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Artifact (fantasy)




In Role-playing Game s and Fantasy literature, an artifact is a Magic al object with great power. Often, this power is so great that it cannot be duplicated by any known art allowed by the premises of the fantasy world, and often cannot be destroyed by ordinary means. Artifacts often serve as MacGuffin s, the central focus of Quest s to locate, capture, or destroy them. The One Ring of '' The Lord Of The Rings '' is a typical artifact: it was alarmingly powerful, of ancient and obscure origin, and nearly indestructible.


IN FICTION

This interpretation may have arisen as an extension of the Archaeological Meaning of the word; fantasy artifacts are often the remains of earlier civilisations established by beings of great magical power (cf. many artifacts in Lovecraft 's Cthulhu Mythos , as well as the " Forgotten Realms " Dungeons & Dragons setting).


In Dungeons & Dragons



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