Originating from the fractured timelines of the Aethel Collective, the concept of “prepriced” echoes across millennia. It’s not merely a transaction; it’s a resonance, a commitment solidified by temporal harmonics.
The initial formulation of the Echo Protocol, recorded on crystalline shards salvaged from the Chronarium of Veridia. The initial price: 7.3 Fragments of Temporal Flux – a ludicrous sum, considering the inherent instability of the flux.
The Great Calibration. Following the Incident at Nexus-7, the Echo Protocol was refined. The prepriced value shifted to incorporate probabilistic decay – a factor previously dismissed as theoretical. The price: 12.8 Chronons, a unit of solidified time.
The rise of the Obsidian Cartographers. They exploited the prepriced system, hoarding temporal echoes and manipulating market fluctuations. The price stabilized at 25.1 Chronons, reflecting the heightened demand and associated risk.
Prepriced items aren't simply sold; they're bound to the recipient through a process called “Harmonic Imbrication.” This involves a complex sequence of bio-luminescent resonance, utilizing a device known as the Chronarium Weaver. The Weaver analyzes the recipient’s temporal signature and establishes a pre-defined relationship with the item. The price is then locked into this resonance, creating a cascading effect that influences the item’s behavior over time. For instance, a prepriced weapon might exhibit heightened accuracy within a certain temporal window, while a prepriced artifact could generate minor distortions in the surrounding spacetime.
The Obsidian Shard of Veridia
Price: 38.5 Chronons. Imbricated with the essence of the original Chronarium. Observed to accelerate the decay rate of organic materials within a 5-meter radius. Highly volatile.
The Shard’s prepriced resonance actively resists attempts to alter its state. Attempts to dismantle it result in localized temporal paradoxes, often manifesting as brief glimpses of alternate realities. The prepriced value is perpetually increasing, a testament to its inherent instability.
The Chronarium Weaver Prototype
Price: 147.2 Chronons. A crucial component in the Imbrication process. Its prepriced resonance exhibits a unique “temporal echo” – a faint duplication of the Weaver’s operational state, creating a feedback loop that can be both beneficial and detrimental.
The Weaver's prepriced value is inextricably linked to the stability of the timeline itself. Any significant alteration to its operational parameters can trigger a cascading resonance, potentially unraveling localized temporal threads. It’s a dangerous tool, requiring meticulous calibration and a profound understanding of temporal harmonics.
Despite the meticulous protocols, anomalies persist. “Resonance Bleeds” – instances where the prepriced resonance spills over, impacting the surrounding environment. These events are often unpredictable and can result in significant temporal distortions. The most common anomaly is the “Echo Static” – a low-level interference that disrupts temporal perception, causing disorientation and memory lapses. The prepriced value of the affected item increases exponentially as the resonance intensifies, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of temporal instability.
The Null Conduit
Price: 99.7 Chronons. A theoretical device designed to dampen temporal resonance. Its prepriced value is the most volatile of all prepriced items, exhibiting a constant fluctuation that defies logical explanation. Observed to attract temporal anomalies with alarming frequency.
The Null Conduit's prepriced resonance appears to actively resist attempts to contain its influence. Attempts to dismantle it result in the creation of miniature temporal vortices, capable of transporting objects – and sometimes people – to random points in time. It's a dangerous artifact, best left undisturbed.