[Scenario Seed/Gadget] Chronos Crystals
Feb 22, 2021 12:37:48 GMT
olegrand and drwhofanmtl like this
Post by Catsmate on Feb 22, 2021 12:37:48 GMT
Chronos Crystals
A slight distraction from my idea of tying the "mystery" of the SS Ourang Medan to Kwok and the resurgence of the Tong of the Black Scorpion led to this idea.
In much the same way that objects can become permanently electrically or magnetically ‘charged’, or nuclei can become 'activated' by absorption of neutrons, some forms of matter may absorb chronons, thus developing what is (rather inaccurately) termed a ‘chronal charge’.
Generally such a charge tends to dissipate quite quickly; however certain crystalline structures can capture the chronons and form a quasi-stable matrix.
Depending on the level of exposure and activation such crystals can appear perfectly normal, or display anomalous properties, these include:
Such crystals are often formed naturally, either by slow and long term exposure to abnormal chronon levels such as being adjacent to a time rift, time rip or other weak point in space-time, or quickly, where a stone is exposed to a sudden burst of chronons. The latter can be due to use of time displacement devices, especially the cruder and less shielded types, the results of temporal weapons or other events2 that liberate significant amounts of Artron energy3.
Chronos crystals can be also created or ‘grown’. This is usually done by exposing suitable materials (synthetic diamond or alumina with a perfect crystal lattice is best but natural crystals work) to areas of excess Artron energy, such as those rifts, rips or other weak points in space-time mentioned previously.
These chronos crystals can be used as propulsion sources for crude time machines, or used to detect such craft. Indeed some crystals can be very sensitive to Artron energy levels, reacting to nearly time craft arriving or departing nearby, glowing if near to a person not from the local period, or able to be used as crude temporal abnormality detectors, e.g. to finding rips.
Game Ideas.
1. I've mentioned the ability of such crystals to detect people displaced from the native time period, hence with abnormal Artron energy signatures, and the ability of devices based on them to find time travellers. So imagine the Thule Society with such a gadget, chasing the PCs across pre-war (or occupied) Europe for their time machine.
2. The much underused Comte de Saint-Germain had an obsession with gemstones, and enormous skill with them (especially diamonds). Might this be down to trying to find, or create, the perfect chronos crystal to allow him to escape the eighteenth century where he's been stranded? Or might the crystals be part of a network to detect the arrival of other time travellers? For what purpose? Will he ask for a lift home, or attempt theft or violence?
3. It has been hypothesised by some temporal researchers that all chronos crystals are linked across time and space, potentially allowing a person to travel in time to the location of any other such crystal, if they can figure out the technique5. This may be mental or use a gadget of some sort.
4. If ingested, or even kept in contact for long periods, the crystal can alter the Artron signature of a person, subjecting them to temporal effects, sensitivity to such oddities (i.e. the Vortex or Feel the Turn of the Universe traits, or perhaps psychic abilities6) or even allowing travel in time.
5. Given the appearance of temporal echoes as "ghosts" in the Whoniverse these crystals are sometimes used by ghost hunters, on their own or in symbolic jewellery by the more mystical or embedded in electrical gadgets by the more scientifically inclined.
This could cause problems when such people experiment with the crystals, especially in areas (like time rips) prone to ghost-like phenomenon and elevated levels of Artron energy7.
6. Time machines. If chronos crystals can be used to make a simple time machine (rather like the Plattnerite8 in Wells' original story) then they provide to potentially useful ideas. Firstly enabling a relatively low technology time machine and secondly allowing an experienced time traveller to build such a craft in an emergency.
Comments? Suggestions? Anyone have further ideas to develop or use this idea?
1. One cubic centimetre of diamond masses about 3.5 grammes or 17.5 carats. A cutter or merchant will notice an unusually dense diamond; while there is some natural variation, depending on the impurities that give the stone a colour, this won't be more than 3.6g/cc.
2. Messing with the Blinovitch Limitation Effect is a good one. Or not-quite crashing two time machines together and generating massive temporal feedback (as in a certain novel).
3. In this piece Artron energy is analogous to electromagnetic energy while chronons are Artron messenger particles, analogous to photons for EM fields. Don't forget to throw in "gauge quasi-bosons", "temporal gauge field" and "chronons as excitations of temporal waves" in any discussion.
4. Though if you're using a poorly shielded Vortex device you will probably have other concerns, like aging to death.
5. I rather like the idea of retconning Lady Peinforte as using such, wrapped up in sorcery.
6. Some form of precognition seems appropriate. Perhaps this is the secret of some mystics and oracles?
7. Which neatly explains cold spots and loss of time that are supposedly found in hauntings.
8. Though Plattnerite is a real material
9. Unfortunately while there are "Diamond Dust mirrors" which would beautifully fit the theme, they don't actually use diamond. Oh well... Perhaps one of the mirrors had decorative crystals in it's setting?
A slight distraction from my idea of tying the "mystery" of the SS Ourang Medan to Kwok and the resurgence of the Tong of the Black Scorpion led to this idea.
In much the same way that objects can become permanently electrically or magnetically ‘charged’, or nuclei can become 'activated' by absorption of neutrons, some forms of matter may absorb chronons, thus developing what is (rather inaccurately) termed a ‘chronal charge’.
