(s) and maintainer(s). In the case of Universe B, the human lock builders were very powerful and the secret order has maintained knowledge of and skill with magics that have been otherwise lost to the rest of the inhabitants. There has to this point never been an individual or group of magic users with enough ability to override a lock (many have tried). Killing one or more of the secret order diminishes the strength of the locks until/unless the order is replenished.



                                                                                Travel:



                                                                                Travelers from A->B maintain a magical connection back to the point of origin that allows them to return from any mirror in Universe B. In all but the rarest of cases, they do need to keep a talisman/device on their person that taps into the source of Universe A magic. The talisman temporarily unlocks (but does not destroy) any Universe B lock. The talisman itself is magic- and gene-locked, which means it cannot open a mirror portal without a willing, living magic user (i.e., no chopping off a hand or holding a gun to the talisman-holder's head).



                                                                                Resolutions:




                                                                                • A human from the secret order goes haywire and (magically or otherwise) forces the other members to release one or more locks.

                                                                                • A human from the secret order has a child with a non-human and over time, diplomacy prevails and the multiple species become allies. The locks are released.

                                                                                • A human from the secret order falls in love with a non-human and gives them a way to "overthrow" the humans.

                                                                                • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The child grows up with a connection to the source of magic in both universes. Whenever someone travels from A->B, the child is able to tap into the vast magic reserves of Universe A. Over time, they become the most powerful magic user in Universe B.

                                                                                • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The mother or father or both are killed at some point, leaving behind a talisman. The child's magic "profile" and genes match those of its parent from Universe A, allowing it to use the talisman.


                                                                                Anyway, variations on a theme. I hope something in here helps you.






                                                                                share|improve this answer








                                                                                New contributor




                                                                                Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                                                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                                                                $endgroup$


















                                                                                  1












                                                                                  $begingroup$

                                                                                  Explanation:



                                                                                  The "magical lock" is actually placed on mirrors in Universe B by a secret order of humans tasked with preventing the other "savage" non-human races from traveling over to Universe A and obtaining technology that would be able to obliterate humans.



                                                                                  Source of Magic:



                                                                                  The source of magic in each universe is the combined wisdom and magical ability of all magic-wielding inhabitants. Universe A has many more highly adept magic users, owing to its relatively stable and functional society.



                                                                                  The Lock:



                                                                                  The strength of the lock is directly proportional to the magic abilities of the lock creator(s) and maintainer(s). In the case of Universe B, the human lock builders were very powerful and the secret order has maintained knowledge of and skill with magics that have been otherwise lost to the rest of the inhabitants. There has to this point never been an individual or group of magic users with enough ability to override a lock (many have tried). Killing one or more of the secret order diminishes the strength of the locks until/unless the order is replenished.



                                                                                  Travel:



                                                                                  Travelers from A->B maintain a magical connection back to the point of origin that allows them to return from any mirror in Universe B. In all but the rarest of cases, they do need to keep a talisman/device on their person that taps into the source of Universe A magic. The talisman temporarily unlocks (but does not destroy) any Universe B lock. The talisman itself is magic- and gene-locked, which means it cannot open a mirror portal without a willing, living magic user (i.e., no chopping off a hand or holding a gun to the talisman-holder's head).



                                                                                  Resolutions:




                                                                                  • A human from the secret order goes haywire and (magically or otherwise) forces the other members to release one or more locks.

                                                                                  • A human from the secret order has a child with a non-human and over time, diplomacy prevails and the multiple species become allies. The locks are released.

                                                                                  • A human from the secret order falls in love with a non-human and gives them a way to "overthrow" the humans.

                                                                                  • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The child grows up with a connection to the source of magic in both universes. Whenever someone travels from A->B, the child is able to tap into the vast magic reserves of Universe A. Over time, they become the most powerful magic user in Universe B.

                                                                                  • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The mother or father or both are killed at some point, leaving behind a talisman. The child's magic "profile" and genes match those of its parent from Universe A, allowing it to use the talisman.


                                                                                  Anyway, variations on a theme. I hope something in here helps you.






