[X] My Assistant

[CanRay]

Depends on the parents, really. Some would want "Something Better" for their kid, a SIN, school, dating, the whole UCAS Dream.

Others, like the old Neo-@s like Slamm-0s parents, would hate even the idea of sending their kid to be "Brainwashed" by the "Corporate-Educational Complex". For those parents, there's the ShadowSkool. Slamm-0 never had a chance at a normal life, admittedly, but he's well equipped for life in the Shadows. (Now, if only he could get a date with Netcat).

Also, finally, you got the kids with SINless parents that actually care for them. Especially if they're freshly SINless (Due to Crash 2.0), and found a life of freedom in the Shadows better than one of convenient containment in the Light.

Finally, there's just some kids worth saving, and Shadowrunners sympathetic to them could get involved with part-time helping the ShadowSkool.

[The Jake]

Depends on the parents, really. Some would want "Something Better" for their kid, a SIN, school, dating, the whole UCAS Dream.

Others, like the old Neo-@s like Slamm-0s parents, would hate even the idea of sending their kid to be "Brainwashed" by the "Corporate-Educational Complex". For those parents, there's the ShadowSkool. Slamm-0 never had a chance at a normal life, admittedly, but he's well equipped for life in the Shadows. (Now, if only he could get a date with Netcat).

Also, finally, you got the kids with SINless parents that actually care for them. Especially if they're freshly SINless (Due to Crash 2.0), and found a life of freedom in the Shadows better than one of convenient containment in the Light.

Finally, there's just some kids worth saving, and Shadowrunners sympathetic to them could get involved with part-time helping the ShadowSkool.

Slamm-O is an interesting example.

You have a kid, both of his parents were runners - yet, how was he raised? We don't know, its never really been discussed to the best of my knowledge (best writeup was in the old Matrix book years ago and even that didn't say too much). Just because both were runners doesn't assume his parents would want that for him. Would you really want your kid in a high risk job where death or capture by the law (or worse!) is a daily risk? Constant paranoia? Risk of betrayal? How 'bout a runner trying to settle down and have a relationship with a non-runner?

Sure, they're free of "the system" but at what price?

- J.

[Dikotana]

How many parents have raised their children to follow in their footsteps even in dangerous professions? Fishermen, lobstermen, miners, soldiers—especially solders!

I'd imagine it depends on the shadowrunner, though. If you're not good with statistics, you get lucky, and you're making good money, why wouldn't you raise your kid to do it? If you're a shadowrunner because you're fighting the man and the system, you'd definitely bring your kids up to do it too. If You just don't have any other skills and you can't get your kid into school, you teach what you know because it's better than nothing.

How harsh is life as a shadowrunner? Most are probably incompetent amateurs who tend to get arrested or killed quickly. The skilled, canny, and careful ones can probably do just fine for years. They're also likely to be paranoid and, most importantly, they'll be the types to accept only milkruns and bring excessive planning and equipment to bear on their runs. It wouldn't be glamorous, it probably wouldn't be fun, and it probably wouldn't even pay all that well, but it would keep the good and safety-conscious runners free and breathing.

[The Jake]

How many parents have raised their children to follow in their footsteps even in dangerous professions? Fishermen, lobstermen, miners, soldiers—especially solders!

I'd imagine it depends on the shadowrunner, though. If you're not good with statistics, you get lucky, and you're making good money, why wouldn't you raise your kid to do it? If you're a shadowrunner because you're fighting the man and the system, you'd definitely bring your kids up to do it too. If You just don't have any other skills and you can't get your kid into school, you teach what you know because it's better than nothing.

How harsh is life as a shadowrunner? Most are probably incompetent amateurs who tend to get arrested or killed quickly. The skilled, canny, and careful ones can probably do just fine for years. They're also likely to be paranoid and, most importantly, they'll be the types to accept only milkruns and bring excessive planning and equipment to bear on their runs. It wouldn't be glamorous, it probably wouldn't be fun, and it probably wouldn't even pay all that well, but it would keep the good and safety-conscious runners free and breathing.

I don't know the odds on how many runners survive to retirement - and not enough anecdotal evidence exists to even guess really.

