((other staff or students are encouraged to post and join in.)) ((Setting Music Dragon Empress - BrunuhVille))

Have you ever had one of those days that no matter what you do, no matter how well you explain something repeatedly, the universe decides to be a bully and up end your chocolate milk into sand and laugh at you?

Tinkle, Crack, Crash! The sound of a master mages barrier echoed across the emptied hall way, solid, glowing chunks of protective energy shattered onto the floor. A hulking mass of tentacles, scaled and oozing acid dripping slime slithered out of the double doors of an alchemy lecture room. A young elf girl, garbed in a warm cloak and robe screamed in terror seeing the tentacles. The rest of the small group of students looked in the direction of the panic and a gnome snagged at the hem of their teachers vest.

"Pro' pro...professor! It broke past your barrier!"

This was one of those days...

Ammy, holding up her hands, pink bejeweled collar aglow from gems radiating power she was tapping looked away from another door way ahead of them in the hall. Her eyes settled on the loose tentacles flowing from the main lecture room entry. She sighed and looked ahead of her. The side door of the lecture room lay cracked in half against the wall of the hallway and a mass of tentacles coiled up against an invisible barrier within the doorway. It was flaring bright blue from the arcane energies deflecting the tentacles.

"Class. Move to the end of the hall in an orderly fashion. Treat this as a fire drill and stay put until further aid from other professors arrive." She said in a tone of command.

The students didn't think twice to ask why and moved past her, hurriedly but in order. They had trust in their professor to protect them. One of the vampire lads smacked the back of the head of a dwarf.

"Told you that mixing a summon potion with kraken ink was stupid." the vampire said.

The dwarf lad flinched and flailed at the vampire. "I wanted to summon ink!"

The vampire rolled his eyes. "You ask for ink lout, not summon it. This isn't arcane class, it was alchemy!"

Ammy put the sounds of the argument out of her head. Left hand up and maintaining the side door barrier she regarded the coils of tentacles rapidly approaching her from the main entry. Leave it to her students to be cunning and ambitious in class while she wrote on the chalkboard. Many of them were exploring combining potions within warded cauldrons. She never dreamed a student would smuggle in a summoning potion. Something wet and a bit acidic grabbed her ankle and took her back to the present issue. Right. Tentacles.

Right hand lifted and her finger tips glowed white hot. ~Fuego!~ The word was snarled and five fire balls streaked from her finger tips to impact upon the tentacles. They fizzled and guttered out. She stared in surprise. The dwarf student spoke up.

"Kraken Daemons resist fire professor!"

Kraken Daemon! Before she could even ask what the student was doing to even possess a potion to summon anything much less something from the Daemon realm, she felt world slide out from her hard as the tentacle around her ankle tugged her down. She hit the floor hard with a "wuff" of air escaping. The side door shield wavered a moment during her brief distraction. She felt it and poured intent back into it, keeping her left hand up again. She signed several sigils in a span of five seconds as she was drug up the carpeted floor towards the mass of tentacles writhing, waiting for its prey.

~Ortham!~ Wind sliced out from the sigils as she smashed them her right fist. The gale severed the attached tendril and slammed into the writhing mass at the door way. They flailed in rage and withdrew for a moment.

"Granite Mortis Chiseler, we are having a teacher/student discussion if we get out of this alive." Her tone was not pleasant and promised severe tongue lashing. The dwarf did his best to hide in the clustered group of students.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/93832244/BC%20Oops%20Map.jpg

((Setting Music The Wolf and the Moon - BrunuhVille))

The small knot of students was transfixed by the fight raging between Daemon Kraken and Professor Spiritor. One student, a human girl fainted seeing the professor being dragged away by a tentacle. Two girls, the elf that had screamed the first time and a vampire pulled the collapsed classmate closer to the fire barricade. The boys of the class, once they initial panic had settled were bolstered by the courage of their professor. Wands and small fragile vials were soon produced, the effect of offensive mage lessons and practical combat alchemy to blame. They were all poised to help their teacher if the tentacles deigned to leave the main lecture room door way.

Ammy was collecting her breath and focus. The shield barrier on the doorway closest to her students hummed brilliantly as she held it firm against the tentacles now pummeling against the energy. She glanced to the main door of the classroom; the tentacles had not emerged again after the pummeling from her wind spell. Not wasting time she gathered breath and fed more focus into the glowing jewels upon her pink collar.

~Obstuse Enim~ Ammy spoke and her right hand drew a sigil of a brick wall. The master mage barrier rose to seal off the main entry once more. She stared at the doorways for a heart beat or two. You're attacking the side door drawn to the prey gathered there. Why are you not coming after me" Did I hurt you that much" She was guessing and assessing.

The female vampire in the back of the knotted students could hear the crackle and hiss of Lydia's radio on the other side of the fire barricade.

"Guys, guys, guys! There's another teacher on the other side!" She called out to the boys.

Two human boys, mid teens pulled back from the ragged front line formation the other boys had made. They went to the fire barricade and started to bang on the bespelled metal that had rolled down to seal off the section.

"Help! Help! Help! You gotta open the barricade! Let us out! There's a Daemon Kraken loose in the classroom!" They boys added to the beating upon the barricade.

About this time the sound of wood splintering and a rumble rolled over the entire floor of the section; as if a giant was trying to squeeze the entire floor towards the classroom. Ammy kept her footing, barriers glowing bright as tentacles had reappeared once more at both doorways. Her color was a brilliant blaze of rapidly consumed magical energy. It was also starting to heat up from the heavy drain. Then an audible snap, like a million twigs breaking was heard and a tentacle speared up from under the floor cutting the students off from Ammy.

Ammy and the boys gasped seeing it spring up from the broken floor boards. The boys, waiting for a chance to join in the fun began to throw their bottles and cast spells at the tentacle. A few bouts of purple worm acid hissed on daemon scales. Zaps of low level shock spells flew from wands. Even a few rebuff spells smashed dense air at the thing. The boy's valiant effort to help and maybe show off to the girls had only aggravated the Kraken. The tentacle swept blindly out at the boys, the girls were just out of reach. Most of the boys dove; the few unlucky were merely knocked to the floor with the hiss of mild acid burning into uniforms and skin eliciting a few shocked shouts of pain.

Ammy grimaced hearing hear students in pain. Deeper breath drawn she clapped hands together, joining the two mage barriers to one hand and freed her left hand to point at the tentacle.

"Alright you over grown piece of calamari, it's time to pick on something with more fight! ~Frintaros~? she snapped the arcane word from her muzzle and drew an asterisk in the air.

The tentacle froze solid with a sheen of ice glistening from frozen slime on the hard scales.

~Antipode~ she snarled and the tentacle hissed like a lobster thrown into hot water. The tentacle quivered a moment then exploded into chunks of frozen kraken meat, the difference between sudden freezing and heating causing stunning results. Some of the frozen chunks rattled against the fire barricade, the rest pelted Ammy, the floor, walls and blew out a window or two letting in cold frigid air.

Some of the student's cheered their professor. The celebration ended quick as the windows in the sealed off hallway shattered, tentacles flowing in through them from the outside of the building. Ammy cursed and withdrew, ordering all students behind her as the tentacles felt blindly on the floor for prey. Her mage barriers kept the main surge of tentacles from the class room at bay still. To any in the Mage Garden or the rest of the academy ground within view of the Mage Hall would see tentacles flowing out of the left side of the hall, arching down and crashing through the windows of the 3rd floor to thread over and up to the right side windows of the 4th floor. It would look like a large squid was hugging the floor.

Ammy let out a small sigh again. ~Refusum~ she poke repulsing any tentacles getting close to her or the students with her left hand.

Lydia could see the cluster of students in the small window of the fire door barrier. She let go of her grasp on her radio and instead grabbed the small set of keys that hung from the back of her belt, hidden beneath the professional blazer she wore over her blouse. Flipping to the right key as some of the boys began pounding on the door, she quickly inserted the key into the lock beside the door. The pocket style door quickly slid into the wall, leaving the doorway open.