- This is similar to an electret, a dielectric material that has a quasi-permanent electric charge.
Generally such a charge tends to dissipate quite quickly; however certain crystalline structures can capture the chronons and form a quasi-stable matrix.
- Diamond for example, both natural and synthesised, providing a possible reason certain precious stones have reputations for disasters, bad luck or odd events. Or are sought after by Mad Scientists. Of course quartz is far more plentiful and thus more likely to be activated by chronon exposure, but people pay more attention to the prettier stones....
Depending on the level of exposure and activation such crystals can appear perfectly normal, or display anomalous properties, these include:
- being unnaturally heavy or light (probably difficult to notice without testing on small crystals1)
- glowing or emitting other forms of electromagnetic radiation
- causing distortion in local gravity
- causing alteration in local time flow, usually below human observation levels.
Such crystals are often formed naturally, either by slow and long term exposure to abnormal chronon levels such as being adjacent to a time rift, time rip or other weak point in space-time, or quickly, where a stone is exposed to a sudden burst of chronons. The latter can be due to use of time displacement devices, especially the cruder and less shielded types, the results of temporal weapons or other events2 that liberate significant amounts of Artron energy3.
Chronos crystals can be also created or ‘grown’. This is usually done by exposing suitable materials (synthetic diamond or alumina with a perfect crystal lattice is best but natural crystals work) to areas of excess Artron energy, such as those rifts, rips or other weak points in space-time mentioned previously.
- Something that may prove of great use to a stranded time traveller, if they can find such a rift, obtain usable crystals and display patience/.
These chronos crystals can be used as propulsion sources for crude time machines, or used to detect such craft. Indeed some crystals can be very sensitive to Artron energy levels, reacting to nearly time craft arriving or departing nearby, glowing if near to a person not from the local period, or able to be used as crude temporal abnormality detectors, e.g. to finding rips.
- Plenty of scope there for obsessive Mad Scientists to notice something odd and cause more problems. Or for a family heirloom to 'out' a PC as a time traveller.
- Such sensitive crystals are likely to be hoarded by certain organisations who want to detect time travellers.
Game Ideas.
1. I've mentioned the ability of such crystals to detect people displaced from the native time period, hence with abnormal Artron energy signatures, and the ability of devices based on them to find time travellers. So imagine the Thule Society with such a gadget, chasing the PCs across pre-war (or occupied) Europe for their time machine.
2. The much underused Comte de Saint-Germain had an obsession with gemstones, and enormous skill with them (especially diamonds). Might this be down to trying to find, or create, the perfect chronos crystal to allow him to escape the eighteenth century where he's been stranded? Or might the crystals be part of a network to detect the arrival of other time travellers? For what purpose? Will he ask for a lift home, or attempt theft or violence?
3. It has been hypothesised by some temporal researchers that all chronos crystals are linked across time and space, potentially allowing a person to travel in time to the location of any other such crystal, if they can figure out the technique5. This may be mental or use a gadget of some sort.
4. If ingested, or even kept in contact for long periods, the crystal can alter the Artron signature of a person, subjecting them to temporal effects, sensitivity to such oddities (i.e. the Vortex or Feel the Turn of the Universe traits, or perhaps psychic abilities6) or even allowing travel in time.
5. Given the appearance of temporal echoes as "ghosts" in the Whoniverse these crystals are sometimes used by ghost hunters, on their own or in symbolic jewellery by the more mystical or embedded in electrical gadgets by the more scientifically inclined.
This could cause problems when such people experiment with the crystals, especially in areas (like time rips) prone to ghost-like phenomenon and elevated levels of Artron energy7.
6. Time machines. If chronos crystals can be used to make a simple time machine (rather like the Plattnerite8 in Wells' original story) then they provide to potentially useful ideas. Firstly enabling a relatively low technology time machine and secondly allowing an experienced time traveller to build such a craft in an emergency.
- Perhaps the fumbling experiments of Waterfield and Maxtible used such crystals in addition to static electricity and a chamber lined with mirrors9.
Comments? Suggestions? Anyone have further ideas to develop or use this idea?
1. One cubic centimetre of diamond masses about 3.5 grammes or 17.5 carats. A cutter or merchant will notice an unusually dense diamond; while there is some natural variation, depending on the impurities that give the stone a colour, this won't be more than 3.6g/cc.
2. Messing with the Blinovitch Limitation Effect is a good one. Or not-quite crashing two time machines together and generating massive temporal feedback (as in a certain novel).
3. In this piece Artron energy is analogous to electromagnetic energy while chronons are Artron messenger particles, analogous to photons for EM fields. Don't forget to throw in "gauge quasi-bosons", "temporal gauge field" and "chronons as excitations of temporal waves" in any discussion.
4. Though if you're using a poorly shielded Vortex device you will probably have other concerns, like aging to death.
5. I rather like the idea of retconning Lady Peinforte as using such, wrapped up in sorcery.
6. Some form of precognition seems appropriate. Perhaps this is the secret of some mystics and oracles?
7. Which neatly explains cold spots and loss of time that are supposedly found in hauntings.
8. Though Plattnerite is a real material
9. Unfortunately while there are "Diamond Dust mirrors" which would beautifully fit the theme, they don't actually use diamond. Oh well... Perhaps one of the mirrors had decorative crystals in it's setting?
I'll definitely use some of these ideas in play...