                                                                                  share|improve this answer








                                                                                  New contributor




                                                                                  Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                                                                  $endgroup$
















                                                                                    1












                                                                                    1








                                                                                    1





                                                                                    $begingroup$

                                                                                    Explanation:



                                                                                    The "magical lock" is actually placed on mirrors in Universe B by a secret order of humans tasked with preventing the other "savage" non-human races from traveling over to Universe A and obtaining technology that would be able to obliterate humans.



                                                                                    Source of Magic:



                                                                                    The source of magic in each universe is the combined wisdom and magical ability of all magic-wielding inhabitants. Universe A has many more highly adept magic users, owing to its relatively stable and functional society.



                                                                                    The Lock:



                                                                                    The strength of the lock is directly proportional to the magic abilities of the lock creator(s) and maintainer(s). In the case of Universe B, the human lock builders were very powerful and the secret order has maintained knowledge of and skill with magics that have been otherwise lost to the rest of the inhabitants. There has to this point never been an individual or group of magic users with enough ability to override a lock (many have tried). Killing one or more of the secret order diminishes the strength of the locks until/unless the order is replenished.



                                                                                    Travel:



                                                                                    Travelers from A->B maintain a magical connection back to the point of origin that allows them to return from any mirror in Universe B. In all but the rarest of cases, they do need to keep a talisman/device on their person that taps into the source of Universe A magic. The talisman temporarily unlocks (but does not destroy) any Universe B lock. The talisman itself is magic- and gene-locked, which means it cannot open a mirror portal without a willing, living magic user (i.e., no chopping off a hand or holding a gun to the talisman-holder's head).



                                                                                    Resolutions:




                                                                                    • A human from the secret order goes haywire and (magically or otherwise) forces the other members to release one or more locks.

                                                                                    • A human from the secret order has a child with a non-human and over time, diplomacy prevails and the multiple species become allies. The locks are released.

                                                                                    • A human from the secret order falls in love with a non-human and gives them a way to "overthrow" the humans.

                                                                                    • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The child grows up with a connection to the source of magic in both universes. Whenever someone travels from A->B, the child is able to tap into the vast magic reserves of Universe A. Over time, they become the most powerful magic user in Universe B.

                                                                                    • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The mother or father or both are killed at some point, leaving behind a talisman. The child's magic "profile" and genes match those of its parent from Universe A, allowing it to use the talisman.


                                                                                    Anyway, variations on a theme. I hope something in here helps you.






                                                                                    share|improve this answer








                                                                                    New contributor




                                                                                    Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                                                                    $endgroup$



                                                                                    Explanation:



                                                                                    The "magical lock" is actually placed on mirrors in Universe B by a secret order of humans tasked with preventing the other "savage" non-human races from traveling over to Universe A and obtaining technology that would be able to obliterate humans.



                                                                                    Source of Magic:



                                                                                    The source of magic in each universe is the combined wisdom and magical ability of all magic-wielding inhabitants. Universe A has many more highly adept magic users, owing to its relatively stable and functional society.



                                                                                    The Lock:



                                                                                    The strength of the lock is directly proportional to the magic abilities of the lock creator(s) and maintainer(s). In the case of Universe B, the human lock builders were very powerful and the secret order has maintained knowledge of and skill with magics that have been otherwise lost to the rest of the inhabitants. There has to this point never been an individual or group of magic users with enough ability to override a lock (many have tried). Killing one or more of the secret order diminishes the strength of the locks until/unless the order is replenished.



                                                                                    Travel:



                                                                                    Travelers from A->B maintain a magical connection back to the point of origin that allows them to return from any mirror in Universe B. In all but the rarest of cases, they do need to keep a talisman/device on their person that taps into the source of Universe A magic. The talisman temporarily unlocks (but does not destroy) any Universe B lock. The talisman itself is magic- and gene-locked, which means it cannot open a mirror portal without a willing, living magic user (i.e., no chopping off a hand or holding a gun to the talisman-holder's head).



                                                                                    Resolutions:




                                                                                    • A human from the secret order goes haywire and (magically or otherwise) forces the other members to release one or more locks.

