Dream Machine

The Dream Machine is a an ancient device located in Fort Knucklebones in Avernus that allows for an individual or a group to enter and view the dreams of another.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

As an ancient piece of avernian technology, many of the component pieces needed to operate the Dream Machine are difficult to find or rarely produced.
Complicating matters are that four of the rarest parts are also burnt out upon each use of the machine. These parts are Phlegethosian sand, which is used to cool the internal coponents, an astral piston, which powers the device, a heartstone, which refracts the dreams allowing them to be shared, and a nirvanan cogbox, which serves as the machine's central processing unit.

History

The Dream Machine is of indeterminate age, but appears to have been constructed within Fort Knucklebones centuries ago.
In the mid-15th century, a night hag coven moved into Fort Knucklebones to use the Dream Machine. One of the members, Gaunt Gella, was hooked up to the machine while another, Red Ruth, observed Gella's dreams. Whatever Ruth saw horrified her, and she instantly murdered her coven sister and fled before she could be killed by the third member of the coven, Mad Maggie.
Maggie remained in Fort Knucklebones, becoming am avernian warlord and operating Fort Knucklebones as a neutral ground for all visitors.
In 1497, the Lost Star Detectives arrived at Fort Knucklebones following a lead from the god Torm, who to find someway to end the Damnation of Elturel. One of the Detectives, Lulu, was suffering from Stygian amnesia that prevented her from locating the Sword of Zariel, an item that could be used to redeem Zariel, the archduke of Avernus. Maggie, who was intrigued by the history of Zariel, offered the use of her Dream Machine to cure Lulu's amnesia, on the condition that the Detectives allowed her to view Lulu's memories and that they retrieved the four missing items it needed to for each use. The Detectives agreed, and in early 1498 returned with those part, curing Lulu's amnesia and racing off to find the Sword of Zariel.

Current Location

Fort Knucklebones

Current Holder

Mad Maggie

Raw materials & Components

Astral piston, nirvanan cogbox, heartstone, Phlegethosian sand