diff --git a/files/builtin_scripts/openmw_aux/util.lua b/files/builtin_scripts/openmw_aux/util.lua
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/files/builtin_scripts/openmw_aux/util.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- `openmw_aux.util` defines utility functions that are implemented in Lua rather than in C++.
+-- Implementation can be found in `resources/vfs/openmw_aux/util.lua`.
+-- @module util
+-- @usage local aux_util = require('openmw_aux.util')
+
+local aux_util = {}
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Finds the nearest object to the given point in the given list.
+-- Ignores cells, uses only coordinates. Returns the nearest object,
+-- and the distance to it. If objectList is empty, returns nil.
+-- @function [parent=#util] findNearestTo
+-- @param openmw.util#Vector3 point
+-- @param openmw.core#ObjectList objectList
+-- @return openmw.core#GameObject, #number the nearest object and the distance
+function aux_util.findNearestTo(point, objectList)
+    local res = nil
+    local resDist = nil
+    for i = 1, #objectList do
+        local obj = objectList[i]
+        local dist = (obj.position - point):length()
+        if i == 1 or dist < resDist then
+            res = obj
+            resDist = dist
+        end
+    end
+    return res, resDist
+end
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Runs given function every N game seconds (seconds when the game is not paused).
+-- Note that loading a save stops the evaluation. If it should work always, call it in 2 places --
+-- when a script starts and in the engine handler `onLoad`.
+-- @function [parent=#util] runEveryNSeconds
+-- @param #number N interval in seconds
+-- @param #function fn the function that should be called every N seconds
+-- @param #number initialDelay optional argument -- delay in seconds before the first call. If missed then the delay is a random number in range [0, N]. Randomization is used for performance reasons -- to prevent all scripts from doing time consuming operations at the same time.
+-- @return #function a function without arguments that can be used to stop the periodical evaluation.
+-- @usage
+-- local stopFn = aux_util.runEveryNSeconds(5, function() print('Test') end)  -- print 'Test' every 5 seconds
+-- stopFn()  -- stop printing 'Test'
+-- aux_util.runEveryNSeconds(5, function() print('Test2') end, 1)  -- print 'Test' every 5 seconds starting from the next second
+function aux_util.runEveryNSeconds(N, fn, initialDelay)
+    if N <= 0 then
+        error('Interval must be positive. If you want it to be as small '..
+              'as possible, use the engine handler `onUpdate` instead', 2)
+    end
+    local async = require('openmw.async')
+    local core = require('openmw.core')
+    local breakFlag = false
+    local initialDelay = initialDelay or math.random() * N
+    local baseTime = core.getGameTimeInSeconds() + initialDelay
+    local wrappedFn
+    wrappedFn = function()
+        if breakFlag then return end
+        fn()
+        local nextDelay = 1.5 * N - math.fmod(core.getGameTimeInSeconds() - baseTime + N / 2, N)
+        async:newUnsavableTimerInSeconds(nextDelay, wrappedFn)
+    end
+    async:newUnsavableTimerInSeconds(initialDelay, wrappedFn)
+    return function() breakFlag = true end
+end
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Runs given function every N game hours.
+-- Note that loading a save stops the evaluation. If it should work always, call it in 2 places --
+-- when a script starts and in the engine handler `onLoad`.
+-- @function [parent=#util] runEveryNHours
+-- @param #number N interval in game hours
+-- @param #function fn the function that should be called every N game hours
+-- @param #number initialDelay optional argument -- delay in game hours before the first call. If missed then the delay is a random number in range [0, N]. Randomization is used for performance reasons -- to prevent all scripts from doing time consuming operations at the same time.
+-- @return #function a function without arguments that can be used to stop the periodical evaluation.
+-- @usage
+-- local timeBeforeMidnight = 24 - math.fmod(core.getGameTimeInHours(), 24)
+-- aux_util.runEveryNHours(24, doSomething, timeBeforeMidnight)  -- call `doSomething` at the end of every game day.
+function aux_util.runEveryNHours(N, fn, initialDelay)
+    if N <= 0 then
+        error('Interval must be positive. If you want it to be as small '..
+              'as possible, use the engine handler `onUpdate` instead', 2)
+    end
+    local async = require('openmw.async')
+    local core = require('openmw.core')
+    local breakFlag = false
+    local initialDelay = initialDelay or math.random() * N
+    local baseTime = core.getGameTimeInHours() + initialDelay
+    local wrappedFn
+    wrappedFn = function()
+        if breakFlag then return end
+        fn()
+        local nextDelay = 1.5 * N - math.fmod(core.getGameTimeInHours() - baseTime + N / 2, N)
+        async:newUnsavableTimerInHours(nextDelay, wrappedFn)
+    end
+    async:newUnsavableTimerInHours(initialDelay, wrappedFn)
+    return function() breakFlag = true end
+end
+
+return aux_util
+