                                                                                    • A human from the secret order has a child with a non-human and over time, diplomacy prevails and the multiple species become allies. The locks are released.

                                                                                    • A human from the secret order falls in love with a non-human and gives them a way to "overthrow" the humans.

                                                                                    • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The child grows up with a connection to the source of magic in both universes. Whenever someone travels from A->B, the child is able to tap into the vast magic reserves of Universe A. Over time, they become the most powerful magic user in Universe B.

                                                                                    • An inhabitant of Universe A has a child with an inhabitant of Universe B. The mother or father or both are killed at some point, leaving behind a talisman. The child's magic "profile" and genes match those of its parent from Universe A, allowing it to use the talisman.


                                                                                    Anyway, variations on a theme. I hope something in here helps you.







                                                                                    share|improve this answer








                                                                                    New contributor




                                                                                    Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                                                    share|improve this answer






                                                                                    New contributor




                                                                                    Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                                                    answered 5 hours ago









                                                                                    Marc CMarc C

                                                                                    111




                                                                                    111




                                                                                    New contributor




                                                                                    Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                                    Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                                    Marc C is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                                        1












                                                                                        $begingroup$

                                                                                        Racism



                                                                                        Humans in universe B have all existing portals to universe A.



                                                                                        They refuse to travel to Universe A because they let all these subhuman species mingle together, also, they aren't terribly keen on letting their resident non-humans escape oppression via mass exodus through these mirrors, so the mirrors to Universe A are kept under close observation.



                                                                                        Likewise, Universe A isn't too keen on being a destination for refugees from this backwater hell hole of a universe - all the humans are bigoted jerks, and if they started taking in the non-humans it'd get to be a serious immigration problem. Similarly, if any of their own people went over, their either weirdo human supremacists, or they were insane enough to travel to a world where their own kind is totally oppressed, so in general Universe A isn't terribly keen on letting anyone from Universe B pop on over.






                                                                                        share|improve this answer









                                                                                        $endgroup$


















                                                                                          1












                                                                                          $begingroup$

                                                                                          Racism



                                                                                          Humans in universe B have all existing portals to universe A.



                                                                                          They refuse to travel to Universe A because they let all these subhuman species mingle together, also, they aren't terribly keen on letting their resident non-humans escape oppression via mass exodus through these mirrors, so the mirrors to Universe A are kept under close observation.



                                                                                          Likewise, Universe A isn't too keen on being a destination for refugees from this backwater hell hole of a universe - all the humans are bigoted jerks, and if they started taking in the non-humans it'd get to be a serious immigration problem. Similarly, if any of their own people went over, their either weirdo human supremacists, or they were insane enough to travel to a world where their own kind is totally oppressed, so in general Universe A isn't terribly keen on letting anyone from Universe B pop on over.






                                                                                          share|improve this answer









                                                                                          $endgroup$
















                                                                                            1












                                                                                            1








                                                                                            1





                                                                                            $begingroup$

                                                                                            Racism



                                                                                            Humans in universe B have all existing portals to universe A.



                                                                                            They refuse to travel to Universe A because they let all these subhuman species mingle together, also, they aren't terribly keen on letting their resident non-humans escape oppression via mass exodus through these mirrors, so the mirrors to Universe A are kept under close observation.



                                                                                            Likewise, Universe A isn't too keen on being a destination for refugees from this backwater hell hole of a universe - all the humans are bigoted jerks, and if they started taking in the non-humans it'd get to be a serious immigration problem. Similarly, if any of their own people went over, their either weirdo human supremacists, or they were insane enough to travel to a world where their own kind is totally oppressed, so in general Universe A isn't terribly keen on letting anyone from Universe B pop on over.






                                                                                            share|improve this answer









                                                                                            $endgroup$



                                                                                            Racism



                                                                                            Humans in universe B have all existing portals to universe A.



                                                                                            They refuse to travel to Universe A because they let all these subhuman species mingle together, also, they aren't terribly keen on letting their resident non-humans escape oppression via mass exodus through these mirrors, so the mirrors to Universe A are kept under close observation.



