Original Dorchester Pot

Origin
The Dorchester Pot was a metal vase-like object recovered in two pieces after an explosion used to break up rock in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1852. According to texts, the two pieces were found among debris thrown out by the explosion. Workers considered this highly unusual, as the blasted stone was extremely solid and buried fifteen feet below the ground. Many creationists and fringe theorists claimed this oddity as proof that the commonly accepted ideas on geology and mankind’s rise were wrong.

In truth, this ornately designed serving dish possessed none of these attributes. Merchant George Greencrest originally buried the pot below his property as a kind of time capsule. He placed within it samples of currency, literature, foodstuffs and even ammunition from his service in the American Revolution. The plot was deeded to the municipality when no legitimate heir had made theirselves known. Legends grew among the locals about Greencrest having hidden a great fortune within the town’s limits. Although nobody discovered it, each subsequent retelling stated the treasure to date earlier and earlier.

Effects
The incorrect local legends of the pot’s origin seem to have made it to live up to the impression. The pot activates whenever it is covered, especially when buried or encased. The nearby area will age rapidly, experiencing the effects of exposure over time on a smaller timescale. Years of damage and existence will be compressed into several days worth of time. The structure containing the pot will eventually destabilize, leading to a small explosion from stress fatigue weakness. The pot will shatter into several large pieces and reform into one when all are brought together.