Okay, this whole thing is getting rather pointless, because none of us understand what the social contract of your hypothetical group that you're playing this hypothetical game with.

That action could mean anything from "I'm being silly, let's laugh it off and stop" to "this is a great tactical plan" to "I'm giving you the message that I think your whole 'dark artifact' plot is dull, let's do something else."

I argue that if the social contract is the first, yeah, fiat it away. If it is the second or the third, you are doing your players a great disservice.

yrs--
--Ben

P.S. Yes, it isn't a binary. But a fiat system means that the player participation is essentially meaningless.