In
role-playing games and
fantasy literature, an artifact is a
magical 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
MacGuffins, the central focus of
quests 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.
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