SESSION 14 — “The Mandate of Primus”

🎵 Music

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[Placeholder for thematic track – cosmic tension, metallic clockwork ambience]

🖼 Images

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[Placeholder: Githyanki market]
[Placeholder: Keshari the Fire Vendor]
[Placeholder: Massive Construct boarding ship]
[Placeholder: Primus, God of Mechanus]

🪐 Campaign Arc

Campaign: Spelljammer – The Shattered Crown Arc
Session: 14 – “The Mandate of Primus”
Dungeon Master: Sicareus (James)
Setting: A Githyanki outpost market, the Spelljammer vessel, and the plane of Mechanus.

🧭 Overview

The party arrived at a Githyanki-operated market in search of Rook — the reluctant merchant-guide with knowledge of routes into the Underdark. While Leydrick, High Jinks, and Valen found drinks, Dino and Rigg pressed deeper into the outpost, eventually negotiating Rook’s release from a Gith prison by paying for his gear and promising him safe passage.

Back aboard the ship, the moment of calm ended abruptly: a towering golden construct forced its way aboard, declaring the party trespassers. A chaotic, narrow-corridor battle ensued, where spellfire, wind magic, and raw panic failed to halt the being. One by one, the party was compelled into magical compliance — vanishing in bursts of light.

They reappeared in the presence of Primus, the god-machine of Mechanus. Accused of consorting with Illithids, the party argued their true intentions: to sabotage the Illithid plot surrounding the Crown of Sorrow. Primus bound them to a vague but absolute cosmic mandate — “you must further the task” — before returning them to the ship, shaken but alive.

🧙 Party Members

Character	Player	Class/Subclass	Race	Notable Actions
Garrick “Rigg” Dalhart	Ben / Elemunk	Rogue – Swashbuckler	Human	Bought Alchemy Jug; negotiated Rook’s release; nearly wind-pushed to death; vanished early in construct confrontation.
Laydrick Gefinhal	Jared / Galindis	Cleric – Life Domain	Dwarf	Relaxed at the market bar; attempted radiant damage on construct; resisted nothing, disappeared quickly.
High Jinks	Kate / Keitachan	Warlock – Great Old One	Tabaxi	Drank with Valen; hid under tables; tried persuasion on construct and later on Primus.
Dino Roar (Dynoth Rokos)	Robb / Baconbuff	Artificer (Battle Smith) / Fighter	Githyanki	Led the prison negotiation; deeply offended by Primus’ accusation; insulted a god under his breath.
Valen Pyre	Justin / Slitzer	Wizard – Evoker	Human	Thunderstepped the construct; later chose to willingly fail the save and go to Mechanus.
Rook	NPC	Merchant Guide	Unknown	Rescued from Gith prison; now travelling with the party.
Keshari	NPC	Elemental Vendor	Fire Genasi or Fire Spirit	Sold Alchemy Jug and candle; offered cryptic warnings.

📍 Key Locations

• Githyanki Market Outpost – chaotic bazaar, planar goods, questionable vendors.
• Gith Prison Complex – where Rook was detained.
• The Spelljammer Ship – site of the construct assault.
• Mechanus – the Clockwork Nirvana and throne of Primus.

⚔️ Session Highlights

• Introduction of Keshari, seller of fire-touched magical goods.
• Purchase of Alchemy Jug and a mysterious candle.
• Dino & Rigg’s successful extraction of Rook from Gith imprisonment.
• Massive construct boards the ship, declaring the party unauthorized.
• Chaotic corridor battle: Gust of Wind, Eldritch Blast, Sacred Flame, Thunderstep.
• Construct forces Charisma saves — anyone who fails disappears.
• Entire party transported to Mechanus before Primus.
• Primus accuses them of aiding Illithids; party defends intentions.
• Primus binds them to a divine directive concerning the Crown of Sorrow.
• Party returned to the ship, construct gone.

🎭 Key Scenes

1. The Market Firespeaker

Keshari’s stall crackled with floating embers as he displayed trinkets infused with elemental heat. Rigg, staring at an Alchemy Jug like a man discovering religion, flicked a coin into the vendor’s hand. Valen, Jinks, and Laydrick nursed drinks while Dino negotiated the practicalities of travel with increasing impatience.

2. The Prison Bargain

In a dim stone chamber beneath the outpost, Rook sat chained but unbroken. Dino’s heritage opened the door to negotiation; Rigg’s gold sealed it. The guards handed over Rook’s belongings with a shrug — “your problem now.” Rook, dusty but grateful, followed them out.

3. The Construct Boards

Back on the ship, metal thundered through the hull. A colossal golden figure stepped out of the corridor, arm raised. “Cease and desist. Trespassers. Do not resist.” What followed was not a fight — it was a slow-motion inevitability. Magic washed off its frame; the wind howled uselessly. One by one, the party vanished.

4. The Throne of Primus

Gears the size of cities turned in the void. A golden being of perfect symmetry addressed them with a voice like grinding suns. “You consort with Illithids. Explain.” Dino bristled. Jinks tried diplomacy. Valen floated slightly, overwhelmed. Slowly, Primus accepted their intentions — but not without imprinting a mandate into their minds.

🧩 Ongoing Threads & Plot Hooks

• The Crown of Sorrow remains the primary objective tied to the Illithid conspiracy.
• Primus’ Directive: The party is magically compelled to “further the task” — interpretation unclear.
• Names uncovered: Zeltha, Silna, Folks — possible Illithid agents or contacts.
• Rook’s knowledge of Underdark routes now essential.
• Keshari’s wares may hold hidden properties.

💰 Loot & Discoveries

Item	Finder	Description / Status
Alchemy Jug	Rigg	Produces various liquids; potential combat and utility applications.
Mysterious Candle	Rigg	Fire-touched; properties currently unknown.
Rook’s Gear	Dino & Rigg	Paid for to secure his release; now returned to its owner.
Mandate of Primus (Geas-like Effect)	Entire Party	Compulsion to complete the anti-Illithid task; may have long-term consequences.

⏳ Cliffhanger

• The crew stands back aboard the ship — breathless, rattled, and magically bound.
• The construct is gone, but its message lingers.
• The Crown of Sorrow awaits in Deep Shanatar… and Primus is watching.