                                                                                            Likewise, Universe A isn't too keen on being a destination for refugees from this backwater hell hole of a universe - all the humans are bigoted jerks, and if they started taking in the non-humans it'd get to be a serious immigration problem. Similarly, if any of their own people went over, their either weirdo human supremacists, or they were insane enough to travel to a world where their own kind is totally oppressed, so in general Universe A isn't terribly keen on letting anyone from Universe B pop on over.







                                                                                            share|improve this answer












                                                                                            share|improve this answer



                                                                                            share|improve this answer










                                                                                            answered 4 hours ago









                                                                                            Iron GremlinIron Gremlin

                                                                                            6897




                                                                                            6897























                                                                                                0












                                                                                                $begingroup$

                                                                                                Evolution of Conceptualization



                                                                                                That an item can be enchanted at all is a concept that requires people to evolve spiritually and mentally enough to enable the enchantment.



                                                                                                "A" people have spent countless generations becoming aware of this concept and gradually attained the ability at a societal level to easily enchant an item for travel to "B".



                                                                                                "B" people are in a younger universe and haven't yet evolved to that level of conceptualization needed to make the enchantment work for them... or at least they hadn't until plot progression event X occurred.



                                                                                                Perhaps event X was simply some "C" people that were tired of waiting for "A" people to next conceptualize travel to "C" and nudged things along. After all, all "C's" know that A + B tranposed by X = C.






                                                                                                share|improve this answer









                                                                                                $endgroup$


















                                                                                                  0












                                                                                                  $begingroup$

                                                                                                  Evolution of Conceptualization



                                                                                                  That an item can be enchanted at all is a concept that requires people to evolve spiritually and mentally enough to enable the enchantment.



                                                                                                  "A" people have spent countless generations becoming aware of this concept and gradually attained the ability at a societal level to easily enchant an item for travel to "B".



                                                                                                  "B" people are in a younger universe and haven't yet evolved to that level of conceptualization needed to make the enchantment work for them... or at least they hadn't until plot progression event X occurred.



                                                                                                  Perhaps event X was simply some "C" people that were tired of waiting for "A" people to next conceptualize travel to "C" and nudged things along. After all, all "C's" know that A + B tranposed by X = C.






                                                                                                  share|improve this answer









                                                                                                  $endgroup$
















                                                                                                    0












                                                                                                    0








                                                                                                    0





                                                                                                    $begingroup$

                                                                                                    Evolution of Conceptualization



                                                                                                    That an item can be enchanted at all is a concept that requires people to evolve spiritually and mentally enough to enable the enchantment.



                                                                                                    "A" people have spent countless generations becoming aware of this concept and gradually attained the ability at a societal level to easily enchant an item for travel to "B".



                                                                                                    "B" people are in a younger universe and haven't yet evolved to that level of conceptualization needed to make the enchantment work for them... or at least they hadn't until plot progression event X occurred.



                                                                                                    Perhaps event X was simply some "C" people that were tired of waiting for "A" people to next conceptualize travel to "C" and nudged things along. After all, all "C's" know that A + B tranposed by X = C.






                                                                                                    share|improve this answer









                                                                                                    $endgroup$



                                                                                                    Evolution of Conceptualization



                                                                                                    That an item can be enchanted at all is a concept that requires people to evolve spiritually and mentally enough to enable the enchantment.



                                                                                                    "A" people have spent countless generations becoming aware of this concept and gradually attained the ability at a societal level to easily enchant an item for travel to "B".



                                                                                                    "B" people are in a younger universe and haven't yet evolved to that level of conceptualization needed to make the enchantment work for them... or at least they hadn't until plot progression event X occurred.



                                                                                                    Perhaps event X was simply some "C" people that were tired of waiting for "A" people to next conceptualize travel to "C" and nudged things along. After all, all "C's" know that A + B tranposed by X = C.







                                                                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                                                                    answered 2 hours ago









                                                                                                    N2itionN2ition

                                                                                                    1,30556




                                                                                                    1,30556























                                                                                                        0












                                                                                                        $begingroup$

                                                                                                        Universe B is quite literally the opposite version of Universe A. So much so, that everything in Universe B is in fact made of antimatter.