The ground suddenly seemed to shift under Lydia as she watched a tentacle came up through the floor passed the students. "This thing can go through floors - we're in trouble." She began to help gather up the girl who had passed out while the boys nearest the creature began their exacerbating onslaught. Lydia had looked down at the unconscious girl, to do a quick assessment of her condition, but her focus changed as she heard the boys cry out in pain. As Ammy froze and shattered the tentacle, Lydia lowered the girl to the ground and ran up to the boys in the front. As they hid behind Ammy, Lydia took them by the shoulders to turn them around and show them the exit their fellow students were now filing through. They soon followed. As Lydia turned back to watch the students escape, she saw a few security guards coming up through the students. She ordered them to take the unconscious girl, and any others that may be weakened.

Lydia turned around to watch Ammy fight off the beast. Her own skills were severely limited. In fact, the students put up a better fight than anything she could have offered. She stepped back, retreating towards the fire barrier doorway in case she, too, would need to flee. She grabbed her communication device and turned it on to speak. Even though she was frantic for the lives of the students, she spoke slowly and deeply so she could be heard clearly.

"Evacuate Mage Hall. All classes dismissed," Lydia said into her radio in one hand, then used her other hand to follow up by pulling the nearby fire alarm emergency box that would sound off in the entire Mage Hall building.

Security personnel knew the guidelines. First priority was getting the students and staff out of harm's way. Only a bare minimum number of security officers would be left at the few security stations and offices scattered around the campus; everyone else was to report to Mage Hall to help evacuate or act as reinforcements. Even though the fire alarm was enough to get most out of the building, a select set of security guards would split up and go through each room of Mage Hall to ensure everyone was out of the building. The rest of the campus was a different matter.

The Administration Building to the south, the Physical Principles Center and the Science Wing to the west, and the Combat Annex to the north were all in a state of alert. It was up to the individual instructors if they thought it was best to let the students go, or remain in the classrooms for safety. Students were free to come or go as they deemed fit, but Lydia hoped they would heed their instructor's advice to stay safe. It was up to Lydia's secretary to issue the alert to the other buildings, including where the incident was taking place so people would not chaotically run towards the danger. Most classrooms had automatic intercoms, though some did not. Those without would have to reply on phone calls from the secretary, or through word of mouth from teachers in neighboring classrooms.

Lydia wanted to be able to provide as much information to security as she could, while she still could. She picked up a small piece of the shattered limb that had fallen close to her. She was inspecting it while she remembered what the one boy had told her. She reported into her radio as she tried putting two and two together, "Daemon Kraken, Please investigate weaknesses. Possible resistance to fire, confirmed cold susceptible?" As she spoke, the piece began to thaw. The acid of its scales began to burn and she dropped it to the floor, leaving a small chemical burn on the palm of her hand. She added, "Burning flesh. Do not touch.?

Hunter arrived as Lydia opened the door and let the kids out. The shattering of the tentacle spread debris out of the opening. He observed the event with an icy calm, only turning as he heard steps rushing up behind him. Five of the school's security personnel now occupied the hall that had gone from nearly abandoned to the hottest ticket in town. Their uniforms were in various shades of red and black to match the schools colors.

"You two?" Hunter pointed to the pair whose uniform was mostly black with red at the seams and shoulders. "Get these kids out of here." He issued orders with a calm assertiveness that he always used on the bridge of his ship. Hunter's expression allowed for no disobedience of the commands. "You three, you're coming with me." He paused for just a moment, his hand going into a satchel and pulling free a smoke grenade. "Could I interest you in some red shirts?"

The trio looked confusedly at him, it could have been that flat tone with which he'd delivered the Legion joke. That line would have gotten a laugh from anyone in the fleet. These men weren't part of the legion. "Wouldn't that make us better targets Professor?" The one in the center asked running fingers through his blond hair and looking to his peers for support.

"Nevermind?" Hunter moved closer to the door, and to Lydia who had just dropped the acid excreting piece of tentacle. He watched as it etched at the tile on the floor, then turned his gaze on her. "Intriguing. You always throw the best parties Lydia." It was meant to be funny, unfortunately Hunter just wasn't. The corner of his mouth lifted into an almost smile at her. Whether she knew him well enough to understand that was the equivalent to a broad grin for him or not wasn't something he had time to dwell on. Ammy was calling for the door to be closed, more than that she was calling out the Kraken.

"Give us thirty seconds before you decide to close the door?" Hunter asked Lydia just before turning to the three security officers who were edging closer to that door to see exactly what they'd gotten themselves into.

"Perimeter sweep, smoke goes in, we hit the door and take positions where we can interlock our fields of fire." You, Hunter checked the man's name tag. "Ackers, you any good with that thing?"

Ackers smirked and nodded, holding up the yellow and black shotgun equipped with XREP (Extended Range Electronic Projectile) rounds. "At the range once a week."

Hunter didn't nod he thumbed the ring of the pin to the grenade and lobbed it in. He counted to fifteen then charged through the door pulling the dual Polaron pistols and running along the wall. He didn't stop until he was all the way around the room. Ackers had been the first to follow and took a position in the corner nearest him.

"Jones! Get Down!" Hunter heard Ackers yelling and looked across to see a tentacle headed directly for the last man into the room. Jones pulled out his retractable night stick turning and managing to fend off the incoming blow, but his stick was smoking from the contact with the tentacle.

The first shots rang out from the third guard. Hunter called out to Ackers. "Stop him! He's only going to attract it to him. We need to know how to fight this thing!" Hunter pulled a Tricorder form his belt and began to scan the creature and the room at large.

Ackers called out again, this time to the other man. "Murph, stop shooting, yer just making it angry!" Murphy had to duck and roll as a tentacle lashed out at him. He wasn't quick to reappear, he also wasn't firing the weapon anymore.

"The mucus it secretes is almost nonconductive, and that isn't going to punch a hole through those scales either. If we can get past that we have a real shot here." Hunter indicated the shotgun in Ackers hands. Then he was looking at the other council member. "Ammy, we're the distraction' send it home or do whatever it is you do!"

It was Hunter's turn. He shoved the Tricorder back onto his belt. "Keep your eyes open for breaches in its armor Ackers, you see one take the shot." He drew the pistols again and took off across the chamber firing of a staccato of shots as he moved. Blast after blast of purple Polaron charges were sent towards the creature striking the same point on one tentacle before he dropped and slid six foot one two hundred twenty pound frame onto the floor between rows of seats. He heard Ackers" shotgun go off but was out of position. He couldn't see if Ackers" confidence was deserved.

((Setting Music Nocturne - BrunuhVille))

Ammy's slight penchant for war and violence stole over her. She was unaware of Hunter or the three security guards coming to the aid. She had entered what many veterans would call blood lust. Her blood stained history and the genetics of her body sang sweetly as the mistress of Alchemy and Death rose once again. Her golden eyes glimmered to crimson as two tentacles separated from the knot of writhing mass at the classrooms main entry and shot for her like large grotesque spears. Ammy twirled and danced between them as smoke began to rise through the hallway from Hunters smoke grenade; pinpoints of light glinted about her from the sun that poured in through shattered windows. The tentacles on either side of her split into crisscrossed gobbets of meat and sludge, the mono-filament whip left smoking trails around Ammy.

Another tendril broke up from the floor and Ammy stepped back, on instinct and a bit more, premonition perhaps. The whip glimmered about her again the tentacle was dissected with ease acid slime and blood of a deep purple rained around her. Sizzles of the liquids burning into her once charcoal vest and peach blouse, making ruins of her well tailored black cotton slacks. Her senses were wired wide open and through that haze of violence she knew the real heart to seize and pluck out was in the classroom.

She held up her Chaemera pistol, the arcane runes and alchemy arrays etched along it's frame and slide glowing crimson. She spoke in a sharp, painful tone. "Ice, Wide Effect." The gun was pointed at the writhing masses at the doorway and she fired. The gun glowed brilliant blue and spat a cone of deep frost as if a blue dragon had waged battle in the hall instead of one small alchemy teacher. The writhing masses froze into stiffness and glistened with repressed violence and movement.

By this time three things had occurred to pull her mind to the edge of that bestial blood rage; Hunters voice, the unison of Polaron and Shotgun blasts and the small personal communications pin the staff wore in school for staff updates chirping with Andu's voice.

You are not alone in this task. Now is not the time to sacrifice. Pull back and be woman once more.

