**As you approach the dune to check out the shiny thing, the ground shakes slightly. From where you are you can see the thing start to move. It emerges a bit from the sand as it begins to spin slowly.
As the party approaches closer to get a better look at it, they can see that it consists of a single central rotary shaft with small platforms jutting out from it. Each of these has a varying number of thin poles standing upright on it.
Suddenly the spinning begins to accelerate to the point where the whole of the object is blurred.
Inside the blur there is an object. A small, silvery, shooter-marble-sized ball.
Everyone is standing near the thing now, partially out of curiosity and partially because that spinning is generating a good amount of heat.
Spontaneously, Norm's hand shoots out to grab the object that is hovering at the center of the blurry form. Before anyone can stop him, he thrusts his hand into the blur and, to everyone's amazement, his hand isn't cut off by the whirring poles.
The hand passes through them like air.
As Norm's hand cups over the object, a huge section of the desert and sky suddenly cease to exist. The air becomes thunder.
Norm closes his fist around the object, and the world goes out like a light.**
**It is a strange feeling, floating without any support or indeed anything in sight. But every member of the party seems to be still standing here, though there isn't a one who does not have at least a slight expression of shock on his face.
And from all around comes a voice. It is like a breeze, that would be dismissed as such if there was anything around to distract from the true nature of the sound. It says:
"Greetyngs."
Every member of the group turns around, thinkign that the voice is from behind them, but find nothing.
"I'm right in front of you, you know."
Everyone looks.
There is a figure standing before them, or something resembling a figure. It seems to be made of light... no, not light... darkness that's bright.
It seems to hover, although there is no ground to hover above, and it appears to have large, shimmery wing-like things.
You can see its face now.
It has a faraway look about its expression, as if it is not only looking at you but also at your past and your future and every single thing that is in any way related to the deeds you have done and will do.
"You, the one that seems to be called Norm at the moment. You have there one of my favorite creations. That is the proof of my madness, and the evidence of my genius. Open your hand."
Norm obeys and the sky reappears.
"I call it the Divine Prism. I invented it just before the Catastrophe. It is a world spun from a point of light and a few ounces of silver and glass. Beautiful, is it not? I always thought the concept was exquisite, the ability to wear a world around your neck. Here, let me have that so that I can put it back in the Key."
The being takes the object from Norm's hand and makes its own transparent. The entire desert is visible again, and the figure puts the ball into the "key". The key slows down and when it has stopped, the ball is not visible anymore.
"Hmmm... I sense that you have questions as to just what the hell is going on here. Go ahead, time is no object at the moment."