Cog that Doesn’t Spin

The Cog that Doesn’t Spin

Location: Mechanus

Deep within the vast, ticking expanse of Mechanus, there’s a place that seems to defy the very essence of the Plane of Absolute Law. Nestled amidst the relentless precision of its neighbouring cogs, there resides an anomaly—a cog apparently frozen in time. Known to a select few (with the usual breathtaking originality you’ll get on Mechanus) as The Cog That Doesn’t Spin, this strange disk is a paradox within the heart of the multiverse’s most orderly realm, and its existence raises more questions than it answers.

From afar, this cog appears no different from any other, a polished disk of metal roughly 400 metres across and 30 metres thick. Yet, unlike the surrounding gears that tick-tock in unison, driving the machinery of Mechanus with flawless precision, this cog remains utterly motionless, seemingly disconnected from the mechanisms around it. It is as if it exists outside the plane’s perfect harmony, untouched by the forces that govern everything else.

Even more peculiar is its visual trickery. Viewed from a distance, the cog’s surface seems featureless, smooth to the point of being almost invisible—a blank spot in the orderly pattern of Mechanus. But for those who dare to step onto its still surface, the illusion fades, revealing a solitary building at its centre: a modest forge.

Fernaz, the Barmy Guvner

The forge is home to an unusual occupant, a Guvner by the name of Fernaz (planar human fighter [he/him] / Fraternity of Order / LN). A cutter of profound intelligence, Fernaz is as much an enigma as the cog he studies. Clad in chain mail, a halberd slung over his shoulder, he cuts an odd figure—a scholar-warrior with eyes that burn with the light of discovery and madness in equal measure. He has dedicated his life to understanding the anomaly of this cog, convinced that it holds secrets about the very nature of time itself.

Fernaz’s theories are as eccentric as his personality. He believes that the cogs of Mechanus are the great engines of time, not just for the plane but for the multiverse at large. The stillness of this cog, then, is no mere malfunction—it’s a deliberate defiance of the natural order. Fernaz posits that this cog might not be a true cog of Mechanus at all, but rather an imposter, placed here by some unknown force. For what purpose, he cannot say, but the implications of such a construct are staggering.

The Warped Flow of Time

The most bizarre aspect of the cog, however, is the way it bends time itself. Unlike the rest of Mechanus, where time flows with perfect consistency, this cog warps the passage of days. Those who stand upon it find themselves at the mercy of its strange temporal rhythm:

• Days 1-5: Time flows at half its normal speed. One day spent on the cog equals two days outside.
• Days 6-10: Time slows even further, to a quarter speed. A day on the cog now equals four days in the outside world.
• Days 11-12: Suddenly, time accelerates to double speed, with a day on the cog passing in mere hours for those outside.

This shifting flow of time creates a sense of unease and disorientation, making it difficult to grasp the true nature of reality while on the cog. Yet Fernaz thrives in this environment, using the cog’s time-warping effects to delve deeper into his studies.

The Mystery of the Imposter Cog

The existence of The Cog That Doesn’t Spin is a conundrum. Why does it not spin like the rest of the plane? Why does it distort time? Why do the modrons and gear spirits not do anything about it? And perhaps most importantly, who or what created it? Fernaz’s theory of an artificial imposter cog is a tantalising possibility, hinting at forces that may lie beyond even the comprehension of the modrons themselves.

Is this cog a flaw in the perfect order of the plane, or a deliberate crack in the façade of absolute law? The chant suggests that the truth may be darker and more complex than anyone dares to imagine. Some even whisper that it could be a trap, laid by some forgotten power to ensnare the unwary—or a portal to a place where even the rigid laws of Mechanus hold no sway.

Source: Matias Frosterus and Jon Winter-Holt