In my game world, I can think of maybe two NPCs who have "retired" (i.e. moved to the tropics and never have to work again). Their stories are the stuff of 'legend'. Most runners retire from active service but never fully leave the shadows, choosing to work as either fixers, instructors (magical, martial arts, etc), information brokers, fences, arms dealers, etc. Even then, all these jobs aren't without their own sense of peril but generally a step down from fully fledged running.

Comparing shadowrunning to fishing is functionally retarded. Lets compare apples with apples yeah?

As I've only just become a parent this month, I think I can speak for most of us and we all want a better life for our kids than what we've had ourselves. I have had a pretty good career and been looked after working I.T. -- I can't complain. But I wouldn't want my little girl to work in I.T. unless it was something she really wanted. In which case, sure, I'd definitely help guide her.

But we're not talking about a career in I.T here. We're talking about a career being made out of actively breaking the law. I think if runners had kids that wanted to take to the shadows, they would guide them but I seriously don't think a kid would have the understanding/mental maturity/life experience to truly appreciate the stakes involved.

- J.

[CanRay]

OK then, how many Guerilla Fighters train their children to be ready for war? To fight against the Corrupt System that $Insert_Rant_Here. And they're certainly not going to send Junior into the "Brainwashing Schools" of the system they hate so much, are they?

You want to compare dangerous jobs in free fire zones, OK. How about this?

How many generations of Irish Freedom Fighters (Or IRA Terrorists, depending on who you ask) have there been since England took over Erie? How many were there in Northern Ireland when Southern Ireland was able to become free? That's a dangerous "Occupation" where many people don't survive to see retirement.

[The Jake]

OK then, how many Guerilla Fighters train their children to be ready for war? To fight against the Corrupt System that $Insert_Rant_Here. And they're certainly not going to send Junior into the "Brainwashing Schools" of the system they hate so much, are they?

You want to compare dangerous jobs in free fire zones, OK. How about this?

How many generations of Irish Freedom Fighters (Or IRA Terrorists, depending on who you ask) have there been since England took over Erie? How many were there in Northern Ireland when Southern Ireland was able to become free? That's a dangerous "Occupation" where many people don't survive to see retirement.

Ok - fine. Let's split hairs. Yes it goes on.

Comparitively speaking - how many parents would want that life for their kids?

My point being is simple - I don't believe the numbers would exist for a shadow school as proposed here. I'm not saying that in some circles the SINless wouldn't want their kids educated. It's already established this goes on in the Ork Underground. I'm just saying that I think any city with a strong runner population (including Seattle) would be hard pressed to find the numbers to build a school dedicated wholly and solely to teaching kids for shadowrunners (as described here at least). I also find the justification a bit weak.

Look, its a personal opinion only. Whatever floats your boat at the end of the day. I just think its a bit of a stretch and was curious to know if I was the only one who felt that way.

- J.

[CanRay]

It's not just Shadowrunners getting kids education at the ShadowSkool. It's a School in the Shadows. That's for the whole of the Shadows.

Beggers are part of the Shadows. Your SINless mechanic is part of the Shadows. Mr. and Mrs. Ratt at the "Ratt on a Stick" vendor in Touristville is part of the Shadows. Ex-Cons who never had a legit SIN and now only have a Criminal SIN is part of the Shadows.

It's anyone that doesn't want to, or can't, live in the Light (That is, legally). Some are Ex-Shadowrunners who couldn't afford to buy the bar they wanted to. Others are SINless people that want their kids to grow up to be something other than gangers, pimps, joybois/joygrrls, drunks, druggies, chipheads, or dead in the gutter over a cardboard box.

[CanRay]

Reviving this dead post.

Clear! *Buzz-ZAP*

We got heartbeat!

[Kalvan]

In my current campaign, Kalvan, an Elf Former Wage Mage, is semi-retired from the shadows, and now teaching (some of) the next generation of spellslinging magical talent. Mostly he teaches "Practical Theory" AKA situational awarness during firefights for Combat Mages and Band-Aids (Combat Healing Magicians). If it's obvious that the budding spellcasters aren't being groomed by Mentor Spirits and/or their own people's Awakened elders, he'll go into "Deep Theory" with them as well, so long as they swear binding oaths never to practice Blood Magic.

If such a thing as "shadow schools" existed, he'd be perfectly willing to teach.

