1.) If the person dies in the dream, what happens to him/her in real life? Does he die or is he transported out of the dream back into his own.
(on a side note, the brain won't allow you to die in a dream, but what if the dreamwalker kills you. Obviously the brain knows not what the dreamwalker will do, so what happens to the dreamer there?)
The person in the dream state can not die while in a dream. Even if their bodies are torn to pieces, they will not die, for their brain can easily accept it as an illusion, as most people's minds would take miraculous things in the dream world as such, which is why most of us are able to tell we are dreaming. The depth of the sleep of the dreamer would be an effect as well. A deep sleep would cause the mind to not take into physical effect anything happening in the dream, as it would be just as random as thoughts. Light sleeping, on the other hand, is what causes the body to be integrated with the dreaming, as it is taken in as reality by our sub-concsious mind. In that state, we are easily startled, be it by death, or by miracle, or just by anything. The mind will either know it as a mere illusion, or the mind will wake when the present of death is presented. The thoughts of the mind are random, and it doesn't even know the next thoughts it's going to think, since the mind words with very minimal and slight electric pulses(The source of Delta Waves) and these pulses are quite randomized. The mind will never cause the body to go through pain, for it will be startled. The dreamer is not effected by their dreams. The only physical acts taking place would be sweating, talking, groaning, twitching, sexual activities, and of course, memories. In no ones memories would they have died, and when people relive traumatic events their bodies do not come out effected in any serious way.
Conclusion: It is impossible to die in a dream.
2.) The person obviously has to change the factors of the dream himself, but how powerful would he be? Could he change things by wanting the to happen, or would he have to personally influence various factors of the dream to get the desired affect he wants?
This is the same principles as psyche manipulation, or mind control. It can be done, but is very hard while a person is in the concsious state, so while they are in the sub-conscious state it is actually quite easy. If the person can infect the dreamers mind then they can very well, with their own thoughts, effect the randomized patterns that the dream is taking on. Actual items, as Strolen put, wouldn't be the basis. It would be moreso, changing the tint and hue of the scene, and changing shapes, at first. Just putting images into the persons mind. Then, the mind would take in this, and would come up with a whole new pattern of dream thought, coming from memories of the images or colors presented. To actually continually keep the image presented without the mind straying back into it's dreaming nature, might be a bit more difficult. Coming with actual desired effects would be moreso simple than telepathy, but not easy in the least.
3.) Getting into a dream is easy enough (he just climbs into the dream-cloud of the sleeping person, but how does he get out? Thinking himself out might work, but that limits his powers in the dream itself, so a different method would be better.
Well, actually, climbing into the dream wouldn't just be "climbing." It's telepathically linking with someone, which takes concentration, and a short distance. To do it while in their sleep might be hard, because the dream state is difficult to read, as would take an entire class of training to come up with this sort of concentration. Getting out of the dream is of course the easy part. All you need do is wake yourself from your meditation. Since when in our dreams we can't truly control all aspects, dream walking wouldn't be done in ones dreams, but yet in a subdued conscious state. Getting in would be more difficult, getting out would be as easy as snapping your fingers.
Thank You strom! I do have 1 more question though. Suppoase the victem woke up while the dreamwalker was still in the dream? My guess is this can only happen if the victem has a higher endurance/willpower as the dreamwalker, and then the dreamwalker has to perform the saving roll for the same affects as described in strom's first point.
No trapping would be occured. If the dreamer were startled while in the dream, or just came to wake up, the dream walker would know, and would not be trapped in the dream thoughts. They would be left with blank thoughts, and they would know, and could come out of their meditation. The dream walker would only still linger in the dreamer's mind if the dream walker had the ability to go into the mind of conscious people. The effect would be very different though, and it would be very noticable. Patterned thought and random thought are always noticable.
4) Where are the dreams? An astreal realm? What about other things that waunder through that space?
To my knowledge there are four planes of existence, which all spawn off of each other and are directly linked and bleed into one another, being one plane.
Astral Plane. Spiritual Plane. Mental Plane. Physical Plane.
The emotional plane is part of the physical plane, the deep emotional plane is part of the astral and sometimes spiritual plane, they aren't the same but they are very alike.
Astral Plane: The stars, gravity, the way things pull against everything else and the way things are decided in a huge pattern. Karma, fate, so be it, these things exist here.
Spiritual Plane: Not emotion, but moreso than that, the aura of a person. The ever changing and always moving plane of guiding power.
Physical Plane: Material, touch, feel, if you can see it, or smell it, it's here.
Mental Plane: The delta waves of people, the minds of people all stretching throughout forever. They are stronger at close, moreso dissipated at length, and this is where dreams lie.
The mind works on tiny electrical pulses which in turn create delta waves which can be read by people, many people actually, which is what gives up weird feelings sometimes, it's either the mental or astral plane that does that. Some people can actually control other peoples minds using this plane, as would be the simple thing of "Dream walking."
5) All of these questions are impacted by the mechanism of dream walking. Is it magik? A spell or potion or item? Is it a skill requiring concentation? Do you have to go to sleep under a sleeping willow or some other magikal place? Is it a technical piece?
As I've explained before, with the rest of my talk before. I will answer these questions one by one in a simple matter.
Is it magik?
1: Please don't say Magik it's not right. No matter what the wiccans say, since they don't want to be grouped with magicians, it's not right. It's Magic. Not Magick, no magik, it's magic, derived from the word "Mage" which means "User of magic" and that is plural of "Magi" which they come from the word "Magus" meaning "bad" which is what all of the old time wizards were called. Magus, which is plural, magi. Wizards were all deemed to be bad, since magic in itself was bad.
2: No. It's not. That's an entirely different plane.
A spell or potion or item?
In basics no it's not, but a subduing potion or an item that brings the dream walker faith and hope, overall confidence, might help it along. Magical items that would effect the dream walker the same way a potion would might do the same. It's all about concentration.
Is it a skill requiring concentation?
Yes.
Do you have to go to sleep under a sleeping willow or some other magikal place?
No, it's got nothing to do with magic. Although, a secluded place, away from interference of other peoples minds would be helpful.
Is it a technical piece?
What exactly do you mean by that? Could you reiterate? (My only question.)
