Portals
From Peragro Tempus Wiki
The portals in Peragro Tempus are a means of moving from one time period to the next. Individuals are generally prohibited from studying them and they are well guarded. The existance of the portals is not generally known to the populace of the past, although rumors swirl and capture the imagination.
Origin
The origin of the portals is unknown, having existed since ancient times. They are believed to be natural phenomena. Ruptures in reality much as gysers and volcanoes are ruptures in the crust of the planet. There are, however, persistant rumors that the portals are not natural, but are simply a great application of some magical spell. However, no known mortal science or magic is known to have been able to so much as effect the portals.
Appearance
Each portal looks to be simply a three dimensional space which glows brightly. The space it occupies shifts, though each seems to be tied to a central area which no side moves more than 5 meters away from. Each of the portals has a distinctive color palate- the Vaalorian portal varies from a vibrant green to a deep, ruddy purple, the Kvalian portal shifts between deep reds, oranges, and yellows, while the Oron portal shifts from a light sky blue down to a muddy brown and back again.
Use
Magic
While those who have learned Magic generally do not see the portals, their power is derived directly from these objects. Consequently magicians of all types are aware of one or more of the portals and if they care they also generally know where, if not what, the source of their magic is.
Travel
The most direct use of the portals is in traveling between times. Initiating such a journey is as simple as entering the space defined by the portals.
It can, however, be quite dangerous to traverse a portal. In addition to a number of dangers presented directly by the portals themselves, the governments of the past which hold each portal are very strict in their control of its use. The kingdoms that control the portals mark those individuals allowed to use the portals; the mark generally consists of broach which is used by the guardians of the portals in the past to identify friends. Failure to bear such an item from the appropriate kingdom very likely results in the traveler's death, as the travel to the past greatly weakens them, leaving them an easy target for unhesitating guards.
These broaches are not easy to come by in the future as they were manufactured in the past explicitly so that travelers through the portals would be easily identified on their return. Inevitably however some of these travelers have perished over the years and left their marks behind. Some may even have survived the destruction of the great kingdoms and may be found in the rubble of the fallen cities.
The portals do not seem to link to any specific time, instead they will take you across a precise number of years. If you were to travel through a portal and spend a month, a month would have passed in your time as well when you return.