[TeknoDragon]

Just a quick note here-- since I saw the title of this thread, I've had Soul Asylum's "Black Gold" going through my mind...

"Keeps the kids off the street
Gives 'em somethin' to do, somethin' to eat
(something) used to be a playground..."

More good SR-inspiring sounds.

[Cthulhudreams]

Soldiers are very different from fishermen or miners. Their entire training is about indoctrinating them with a mindset and disciplines to encourage them to think that they are frikken awesome.

Naturally this tends to carry into the rest off your life.

[CanRay]

And, once again, bringing this to the forefront.

[Raven the Tricks...]

I know it's been almost two years since the last story post in this thread, but I'd really like to hear more about the goings on at the shadow school. I just found this thread when CanRay revived it last week, so to me it's all shiny and new (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[CanRay]

I'll talk to the guy that was writing about the Drug Spirits...

As for my comments on the ShadowSkool... Let's see what I can do...

[Tyro]

Two years already? Wow. I remember when it first was posted. I was looking forward to it, but I gave up a while back.

[CanRay]

The ShadowSkool:
Developed by residents of the Shadows to deliver an education to their children (Birthed, tanked, and adopted) better than that of the public school system, and far away from the Corporate and Policlub Brainwashing that occurs at other facilities. The ShadowSkool has a decisively Neo-Anarchist bend to it, encouraging individual thought and choices in classes. This means that the students actually wish to attend classes, a remarkable change from other school systems. In addition to their own Children, the ShadowSkool is open to respected Shadowrunners who require remedial courses, as well as to some gang members that pay for the privilege (In cash to the school, and in jibes from their chummers in the gang for going to school!).

Classes: The classes are held in a style more akin to a High School or Post-Secondary institution, where the courses are selected and held at different times. Students go to the classes they choose (Or their parents choose for them), or that they pay for. Basic courses (English reading and writing, arithmetic, gym, and cultural classes in art) are free, while any further classes require payment per course taken. Payable in money, favours, goods, or services (Including teaching your own course in an area of expertise.).

Sports: The ShadowSkool has no sports department, despite repeated requests to have an Urban Brawl team.

Building: The school building is the former Puyallup High School, which was left vacant due to budget cuts, and is due for demolitions sometime after hell freezes over due to other budget cuts. The building was originally home to quite a few squatters who had to leave, and has now been repaired to the point where it is mostly comfortable, even if those repairs are very noticeable. Students do not have lockers, and are required to keep their learning materials on them at all times (Which can be difficult, as there is a pick-pocketing course that is available.). It is still connected to the Matrix via a hardwire connection that dates from before the Great Ghost Dance, and wireless nodes have been set up to allow access to the Matrix, however at a very low bandwidth (AR Only.).

Security: The gang situation around the school has been dealt with, harshly, as only a faculty that consists partly of Shadowrunners can do. Most gangs have also come to an understanding that attacking the SkoolBus will end up in reprisals that are very costly indeed.

Faculty:
Principal: “Handsome” Karl Victors, Male Ork, 30-year old retired Fixer and son of the infamous Shadowrunner Kham. Uses his contacts to get equipment and supplies for the ShadowSkool. Wishes to leave the school as his legacy to the Shadows that supported him for all his life.

Vice Principal: “Knuckles” Marcone, Male Troll, 22-year old Shadowrunner. Got a Sleep Regulator at a young age, and used the time not sleeping to give himself an education. Very harsh on students who waste potential. His door is marked “Complaints Solved”, and people who cause trouble to the Skool are sent there. Has his three sons in the school, who are pushed by their father very harshly.

Kindergarten: Miss Black, Free Spirit (Spirit of Man. Hearth Spirit of the School.). Able to relate to children better than any mortal being, and fiercely protective of them. She appeared at one of the initial planning meetings when the building was being repaired, her spirit strengthened enough to allow her to interact with the material plane once again. Enjoys the simple joy of younger children, and has come back from the brink of going toxic. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