                                                                                                        Antimatter is perfectly harmless with itself and behaves exactly like ordinary matter (other than the fact that they have positrons and antiprotons instead of electrons and protons). However, we all know that matter and antimatter don't mix: when such particles interact, they violently transform into pure energy.



                                                                                                        So how can people from Universe A use the mirrors to explore Universe B? Well, the mirrors are more than mere portals between universes. A better analogy would be an airlock. Crossing the mirror from A to B applies a magical "antimatter shielding" to each individual particle, such that they behave exactly like antimatter particles.



                                                                                                        When returning to Universe A, the shielding is stripped away and the ordinary matter behaves ordinarily once again.



                                                                                                        Unfortunately, the mirrors were developed with this explicit "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" rule. Therefore, if anyone or anything from Universe B tries to cross into Universe A, the mirror won't be able to place "matter shielding" on them... to horrendous effect.



                                                                                                        Now, you can choose how secure the mirrors are regarding Universe B objects.




                                                                                                        • They can be dangerously unsecure, such that objects and people CAN cross, but there are just rules forbidding it for the simple reason that if anything were to cross, it'd be the equivalent of multiple nuclear bombs the moment they crossed.1 This would be the equivalent of the mirror going "oh, this object has no shielding to wax off, so ignore it".

                                                                                                        • They can be secure, forbidding non-shielded (anti)matter from crossing back into Universe A. You can also choose how severe this security feature is:


                                                                                                          • It may be harmless to those attempting to cross: the mirror momentarily shuts down as soon as the first non-shielded molecule attempts to cross1

                                                                                                          • It may be harmful: the mirror allows the molecules to enter,2 but upon detecting that they are unshielded, destroys them. So if someone from Universe B puts their hand through the mirror, they'll no longer have a hand.

                                                                                                          • It may be lethal: the mirror allows entire objects/people3 to enter before determining whether they are unshielded. If so, the entire object/person is destroyed.






                                                                                                        Later on, this problem is somehow overcome, such that people from Universe B can cross over to Universe A.



                                                                                                        As others have suggested, this may be by people from Universe B developing their own mirrors. This would imply that members of each universe must use different mirrors.



                                                                                                        Another option is that someone figures out how to "hack" the original mirrors to allow passage. You can once again decide how easy or hard this is:




                                                                                                        • They just had to change the mirror's behavior from "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" to "unshielded = wax on", "shielded = wax off". This implies that the antimatter shielding for ordinary matter can be trivially repurposed as ordinary-matter shielding for antimatter.

                                                                                                        • They had to develop shielding suitable to make antimatter behave like ordinary matter, and then make the mirror's "code" more complex: "if A-matter, A $rightarrow$ B = wax on antimatter shielding, B $rightarrow$ A = wax off antimatter shielding; if B-matter, B $rightarrow$ A = wax on ordinary matter shielding, A $rightarrow$ B = wax off ordinary matter shielding".




                                                                                                        1 (yes, this footnote appears twice above) Some magic handwaving will be needed to explain why random air molecules from Universe B aren't a problem (either generating massive heat on the Universe A side or causing the mirror to constantly shut down). Or just ignore this point.



                                                                                                        2 Note the word here is "enter", not "cross". This implies that the mirror isn't a door, but a bridge between the two dimensions, such that objects actually don't go A $rightarrow$ B (or vice versa), but A $rightarrow$ mirror bridge $rightarrow$ B. The travel between both ends can be virtually instantaneous as far as anyone is concerned, but this bridge is the "safe zone" where the unauthorized unshielded antimatter can be safely destroyed before it can enter Universe A.



                                                                                                        3 Some more magic handwaving (or authorial ignoring) will be needed to explain how the mirror identifies what constitutes an "entire object/person".






                                                                                                        share|improve this answer









                                                                                                        $endgroup$


















                                                                                                          0












                                                                                                          $begingroup$

                                                                                                          Universe B is quite literally the opposite version of Universe A. So much so, that everything in Universe B is in fact made of antimatter.



