CR Arcadum S2E2: A shadow on the wall

A shadow on the wall
Episode Statistics
Season	2
Episode	2/29
Playlist(s)
Episode Cast
DM(s)	Arcadum, SciFri, Qyr, Gigabits
Director	Arcadum
Actors	Callous Row Season 2 Characters
Episode guide
Previous	S2E1: New Beginnings
Next	S2E3

Episode 2: A shadow on the wall

New ID from Jimothy at the bank

An Upper City visit

Rook asks Faye to come with him to the Upper City for the arena battle at the MARS Corporation arena and tells her to bring her decking equipment. Getting an ID at the bank from Jimothy for Rivett, Rook also purchases some additional ID obfuscation from X to make sure they don't get caught if someone checks them visiting the corporate section of the city. Her price is steep but it's worth it.

Meeting up with Loch, Charles, and Warren, Rook reports his spotting of a suspicious red Synth bot. Guidebot says that he learned she goes by the name "Vee" and is staying at the hotel, and he confirms that she is heavily armed. Becky insults Guidebot and asks for the time of the MARS arena fight. She also asks if Rook will attend.

Heading upside early before the competition, Loch, Warren, and Charles scout out the place as Faye plants bugs at SONITII's HQ. Moving over to the MARS corp section, they are interrupted by multiple "suits". As Enzo Quintiliano introduces himself and questions what they're doing, they're recognized by Razz Arleth who explains that they are the fighters from their meeting yesterday. As more suits, even Damien Masaru, gather for the event Rook and Faye take off.

Reeza Dunewind communes with the spirits

DM: Spirit visions in Scrap Town

A fire elemental Spirit moves around Scrap Town, whispering and creating discomfort to all the inhabitants with a spiritual incline to be able to see such visages. The spirit had issues communing clearly at first, but Reeza Dunewindwas able to listen with assistance from Sheila's ritual drum. The Spirit is very angry and it grasped Reeza by the neck as it spoke to her:

"Kill the mountain's fire, it burns the earth. The ones above take what is not theirs. They got into its heart. Stop them - or perish."

Facing off versus Rask, Loch, Guidebot and Warren

DM: Kaiphus comes not to collect - this time

Stealthily moving around around the Upper City undetected using his cloaking technology, Kaiphus The Collector listens in on various corporate conversations. Eventually he introduces himself in front of Nadia Palpatyne, Enzo Quintiliano, and June Levings to enter himself into the upcoming arena match. They ask who he represents, but he says that he only represents himself. Mysterious and peculiar, but it is well perceived. He is accepted and will take on all the other combatants at once.

Though he was told to wait for an escort, he sneaks up to Faye only to say "Hello again", shocking her before stealthily disappearing again.

Kaiphus fights versus Loch, Guidebot in the back behind the barrier

Nadia, head of security for Atlantis, asks him again if he is sure to take them all on at once, as she is skeptical and worries that he will mess it up, but he ensures she will find it quite entertaining. Hatsune asks if he is excited for the fight, to which he replies that few things get his blood going like the thought of ending someone's life. June Levings, another corporate overhearing the conversation, is impressed by his boisterous nature and throws in 50.000 credits as a bonus if he manages to win.

Mey, ATLANTIS mascot and superstar, is the announcer for the fight and counts down before the battle is initiated. Right as it starts, Kaiphus erects a barrier surrounding himself and whispers to Loch and crew that they have something important to talk about. He tells them to give the onlookers a show and join him in a meeting at Union central after the fight. Using his superior armor and stealth capabilities Kaiphus puts on a show, erecting barrier after barrier while taunting, making cheap shots, and laughing at his opponents. After giving the audience what they want, he disappears and seemingly leaves the arena. Appearing behind Mey, he tells her in her ear: "I think they're doing well, don't you?" As he has left the arena, he openly admits defeat saying he was a naughty boy. Mey announces he's disqualified and declares the 4 remaining combatants the winners. She finishes off the show with a music and dance performance.