Introduction to Self Defence and Introduction to Firearms Classes: Mr. R. Lee, Male Elf SINner (Military Record, Honourable Discharge from all four branches of the UCAS Military, various Sargent Ranks), unknown age. Former Drill Instructor for the UCAS Marine Corps, the UCAS Army, the UCAS Air Force, and the UCAS Navy at different times. Finally, he was forced into mandatory retirement. It is unknown how he found out about the ShadowSkool, but he walked up to Principal Victors and demanded a job similar to his Drill Instructor experience. May be the only elf that appears to be old. Was denied permission to have a course devoted to cursing and insulting. Prides himself on the fact that his students have less firearms “mishaps” in the first year than Lone Star graduates have in their first week. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

Gym Class: Philip Dodge, Male Troll, 24-year old former Shadowrunner. Considered to be the wisest and most agile troll in the Barrens without the use of magic or implants. Very down to earth and relaxed personality, he particularly loves demonstrating just how out of shape the gang members in his classes are. Is rather disappointed in the lack of sports teams in the Skool. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

Automotive and Metalworking Shops: Mr. "Crusher" Malone, Male Human SINner (No criminal record), 35-year old former owner of a Chop Shop (Forced to sell the garage to the Vory.). Joined the ShadowSkool to get his children a better education than the Puyallup Barrens would have provided.

Computer Literacy, English Literacy, and Advanced Hacking Classes: Miss Datawyrm, Female Elf, Unknown age, former Shadowrunner, insists on still being called a “Decker”. Came to teach at the school at the request of Principal Victors, and has decided that she likes teaching. The Advanced Hacking Class has the largest number of gang members enrolled in it, with the Reality Hackers taking the courses to heart.

Drug Awareness, Health, and Urban Survival Classes: Joey Falconwing, Male Elf, 42-year old drug artist. Was found in the building, where he had lived since he became SINless with Crash 2.0, where he had previously been a chemist for a pharmaceutical company owned by MCT. His amount of knowledge is surprising considering that he still looks like a Hippie from the 1960s.

Chemistry, Math, and Geography Classes: Doctor Absinthe, Male Awakened Human (“Steampunk” Magic Style), unknown age. Former teacher that lost his SIN to Crash 2.0, where he became a Shadowrunner. Has joined the ShadowSkool with the promise of eager young minds. Very forgetful and often lost in his own world. Is a member of the mysterious group called “The Think Tank”. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

Demolitions and Introduction to Magical Theory Classes: Meinrad, Male Awakened Dwarf (“Runemaster” Magic Style), believed to be around 50-years old, Shadowrunner and former member of the UCAS Army Corps of Engineers (Sapper). With a large number of illegitimate children, Meinrad joined the school as a teacher to pay for their classes, and also brought forth the idea that Shadowrunners might use the facility to train or learn their own skills of the trade. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

Magical Theory, Combat Magic, and Religion Classes: Grim Perry, Male Awakened Human (“Black Magician” Magic Style), Shadowrunner. Paying a debt to Vice Principal Marcone by teaching. Has developed a larger debt by taking courses in the skool, perpetuating his teaching career. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

Basic Hacking: Miss Burn, Female Human, Mid-20s Shadowrunner. Joined the skool to help with the education of her son. Is still very much in the Shadow Community as a Shadowrunner as her class consists of the students hacking the skool's network in order to change their grade. (Created by Leofski.)

Introduction to Chemistry and Introduction to Demolitions Classes: Taylor Nathan Tucker (AKA: Mr. TNT), Human Male, 25-year old semi-retired Shadowrunner. Joined the ShadowSkool when his sister died and he required schooling for his nephew. Has a (well-deserved) reputation in the Shadows as being unlucky. Despite that, he still has kept all his fingers, so far. (Created by Christian Lafay)

Construction Class: Marcus Harrington IV, Male Dwarf SINner (Citizen with Criminal Record), 42-year old former construction company owner who was fired from his job for using substandard materials (Forced to by the Mafia). Was originally in charge of the reconstruction of the ShadowSkool Building, making it usable as a school once again. His work enticed a surprising number of students, and he has stayed on as a teacher, and has created a Shadow Business of repairing and modifying buildings without those pesky permits.

Bus Driver/Field Trip Teacher: Vincent Cooper, Male Human SINner (No criminal record), 30-year old bus driver. Quit his job with the Puyallup School Bus Service when five bullets went through the place where his head had been a second earlier, giving up a rather nice retirement package due to the fact that he wasn't likely to survive getting it. Tried to get a job as a taxi driver until approached by Principal Victors with the offer of a job, and an armoured skool bus.

