The Cosmic Hourglass is the primary symbol and divine artifact of Continuum, the current Chronomaster. It is a unique artifact of considerable power, serving as both an emblem of the office of the Time Deity and a functional conduit between Continuum and the mortal world. The hourglass is housed in the Temporal Nexus, where it reportedly occupies the heart of the Sands of Ages.
Appearance
The artifact takes the form of an hourglass encased within a circle of stars representing the universe. Its sands mimic the swirling of galaxies, rendered in deep blues and purples reminiscent of the night sky, with the sands themselves glowing silver-white. The imagery reflects the cosmic scale at which the Chronomaster operates: the hourglass is not merely decorative but a visual representation of the scope of time’s authority over existence.
Properties
The Cosmic Hourglass grants several known capabilities to those who attune to it, though use of these powers carries significant risk.
The artifact confers resistance to temporal distortions, shielding its bearer from effects that would disrupt their placement in time, whether from chronomancy, draconic time-manipulation, or other sources. It also permits remote observation: by gazing into the sands, the bearer can reportedly perceive any location within their plane of existence as it appeared in the past, as it exists in the present, or as it might appear in one possible future.
The hourglass can be used to compress or stretch time around its bearer, granting a brief interval of accelerated action at the cost of considerable physical strain. It is also reported to grant a measure of atmospheric control, allowing its bearer to influence weather patterns. In moments of danger, the artifact can project a defensive sphere of radiant light around its bearer.
Temporal Ripples
Use of the Cosmic Hourglass risks disturbing the equilibrium of time. Each activation may generate a temporal ripple: a localized anomaly that can manifest as minor timeline alterations, the appearance of displaced creatures from other eras, or other unpredictable effects. These ripples are an inherent consequence of mortal interaction with an artifact designed for divine use.
Destruction and Persistence
The Cosmic Hourglass is reportedly indestructible by conventional means. The only known method of destroying it requires transporting it to the dawn of time and shattering it with a weapon forged from a star. Even then, the artifact reforms at the commencement of the next cosmic cycle. This cyclical persistence mirrors the nature of time itself and ensures that no permanent destruction of the Chronomaster’s primary instrument is possible.