CR Arcadum S2E26: Beyond the Veil part 2

===Episode 26: Beyond the veil part 2===
====DM: The Upper City prepares====
Flounder self destructing before has been assembled in a new chassis, but most of his personality is gone. 
Rhapsodia walks to Atlantis asking about news regarding the alien invaders. Lending his skill to assimilate language to Conrad and Sawyer, they manage to decode the alien invaders language to some extent which can be used to gain some tactical advantage.
At Talaris, Calliope tries to convince Damien to vouching for David of Nirvana to get his job back after the incident yesterday but Damien is more focused on approving a new Talaris greeting that resemble "dabbing". Calliope of Talaris recovered an alien gun she pass over to Quixote to attempt to dismantle and reverse engineer. Realizing a potential weakness to cold she pursue runecrafting to make cryo ammunition. With the aid of Ikelos, Emily and an initiate named Lyle they perform a ritual together. They mange to enchant enough that shoul cause sufficient harm but will probably do little against their commanders. Damien considering how to use his vast capacity of mana to counter the aliens. He decides to empower all the other spellcasters.
At Quixote, Locket is attempting to dismantle and learn from disassembling one of the alien weapons recovered. Tampering with the weapon it blows up in her face and in the room Daitus and Rhapsodia are blown towards the edges of the room. Ruining their lab in a mess Rhapsodia is knocked unconscious. She does however learn how it's powered and the ammunition it uses.
BR-16 limited since Titan went offline, learns of the valuable code that the organic Rhapsodias decoded of their language but she has a decision to make. She can turn Titan back online set to target the aliens. With all his martial prowess he would be a serious counter-offensive force but after he is sated he will turn his eyes towards other enemies. Doing so, shutting him down again may not be possible. Another alternative is to use the code to counterattack their communications. A big risk with a big reward or a small risk with a small reward. She decides on the smaller and manages to delay the enemies response time but not block it.
====DM: The Row prepares====
In The Row, Loch prepares for future attacks, setting up plans with traps with Warren, Dr Cell, Charles, Xia and Mayor Eric. Getting calls from the ReUnion, they will aid him by sharing their spread of resources though the secret subway system. Faced with a choice on who to share this with, wastelanders and, or corporates, he decides that it's worth the risk. The aftermath may be ugly especially if corporates abuse their only advantage but what is the point if they lack a planet to defend at all afterwards.
Dagu especially skilled at mechanics, having recovered an alien gun, goes to his van in the scrapyard to figure out a way to use it. Jimothy keeping him company gets told that he may want to stand in the bathroom "just in case" as he tries to break the seal of the weapon. After shooing out Jimothy, Dagu pops the thing open to finds various things to study. He learns that the thing is even magical in nature, holding many more secrets than weaponry. It includes something that could be beneficial for spacetravel as well as a DNA scanner preventing certain users. Digging deeper he sets something off and the thing explodes in his face. Outside Jimothy, Willie and Horizon sees his his trailer on fire. Horizons equipment sensing a heartbeat from inside the rubble and they start digging. His body broken Vessa uses her healing magic to save him and they start carrying him to the hospital. Getting proper treatment Dr Cell uses some of her new regenerators to save his leg.
Dr Cell having recovered injured and corpses of not just slummers but also the aliens she gets to decide if she wishes to help the injured or study the invaders. Running low on resources she decides that finding a way to kill the invaders is the best for everyones best long term survival. Most seem to think that the aliens weakness is either cold or fire but could it be something else entirely? A healer at heart her studies to find a way to harm sadly does not yield anything useful.
====DM: The Undercity prepares====
Raliegh researching the essence stealing nature of the aliens, manages to find a way to block it using magical antibodies from the grove purified waters. But she needs a way for others to administer them via bottles or injectors.
====DM: A link to another universe====
Athologoth aka Phil with his cyclops heritage, after learning that all the aliens are connected in a single hivemind when inspecting their weaponry, becomes privy to great and terrible knowledge. Gathering at the Mars headquarters a kind of magical and psionic ritual is started.
The Illithari are not "people", they are shells similar to synthetics who simply act out commands. Our universe is connected through a wavegate where a small piece of the past have drifted through, into this future from another place. The hivemind they're facing is an offshoot of something called "The Depthar Virus" from a different universe far away set in another time. Many have wondered how magic came into this world 50 years ago but the reason is connected to an event in this other universe known as "the cataclysm". 
Becoming a prophet acting as a "door" to this other universe Phil is able to dive deeper into this hidden knowledge but at great cost to everything around him. The cyclops of the other universe sees time as a circle and being connected he will be granted this gift as well. Given a final choice to go forward or abort he decides to resume. Connected as "seven" whenever Phil fails to acquire more knowledge they can sacrifice themselves to let him retry. Among the gathering 7 willingly participate to aid him. Blayne, Daitus, Locket, BR-16, Luca, Rhapsodia and Ellek Myth.
