Vadim Panov’s "Primamashina," a summary

This fantasy novel was published in 2011. It is the first work in a multi-author project set in the Prime World universe, combining elements of steampunk and political detective fiction. The plot centers on the intense conflict between the states that emerged after the global Cataclysm: the science-intensive Dokt Empire and the mages of the Kingdom of Adornia. The primary focus of this struggle is Prime — an anomalous substance that grants unlimited technological and magical capabilities and can also grant immortality to select individuals.

The work is part of the multi-author "Prime World" cycle. Panov sets the main plot vectors of the universe, and his novel "Seeds of Decay" (2012) later continues the story.

The Background and Death of Bezvariat

The story begins in the year 70 of the Prime Era. The renowned scientist Bezvariat the Table Companion secludes himself in the Coastal Tower of Three Peaks Castle in the southern province of Cobria. He had previously formed a secret alliance with the province’s ruler, Lady Agatha Cobrin. Together with the Adornian prince and the mage Elario Hirava, they construct the Prime Machine — a gigantic facility for the artificial production of Prime. The scientist realizes that launching the machine will trigger a brutal war, as the technological process requires the sacrifice of immortal warriors.

The dining companion jams the mechanisms and refuses to continue work. Lady Agatha orders her cleaner, Tom the Underbrow, to capture the researcher. To preserve his secret and avoid capture, Bezvariat jumps from the tower window into the ocean. The authorities presume him dead, but the scientist survives thanks to Prime and takes the name of wandering engineer Akakiy Benefit.

Events in Griedwald and Hans’s conspiracy

The Table Companion’s apprentice, Jan the Glassblower, attempts to evade pursuit by the Cobrians. He arrives in the trading city of Grindwald, the capital of the Idmar Forest. In the city’s alleys, Jan encounters city guards and, in a panic, mortally wounds one of them, then kills the Heroine, Shahmana Yegoza, with a shot from his razorblade.

The heir to the estate, Carlos Grid, pursues the fugitive and mortally wounds him in a duel. The dying Glassblower manages to utter a few phrases about the Primemachine and Lady Cobrin’s conspiracy. The Cobrian knight Marcus Lashar arrives in the city, accompanied by warriors. The ruler of Gridia, Lord Dathos, resurrects Shahmana Yegoza in a Prime Inductor and grants an audience to the Cobrians.

During negotiations, Imperial Mentor Hans, seduced by Lady Agatha’s promise of the title of ruler of Gridia, treacherously assassinates Lord Dathos. The conspirators accuse Carlos of patricide. A battle breaks out in the throne room between Cobryan and Gridian warriors. The heroes Jacob Sastre and Archibald Rusty-Whisker are killed, but Carlos manages to retrieve their catalysts from their hiding place. The young lord, along with Warlord Heinrich Hurricane and Shahmana Fidget, flees into the forests of the Idmar Forest.

Hiking through the Idmar Forest

Meanwhile, events unfold around the Cherepvatov brothers’ smuggling caravan, transporting slaves from Adornia. In the Forest of Nine Woodpeckers, the wagon is attacked by Chud. One of the crates falls, and an Adornian girl, Marida, emerges from it. She follows the slave traders to the crossing on Kamyshov Island, where the smugglers are slaughtered by a detachment of Cobrian captain Eduard Gucher. The dying merchant informs Marida that the human cargo was headed for Three Peaks Castle.

Meanwhile, Carlos, Heinrich, and Shahmana take refuge in a hidden forest refuge. Warlord Heinrich Hurricane decides to test the young ruler’s resolve and feigns withdrawal. Carlos proves resilient and decides to move east, to the free city of Fichter, to uncover the secret of Bezvariat.

On a deserted road, Carlos’s squad is captured by religious fanatics living on an isolated farm. The cultists offer human sacrifices to the ancient Goddess of Fertility and use the skulls of mages as lamps. Akaki Benefit (Bezvariat in hiding) is also captured by the cultists. Voivode Genrikh Hurricane arrives just in time to rescue them, destroys the fanatics, and frees the captives. Hurricane swears allegiance to Carlos, inspired by his courage.

