From Tel'Laerad Wiki
| A Grain of Time |
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| Composition: |
Unknown crystal structure
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| Current/Past Owners: |
Unknown
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Grains of time are seemingly naturally-forming magical 'things' which take the form of small bronze crystals, rarely larger than a grain of sand. These have an unknown half-life which appear to begin the moment an entity observes the existence of one.
Appearance
In size and shape, there is little to distinguish one of these from a grain of sand. It does not glow, nor does it hover- but it does have a sort of subtle gravity, which draws idle eyes and minds to it, and makes it nigh-impossible to lose or hide.
Powers
In a natural state, a Grain of Time creates an ever-shifting, low-caliber temporal warp for a square kilometer about the artifact. When it is first seen or 'noticed' by any being, it gains an expiration date, at which point it will discharge all remaining temporal influence (if it has not been used, that is frequently enough to level cities and hurl body parts across the time stream, loosing paradox)
The Grain can be directed in manipulation of time, usually by a complex magical matrix, or through the use of a ritual of some sort. At this point, it is of limited use before it becomes 'burnt out', and indistinguishable from an ordinary grain of sand.
Speculation
Some believe that these function by 'absorbing' nearby time, just a nanosecond here and there, and eventually reach a critical state, at which they begin to warp, then release it. Once they are burned out, it is unknown if they begin to absorb it once more, or lose that property.
