Apyd Apparatus

The Apyd Apparatus (Elven: Mache Apyd) was a device named after its supposed inventor, the mystic Seamus Apyda. As a mechanism capable of altering the flow of time, it was highly desired by mages, scholars, and people of office alike; because of the possible dangers the device could produce in the wrong hands, all were ordered destroyed late in the Intill Negotiation. However, a few survived, and one even made it all the way to the late Fifth Age.

History
Though legend holds that the Celtic mystic Seamus Apyda received the Apparatus' design in a vision from the archangel Metatron, it is more likely that it was created by a Soul-Trapper. In his journal, Vol described his research into the effects of the spiritual stones on those trapped within; most notably, the fact that they did not seem to age at all. Through this, he claims to have refined the jewels through a mechanism, thus creating the working Apparatus; later, however, he denied this claim, stating that he only improved upon an existing design.

During the Intill Negotiation, one of the Intill leaders came upon one of the Apparati by accident; after witnessing its power, he asked for an addition to the Provisions for all of the devices to be destroyed. As similar sentiment had existed in the Tragulan government for some time, the motion was passed with little opposition.

Construction
The most essential component of the Apparatus is a carved block of amber, on which is inscribed a specific set of diagrammatic circles and grooves. Atop the amber block, a gold ring about one inch in diameter was set down, and a glass or crystal prism was put inside it. Next, a perfectly cut jewel would be balanced on top of the prism, and a small nugget of pyrite on that.

There were two known methods by which the device would be powered. The first involved a lightning rod connected to the device; the second, as described in Vol's journal used the Stone of Signor as the power source, and a vial of curare as the conductor. When powered, casting certain spells on the components would cause the prism, jewel and pyrite to levitate. The light, refracted by the prism and channeled through the pyrite, would affect anything it touched, causing it to move faster or slower through time; for this reason, the effects of the Apyd Apparatus would only be readily visible in closed rooms.