[Eimi]

Magical Theory, Combat Magic, and Religion Classes: Grim Perry, Male Awakened Human (“Black Magician” Magic Style), Shadowrunner. Paying a debt to Vice Principal Marcone by teaching. Has developed a larger debt by taking courses in the skool, perpetuating his teaching career. (Created by Ryusukanku.)

You forgot "Needs to get laid." there, chief.

[Speed Wraith]

I've been gone forever but the thread remains, incredible...

Am I the only one that doesn't see the necessity of a shadow school?

If runners can forge new SINs, why not do that for a child? If the sole concern is that a TM isn't going to be able to control their abilities, then find the kid a mentor or teacher's aid equivalent?

These are (basic) educational services that exist and are used every single day and you certainly don't need a high lifestyle to engage them.

Infact, if I was a runner I'd probably go out of my way to ensure my kid had a normal upbringing as possible. Creating a special school like this would only really be useful if you never wanted your child to integrate into society and have a "normal" life. E.g. you wanted your child to also become a runner.

On a related note, I guarantee you if I was a runner and my kid didn't quite get the grades for Med school (or whatever) rest assured I'd be engaging the team's hacker to "assist" with the enrollment process at Harvard. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

- J.

And should Harvard's doctorate IT class discover the intrusion and alteration post acceptance, you've ruined your kid's future. Which partially answers your question. Yeah, they can forge a new SIN and maybe get the kid into a nice, non-corporate-aligned private school (as if). But what happens if that SIN is reconciled in some audit and discovered to be a fake? It happens all the time in the world of SR: IDs go bad, don't ever rely on them all the time. So much for giving your kid a "normal" life.

There is of course, one other EXTREMELY good reason to go with this idea: it provides a wealth of possible story lines, plots, subplots, etc.

[CanRay]

I just brought it back to life.

And, yeah, that "Bullet-Proof" SIN you own won't stay so forever. The idea of the family with the white picket fence and the 8-6 job as a Civil Servant with good pay and benefits...

Yeah. Sorry, it's called "Cyberpunk" for a reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Speed Wraith]

Multiple times from the look of things (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

I might borrow some of your faculty there for when I return to running our SR campaign. Just wanted to give you a heads-up and hope you don't mind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[CanRay]

Is why I posted it. Use the whole skool if you want. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tiralee]

Soldiers are very different from fishermen or miners. Their entire training is about indoctrinating them with a mindset and disciplines to encourage them to think that they are frikken awesome.

Naturally this tends to carry into the rest off your life.

<sarcasm> Don't know many professional fisherfolk, do you now? </sarcasm>
Miners, yes. It's "Get F%&King educated so you can come back and run this S%^thole", but professional fishermen (not many women, I've noticed.) are quite happy that their kids may want to follow in daddy's footsteps.
Also, it's skills that you pickup by living around an environment (there are a lot of rather important ones you don't get by going to primary school and bringing back something to put on the fridge). My 3-year old cousin could fire up the old C64 to play "Nursery Land" faster than I could River Raid or Wizball, for all that I was 10 years older than her - My uncle (her daddy) lived, breathed and slept computers and was delighted when the offspring were interested as well. Oddly enough, they all became sportsmen/women and went into languages and music.

Back to topic:

As a character "start", we had a corp orphan (Fuchi) that tested out high on the magic aptitude. Parents dead, she wasn't worth anything to Fuchi America, but in 10 years, she could be a nice biddable wageslave and those make the company money.
So, treat her humanely, make sure she's feeling endebted to the corp and get some solid magic skills onto her - take the long view.

But, as we know, magic's always an exception, something valuable that can be tested for without the subject being made aware of it.
Other attractive abilities are less quantifiable, but they are able to be determined. Mental skills and physical ability, both of these can be used as criteria for "fitness of purpose". Sport Scholarships are obvious, what about knowledge-based performance, multitasking? Have elimination exams, teach the same to different groups and you've got a known population from which you can garner the cream for further testing.
And frankly, having a hot pizza for lunch rather than half-raw devilrat would be more than enough incentive to learn.

-Tir.