Her eyes lost the crimson hue, golds warmed her face and she took stock like a shell shocked warrior watching the battle with no sound but vivid color. She saw the guard, Murphy firing at a tentacle and try to escape. He was crushed by the mass of scale and acid slime. The smoke grenade had turned the hall into a sea of mist, the tentacles looking like writhing, swimming lochness monsters. Ammy saw Hunter and two other guards had made it past the side entry of the classroom as a massive hole in the wall erupted, a tentacle ripped through it like a sand castle; it was intent on sliding out of the hall and was bound on a collision path for Lydia. Ammy felt the floor rumble and writhe as the Polaron blasts flaring out caused scales to fester and rot rapidly on one tentacle, the fired XREP round punching through clotted necrosis to sink into Daemon flesh.

Sound returned when Mage Hall shuddered and rang with the bellows of the Daemon Kraken enraged. It had not liked that paired attack from Hunter and Akers. Both men would be in the large auditory room for Alchemy Lectures and come face to face with a massive squid like body jammed into the 100 foot long room. Rows of coiled tentacles sheltered and protected it's blackish red scaled hide. Large eyes of vibrant neon green, eight in total upon one side of the beasts body stared at Hunter and Akers. With prey in its sight, more tentacles shot out at the men with precision and less bumbling, intent on coiling about the men if they were caught for what purposes anyone could guess. The actions were slowed by a second or two from the stunning charge in XREP round but the energy charge was dwarfed by the mass of the beast.

The words of Hunter and Andu caught her in a close dancing duet. Ammy, we're the distraction' send it home or do whatever it is you do! Ammy, Hunter. GAA suited up and on stand by outside for containment and distraction. Suited up with cold options.

She finally took a breath, coming out of the daze completely now and acted within seconds. ~Frintaros~ She barked and hit the tentacle rushing for Lydia with an icy blast, it only froze a small section of scale that shattered off to the floor, the tentacle still racing for the head mistress. Ammy took a breath, arched her back, wound up and heaved her Chaemera pistol to Lydia and snapped the mono-filament whip to slice the tentacle off, the mass of scale and slime colliding to the floor and sliding for the door, the pistol arcing in the air.

"Catch the gun and use it Lydia! It'll shoot whatever you tell it to shoot!" She looked to the frozen knot of tentacles. ~Antipode~ The spell surged and started to fizzle until she pressed more will into it. She got a pain stabbing into her head and the wall exploded into the room sending frozen kraken meat to rattle against a slime melted wall like bee bees. The gems on her collar were slowly winking out, the magical energy charged within almost spent.

She rushed into the room, the whip cast aside, acid having melted the wire to a useless stub now. "I can't send it home Hunter! I don't know summoning magic!" She shouted and drew up short seeing the size of the beast. It had been slowly growing when she had evacuated the classroom, now it was a mastodon of danger. Hell Bells what can I do' I'm running on empty and my body is ready to tell me that casting from my soul is going to hurt like hell. If only we could shrink the bloody thing... Ammy had an idea now.

"Andu, start attacking any visible tentacles with freezing attacks. Start pairing them down. I am betting this thing is sending tendrils into the third floor. Distract it. Make it want you." She hollered over her communication device. "Hunter! Keep distracting! I have a plan!"

She ran, dipping and weaving trying to avoid expending more of her magic at tendrils trying to grab her as she headed for the Practical Demonstrations Supply Closet in the upper left corner of the room.

There were a few things that clued the swordmage in on something that was going on. He was in his class room, located on the ground floor, teaching, when...Well, it sounded like some kind of explosion upstairs. He frowned, looking upwards at the ceiling for a moment, and then took a glance out of the window when he spotted movement, rather, something falling from on of the upper floors.

He was on his feet and moving towards the very same window when the fire alarm went off. "What in the hells is going on up there?" He muttered, pulling one of the windows open to take a look upwards. None of his students seemed too perturbed by the fire alarm. After all, why should they be? They were studying fire magic! If anything, Arthour would probably drag them along to any fires in the academy to let them get real experience putting out a fire that wasn't already under their control. That was when he noted the tentacles hugging the 4th floor. "Riiigggghhhttt...." He leaned back into his classroom and headed for the coat stand beside his desk, holding his swordbelt and cloak. Looking towards his students, he raised his hand to get their attention. "Everyone! The fire alarm has been raised. This is not a drill, and it is not a fire. Leave the building at once. You know the drills, head to the assembly point immediately. I'm going upstairs."

And with that, he grabbed his things and exited the room, his students close on his heels and making for the emergency exit - in the opposite direction Arthour headed. He was going for the stairs, much like Lydia, he had no time for lifts. And besides, with the fire alarm, they'd all be disabled on whatever floor they stopped at. He took each step two at a time, buckling his sword belt on, with his cloak thrown over his shoulders hastily. A quick push outwards with his mind quickly found and connected with the crystals he'd handed out to friends, two of them on Coven grounds right now. One of whom, he knew was upstairs doing an alchemy class. ~~Ammy' Andu" Whats going on' Why the heck is there a squid clinging to my hall"!~~ Okay, technically Mage Hall wasn't his, but that wasn't really something he was interest in remembering at the moment.

Sitting in her office, blinking feeling panic in the air, getting up and looking out her window, only to have her jaw hang slack "What in the name of Darkness is......going on?"

Lifting her hand and making a shadow portal, connecting it to Mage house, and stepping out beside Lydia"what in the nine gates is going on' why is there a giant calamari dinner attacking?"

The panic in the Area was even getting to her, turning and facing the kids, "sorry, I gotta do this, the energy is getting to much, time to calm down kids" turning and facing the kids, closing her eyes to focus, lifting her hands, spreading a calming energy over the Area

Reaching out and touching everyone minds inside "okay guys Im here, Im calming the kids down out here, let me know if you need energy sent to you, or weponry"

Opening one eye and looking at Lydia "

Ammy heard the telepathic message from Arthour via the crystal that now dug into her thigh as she tried to squeeze past the bulk of coiled tentacles blocking her way to the supply closet. A thin blue film of energy was sparking as the Mage Armor she had cast quickly smoked from the acid slime. The ends of the Kraken tentacles could not pursue her past the coiled bulks of their own mass but in hindsight they need not try. One tremmor, sneaze or panic reaction from the Kraken would crush her with ease. She sucked in her breath more to squeeze a few more feet past the beast. She shot out from between the wall and slime covered barriers to sprawl on the floor a moment.

Not much is happening to your Mage Hall, Art. Just another lecture day. A little impromptu show and tell in class. I must have neglected to tell my students not to bring their Daemon Kraken. Funny that.... Her thoughts heavy with sarcasm as it went to Arthour via crystal.

Ammy picked her self up off the floor and lurched to the closet. With a wave of a hand and muttered ~Mitos~ the door popped open, its lock sheared off by unseen force. Ammy didn't tary long on her shopping run. She grabbed a bucket, two large, 4 gallon bottles of mineral oil, a box of powdered green chalk, a funnel and she was happy to see the two large super soakers she confiscated during summer classes still in residence. She cared less about staying clean, moot point being covered in slime, kraken blood and acid burned clothes and furr. She empted the bottles, upended the box and stirred the mess into a slimy colloid of oil and suspended green chalk pigment. She filled the two super soakers and then, after a small racket of noisy priming, she began to paint what parts of the ceiling that could be seen with lines of dripping, oily green. The sight of it all had Ammy oddly whistling a song, it was the opening theme to Ghost Busters.

Feeling Mai touch upon her mind, Ammy sent a telepathic message to the vampiress. Mai, I could use an energy recharge, whatever you can manage, thrown into the pink collar about my neck. Aim for the gems when you can see them. They hold and store energy for me to cast spells without harming my body.

Outside Mage Hall, Grape Ape Andu's happy abandon of restraint had rewarded him with all of the exterior tendtacles on the right side of Mage Hall bursting and clattering all over the grounds and against the building sides with frozen bits of Kraken meat. Once thawed though, the scaled hide portions began to smolder and smoke in the snow and sleeping grass leaving large sink holes in the white field.

By now all of Ammy's students had been evacuated including the burned boys, this task done in a very calm manner thanks in part to Lydia's command of the situation and Mai's calming use of her Aura. The hall on the 4th was now clear of all unessential personnel.

