It's a strange structure, as if someone has taken a clear blue crystal and wrapped part of it in thin, almost filigree-thin metal pipes. At the top and bottom, the pipes have threading, as if they could be connected to something else.
The motivator has no innate magic of its own. Weaving magic into the modulator causes it to pulse a faint bright blue color.
A modulator can be used to even out magical power provided to an ancient sandship or other device. A few modern scholars and engineers know how to connect and use one, but the secrets of its construction are lost to time.
From the outside, it looks unremarkable, though with no obvious purpose. A two foot tall metal case--vaguely cylindrical, but in the shape of a hexagon. At what you assume is its base, each side has a slight metal protrusion, like a foot or a stand. At its top is an ornate handle made of polished, lacquered wood, as well as a ceramic lid that snaps on tight.
Removing the lid reveals the sides of the cylinder are covered in crystal, almost like it's an artificial geode. If charged, the glow with a bright light.
A battery can be used to provide constant power to an ancient sandship or other device. A few modern scholars and engineers know how to charge, connect, and use one, but the secrets of its construction are lost to time.