Time Blade

A Time Blade is a special blade that has been crafted outside of the flow of time. As such, it exists outside of the time-stream until an attack is made. It has three modes: delayed attack, past attack, and future attack.

Delayed Attack

In a delayed attack, a use item action is used to start the dial spinning clockwise, and an attack is made as part of that action. The attack roll is made as it would be for the current round, but damage does not take effect until the beginning of the attacker's next turn. During the intervening time, the dagger does not exist. Once the timer has completed (at the start of the attacker's next turn) the blade applies the damage and returns to the attacker's hand.

Past Attack

A past attack must be planned in advance by using a free action to push the blade out of existence. On the attacker's next turn, a use item action is used to start the dial spinning counter-clockwise drawing upon the past, and two attacks (one from the current round and one from the previous round) are made as part of that action. Their damage is applied immediately as normal.

Future Attack

In a future attack, as a use item action, the attacker presses the dial in and 'borrows' the blade from their next future turn. Two attacks are made with it immediately, and the blade ceases to exist until the end of their next turn. The attacker also forfeits their action for the next round while the blade is absent.