The Rules of Time Travel in the "Masked Crusaders" series

Time travel, with all its potential and peril, is a fascinating concept that can open up limitless possibilities for adventure and exploration. However, to prevent chaos and maintain a coherent narrative, any story involving time travel needs to establish clear rules. In the Masked Crusaders series, we’ve crafted a set of rules that govern how time travel works in this universe, ensuring that both characters and readers understand the boundaries of this powerful ability.

Let’s delve into the “rules” of time travel in the world of the Masked Crusaders and explore how they shape the story and its characters.

1. No Travelling Within Your Own Lifetime

• Rule: Time travelers in this universe cannot journey to any point within their own lifetime. This means they cannot interact with or alter events that directly involve their younger selves.

• Reasoning: This rule prevents the paradoxes that could arise from interacting with one’s own past. For instance, meeting a younger version of oneself could create a feedback loop of information, leading to unpredictable consequences. By limiting travel to periods outside of their own lifetime, travelers avoid the risk of creating temporal contradictions or erasing themselves from existence.

  
  

2. The Tethered Return: A Limited Stay in the Past

• Rule: Time travellers are “tethered” to an hour after the moment and place they left their own time, with a limited window of approximately five years before they are automatically returned.

• Reasoning: This tethering mechanism ensures that time travel does not lead to permanent displacement across time periods. It adds a sense of urgency to the characters' actions in the past, as they know their time is limited. The tether also serves as a safeguard, hoping to prevent travellers from becoming lost in time or altering history indefinitely.

  
  

3. Temporal Bridges: Connecting, Not Creating Time

• Rule: Time travel is only possible through the use of “temporal bridges”—stable wormholes created through quantum entanglement and exotic matter. These bridges connect specific points in time but cannot be used to create new timelines or universes.

• Reasoning: This rule ties the concept of time travel to established scientific theories, grounding it in a plausible framework. The use of temporal bridges ensures that travel is limited to specific destinations, rather than allowing free movement through time. This limitation prevents the creation of alternate realities or infinite timelines, keeping the narrative focused and coherent.

  
  

4. Memory Preservation and the Butterfly Effect

• Rule: While time travelers retain their memories of the original timeline, any changes they make can have ripple effects, subtly altering their perception of the past. However, memories of their time-travel experiences remain intact, even if the timeline is altered.

• Reasoning: This rule introduces the concept of the Butterfly Effect—small changes in the past can lead to significant differences in the future. It also raises the stakes for time travelers, as they must be mindful of the potential consequences of their actions. The preservation of memory allows characters to remember their original mission and the timeline they intended to protect, even if the world around them changes.

  
  

5. The Ethics of Time Travel: Do No Harm

• Rule: Time travellers are bound by an ethical code that discourages interference in personal lives or events for personal gain. They must act with the greater good in mind, avoiding selfish motives or actions that could cause harm.

• Reasoning: This rule ensures that time travel is not used for selfish or malicious purposes. It reinforces the idea that time travel is a responsibility, not just a power, and that those who wield it must consider the broader impact of their actions. This ethical code creates internal conflict for characters who may be tempted to use time travel for personal reasons, adding depth to their moral dilemmas.

  
  

6. The Inescapable Paradox: No Reversing Time Travel

• Rule: Once a time traveller has made a jump, they cannot undo or reverse that jump. They must live with the consequences of their actions until their tethered return.

• Reasoning: This rule prevents the endless loop of traveling back and forth to correct mistakes, which could lead to a never-ending cycle of changes. It forces time travelers to think carefully before acting, knowing that their decisions are final and cannot be undone. This limitation also adds tension to the narrative, as characters must navigate the consequences of their actions without the safety net of reversal.

Conclusion: The Delicate Balance of Time

The rules of time travel in the Masked Crusaders series are designed to create a balanced and engaging narrative, where characters must navigate the complexities and dangers of altering the timeline. These rules ensure that time travel is not just a plot device, but a fundamental aspect of the story that drives character development, ethical dilemmas, and thrilling adventures.

By adhering to these rules, we aim to create a world where time travel feels both plausible and perilous—a world where every decision echoes across the ages, and where the past, present, and future are inextricably linked. As our characters journey through time, they must grapple with the weight of their actions, knowing that the fabric of history is fragile and that even the smallest change can have profound consequences.

We invite you to join us on this journey through time, where the rules are clear, but the stakes are high. Explore Book 1,

Echoes of a Distant Time and discover how these rules shape the lives of our characters and the fate of history itself.