The guard that Lydia spoke to paid attention to her instructions carefully as the heavily enchanted Chaemera pistol was pressed into his hands. He blinked as the headmistress vanished with the roll of colored smoke but then again it was the Bristle Crios Academy. He put the wonder out of his mind. Bob hefted the pistol, sighted down the barel on a tentacle moving for the door way and fired. The tenacle froze and Bob smirked; he could get used to toys like this. Bob held two guards back with him, keeping the door way clear and free as an extraction point if retreat was needed. They were however just outside of the door way and on guard was close to the activation panel should the call to seal the hall came again. They would freeze and pick off anything that came their way.

Two more security guards ran into the hall and through the side door Hunter and Akers had gone through ready to suport them. The Kraken would still be doing its level best to grab Hunter, Akers and the other poor guard with them.

-*-*-*-

Meanwhile... 3rd Floor, Mage Hall. Bellow the massive Daemon Kraken was another classroom, long since evacuated by paniced students and teachers alike when the muffled thuds of battle sifted from the fourth floor. The windows on the left side of the floor were blown in and the windows on the right side of the floor were blown out. Massive tentacles had punched through classroom walls, knocked over or smashed tables and desks and abruptly ended in frost bittens stumps where each classroom had opened up to the right side of the hall. The form of Grape Ape Andu could be seen smashing away at tentacle remnants upon the wall through broken windowns. Wet acid slime now mingled with broken glass, shatter wood and twisted metal. The entire flooring had turned treacherously slick with slime and acid slowly ectching deep patterns into tile and setting rugs to smolder setting a fog bank of smoke rolling through the halls of that floor.

Directly bellow the Kraken, a ragged 20 foot hole that had been created acid secrected from its mouth, opening a path to a classroom half the size of the one currently occupied by the beast. Sensing danger to its existence, the Kraken sent smaller, delicate tentacles that were translucent and pulsed with nodules up and down their entire length. Each of the ten tendrils slithered down into the classroom and felt about the debris of the punctured room. Puddles of water had collected from spewing pipes broken in wall and floor. The tendrils burrowed through wall and floor, the feel of water sparking the natural instinct to protect its legacy. They collided with tile and the broke through the ceramic entering the third floor lavarotories. Fine hairs upon the tendrils sensed ample moisture within the rooms and they began to thrash about, smashing fixtures, knocking over toilets and opening access to the water and sewage lines of Mage Hall.

Each tendril lodged itself within the opening of any open and leaking water pipe; their sleek forms undulating as translucent ovals flowed through them and into the water ways. Anyone near pipes in Mage Hall may hear sluggish clattering or glugging sounds within the pipes. During the task of infiltrating the pipes, each nodule on the tendrils errupted spewing out smaller replicas of the Daemon Kraken, bodies two feet in diameter and gaining the mobility to run about on ten sturdy tentacles. Florescent violet eyes glimmered in the gloom and darkness as the lavoratories filled with miniature Kraken. Several began to spit acid upon the doors and once the holes widened enough, they flowed out to explore the 3rd Floor of Mage Hall, acid spit their primary reaction to any obstacle.

4th Floor, Mage Hall: All the while that the Kraken ensured longevity through procreation its tentacles were beggining to change. They scales were drying rapidly of the acid slime, the scales themselves looking brittle and fractured. The exposed coils on the left side of Mage Hall, facing the Mage Garden were the first to reach desication of their scales. Large popping noises like fire crackers may be heard as each scale burst open showering the wind and grounds below with objects resembling miniature versions of the scales that had burst. Any place that had melted snow or standing water in the gardens bellow would find the same miniature Krakens on the third floor starting to sprout and grow. The cold and snow were making these Krakens grow slow and act sluggish. They would start to seek out warmth. Any buildings would be attractive and warm bodied creatures sought out to eat, to absorb the warmth within those bodies if any creatures were found sentient or not.

!!Scanner and Tricorder Readings: (May be assumed knowledge or played out when scanning.) Heat signatures will be noted as increasing on the third floor of Mage Hall, within the Mage Garden and a slight increase in environmental heat on the second floor and ground floor of Mage Hall.

Read outs on the Miniature Krakens will reveal they are without scales, though they appear to exude the same acid mucus for protection, have the land speed of a small dog, agility of a cat and are voracious for anything giving off heat.

Scans of the ungerminated scales will show some alien type seed of unknown origin and that it is of animal organics.

Any scans of the pipes will show dense organic life signs.!!

((Posting Note: Ammy will now be making her posts after enough action has been taken.))

The dread pirate princess Angel was on top of it. Adding to the barking order of Captain Krugie, pushing and pulling even older students into the play. In a strange way it was making room for the other students evacuating the academy. Licking her lips and pushing a few stubborn curls out of her face, Angel's heart was going out to the terrified students trying to stay calm as they filed out of the building in all directions.

"Captain Krugie! We need the sea witch! I'm going to bring her okay, so don't worry!"

Angel's eyes started to drift close as her shadow grew around her. The last sliver of purple shifted to mint green. In her mind she could see her mother, feel her as she organized the houses to take students farther from the school should it come to that. Feel the wind and cold bite at her cheeks as she raced towards the school.

"Mommy."

BOOM!!!!

It sounded like cannon fire over the school. Angel swayed on her feet as her shadow consumed the combat annex and all within. Teetering back to a stable stand, the pure black returned to her feet. Reaching out she took her mother's hand and smiled at Captain Krugie.

The table had changed into an actual pirate ship partially sunken into the ground. Sails fluttering in the breeze flying the black skull and cross bones flag of true pirates. In the middle of the ship were trunks filled with foam swords. Cannons lined the side of the ship facing the school with foam cannon balls. Ropes danced around the edges of the detailed railing, while a mermaid reached out for the horizon on the front of the ship. There was more than enough room for the kids to continue their play and for the students still seeking to escape.

"Did the pirate princess do good?"

Purple eyes looking between Kruger and Miranda for a clue as to what she could do next to help.

The wet, but solid thumps of metal contacting hard with squishy bodies may be muted by the sounds of war on the 4th Floor of Mage House; each sound and jarring crunch was triumph to Lahan. Acid slime tried to devour her mithril staff to no effect. Scarred over mahogany eyes saw the tiny tentacled things mucking about Mage Garden and the acid they spat and dripped turned the vibrant ley energies into gray death as plants and trees suffered. She zeroed in on the nearest dark spot in that vibrant weave, took an approximate guess and swung hard with her staff. Another squish and messy smack of something against the school wall tugged a smile from her angry mask.

"Defile the Mage Garden will you? Not while I can do something about it! Ye killed the Witch Hazel, and Japanese Maple and now ye killin' the roses!"

Mako, who was never far from his alluring girl friend, watched at how much she'd improved in blind fighting. One of his reversed edge swords smoked and deformed as he slashed at another creature that rose from a small bird bath. "Shouldn't we fall back and maybe seek shelter dear?" He asked Lahan.

"No! These things are a blight to good gardeners everywhere!" A thrust and one of the creatures was speared through with the staff leaving a melted puddle of snow, dirt and tulip bulbs. "Shouldn't you go see about helping your sister on the 4th floor?"

Mako glanced up at the tentacled floor for a moment or two. He pursed his lips in thought then smacked a squid getting too close to a foot. Ammy's a big girl. I'm sure she's fine. On the other hand, I am not leaving you alone around a school with a tentacle monster on the loose."

Lahan twitched. "Do you want to be planted by the Azaleas?" She said. Scorn and retort in her voice.

They both fell silent for a moment and went back to the whack-a-squid game.

Security and staff began calling in to Lydia's secretary, Rebecca, with reports of tiny acid spitting creatures that seemed to be spreading in and from Mage Hall. About two feet across and moving on about ten tentacle type extremities, they seemed to be going towards warm areas in and around the buildings, as well as close to people. They were also covered in an acidic slime coat to make matters worse. She relayed the information to Lydia when she asked for a status report. Lydia was not happy. She issued her instructions and Rebecca reluctantly initiated the one security protocol she never had to activate before " Total Evacuation.

The evacuation fire alarms began blaring over the four connected main buildings.

The Administration Building at the southern end of the campus connected the Science Wing to the west, Mage Hall to the east, and the Physical Principles Center protruding up through the center of the campus, like three claws. The Combat Annex, on the other hand, was isolated at the northern end of the campus. Outfitted with the majority of the school's weapons, for training purposes, it provided a perfect defensive area.