DM: Kaiphus the turncoat

Meeting up with Warren after the arena, Kaiphus tries to convince the ex-Quixote that his past assassination attempts were never anything personal, only a matter depending on payment. Instead of death he offers information, supposedly in good faith. He tells that the most powerful person in the sector is missing and warns the slummers about two persons that they need to watch for:

• A man in a black ensemble that speaks of a lottery - be wary to trust him.
• Beware the traveler from the sands, he will speak of terror but hide his true meaning.

If Warren could make sure that his friends got these two messages, he'll consider his previous debts to be paid.

DM: Another corporate rivalry war?

MARS Lieutenant Carcryle comes in coughing at the MARS compound. He reports to Enzo that his convoy had been ambushed and he was the only one who made it back. He plays back a recording on which it looks like the they were attacked by white laser weapons of incredible firepower when testing new carrier crafts, rapidly turning them into ashes ashes. It seems like Quixote is behind another attack on MARS.

John Goldman learns invaluable information

DM: WOTO learns everything

A drone bot checks in on John Goldman and suddenly says "Target acquired". Receiving an incoming call, Goldman seems quick to dismiss it until the person on the other line mentions having video footage of a certain "incident" from yesterday. Suddenly Goldman seems a lot more agreeable and instantly makes a spot in his schedule for an immediate meeting. Bringing Razz Arleth with him for security, they meet up with the caller. A figure introduces himself as Taern Cross. He is escorted into a private conference room and given a pat-down, but he is unarmed.

Having been offered food and drink, the man insists that after telling what he has to say Goldman won't have the stomach to eat anything. After Razz Taern is dismissed, he explains his past with the Shadowbats who have since dissolved. He had been onboard of the Retribution before it was destroyed when his team attempted to steal its weapons. There he had learned of the infection on board as well as the involvement of the slummers from the Row.

He offers all his saved data because his father was a loyal WOTO man and he desperately pleads for something in return, as he lost all his possessions. With the promise of WOTO setting him up with a new life and only them learning of this information, he hands over all his data, including all video footage. Video footage of his escape, all the slummers' involvement, the destruction of the Retribtution spaceship, the secret of the seedy magic used by the slummers in the Undercity, and the infection itself.

Thanking him for deciding to come to WOTO and not any other corporation, Goldman gives him a card to give to the receptionist which would get him "whatever he needs" in compensation, including a residence or even a "brothel bot".

Goldman immediately meets up with his colleague Rikky Raclette who suggest capitalizing on all the information for their own profit and blame any issues on the other corps. After some processing, the Necromancer and his demise are projected as a hologram and revealed to WOTO.

John Goldman of WOTO meets with Damien Masaru of TALARIS.

DM: Out with Mars, in with Talaris

The only thing that WOTO seemingly doesn't learn, is the identity of the mysterious fighter in the arena and his stealth technology. MARS being supposedly best in weaponry obviously failed to anticipate it, seeing as Kaiphus could leave the arena. Leonard Kiani is sent to consult with the TALARIS Corporation and they invite its CEO Damien Masaru of TALARIS to the WOTO offices. When Damien met with Goldman and Rikky, he quickly remarks on MARS' failures and suggests that TALARIS fills their place instead. With blood or trace remains from the arena and their magic they may be able to track down this Kaiphus.

DM: Kaiphus meets Rikky the rat

When Rikky is alone, Kaiphus appears before him. Apologizing for the intrusion he tells him right up front that he has been hired to kill him, but he has other plans. Growing wearisome he offers a proposal instead: In exchange for not killing Rikky, he wants him to retrieve a certain medallion bearing the mark of Quixote from Mr. Enzo. Last he saw it, it was on his person. Not divulging its importance other than that it would be use for evidence, Rikky proposes a counter offer. In addition to his survival, he would also want information on the person who ordered him killed. Kaiphus agrees and disappears from sight.

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