                                                                                                          Antimatter is perfectly harmless with itself and behaves exactly like ordinary matter (other than the fact that they have positrons and antiprotons instead of electrons and protons). However, we all know that matter and antimatter don't mix: when such particles interact, they violently transform into pure energy.



                                                                                                          So how can people from Universe A use the mirrors to explore Universe B? Well, the mirrors are more than mere portals between universes. A better analogy would be an airlock. Crossing the mirror from A to B applies a magical "antimatter shielding" to each individual particle, such that they behave exactly like antimatter particles.



                                                                                                          When returning to Universe A, the shielding is stripped away and the ordinary matter behaves ordinarily once again.



                                                                                                          Unfortunately, the mirrors were developed with this explicit "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" rule. Therefore, if anyone or anything from Universe B tries to cross into Universe A, the mirror won't be able to place "matter shielding" on them... to horrendous effect.



                                                                                                          Now, you can choose how secure the mirrors are regarding Universe B objects.




                                                                                                          • They can be dangerously unsecure, such that objects and people CAN cross, but there are just rules forbidding it for the simple reason that if anything were to cross, it'd be the equivalent of multiple nuclear bombs the moment they crossed.1 This would be the equivalent of the mirror going "oh, this object has no shielding to wax off, so ignore it".

                                                                                                          • They can be secure, forbidding non-shielded (anti)matter from crossing back into Universe A. You can also choose how severe this security feature is:


                                                                                                            • It may be harmless to those attempting to cross: the mirror momentarily shuts down as soon as the first non-shielded molecule attempts to cross1

                                                                                                            • It may be harmful: the mirror allows the molecules to enter,2 but upon detecting that they are unshielded, destroys them. So if someone from Universe B puts their hand through the mirror, they'll no longer have a hand.

                                                                                                            • It may be lethal: the mirror allows entire objects/people3 to enter before determining whether they are unshielded. If so, the entire object/person is destroyed.






                                                                                                          Later on, this problem is somehow overcome, such that people from Universe B can cross over to Universe A.



                                                                                                          As others have suggested, this may be by people from Universe B developing their own mirrors. This would imply that members of each universe must use different mirrors.



                                                                                                          Another option is that someone figures out how to "hack" the original mirrors to allow passage. You can once again decide how easy or hard this is:




                                                                                                          • They just had to change the mirror's behavior from "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" to "unshielded = wax on", "shielded = wax off". This implies that the antimatter shielding for ordinary matter can be trivially repurposed as ordinary-matter shielding for antimatter.

                                                                                                          • They had to develop shielding suitable to make antimatter behave like ordinary matter, and then make the mirror's "code" more complex: "if A-matter, A $rightarrow$ B = wax on antimatter shielding, B $rightarrow$ A = wax off antimatter shielding; if B-matter, B $rightarrow$ A = wax on ordinary matter shielding, A $rightarrow$ B = wax off ordinary matter shielding".




                                                                                                          1 (yes, this footnote appears twice above) Some magic handwaving will be needed to explain why random air molecules from Universe B aren't a problem (either generating massive heat on the Universe A side or causing the mirror to constantly shut down). Or just ignore this point.



                                                                                                          2 Note the word here is "enter", not "cross". This implies that the mirror isn't a door, but a bridge between the two dimensions, such that objects actually don't go A $rightarrow$ B (or vice versa), but A $rightarrow$ mirror bridge $rightarrow$ B. The travel between both ends can be virtually instantaneous as far as anyone is concerned, but this bridge is the "safe zone" where the unauthorized unshielded antimatter can be safely destroyed before it can enter Universe A.



                                                                                                          3 Some more magic handwaving (or authorial ignoring) will be needed to explain how the mirror identifies what constitutes an "entire object/person".






                                                                                                          share|improve this answer









                                                                                                          $endgroup$
















                                                                                                            0












                                                                                                            0








                                                                                                            0





                                                                                                            $begingroup$

                                                                                                            Universe B is quite literally the opposite version of Universe A. So much so, that everything in Universe B is in fact made of antimatter.