[CanRay]

OK, I've verbally berated Ryu enough that he's writing new stuff for the Shadow Skool, and an introduction to his "Think Tank", which is a rather interesting idea.

I'm also back into GMing Shadowrun, and will start working on Drug Spirits when I am able to.

And the Shadow Skool? Soon to be part of my 2070 campaign. Ah, politics... It's an election year, and someone has to think of the Children!

[Tyro]

Yay!

[Ryusukanku]

The man entered the room and shook Absinthe’s hand with a wide smile.

“It’s been a while Doc. I got your message and came as soon as I could. What could possibly be out of the league of an old Bunsen Burner like you?”

“Hello Daniel. It would be this strange creature on the table… Ah! But first I should introduce you to my fellow faculty member. Daniel, this is our Kindergarten teacher Miss Black. Miss Black, this is ‘Deadwood’ Daniel, a fellow Think Tank member.”

There was a brief moment as the man in leather stared into the Miss Black’s eyes before bowing removing his hat and speaking softly several phrases in Navajo. She smiled in return and spoke a few phrases back before reverting to English.

“I am very pleased that the old ways are not yet lost. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I was greeted so… formally Mister Deadwood.”

“My father may not have been a big believer in the old ways he did believe in heritage. He insisted that better to stand with one foot in the past then not have a leg to stand on at all.”

“Wise man, your father.”

“He was. Now if I may turn my attention to the matter at hand?”

She nodded and watched as Deadwood walked over to the table and after examining Absinthe’s warding bulbs and Meinrad’s runes before he began to chant softly, pulling various fetishes out of his coat and setting them down on the table. She glanced over at Absinthe and he glanced back.

“You keep interesting company, Ernest.”

“Mmm? Oh yes. Well Daniel is quite a bright lad. He’s an environmental engineer, you know.”

“Really? An Environmental Engineer?”

“Oh yes. Due to his life experiences he’s gotten a tremendous interest in the environment of our awakened and ravaged world. You see he grew up in a mining town where the profits were a little more important than such things as proper waste management. The air, water and soil were fouled, the cancer rate doubled and all the plant life either died or was twisted… hence the Town’s nickname of Deadwood.”

“How… horrible.” She gasped looking over at Deadwood as he shook an ornate rattle over the Toxic Spirit. “That explains the... odor that clings to his clothing. So he is called Deadwood because he comes from this town?”

“Actually it’s because he’s it’s last human resident. The mine ran out and everyone left, except him. He stayed behind and honed his shamanistic abilities as he earned his degree via uplink. He wants to help heal the earth and broker a peace between man and nature. “

“Noble goals.”

“Yes. He’s realistic about it, that the world will never be the same, but be thinks balance is a more realistic goal than turning back the clock. Truth be told I’m a little jealous of his strength of spirit.”

“You? Jealous? Be serious, Ernest.”

“It’s true! Think of what it must have been like to be a shaman, alone in a poisoned town. Were he a lesser man he might have fallen prey to the spiritual decay that has lead so many others down the toxic path. It’s why I thought of calling him first to see Oozy there.”

“I understand. His perspective is unique on this matter.”

They watched a few more minutes before Deadwood finished up and then spoke a few words into his commlink.

“Good news or bad news, folks?”

“Give us the good news Daniel.”

“Well Doc, you have discovered something new under the sun and yes, we got some people coming over from the…” he paused a moment glancing at Miss Black before continuing. “Well , from your place to deal with it.”

“And the Bad news?”

“This thing is trouble. Seeing the future isn’t my bag but I am getting a feeling from this thing that it’s just a small part of something far bigger and more dangerous. It is a twisted, toxic stew of… Bad Medicine. And it’s not happy. You got any more backup at this school or are Curley and Moe out there it?”

“I heard that!” came the muffled voice from the other side of the door.

“Mister Lee and Dodge are very competent but I did ask the faculty who had little better to do to remain behind and watch the exits. That’s nearly everyone... even our Librarian Ursula McCain. Don’t be fooled by her age, even at 102 she’s a devil with that shotgun.”

“You know Absinthe, I don’t know what’s more shocking. That you have a 102 year-old woman with a loaded shotgun or that this place possesses enough books to require a librarian on staff.”

“Welcome to the Shadowschool, Daniel.” smirked Miss Black.