Rebecca began her announcement over the Public Address System that was routed to many of the classrooms. It was also carried over to the security guards" personal communication devices. "All classes cancelled until further notice. Administration, Mage, Science, and Principles buildings to be evacuated immediately. Safe zones include the Combat Annex and the Bristle Crios Houses, primarily Mage House. Please be cautious of foreign creatures when evacuating." Her tone was calm, but authoritative. She might have just as easily been saying "Please stay out of the grass." She made it sound like everything would be ok, that it was just a simple evacuation, like they did this everyday.

Her next priority was updating the security staff to the details of the creatures. "Situation update. Assumed small kraken creatures spreading from Mage Hall. Approximately two feet in diameter. Ten tentacle extremities. Drawn to areas of warmth. All available security to surround Mage Hall to contain the creatures." With that, security focus shifted from clearing out students to eliminating the vast threat. Many staff began to take up this new role and helped tend to the students, guiding them to safe places.

Rebecca relayed this information to Jack in Alchemy House as well. She hoped Jack would be able to handle the communications with the various teams stationed along the campus grounds. Rebecca knew nothing of offensive tactics; Lydia issued the advisement to try enclosing in on the creatures to prevent them from spreading further. Rebecca did know security protocols, though. She had a lot more work to do now, but through it all, she would provide Lydia and Jack with the information she learned to help their cause.

After a long and unsuccessful night, Jack may or may not have crawled into bed at 3....5 am. Even warm and comfy, sleep came fitfully. Somewhere in the depth of her hazy mind she heard Hunter, felt the warmth of his arm draped over the small of her back and the caress of his fingers on the edge of her wings. Finally, the racing numbers and competing thoughts came to an end.

"Jack...Jack....Absinthe!"

Jolted out of the most tantalizing dream, Jack glared at C.A.M. Ears ringing and toddling on the edge of the bed, there was no coherent thought to express her anger. C.A.M carefully handed over a piping hot cup of coffee.

"Sorry for waking you against Admiral K'lar's orders, but you skills are needed for the academy. They are currently under attack by a kracken firing mini krackens in defense."

"Was that suppose to be a joke" A kracken shooter?"

Jack was trying to gulp down the coffee in order to help make heads or tails out of this sick joke. A kracken......As in 2,000 Leagues Under the Sea....Jules Verne and so many suction cups there is not a concealer to cover those hickeys. Wait....what?s in this coffee"

"Jack, this isn't a joke. Hunter, is at the school using one of the labs for a personal project."

"WHAT!!!!!"

WHAM! The coffee mug went one way, Jack tumbling head over heels onto the wooden floor scrambling for her punk leggings. Tank top...tank top....Questioning if she was wearing a bra, Jack finally came to the conclusion that in crisis events such as this a missing bra will go unnoticed.

"If Hunter is in the school that means at least Lydia and Ammy are there. Art and Mai too. Where is Miranda?"

"She is organizing the houses in the event the students need to evacuate further from the premise"

"Then I am assuming she will head towards the school for support. Pull out the spare coms and send her with them. That way I can map out where everyone is. I'll head to the bunker and bring coffee!"

Pulling on her boots and dashing out the door, the stairs reminding her how dangerous not wearing a bra can be. Sprinting across the ground, she began her mad hack into the school. Jack knew that Lydia's secretary would remain in the school, but to keep their communications from becoming confusing she did a direct hack into the school computers.

Throwing on a headset and typing away a little messenger window would appear for the brave secretary.

::This is Jack. I will send you my map of the school along with real time coordinates of all our heroes. Let me know what you need and what you see that I can't. Type you soon!::

Opening up the com lines, Jack cleared her throat. Despite the tight ball of worry in her chest she was going to be light hearted and funny....starting with Miranda and Hunter. "Red and Shiny. This is Green Meanie! Please update me on your status and activate your coms otherwise I am just talking to myself which really isn't all that strange. Red" Shiny??

Meanwhile, on the Third Floor;

Arthour was making his way upstairs when he heard a skittering sound from the landing. He frowned, no one should be up here, and according to the guards he passed heading down to check the second floor was clear before coming back upstairs, no one was on floor Three.

So that left Arthour the puzzling question of who was upstairs. Not having a radio, he was unaware of the little critters running amok through out the building, so when he pushed open the door into the corridor, he was not expecting to see the writhing mass of writhing mini-Kraken that seemed to have tried to take a running leap at a window, collided with it, and fell over onto it's back. As amusing as that was to see, even with the little guy spewing acid around, when the second mini Kraken leaped through a hole in the wall, and smashed through the window, Arthour grew concerned. He drew his revolver and put a round clean through the head of the small one before him, and approached the hole, weapon trained on it and waiting for any movement

~~Guys, we may have a small problem on the Third Fl—~~ A spit of acid cut him off, one of the little bundles of joy had been waiting for him to show himself! "GAH!" Leaping out of the hole, the mini-Kraken tried to lash out at him with it's tentacles, Arthour who didn't like that idea one bit, jumped back, and fired off a couple of rounds into it, unlikely to kill, but should keep the thing at bay long enough to draw his sword.

Racing through the hallways, Miranda could hear the small group trying to hold their own against the mini krackens. Pulling her sword free, she had only hope that it would be able to withstand the acid. Rounding the corner to find a few guards doing their best to protect the still evacuating students. It was clear they were scared, but trying to be brave all the same. Proud to see the older students acting as support to the guards and shields for the younger children. Hearing Jack, she hoped the coms were connected.

"Hey there Meanie! Red checking in on the first floor. I have no clue who Shiny is. Maybe nicknames aren't the greatest idea right now."

Attacking the krackens from the rear quickly drew the attention her way. Acid hissing in an attempt to get through her leather boots, at least her sword was holding against it. Doing her best to keep a smile, Miranda kept swinging in the confined space buying much needed time.

"Keep checking rooms and get to the Annex!" Shouting over the noise to the guards in case there were not connected to Jack's network.

One kracken scrambled up the wall eating away at the pristine cream paint. There were just so many of them! The climbing kracken flung itself at Miranda's sword arm, missing by just inches. Staggering back down the hall, she kept fighting.

"I don't know who can hear me, but Kruger! Take the youngest children to the houses and give the older trained students weapons to defend your position. The main floor is infested and students are still in here."

Arching her back to make her next swing more effected, it sliced through two more. The sharp song of swung steel singing in the air. The tip of her weapon making gashes in the wall. Adjusting her stance, Miranda had to change her fighting style to the space, even if it would mean being less efficient in killing them.

"Jack, with all this acid should we worry about the structure of the building?"

Mint green eyes glancing up as a few acid riddled tiles dropped down from the ceiling adding to the mess. The mini krackens were not slowed down by it. Easily wriggling their way into, over and around whatever their slimy hearts desired.

Kruger played, it wasn't much in comparison to what so many others were doing but it was distinctly him. Had he not been stuck in a cast he might have made an effort to battle this creature that was assaulting the Mage Hall. That wasn't possible though, besides the kids on that pirate ship amounted to his entire world at this point. That world was being advanced upon quickly by juvenile Krakens. Somehow he found that ironic. Those who observed him may well have believed that he was a great fool, truth be told he often fostered that appearance to people. Still it was the fool who was the only one allowed to poke fun at the king. This fool wasn't unobservant though, nor was he slow to act when he saw those creatures scuttling along the ground.

Miranda's order notwithstanding, came as he was already taking action. He looked at those gathered a slow smile coming to him, and a plan. "Archery students, today you will train under full battle conditions! Grab your bows and make for the roof, I see many of the wee beasties coming this way." His voice carried through the large room. He'd long since abandoned indoor tones for the Captain Krugey persona. His amber eyed gaze fell on each of the students, boys and girls who hesitated for a moment before going to weapons racks and taking their favorite bows in hand.

Kruger motioned to one of the coaches to come close. He was tall and broad through the shoulders, the smith thought he'd joined the school after he'd left one army or another. He taught well though the methods to using the longbow. Kruger found his soft voice when the man was close enough. "Those things are coming, defend this place. There are too many good people in here to allow even one of them to make it in. Take anyone that can fire ranged weapons."

Coach Chase nodded his too pretty blonde hair at Kruger, but his eyes narrowed. "Where will you be? If you're telling me to do this, it obviously means you don't plan to stay."