                                                                                                            Antimatter is perfectly harmless with itself and behaves exactly like ordinary matter (other than the fact that they have positrons and antiprotons instead of electrons and protons). However, we all know that matter and antimatter don't mix: when such particles interact, they violently transform into pure energy.



                                                                                                            So how can people from Universe A use the mirrors to explore Universe B? Well, the mirrors are more than mere portals between universes. A better analogy would be an airlock. Crossing the mirror from A to B applies a magical "antimatter shielding" to each individual particle, such that they behave exactly like antimatter particles.



                                                                                                            When returning to Universe A, the shielding is stripped away and the ordinary matter behaves ordinarily once again.



                                                                                                            Unfortunately, the mirrors were developed with this explicit "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" rule. Therefore, if anyone or anything from Universe B tries to cross into Universe A, the mirror won't be able to place "matter shielding" on them... to horrendous effect.



                                                                                                            Now, you can choose how secure the mirrors are regarding Universe B objects.




                                                                                                            • They can be dangerously unsecure, such that objects and people CAN cross, but there are just rules forbidding it for the simple reason that if anything were to cross, it'd be the equivalent of multiple nuclear bombs the moment they crossed.1 This would be the equivalent of the mirror going "oh, this object has no shielding to wax off, so ignore it".

                                                                                                            • They can be secure, forbidding non-shielded (anti)matter from crossing back into Universe A. You can also choose how severe this security feature is:


                                                                                                              • It may be harmless to those attempting to cross: the mirror momentarily shuts down as soon as the first non-shielded molecule attempts to cross1

                                                                                                              • It may be harmful: the mirror allows the molecules to enter,2 but upon detecting that they are unshielded, destroys them. So if someone from Universe B puts their hand through the mirror, they'll no longer have a hand.

                                                                                                              • It may be lethal: the mirror allows entire objects/people3 to enter before determining whether they are unshielded. If so, the entire object/person is destroyed.






                                                                                                            Later on, this problem is somehow overcome, such that people from Universe B can cross over to Universe A.



                                                                                                            As others have suggested, this may be by people from Universe B developing their own mirrors. This would imply that members of each universe must use different mirrors.



                                                                                                            Another option is that someone figures out how to "hack" the original mirrors to allow passage. You can once again decide how easy or hard this is:




                                                                                                            • They just had to change the mirror's behavior from "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" to "unshielded = wax on", "shielded = wax off". This implies that the antimatter shielding for ordinary matter can be trivially repurposed as ordinary-matter shielding for antimatter.

                                                                                                            • They had to develop shielding suitable to make antimatter behave like ordinary matter, and then make the mirror's "code" more complex: "if A-matter, A $rightarrow$ B = wax on antimatter shielding, B $rightarrow$ A = wax off antimatter shielding; if B-matter, B $rightarrow$ A = wax on ordinary matter shielding, A $rightarrow$ B = wax off ordinary matter shielding".




                                                                                                            1 (yes, this footnote appears twice above) Some magic handwaving will be needed to explain why random air molecules from Universe B aren't a problem (either generating massive heat on the Universe A side or causing the mirror to constantly shut down). Or just ignore this point.



                                                                                                            2 Note the word here is "enter", not "cross". This implies that the mirror isn't a door, but a bridge between the two dimensions, such that objects actually don't go A $rightarrow$ B (or vice versa), but A $rightarrow$ mirror bridge $rightarrow$ B. The travel between both ends can be virtually instantaneous as far as anyone is concerned, but this bridge is the "safe zone" where the unauthorized unshielded antimatter can be safely destroyed before it can enter Universe A.



                                                                                                            3 Some more magic handwaving (or authorial ignoring) will be needed to explain how the mirror identifies what constitutes an "entire object/person".






                                                                                                            share|improve this answer









                                                                                                            $endgroup$



                                                                                                            Universe B is quite literally the opposite version of Universe A. So much so, that everything in Universe B is in fact made of antimatter.



