diff --git a/crown/src/drivers/mod.rs b/crown/src/drivers/mod.rs
index 97b66ee..c8d60fe 100644
--- a/crown/src/drivers/mod.rs
+++ b/crown/src/drivers/mod.rs
@@ -4,3 +4,4 @@ pub mod http;
 pub mod markdown;
 pub mod npc;
 pub mod one_punch;
+pub mod timer;
diff --git a/crown/src/drivers/timer.rs b/crown/src/drivers/timer.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d01a35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crown/src/drivers/timer.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+use crate::nockapp::driver::*;
+use crate::noun::slab::NounSlab;
+use crate::utils::make_tas;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use sword::noun::{D, T};
+use tokio::time;
+
+pub fn make_timer_driver(interval_secs: u64) -> IODriverFn {
+    make_driver(move |handle| async move {
+        let mut timer_interval = time::interval(Duration::from_secs(interval_secs));
+
+        loop {
+            tokio::select! {
+                _ = timer_interval.tick() => {
+                    let mut timer_slab = NounSlab::new();
+                    let timer_tas = make_tas(&mut timer_slab, "timer").as_noun();
+                    let timer_noun = T(&mut timer_slab, &[timer_tas, D(0)]);
+                    timer_slab.set_root(timer_noun);
+                    handle.poke(timer_slab).await?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    })
+}
diff --git a/crown/src/lib.rs b/crown/src/lib.rs
index 7332b93..fe97830 100644
--- a/crown/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crown/src/lib.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ pub use drivers::http::http as http_driver;
 pub use drivers::markdown::markdown as markdown_driver;
 pub use drivers::npc::{npc_client as npc_client_driver, npc_listener as npc_listener_driver};
 pub use drivers::one_punch::one_punch_man as one_punch_driver;
+pub use drivers::timer::make_timer_driver as timer_driver;
 
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
diff --git a/crown/src/utils/mod.rs b/crown/src/utils/mod.rs
index e6393b1..e8419a9 100644
--- a/crown/src/utils/mod.rs
+++ b/crown/src/utils/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 pub mod bytes;
 pub mod error;
+pub mod scry;
 pub mod slogger;
 
 use byteorder::{LittleEndian, ReadBytesExt};
diff --git a/crown/src/utils/scry.rs b/crown/src/utils/scry.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5ee59a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crown/src/utils/scry.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+use either::{Left, Right};
+use sword::noun::Noun;
+
+pub enum ScryResult {
+    BadPath,    // ~
+    Nothing,    // [~ ~]
+    Some(Noun), // [~ ~ foo]
+    Invalid,    // anything that isn't one of the above
+}
+
+impl From<&Noun> for ScryResult {
+    fn from(noun: &Noun) -> ScryResult {
+        match noun.as_either_atom_cell() {
+            Left(atom) => {
+                let Ok(direct) = atom.as_direct() else {
+                    return ScryResult::Invalid;
+                };
+                if direct.data() == 0 {
+                    return ScryResult::BadPath;
+                }
+            }
+            Right(cell) => {
+                let Ok(head) = cell.head().as_direct() else {
+                    return ScryResult::Invalid;
+                };
+                if head.data() == 0 {
+                    match cell.tail().as_either_atom_cell() {
+                        Left(atom) => {
+                            let Ok(direct) = atom.as_direct() else {
+                                return ScryResult::Invalid;
+                            };
+                            if direct.data() == 0 {
+                                return ScryResult::Nothing;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        Right(tail) => {
+                            let Ok(tail_head) = tail.head().as_direct() else {
+                                return ScryResult::Invalid;
+                            };
+                            if tail_head.data() == 0 {
+                                return ScryResult::Some(tail.tail());
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        ScryResult::Invalid
+    }
+}