*First failing, the weight of knowledge and fantasy weights down upon him and he falters unless he gains aid. Locket submits and sacrifices her life to save Phils. 
**Regaining himself he learns that the one who awaits behind and guards the door is someone named "Lord Death", for death is everywhere and there is more than one Tree.
*Second he learns the answer to what magic is. The magic here is a piece of a greater whole, it is untamed and unruled, it is wild and misshapen but it can take its form again. 
**Phil gains the knowledge to to create an "arcane pillar" that can stabilize all of magic. 
*Third he learns the true name of this universe.
**The name of the universe where magic comes from is "Verum", the name of the universe of Callous Row is "Proxis", which is psionic in nature. What connects these realms opens once an era.
*Fourth he learns the secret of time but once again falters to the wight of knowledge. To save him this time, Daitus steps fourth, his synthetic body cracks and breaks like a rusted piece of a spherical ball. Still trying but failing now Luca sacrifices himself but it is still not enough. Rhapsodia next sacrifice himself but fails to give aid - however - he possesses something unique which the others do not - a "refracted soul" giving him a second chance. Fate does not favor him however, he fails once more. Another body crushed under the fate of knowledge Blayne is crushed, finally succeeding. 
**Granted something more than the pointless alien weapon he gains the sight of his fathers, time is the wheel that connects all those things that the engineer has created. He gains the ability to see "refracted souls".
*The Fifth and last secret awaits, telling which Iteration "Proxis" is. Facing the decision to continue Phil rejects it, thinking himself trapped in a timeloop. Looking around at BR-16 he does not see her any more but her "refracted soul", an angelic woman wielding an axe.
Still, Phil decides to stop proceeding, no more sacrifices. Looking upon the bodies before him who gave their lives he is granted a decision to choose one of the fallen. After a game of chance one is chosen - Rhapsodia - as "The Traitor". (Someone who will play a role in Season 3)
Phil having found special strength may chose 5 individuals to be immune to psionics including himself. All those who sacrificed themselves stand back up again. Their sacrifices were a test. All seven in the circle gain a mark of "Proxis" on their right hands except - "the traitor" - who gains it on their left. Even the synthetics are marked with the strange pattern in their code and chassis.
Out-of-character it is revealed that The Seven of "Verum" have been symbolically portrayed from the start in the world of "Proxis" and Callous Row. For example each corporation headquarter in The Upper City is that of the point of a seven pointed star, symbolizing the seven as well as the "colors" of Verum.
====The Grindstone====
Rook manning the bar spots Dagu having seen better days but is at the bar drinking. It seems he survived his mishap with all his limbs intact. Xia and Charles are handing out enchanted water to make you immune or resistant to the aliens "body snatching". Charles hands over one batch for Rook to keep and be prepared. A tall black clad armored man asks to speak in private and reveals himself to be Warren. He informs him that he's still infiltrating Quixote and keeping his identity secret. He tells that there is a large group of important looking people including corporates outside. Rooks asks to to have one of his Quixote rifles and goes out packing heat.
Coming up and introducing themselves are none other than the higher ups from The Upper City, having hopped off their high horses it appears Damiens was good with his word. The CEO of WOTO John Goldman slowly responding extends his hand for a handshake. The president of Talaris, Damien, Luca Gray of Mars, Conrad of Atlantis and Ellek Myth of Sonitii. In the back are Hadwyn and McCuldger, two of the councilmen from Scrap Town as well as Raliegh as the Undercity representatives.
Goldman admiring the candor of his host as he shouts for the other patrons to shut up, he asks him which resources he has available. Luca suggests to equip everyone with corporate weapons and Phil shows a schematic of the warp gate. Rook goes through the approach to plant the nuke in the craft and amass the various efforts put together throughout the day. 
====DM: Strategy Mechanics====
Out-of-character several successes towards the mission preparation has been completed.
*Raliegh made potions to counteract the body snatching attacks.
*Phil gained the knowledge of the aliens psionic presence.
*BR-16 gained cybercounter espionage. 
*Research 3 independent attempts of the alien weapons and defensive capabilities. 
*Successful translation of the enemy language.
*Talaris equipped with magical frost bullets and Mars nitrogen fused bullets to bypass the enemies physical armor.
*Damien has enhanced spellcasting once for every other mage.
*Phil developed a pathogen to cause cancer in the aliens against all odds.
*Horizon reinforced the network to protect against cyberattacks.