                                                                                                            Antimatter is perfectly harmless with itself and behaves exactly like ordinary matter (other than the fact that they have positrons and antiprotons instead of electrons and protons). However, we all know that matter and antimatter don't mix: when such particles interact, they violently transform into pure energy.



                                                                                                            So how can people from Universe A use the mirrors to explore Universe B? Well, the mirrors are more than mere portals between universes. A better analogy would be an airlock. Crossing the mirror from A to B applies a magical "antimatter shielding" to each individual particle, such that they behave exactly like antimatter particles.



                                                                                                            When returning to Universe A, the shielding is stripped away and the ordinary matter behaves ordinarily once again.



                                                                                                            Unfortunately, the mirrors were developed with this explicit "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" rule. Therefore, if anyone or anything from Universe B tries to cross into Universe A, the mirror won't be able to place "matter shielding" on them... to horrendous effect.



                                                                                                            Now, you can choose how secure the mirrors are regarding Universe B objects.




                                                                                                            • They can be dangerously unsecure, such that objects and people CAN cross, but there are just rules forbidding it for the simple reason that if anything were to cross, it'd be the equivalent of multiple nuclear bombs the moment they crossed.1 This would be the equivalent of the mirror going "oh, this object has no shielding to wax off, so ignore it".

                                                                                                            • They can be secure, forbidding non-shielded (anti)matter from crossing back into Universe A. You can also choose how severe this security feature is:


                                                                                                              • It may be harmless to those attempting to cross: the mirror momentarily shuts down as soon as the first non-shielded molecule attempts to cross1

                                                                                                              • It may be harmful: the mirror allows the molecules to enter,2 but upon detecting that they are unshielded, destroys them. So if someone from Universe B puts their hand through the mirror, they'll no longer have a hand.

                                                                                                              • It may be lethal: the mirror allows entire objects/people3 to enter before determining whether they are unshielded. If so, the entire object/person is destroyed.






                                                                                                            Later on, this problem is somehow overcome, such that people from Universe B can cross over to Universe A.



                                                                                                            As others have suggested, this may be by people from Universe B developing their own mirrors. This would imply that members of each universe must use different mirrors.



                                                                                                            Another option is that someone figures out how to "hack" the original mirrors to allow passage. You can once again decide how easy or hard this is:




                                                                                                            • They just had to change the mirror's behavior from "A $rightarrow$ B = wax on", "B $rightarrow$ A = wax off" to "unshielded = wax on", "shielded = wax off". This implies that the antimatter shielding for ordinary matter can be trivially repurposed as ordinary-matter shielding for antimatter.

                                                                                                            • They had to develop shielding suitable to make antimatter behave like ordinary matter, and then make the mirror's "code" more complex: "if A-matter, A $rightarrow$ B = wax on antimatter shielding, B $rightarrow$ A = wax off antimatter shielding; if B-matter, B $rightarrow$ A = wax on ordinary matter shielding, A $rightarrow$ B = wax off ordinary matter shielding".




                                                                                                            1 (yes, this footnote appears twice above) Some magic handwaving will be needed to explain why random air molecules from Universe B aren't a problem (either generating massive heat on the Universe A side or causing the mirror to constantly shut down). Or just ignore this point.



                                                                                                            2 Note the word here is "enter", not "cross". This implies that the mirror isn't a door, but a bridge between the two dimensions, such that objects actually don't go A $rightarrow$ B (or vice versa), but A $rightarrow$ mirror bridge $rightarrow$ B. The travel between both ends can be virtually instantaneous as far as anyone is concerned, but this bridge is the "safe zone" where the unauthorized unshielded antimatter can be safely destroyed before it can enter Universe A.



                                                                                                            3 Some more magic handwaving (or authorial ignoring) will be needed to explain how the mirror identifies what constitutes an "entire object/person".







                                                                                                            share|improve this answer












                                                                                                            share|improve this answer



                                                                                                            share|improve this answer










                                                                                                            answered 10 mins ago









                                                                                                            WasabiWasabi

                                                                                                            32015




                                                                                                            32015






















                                                                                                                Sami No is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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