📘 Session 14 — The Mandate of Primus

🎵 Music

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🖼 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 merchant-guide with knowledge of routes leading into the Underdark. While Leydrick, High Jinks, and Valen remained at a tavern drinking, Dino and Rigg headed toward the local prison to negotiate Rook’s release. After bribes, distractions, and bargaining with a disinterested captain, Rook was freed and re-equipped.

Upon returning to the ship, their brief moment of rest was shattered when a towering golden construct forced its way onboard, classifying the party as trespassers. A chaotic corridor battle followed, where spells and desperate tactics failed to slow it. One by one, each member succumbed to a forced Charisma save, vanishing from the ship.

The group reappeared before Primus, the god-machine of Mechanus. Accused of aiding Illithids, the party defended their mission, insisting they sought to undermine the Illithid plot surrounding the Crown of Sorrow. Primus accepted their explanation only after binding them to an unclear but absolute directive: “You must further the task.” Moments later, the party was returned to their ship, shaken and cosmically obligated to continue.

🧙 Party Members

Character	Player	Class/Subclass	Race	Notable Actions
Garrick “Rigg” Dalhart	Ben / Elemunk	Rogue – Swashbuckler	Human	Bought Alchemy Jug; distracted guards with improvised noises; bribed prison officials; attempted combat against construct.
Laydrick Gefinhal	Jared / Galindis	Cleric – Life Domain	Dwarf	Market drinks; radiant attacks; swiftly removed by construct and transported to Mechanus.
High Jinks	Kate / Keitachan	Warlock – Great Old One	Tabaxi	Shared drinks with party; hid under tables during combat; attempted persuasion on both construct and Primus.
Dino Roar (Dynoth Rokos)	Robb / Baconbuff	Artificer (Battle Smith) / Fighter	Githyanki	Led prison negotiations; insulted Primus under his breath; opposed the Illithid accusation fiercely.
Valen Pyre	Justin / Slitzer	Wizard – Evoker	Human	Brewed spells at market; used Thunderstep against construct; willingly stopped resisting the teleport effect.
Rook	NPC	Merchant Guide	Unknown	Freed from prison by Dino & Rigg; now equipped and assisting the party.
Keshari	NPC	Elemental Vendor	Fire-touched humanoid	Sold magical goods to Rigg; provided minor insight into market wares.

📍 Key Locations

• Githyanki Market Outpost – planar bazaar, taverns, elemental vendors.
• Gith Prison Complex – Rook’s holding location, run with minimal oversight.
• The Spelljammer Ship – site of the construct assault.
• Mechanus – the Clockwork Nirvana, domain of Primus.

⚔️ Session Highlights

• Meeting Keshari; purchasing an Alchemy Jug and magical candle.
• Drinking interlude for Leydrick, High Jinks, and Valen.
• Dino & Rigg’s successful extraction of Rook from prison (bribery, distractions, negotiation).
• Massive construct boards the ship and initiates forced compliance protocols.
• Gust of Wind, Eldritch Blast, Sacred Flame, Thunderstep used with limited effect.
• One-by-one forced Charisma saves leading to planar displacement.
• Audience with Primus — accusation of Illithid collaboration.
• Imposed cosmic directive to “further the task” concerning the Crown of Sorrow.
• Instant return to ship after divine judgment.

🎭 Key Scenes

1. The Market Firespeaker

The party browsed the bustling Githyanki bazaar, where Keshari displayed fire-touched wares. Rigg secured an Alchemy Jug and candle while the others found drinks and gathered information.

2. The Prison Bargain (Expanded)

Dino and Rigg located the Gith prison where Rook was detained. The guards stated Rook had been jailed after an altercation with another inmate — who could still be heard loudly down the hall. When Dino and Rigg offered to “quiet him down,” the guards casually allowed them inside.

Rook insisted they retrieve his confiscated gear. Rigg distracted a nearby guard using improvised didgeridoo noises while looking for it. When stopped by the prison captain, Rigg attempted a story about essential “medication” in Rook’s belongings. The captain was unmoved but offered the gear for 50 gold. Rigg paid the bribe, securing Rook’s equipment.

To exit, Rook pretended to be unconscious. Dino and Rigg carried him toward the front desk, slipping the guards additional gold to avoid questioning. They left without incident and returned to the ship with Rook fully restored.

3. The Construct Boards

Upon reboarding the ship, a colossal golden construct pushed through the corridor, declaring the party unauthorized. Combat erupted in tight quarters, but spellfire and steel barely slowed it. Each failed Charisma save resulted in a character vanishing.

4. The Throne of Primus

Transported to Mechanus, the party faced Primus. He accused them of aiding Illithids. After protest, explanation, and strained diplomacy, Primus deemed them “useful” but bound them to an unclear divine directive regarding the Illithid plot. Seconds later, they were returned to their ship.

🧩 Ongoing Threads & Plot Hooks

• The Crown of Sorrow remains the central artifact sought by Illithids.
• Primus’ Directive: A geas-like compulsion to “further the task.”
• Names mentioned: Zeltha, Silna, Folks — likely Illithid-aligned contacts.
• Rook’s guidance essential for reaching Deep Shanatar.
• Keshari’s items may possess hidden uses.

💰 Loot & Discoveries

Item	Finder	Description / Status
Alchemy Jug	Rigg	This ceramic jug appears to be able to hold a gallon of liquid and weighs 12 pounds whether full or empty. Sloshing sounds can be heard from within the jug when it is shaken, even if the jug is empty. You can use an action and name one liquid from the table below to cause the jug to produce the chosen liquid. Afterward, you can uncork the jug as an action and pour that liquid out, up to 2 gallons per minute. The maximum amount of liquid the jug can produce depends on the liquid you named. Once the jug starts producing a liquid, it can't produce a different one, or more of one that has reached its maximum, until the next dawn.
Candle of the Deep	Rigg	The flame of this candle is not extinguished when immersed in water. It gives off light and heat like a normal candle.
Rook’s Gear	Dino & Rigg	Retrieved after multiple bribes; returned to its owner.
Mandate of Primus	Entire Party	Cosmic instruction to continue the anti-Illithid mission.

⏳ Cliffhanger

• The party stands on the deck, reeling from divine intervention.
• The construct is gone — but its message was unmistakable.
• Deep Shanatar and the Crown of Sorrow now lie ahead, with Primus watching.