The Timeless Chronicle
Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement)
A simple leather bound book, with the symbol of Candlekeep stamped upon the outmost bottom corners of both endleafs.
Deep within the collection of tomes, scrolls, pieces of parchment, and generalized books of the library-fortress of Candlekeep, sits a simple leather bound book atop a pedestal, completely blank on all pages. Known only by the highest of the ranked Candlekeep guardians, this book is guarded by many magical spells, powerful and permanent, from Knock to Force Wall. Should one happen upon this book, they will find their life forever changed, and forever never ending.
Immediate Connection. Upon touching The Timeless Chronicle, a creature immediately becomes attuned to it, and gains all the benefits and detriments pertained to the book. The creature is unaware of this attunement, and it does not count towards the number of attunement slots the creature has. A Remove Curse spell allows the creature to unattune from the book.
Impalpable. The Timeless Chronicle and its wielder defy all attempts to be sensed or identified by magical spells and other effects, such as the Detect Magic spell, that are a result of the book's benefits and detriments. An Identify spell works on the book, however. All other magical spells and effects are sensed and identified as normal.
An Endless Life of Lives. Upon attunement with The Timeless Chronicle, a creature is beset with a terrible, untimely curse that never ends. Upon dying by any means necessary, after 2d4 days, the creature dissipates into nothingness along with the book, unless revived through spells such as Revivify. Immediately afterward, the creature is reincarnated similar to the Reincarnation spell 1d100 miles away, with a completely new set of memories, a new personality, clothing, and anything else to immediately make them a new being. They have no recollection of their past reincarnations, but they still wield the book.
Should the wielder manage to break attunement with The Timeless Chronicle, the curse remains. Only a Wish spell can remove the curse from the wielder. However, there are rumors that Candlekeep has an alternative solution in removing the curse...
Nonsensical. The Timeless Chronicle uses any means necessary to ensure the wielder does not remember or realize their previous lives. When the book reincarnates alongside the wielder, it hides all notes written by them in previous lives. However, should any notes prove to have been written by the wielder's current life, they appear as the wielder's current handwriting. Anyone else who studies the book will immediately notice all written notes, as well as the changes in handwriting.
Should anyone show or tell about any facts that prove the true nature of The Timeless Chronicle to the wielder, the wielder may make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw to immediately recall portions of one or many of their past lives, or perhaps other information hidden from them by the book.
Resources
- Cover Page: Mazemind Tome by Randy Gallegos https://gallegosart.com/blog/2020/6/8/mazemind-tome
- Art Stain: Brainstorm by Will Murai https://www.artstation.com/artwork/eoEw
- Watercolor Stain: Xanathar's Guide Watercolor Stains by Jared Ondricek https://watercolors.giantsoup.com/index.html
