Definition #
The Rules of Time define the physical and metaphysical constraints of the Lydian Stone connection. Unlike many fictional models of time travel, the TLS universe operates on a principle of synchronized parallel divergence.
The 1:1 Synchronization #
The connection is temporally locked at a 1:1 ratio. One day passing for Ulysses in the modern era (2025 AD) corresponds exactly to one day passing for Marcus in the ancient era (79 AD). This synchronization creates a persistent, "live" dialogue across two millennia.
The Divergence Rule #
The ancient timeline branched the moment contact was established. Actions taken in 79 AD do not physically alter the modern 2025 AD timeline.
- Evidence: Marcus carved his name into a villa lintel in 79 AD as a test. Ulysses found no corresponding mark in the modern ruins.
- Implication: Ulysses is not changing his own past; he is "playing god" in a parallel universe. He is safe from the "Grandfather Paradox" but bears the ethical weight of creating a new reality that may face its own unique destructions.
Asymmetrical Data Transfer #
While physical matter cannot cross the bridge, information travels freely. This creates a state where the modern world can "optimize" the past through technical knowledge, while the ancient world provides "lost" history and artifacts to the present.