Investigation and arrest in Fichter

The squad arrives in Fichter, a major trading center on the Ilva River. Carlos and Heinrich change into simple clothes, leaving their gear in Benefit’s cart. Shahmana Yegoza goes to the market and successfully sells a precious stone to the fence Rotten Peka, intending to acquire Prime crystals.

Carlos gathers information from the mechanic Shmults on Mozgovita Street, confirming his suspicions about Lady Agatha’s connection to the Adornians. Meanwhile, Benefit infiltrates his sealed mansion and retrieves a wooden Adornian mask — the key to a secret laboratory.

The mansion’s security system is activated. City guards and the faceless Cobrian warrior, Ulle Izmoroz, cordon off the street. In an unequal battle, Warlord Heinrich Hurricane dies, giving his life to save the young lord, and Carlos is imprisoned in Fichter. There, the heir meets the Adornian prisoner Marida.

Imperial Prosecutor Richard Bale Petersen interrogates Carlos. The seasoned lawyer realizes the young man was framed by the Cobrians. When Shakhmana and Benefit detonate an explosion at the citadel gates, the prosecutor helps Carlos escape. During the escape, Benefit is mortally wounded by the cleaner Tom Underbrow, and Shakhmana dies in a fire holding off the attackers. The dying Benefit reveals his true identity to Carlos and gives him the coordinates of a secret complex in the Raised Fingers Cliffs.

The Secret Laboratory of the Raised Fingers

Carlos and Marida escape in a cart to the Raised Fingers Cliffs. Using a wooden mask, Carlos opens a massive stone slab and enters an underground complex dating back to the old empire. Inside, they discover workshops, an office, and a working prime inductor assembled by the Companion.

Carlos places the rescued catalysts into the unit and successively brings his immortal warriors back to life: Henry the Hurricane, Shahmana the Fidget, Jacob the Sastre, and Archibald the Rusty Mustache. The lord then uses the catalyst of the Table Companion himself and resurrects the scientist.

Bezvariat shows his friends the flying ship "Chapek," held aloft by prime gas, on the upper level of the structure. As Marcus Lashar’s forces approach the cliffs, Sotrapeznik activates the laboratory’s self-destruct system. The explosion destroys the Cobrians and collapses the cliffs, and the "Chapek," piloted by the fugitives, sets course for the Three Peaks castle complex.

Storming the Three Peaks and destroying the Prime Machine

A flying ship appears over Three Peaks Castle and bombards the fortress. Cobryan riflemen puncture the vessel’s gas cylinder with prime cannons. The "Čapek" crashes into the courtyard, where it transforms into a walking mechanical giant that continues to ravage the surrounding buildings.

Meanwhile, in the underground chamber of magic, Elario Hirawa and scientist Hieronymus Vic prepare the Primemachine for launch, chaining the imperial warrior Eddie Grom to an altar. Marida infiltrates the chamber and frees her compatriots. A bloody battle unfolds in the throne room between the Adornians and the Cobrian Guard, in which Marida and her companions are killed.

Carlos and the Companion make their way to the Prime Machine. The scientist kills the mage Elario Hirava with a razor-sharp shot and redirects the Prime’s pressure, triggering an explosion. The units are destroyed, and Lady Agatha perishes under the collapse of the stone vaults. Convinced that the technology for creating the artificial Prime has been destroyed forever, Carlos kills the Companion to prevent any future recreation of the machine.

Subsequent events

Thanks to the testimony of Imperial Prosecutor Petersen and the evidence collected, Carlos Greed is cleared of all charges. Emperor Paul signs a decree appointing Carlos as the new ruler of Cobria.

The young lord becomes the first ruler in history to combine the highest noble status with the abilities of an immortal warrior. Cobryan and Gridian warriors swear allegiance to the new lord, ready to follow him in the coming battles.