Fragments of Time: The Clockwork Catacombs of Fate
Setting: The Clockwork Catacombs of Fate
Nestled deep beneath the ancient city of Chronalith lies the Clockwork Catacombs, a sprawling maze of interlocking gears and timepieces that serve as both a grave and a relic of an age long past. The walls are adorned with intricate clock faces, each frozen in time, as if they are guardians of secrets that could unravel reality itself. The air hums with the sound of ticking and whirring machinery, echoing through the darkened halls.
In the heart of these catacombs lies the Chronomancer’s Sanctum, where the long-lost wizard Lorian the Timeless sought to harness the fabric of time itself. However, his ambitions led to a cataclysm that scattered fragments of time across the catacombs. These fragments have drawn adventurers, scholars, and those with more nefarious intentions, all seeking to control the chaotic energies within.
As the party descends into the catacombs, their goal becomes clear: recover a powerful artifact known as the Chronometer Ring, which allows the wearer to manipulate time in small increments. However, the journey will not be without peril, as the very fabric of time within the catacombs has been warped, creating strange temporal anomalies and awakening the guardians and traps that Lorian once set in place.
Characters
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Timekeeper Sprocket: A clockwork golem and the last remaining guardian of the catacombs. Sprocket is more than just a sentient machine; it possesses fragments of Lorian's personality, making it quirky and erratic. Its primary directive is to protect the sanctum from intruders, but it can also serve as an unexpected ally if convinced of the party's good intentions.
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Lorian the Timeless (Spirit Form): The lingering spirit of the Chronomancer will periodically manifest, offering cryptic advice and riddles to the players. Lorian’s true motives are unclear; he may wish to recapture the Chronometer Ring to prevent its misuse or may seek to manipulate the adventurers to retrieve it for his own gain.
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Temporal Wraiths: These spectral beings are the remnants of adventurers who perished while seeking the Chronometer Ring. They are drawn to time-sensitive magic and can manipulate their own personal timelines, allowing them to phase in and out of existence. The wraiths can be both an obstacle and a source of valuable information if dealt with carefully.
The Encounter
The Entry Hall
As the players step into the Clockwork Catacombs, they find themselves in an Entry Hall filled with glowing cogs and gears that shift and rotate, creating a mesmerizing but disorienting visual. A large clock tower is at the center, its pendulum swinging slowly. The environment is rich in detail, as the walls are lined with various historical timepieces, their faces flickering with a strange ethereal light.
Trap Mechanism: As soon as the players enter the hall, the massive central clock begins to chime. It strikes once every 10 seconds, counting down from 12. Each strike synchronizes with a series of moving gears in the floor. On the final strike, the gears will shift and attempt to trap players within the mechanisms unless they succeed on a group Dexterity saving throw (DC 15). Characters caught may take damage and become restrained until they escape.
The Gears of Fate
After passing the Entry Hall, players come across a vast chamber filled with interlocking gears of various sizes, some as small as a dagger, others as large as a house. The entire chamber vacillates with a strange energy that hints at the presence of time fragments.
Puzzle: In order to advance, the players must rearrange the gears to align with the symbols representing different time periods—past, present, and future. Three massive gears labeled with various years (such as 0, 1000, and 2000), must be turned to point to the present year. As they work, players are confronted by Temporal Wraiths that rise from the shadows. These wraiths defend their territory fiercely but can also be reasoned with if characters address their unfinished business, revealing clues about the clockwork traps ahead.
Skill Check: Players may make Intelligence checks (DC 16) to solve the puzzle. For every five it is missed by, a wraith appears and attacks. If players defeat or calm the wraiths, they will receive information regarding upcoming traps.
The Temporal Chamber
Once the puzzle is complete, the gears will shift, unlocking a hidden door leading into the Temporal Chamber—a massive dome space humming with energy. In the center, a large, ornate pedestal holds the Chronometer Ring, surrounded by pulsating time fragments.
As the players move closer to claim the ring, Timekeeper Sprocket activates, rolling forward with a series of precise clicks.
Combat Encounter: Timekeeper Sprocket will attempt to reason with the players initially, asking them to present their purpose. If they lie or attack, Sprocket reveals its hostility and activates its built-in weaponry. Combat ensues, with Sprocket wielding an array of clockwork weaponry:
- Cogs of Despair: Targets must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC 15) or become incapacitated for 1 turn due to the overwhelming reality of time passing too fast.
- Grappling Gear: A ranged attack that can restrict movement on a hit (DC 14 to escape).
Upon defeating or convincing Sprocket, the guardian will reveal that the Chronometer Ring is not just an artifact—it holds the potential to alter the fabric of reality, which can be dangerous if wielded carelessly.
The Choice of Guardianship
With the ring now in their possession, the players hear a raspy voice echoing from the shadows, as Lorian's spirit appears.
“What you hold is power beyond your comprehension. Return it to the sanctum, and let history remain as is, or dare bend time to your will—forever trading moments for eternity.”
At this moment, players must decide whether to use the ring or return it to its pedestal.
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Use the Ring: If they choose to use it, they may risk merging their timelines with the chaotic energies within the catacombs. Each player will roll a d20, and on a natural 1, they become a part of the Clockwork Catacombs, transforming into a Temporal Wraith.
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Return the Ring: If they choose to return the ring, Sprocket will awaken once more, reprogrammed to guide players safely out of the labyrinth, and Lorian may grant them boons, like knowledge of temporal magic or a unique item infused with time essence.
The Aftermath
As the players ascend from the Clockwork Catacombs, they leave behind a realm of ticking and whirring gears. The choice they made will linger with them, shaping their destinies and the timeline itself. Whether they emerge as champions or unwitting agents of chaos, their time in the catacombs will be a memory woven into the tapestry of fate, forever echoing through the ages.