His eyes were blue, Kruger had never noticed before. In the wake of all the important things happening he wasn't sure why he noticed that now. He wasn't wrong either, Kruger wasn't going to risk the children in a battle. Those fighting wouldn't have time to watch over them and keep themselves safe. His first thought had been to take them lower in the building. That was tossed out a window quickly because he didn't want to be caught down there with no place to run. No, it was better to run now while the odds stacked against them were at their least. "I'm taking them off school grounds." He held out a hand towards the kids who were still playing at being pirates.

"Won't they be safer here" Shouldn't you take up arms, this place is full of weapons?" Chase was giving him arguments he'd already considered and cast aside. He wanted to fight, but his style would have left the kids vulnerable. He cut off Chase before he could get any further.

"Time flees from us, go now! I'll get them to safety, I'll keep them that way." His voice held the utmost confidence he knew this was the right move despite that it meant taking the kids outside. He didn't have to use the front door though. "Your team will cover the escape. These things are vulnerable to the cold, it's cold out there, pin a few to the ground Coach, especially if they get too close. Coven grounds aren't that far. Put your best bowmen to cover our escape, once we've gotten inside the protection of the coven, unleash hell."

Kruger gave the man no chance to reply, he raised his voice high, bellowing out across the pirate ship. "Come me hearties! It's a boarding party and we be lookin ta raid the coffers o"er at Mage House! We'll sweep the cupboards bare, and count the booty with a feast of cookies! YARR!" He dropped from the table, landing on his good leg which nearly gave way beneath his bulk. "Put on yer fightin gear, Mates. We'll be workin in the cold.? The children began to don their coats, Kruger pulled on a heavy leather practice uniform, it should offer some protection from the cold outside. He took his crutch back and headed for the side entrance that faced the coven. Behind him a dozen youngsters were lining up two by two and holding their buddies hand. He looked for Chase, but the man was gone, so were a fair number of the students who had been in the combat annex for training. He took one last deep breath and forced the door open. The kids started through, Kruger took a position between them and the school. Nothing was going to get to them, he had every confidence in the watchers on the roof.

Ammy was focused on her careful painting of the transmutation circle she had hoped would shrink the daemon kraken to a manageable size. The sudden intake of air around her whipped her loose, ragged hair into her eyes and she tried to blow it out of the way. A desk clipped her hip as it slid by, dropping her to the ground, both super soakers clattered away from her. She cursed and moved to retrieve them, her right hip flaring in pain and slowing her down.

That was when the bellowing horn of audible obliteration hit her canine ears and dropped her to the floor screaming in pain. She tried to stuff her fists into her ear drums as the pressure waves assaulted her. She was left dazed, uncoordinated and rattled. She looked up when she felt shards of tile plink her in the head and back. She didn't hear the crack, didn't hear the hunting cry, didn't hear a thing at all. Just a high pitch white noise squeal filling both ears.

Several shadows flitted over her and she looked up in stupor. Four tentacles loomed above her, large suckers that could hold planets up by her guess twitched and glistened. Her mind was sensing the danger, slowed as it was. It wanted her to get out of the way, throw up a spell, anything to be safe and away from those appendages. Her body felt numb and disconnected from her mind. She watched the super soakers be crushed under a tentacle that rolled forward and swooped in on her.

The sensation of flying up in the air hit her stomach and hapless equilibrium. Her mind was now shouting in full panic that this was not good. Her body just shut down from all the sudden jarring stimuli. Then she felt new pain flair up her right hip as a tentacle coiled around her right ankle and the other around her body let go. Her full weight dislocated her leg and knee; her body finally connected with her mind and she let out a sharp scream of pain as she dangled 30 feet up in the air.

Arthour had emptied his revolver several times in his fight with the mini-Kraken, but now they had the upper hand. There was simply too many of them for him to reload, so he drew his sword and started making calamari. His sword would have been dissolved, if it weren't for the enchantments he'd laid upon it over the centuries. Bolts of lightening arched from one Kraken to the other in leaps and bounds, lighting up the corridor, and still wasn't enough to subdue the small hoard that had decided it really wanted to go down stairs. He twisted around on the spot, hacking a Kraken that had come flying at him clean in half and huffed a breath. That seemed to be the last of them for the moment, and he looked around at the swath of bodies and slim. "Memo to self...Slap Ammy up the backside of the head."

The bellow above him was noted, the crashes got a worried look upwards before he took note of the sound of a crashing section of roof hitting the ground outside. That, can't be good. The current respite gave him the chance to start rushing towards the sound, at the very least it be a good idea to stick his head out a window and see how bad the damage was.

::GAA takes a quick step back when the building seems to virtually explode in front of him. What follows is a rare thing, a string of cussing fit to embarrase the most jaded of sailors. GAA has his own hands full suddenly.::

::With 5 extra-large tentacles sipping at him, he doesn't have time to do anything exept hollar a single code phrase, and carge right into them, trying to manuever their meeting to hit as high up on the tentacles as possible.:: DEEP FREEZE! ::That phrase being enough to command the Suit CAI to tune the entire outersurface of the suit to the same Absolute Zero as the palms of it's hands. Those Tentacles would be in for a might cold welcome when they all crashed together.::

::GAA's cussing was enough to alert Gaia that something had changed. A quick Deep Scan of the scene and the past couple minutes, and She would would quickly be breaking into ALL the communications at her disposal. BC Security, Andu's Combands, Art's Rubies, the RTS & RCT systems, even the Watch would sent an update.:: Alert! Medical and Rescue Team required in Mage Garden STAT! Mage Hall Structural integrety comprimised, Ammy captured, in need of Back up above 4th floor!

C.A.M had just poured the first round of strong coffee when the communications systems came online. Jack hadn't realized that until she heard Miranda's voice she was holding her breath. The others remained silent, but at least one was better than none.

"Hey, I like the nicknames, but I'll forgo my creativity for now. Just means Art will never understand his new nickname....."

Cough Cough...."Big L!"

Jack cleared her throat with a wicked grin and started laying out the com signals on a map of the grounds and blueprint structure of the academy. She could hear Miranda chuckling and was grateful to see real time responses coming from Rebecca. Taking several deep gulps of coffee, the twisting in her chest didn't seem to want to go away. Hell bent on filling her with a dreadful iciness that would try to claim every inch of her.

"Come on, Hunter. Answer me damn it."

C.A.M was relaying which students were to be housed where for a quick and accurate head count. The change in Jack's pitch had new calculations processing. Joke.

"Perhaps he has found the cocktail sauce."

Wings flickering, Jack's hands froze on the keyboard. Was that a joke" Laughter roared through the coms. Jack was nearly in tears holding her sides as she could picture Hunter slicing off pieces of the kracken, tossing it into a laser powered frier, and dipping it into a beaker filled with the red chunky sauce.

"This is C.A.M. Pardon the green meanie, my joke was more humorous than intended. Rebecca, the houses have lists of what children should be checking in and all will be accounted for. Miranda, as far as the structure of the academy everyone should be safe minus a few floors."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Jack chuckled back into speaking. "C.A.M is right. At the current rate of acid, materials and decay, all of you will have to be waging war with the sea beasties for at least a month before we risk structural collapses. Sorry. I had a moment there. In short I'm ordering in bulk oil and sauce. There will be a clean up crew of epic proportions.?

(Splits in action, bear with me on this posting! You'll see an underlined phrase repeat. It is to help notate timing among all areas.)

*** Boiler Rooms: *** To all sensors and communications monitoring the academy during this crisis would note severe heat spikes in all main boilers of the academy wings. Further noted would be the massing number of mini kraken on the lower flows having flowed into the lower maintenance catacombs. Leta's masterplan was unfolding beautifully. She was safe locked in the utility locker, the little beasties more interested in a heat source far brighter in their vision than the vampiress. Scores of mini kraken were now clinging to the boilers that now stank of metal reaching its first firing point.

Leta's teams had indeed slipped away to take position at the main fire hydrants and pressure relief dumps. The caps on the hydrants had been removed as the emptied freezers and gear needed had been stockpiled and ready. By the time Hunter threw his Cryo-Grenade the pressure and heat in the boilers forced open the emergency vent valves built in to prevent catastrophic explosion. Boiling hot water and scalding steam surged and gurgled as the water system emptied every boiler and cistern like a morning after heavy drinking. Water and steam hit the bellow freezing air outside and plums of snow filled the air by the waiting teams. Among the snow was flash frozen gems; daemon kraken embryos that every team member was now scooping up and storing in bags and shoving them into the freezers with dried ice to keep it cold. Whatever they couldn't fit, they shattered with hammers, axes and mauls.