Combining offensive, defensive, utility/subterfudge, logistics/mobility and morale will affect how successful the upcoming battle will be. 12 points to allocate into various efforts the leaders of each region meet to discuss. McCuldger for Scrap Town, Goldman for The Upper City, Raliegh for The Undercity and Dagu for The Row. After discussing they decide on 4 offence, 3 defense, 3 logistics, 3 morale, 1 utility with a focus on morale.Callous Row Season 2 Ep 26: Beyond the Veil Pt. 2
==Twitch Clips==
==Gallery==
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 1 Ikelos Emily Calliope Rose.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 2 Calliope.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 3 Calliope.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 4 Damien Ikelos Emimly Calliope Lyle.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 5 Ikelos.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 6 Ikelos.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 7 Ikelos Lyle Callope and Emily ritual.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 8 Lyle and Callope ritual.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 9 Locket.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 10 Locket.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 11 Locket and Daitus.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 12 Locket and Daitus.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 13 Daitus Obrelum Synth chassis.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 14 Daitus Obrelum Synth chassis.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 15 Daitus Obrelum Synth chassis.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 16 Locket.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 17 Loch meeting with Warren Dr Cell Charles Xia and Coach.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 17 Rhapsodia.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 18 Loch meeting with Warren Dr Cell Charles Xia and Coach.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 19 Loch.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 20 Loch.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 21 Loch.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 22 Loch.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 23 Loch.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 24 Loch.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 25 Dagu in his trailer studying an Illithari gun.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 26 Dagu in his trailer studying an Illithari gun.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 27 Dagu in his trailer studying an Illithari gun.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 28 Dagu in his trailer studying an Illithari gun explodes.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 29 Willie and Jimothy see Daugs trailer explode.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 30 Willie Jimothy Horizon see Daugs trailer explode.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 31 Vessa heals Dagu.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 32 Vessa heals Dagu.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 33 Vessa heals Dagu.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 34 Dagu in the Row hospital Horizon Torok Dr Cell Vessa.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 35 Dagu in the Row hospital Torok Dr Cell.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 36 Dagu in the Row hospital Horizon and Dr Cell.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 37 Dr Cell decision.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 38 Dr Cell decision.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 39 BR-16 decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 40 BR-16 decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 41 BR-16 decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 42 BR-16 decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 43 BR-16 decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 44 Raleigh.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 45 Luca Vee Locket .png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 46 Locket BR-16 Rhapsodia Daitus Phil.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 47 BR-16 Daitus Phil Johnny.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 48 BR-16 Daitus Phil Johnny.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 49 BR-16 Daitus Phil Johnny.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 50 Daitus Phil Johnny.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 51 Volunteers Rhapsodia Luca Locket Vee BR-16 Daitus.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 52 Volunteers Johnny Ellek Blayne.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 53 Phil faulters under the weight of knowledge.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 54 Phil decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 55 Phil decisions.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 56 Phil.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 57 Phil.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 58 Phil.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 59 Luca Locket BR-16 Ellek Daitus Blayne.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 60 Locket Ellek Daitus Blayne.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 61 Locket BR-16 Ellek Daitus Blayne.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 62 Injured Dagu.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 63 Charles.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 64 Charles.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 65 Warren.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 66 Warren.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 67 Warren.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 68 ENCORE and Goldman comes to Rooks bar.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 69 ENCORE and Goldman.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 70 Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Phil Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 71 Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Phil Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 72 Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Vee Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 73 Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Vee Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 74 Encore Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Vee Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 75 Encore Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Vee Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 76 Encore Goldman Damien Luca Ellek Vee Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 77 Xia Dr Cell William Phil Hadwyn Coach.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 78 Phil hologram of Sonitii warp gate.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 79 Phil Hadwyn McCuldger.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 80 Hadwyn McCuldger Johnny Luca Encore Goldman.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 81 Phil Hadwyn McCuldger Johnny Luca Encore Goldman.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 82 Phil Hadwyn McCuldger Raleigh Johnny Horizon Luca.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 83 Dash Dagu Loch Dr Cell Xia Phil Hadwyn Coach McCuldger Raleigh.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 84 Phil Hadwyn Coach McCuldger Raleigh Johnny Horizon Luca.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 85 Luca Goldman Voxene Damien Vee Ellek Rose.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 86 Horizon Luca Goldman Encore Voxene Damien Vee Ellek.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 87 Horizon Luca Goldman Encore Voxene Damien Vee.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 88 Dagu Raleigh McCuldger Goldman Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 89 Raleigh McCuldger Goldman Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 90 Dagu Raleigh McCuldger Goldman Conrad.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 91 Dagu Raleigh McCuldger Goldman Conrad Rikky.png
Arcad June 19 2021 CRS2E26 92 Dagu Raleigh McCuldger Goldman Conrad Rikky.png
The meeting at The Grindstone panorama Dash Dagu Loch Dr Cell Xia Phil Hadwyn McCuldger Raleigh Horizon Luca Goldman Encore Voxene Damien Vee Ellek.png
Lawl Jun 19 2021 CRS2E26 2 ENCORE.png
Lawl Jun 19 2021 CRS2E26 3 ENCORE.png
Lawl Jun 19 2021 CRS2E26 7 ENCORE.png
Lawl Jun 19 2021 CRS2E26 8 ENCORE.png
Lawlman June 19 2021 CRS2E26 93 Charles Rook Faye Dagu Dash Colour2.png
Category:Callous Row Arcadum Episodes