First there was the subdimension itself. Large enough to be self-sustaining with a few minor points to make it livable. No point in even having the thing if the air ran out after a few hours. Likewise there had to be water and food and plumbing because 4D lifeforms tended to need things like that to make an area "liveable" for any length of time.
It had to be transdimensionally discrete so that things didn't wander in and decide to conquer it while the current owner was out. Having Naruto retreat to his library and then eaten by a Loathsome Crawler would not be amusing. Having Naruto send one of his allies/girlfriends/fiancees/escorts there and having their soul devoured by an Eldritch Horror would likewise not fall into the amusing category. Specifically needed to make sure the higher-level nasties couldn't get in. Leave it open so that the more amusing and/or harmless beings could at least visit.
Second was the environmental conditions. Lake here. Forest there. Meadows here. Set lighting and weather conditions for something roughly duplicating a typical Earth-type world. Hitting the major stability point put the subdimension as being roughly the size of the Australian continent. Climate: Temperate Rainforest. Seasonal Variation: Japan/European Standard.
Third detail was the building itself. Looking over the possibilities briefly, Toltiir decided to simply copy an existing setup. He briefly considered Hogwarts, just changing the style of magic around, then went with the Mahora Academy. Then changed his mind again and fusioned the two, shifting things around so that the magic style was more Faerunian.
Add a few statues of the Faerunian gods here, at least the ones he could stand, make them essentially golems with a magical computerized database. That way they could answer questions relating to their portfolio, give clues as to things, even give directions. Oh, and if something DID wander in, they'd be able to mobilize and go smash it. That would cut down on some potential complications.
"Hello? Tarre? Yes, it's me. Toltiir. Who else would be contacting you through a scrying pool? Really? That many? Hmmm. How busy are you? Yes, I know that your version of Ranma died of old age roughly two hundred years ago, that's why I'm contacting you at this time juncture. How'd you like a job as a lake guardian nee 'moat monster' for a young-and-upcoming sorcerer? I see. Well, I won't keep you then. Toodles."
Toltiir put down the phone, which promptly disappeared in a puff of smoke. Tapping one paw against his jaw, he considered the other possibilities. With a grin, he rematerialized the phone and punched in a quick number.
"Hey, Mystra, how are you doing? Well, yes, I knew you were dead. How'd you like a job? Yes, I did remark that I knew you were dead. That's how I knew you'd have a few openings in your schedule. Because I'm Toltiir, elder god of mischief, that's... Yes. Toltiir. Toll as in what you pay on the freeway, tear as in teardrop. Just spelled a bit differently. Screaming in horror isn't going to help a bit you know. Look, you became a DEAD god, dissipated through the ether. Not even a floaty statue in the Astral to mark your passage. So I thought to myself, that's a situation that sucks major windage, so I thought I'd call you up and make you an offer. The job's simple, magical advisor to a hero, with your spirit knit back together to become the guardian of a pocket world I'm putting together."
Toltiir held the phone away from his head briefly as Mystra reacted to that. After the noise had died down a bit, he hesitantly put it back closer to his head.
"I take it that's a 'no.' You mind if I ask why since I think it's a bit of a step up from being a dead god whose essence is sort of dissolved into nothingness? Oh, I see. No, I hadn't heard that. Well, then, sorry to bother you."
Toltiir put the phone down, scratched his head and tried another number.
"Elle? This is Toltiir. Listen, I've heard you died and... hello? Hello? She hung up?"
Toltiir sighed and put the phone down, considering things briefly before trying yet another number.
"Look, it's Toltiir, but hear me out would you? I'm looking for someone to act as magical guardian and advisor to a shonen-protaganist type. Typical loudmouth, charges in without considering consequence, that sort of thing. No, this one's a twelve year old ninja subclassed with sorcerer. Look, I know you're not interested, you've got that whole transdimensional superspy thing going for you. I'm just asking if you know someone who would be up to the job I can approach. No, I didn't contact him - he won't even pick up the phone and he's got some problems that'd keep him away even so. Eh? You really think so? Well, if they've got an Aspect available, that might work out."
Toltiir hung up, then dialed another number.
"Hi. Toltiir here. The one that's the elder god of mischief. No, this is a major aspect of myself. Anyway, there's this shonen loudmouth ninja-slash-sorcerer type who is getting a subdimensional library. I'm looking for someone who can spare an Aspect to be an on-site advisor sort of role. Yes. Oh, lots of problems. In the unaltered timeline he won a fight through a timely fart and... yes that's what I said. I know it's pathetic, that's one reason I'm meddling. That and he's the lonely protaganist shunned by all who actually has a girl perceptive enough to see the real him except she's so shy she never actually says anything until she's jumping into certain death. Well, yes, a shy ninja. You can see why some of this intrigued me. True true. So you'll help? Excellent! I'll bring the Aspect into this right away, you've got my number."
Toltiir happily closed the connection, knowing that the job of on-site advisor could be handled by:
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(Posted Wed, 19 May 2010 17:01)
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