The boilers themselves vented of water and deadly pressure didn't survive. The sun stones poured so much heat into them, that with the water heat sink gone the metal warped, glowed and melted. The mini krakens were suddenly cooked in liquid metal and the intense rays of the sun stones when they fell from the liquefied boilers. The mini krakens were cooked calamari now in the catacombs.

*** Mage Wing: 1st - 3rd Floors *** By the time Hunter threw his Cryo-Grenade there were no more mini krakens left. Most had either fled to the catacombs to roast or were put down by Art and Miranda. The floors were in complete ruins, acid and slime drenched and etched everything. Busted water pipes and manes that gushed now barely dribbled as hot steam created heavy fog with the cold air seeping in from broken windows and stair wells leading to the 4th floor.

*** Mage Garden *** By the time Hunter threw his Cryo-Grenade staff members that were helping fend off the mini krakens that had wandered out into the snow had moved to aide Lahan. Debris was slowly but steadily removed, trying to unbury the man trapped bellow as several staff members pulled Lahan back trying to comfort and calm the panicking Ley Line witch.

*** Combat Annex *** By the time Hunter threw his Cryo-Grenade all the children had been safely evacuated. The archery classes of the academy had won the day in this small battle. Every twitching and sluggish mini kraken was pinned to the snow with a rain of arrows vanquishing the critters. Acid and snow melted in to noxious fumes around the annex that would dissipate in a few hours.

*** Mage Wing: 4th Floor *** The kraken was in full swing. Winston didn't make it as he was tossed into the maw and devoured by the beast. The tentacle holding onto Ammy started to flail about, whiplashing her in the air. It wanted the magical furred thing to suffer for all of this. The five heavy tentacles slamming into Grape Ape Andu's power armor felt the freezing sting of instant tissue death. The heavy and now frozen tentacles impacted the armor with the mass and power of a submarine being dropped on it.

The Daemon Kraken roared in pain as it felt the five tentacles snap off of its body at once. It knew its time had come and was starting to flail in violent, fear filled terror. Most of the fourth floor was now flattened, no walls left, exterior or interior, just a big, flat floor with heaps of rubble leading to the library that was untouched. The beast decided it needed more food and brought the furred, magical beast down for its maw to chew on. That's when something else flew into its teeth and erupted. The daemon kraken let out a roar cut off halfway as its whole body froze its existence and awareness gone.

The tentacle wrapped around Ammy's leg would freeze solid and stopped just a foot or two away from the ledge of the floor. The alchemist would feel sharp cold bite all the way up to her hip. As the security team started opening up fire, small chunks of the frozen beast began to break away and shatter.

Mage house was quiet, except for the voice of Kruger, and the giggles of children as he ran through rhymes at an accelerated speed. "I will eat them here or there. Say I will eat them anywhere! I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam I am." He'd read the book to them before, but the children seemed to enjoy this one enough to hear it often.

They were gathered around the fireplace, flames were licking the bark off of the logs which fueled it and their warmth radiated through the entire room. It served another purpose, besides knocking the chill from the children. It seeped deeper and there were already yawns coming from many gathered to listen to Kruger recite the words. Not everyone was going down that easily though, and when he closed the book there were calls for another.

Kruger looked from face to face considering their request. "Tell you all what, if you're willing I'll tell you another story, but this one comes from no book written by any creature. I say this because I won't have pictures to show you. You'll have to close your eyes and imagine it for yourself. It wouldn't hurt to lay down either, because that is truly the best position from which to imagine a story." There was a bit of shuffling as some of the younger children moved to comply. A few of the older ones were eyeing him suspiciously, but when he didn't begin to speak they relented and took up comfortable positions on the furniture.

"In the deep woods, far from any road or city lays a cottage. Its rooftop is made from the limbs of pine trees woven together. Not dead and cut limbs but living branches on growing trees. They grow this way, because Clarence, the Gnome dwelling inside asked them to. He asked them very nicely and the pine trees, never having seen such courtesy, did it. There were creaks and groans from the limbs as the trees wove their selves together. Clarence hearing them began to sing, for the sound of them reminded him of a song his mother used to sing him as a child?"

Kruger was no stranger to making up stories on the spot. There had been several moon celebrations where he'd told stories for the kids, and perhaps some of the adults as well. It wasn't long before soft sighs became the rhythmic breathing of sleep. There was still one pair of eyes on him, he knew that one would force him to finish his tale about Clarence and the cottage that the forest had built for him. He would have anyway in hopes that the innocuous images would find their way into dreams. He'd kept the earpiece in, monitoring the radio chatter. He didn't react to the things he was hearing, his only concern was making sure that he was ready if the call came to move the kids once again.

Panting in a wrecked hallway on the lower levels of Mage hall, Miranda tried yanked her sword free of the wall. Sliced and diced bodies of mini krakens littered the floor making it more difficult for the guards to make their way out of the building. Resting her sweat laden brow against the crumbling wall, she knew she had to look dreadful. Holes from where the acid had burned to her flesh, hair matted in curls and she could swear her big toe was sticking out of her boot.

One hard pull and the sword came free. Miranda was far to drained to turn it back into a rose. Carefully, she made her way through the littered hall dragging the sword behind her. The showers in the combat annex were a must before returning to Mage house.

"Everyone watch your toes on the way out of Mage hall. I don't know about you, but I'm hitting the showers. Thank you all, for defending the academy and its students. Jack, will you please implement the plan."

This was something Fiona and Miranda had spent many a night planning. Not that they could predict every little thing, but at the very least create peace of mind and order after the fact.

Atticus stood amidst the wreckage, surveying the damage in ways both mundane and augmented through the use of the arcane. Scattered here and there his Hounds also pawed their way through stone and concrete, their metallic jaws and paws pulverizing pieces that got in the way of their search.

He'd come late to the scene, having been sequestered away on Horizon for most of the duration of the happenings. It would have been almost impossible to find someone during the chaos; he did send his Magesight in search of Miranda and Angel upon returning to the Nexus, and although it didn't allow him to communicate with him, it at least told him they were not harmed. That was the chief reason he'd allowed himself to remain among the wreckage for a time instead of seeking them out. There was something of his in there. He could feel his arcane mark upon it.

Stranger's head lifted from the rubble and he stood completely still looking at Atticus, while the other Hounds all slowly raised their heads as well before slipping deftly to their Alpha's position.

Atticus joined them.

In a crawl space caused by a wall partially having fallen over onto the uprights from another wall, he saw it; outlined in flickering blue faerie fire that only he could see was a piece from one of his Paradigm thrones. Roughly equal in size to a standard one person doorway, was what appeared to be a mirror - though perhaps screen is a more apt description, as what was portrayed in the mirror did not exactly mirror what was outside it. The surface of the mirror showed a darkened version of Ammy's classroom - or at least the classroom as it had existed before someone released the kraken. Something else was off about the scene, however. As the mirror was pulled to the surface by Stranger, Atticus realized what it was immediately.

The place portrayed within the mirrors surface was a twisted version of the place the mirror was localized too - Ammy's classroom. Atticus saw himself in the mirror, approaching himself from the other side as a reflection. But one that was warped, and demonic. Incongruous to reality, the Atticus-demon smiled ferally at him and began raising it's hand as it began to cast.

Unbidden, the Stormhammer appeared in Atticus hand and he struck down against the mirror surface with machine like efficiency. The first blow shattered the mirror, exploding it into shards that caused the Hounds to flinch backwards.

In the still newly developing humane side of him, worry began to riddle holes in his mind. What would happen if someone had found that" Shame filled him, that that was his first concern. It cheered him little to realize the practicality of the sentiment as self preservational. His second thought was, How did it get there" His eye twitched involuntarily as he processed everything. Anything that would have been taken from the area that the mirror had occupied would have been tainted; demon-realm Abyssal versions of whatever was removed. He would further scrutinize the pieces after he got them back to Horizon. There were too many, too intelligent, for him to hide his involvment completely - even if he himself did not realize what his involvement was.

"Ammy was right," he mused, "when she spoke of the wisdom - or lack thereof - of Paradigm." He commanded the Hounds, "Fetch the pieces of the 'Looking Glass', and take them back to Horizon. I'm going to find Miranda." His gut twisted, and for once instead of wishing emotions came more readily to him, he wished them away. He hoped she was still in the shower when he found her. He needed one. He felt dirty.

If only divination was amongst his skills, he would have felt worse; upon seeing the wounds that Miranda had taken in the combat. Though his mind wouldn't process them as wounds; he would see it as damage.

Something to be repaired.

Such a slippery slope, to wax towards the humane....only to wane again...

"Professor Spiritor" Professor. Professor."

Ammy felt the shake of her shoulder and heard a very muffled voice of a man. She wasn't sure what had happened to her. She was in dirt and felt a wall of earth against her. Opening her eyes she was imbedded into a small crater shaped by her body. With awareness, pain crept in, making her squeeze her eyes shut again for a bit. She felt hands, more than a pair lifting her out and lighting up her injuries. She opened her goldens again and they stayed open.

She was being placed on a gurney amongst the wreckage of the Mage Garden. Her eyes widened and she started to move; she couldn't see Lahan or Mako anywhere. The debris of the room hung in air upon pillars of earth and stone like an alien forest. Medical teams were leaving the scene except the small group trying to restrain her. How had she gotten here" Screams, roaring, acid, pain, tentacles; the battle with the kracken slammed into her mind.

Ammy shoved the hands off of her and rolled off the gurney. She knew her brother was in that strange forest she made. Reality kicked in and gave her a hard check to the stomach as her right leg buckled, the dislocated joints bearing no weight at all. She screamed in agony as she hit the ground. Those hands were back and she was close to snarling and biting the people around her. Her mind was distorted and disoriented from the battle.

"Man....man.....the man.....under that debris. Where, where is he?" She started to babble.

The medics had requested extra help seeing the anthro was in pain and beyond simple reasoning. Ammy felt strength restrain her and lift her back onto that gurney. She was strapped down to keep immobile as the team moved her out of the debris field. Something pricked her arm and she felt the coldness of sedation and the warmth of pain relief circulating in her system. She blacked out as she was carried away to the medical facilities at Mage House.

******

12 hours after the end of the Kraken ordeal, Ammy was awake, surly, and soon leaning hard on a mithril staff the rescue teams found under the debris. No one could tell her yet what had happened to her brother or Lahan. There was still too much to sort out and some people had been taken into Rhy'Din City for treatment.

The battered alchemist scrunched deeper into the warm, heavy long coat she'd borrowed to keep modest. Her right leg throbbed, it was rigged in an elaborate brace. The medical team threatened to sedate her. They didn't understand, couldn't understand how her body worked these days. She'd be back to normal walking in a few days, the regeneration knitting and healing the damage. She swore when she hobbled along, but nothing deterred her from returning to the fourth floor of Mage Wing.

Mage Garden had been checked, the two she looked for were not around. She did find a severed automail hand. A hand she'd made for her brother. It was in a deep coat pocket. She stood now amongst the once safe lecture room for alchemy. Snow began to lightly drift down on the ruins, dusting her in white.

"What did I do wrong" What did I do that cost two men their lives?" Her voice sounded rough, abused. Her hearing had returned as she slept the first time. She could hear the wind whistle through shattered pipes bellow. The clink and clack of cable and wire. Her goldens regarded the presence of the perfectly formed crater her ship had punched into the Mage Wing.

Ammy began a slow hobble about the lecture room, hands growing numb and cold as she began to dig through the debris. Why her lecture" Why her class? Why this Academy' She didn't believe fate was cruel enough to pick only on her repeatedly. Something was horribly wrong with this whole disaster and she wanted to find it. Desperately she wanted to find it; proof that she hadn't been part of gross neglect that killed two men. Among the debris at where the corner of the room was, lay a tilted supply closet.

Carefully she stole her way up to it and peer inside. The mirror that was in the cabinet was missing. Her mind easily allowing her to believe something that fragile would have shattered from the chaos. However, no silvered glass remained in the closet. That was curious. There was a small case of vials and flasks that had survived the rattling of the closet. Ammy managed to dig out the case and she carried them to a desk that was mangled on the floor. She sat the case down and slowly eased herself to the snow powdered floor.

Blowing on numb fingers she invoked a simple detect magic cantrip. The vials and flasks glowed as to be expected of alchemy agents. But the glowing was odd. Several of the vials and flasks glowed healthy green, the others among them glowed a rich violet. There was a presence of demon magic here. She leaned her upper body on the staff as she sat there gazing at the case. Where and how did so much taint come about' Her mind whirred and clicked upon the puzzle as the snow fell more. Ammy closed here eyes, they felt heavy and the day had been long.

Upon the shattered fourth floor, the alchemist slept, covered in snow like a forgotten guardian of alchemy, seeking comfort in the shattered cradle of knowledge.

So many considered him a fool, it was something he even fostered to make the truth even more shocking when it was revealed. Was anyone deluded enough to believe that he could spend as much time on a daily basis with the children and not realize when something was wrong" It seemed that was the case with whatever had decided to inhabit poor Abigail. He'd watched them go when Bob had come to pick her up, the man was usually more chatty wanting to know what his daughter had been up to, had she learned anything new.

This time he seemed in a hurry to be gone, just further evidence to Kruger that Bob knew what was happening and was powerless to do anything against it. It had been hard to watch as the girl had fawned over Angel , honestly could anything get near her without good old Uncle Krugey not becoming suspicious" His own firm ties to Chaos had been playing like a sonata on a pedal harp. No, he hadn't let the girl out of his sights, the real question was what to do about it' Malicious intentions would reveal themselves in time. Before they could get to any of the children of the daycare center, they would need to traverse the space occupied by Kruger.

That title he'd been given "The Anvil" was more than simply a name for the fights. It was exactly what the man represented, a place where the stresses of all things was measured. Those things found lacking would be destroyed and discarded. A pair of wheat colored eyes looked up at Kruger, today had been his day with Nikolai. He'd dropped his son off before his scheduled class, and would take him after all the other children had been picked up to the rooms waiting in Warrior House.

Why didn't he stick around and fight at The Annex" One of the reasons clung to his leg right now. "Daddy!" Kruger reached down and brushed his fingers through the silk that was Niko's light brown hair. He favored the boy with a smile that was pure paternal pride.

"Soon, Niko, for now why don't you go see if Angel wants to play until her momma comes?" The boy looked for her, letting go of Kruger's leg the moment he saw her and toddled his way in her direction. She had become like a big sister to the boy, and he'd taken to her immediately. Still, Niko had been standoffish of the girl who had occupied Angel for most of the day. Children, and me" there are more you can't fool if only they look closely.

It was funny, ironic, that no one ever questioned the wholesomeness of children " Angel among them. The Nexus and the Realm of RhyDin, doorways as they were through all spaces, inviting entities and objects from almost every conceivable reality to their doorstep, were bastions of ordered chaos. The same of the Coven Bristle Crios and the adjoining Academy, though a comparative microcosm; two organizations which bade welcome to all who sought sanctuary and a communal home against the chaos outside its walls " a chaos that had been slowly creeping inside its walls. Concentric clouds of chaos around her, and she flourished despite it; at times she became like the eye of the storm.

The manifestations of her powers were young, and subtle, and not really within her control " at least not her conscious control. Those facts made it easy to hide other manifestations, his manifestations, while inhabiting her; no one noticed her changing eye color, or shadow play. More accurately, no one noticed his changing eye color or shadow play, simply smiling instead and looked fondly at the little girl they loved.

Abigail was a Surrogate. Robert, Danny, and so many countless others were also Surrogates: weak willed individuals whose bodies, minds, and souls had been accessed through a shadow plane " one that also bordered Oblivion. He had been working in subtle ways that mirrored aspects of Angel " unlike a Surrogate, he was actually within her, and as a result adopted some aspects of her as well. He had been collecting butterflies, in a sense; not really butterflies, but the shadows of hapless victims, shadows which allowed him to control their weak willed owners completely " as if they were puppets, and he the puppet master sticking his hand into the very core of their being and operating through them. The shadow realm they were being kept in was only visible to Dy"Hauc, Angel, or others like them, and only if the person had not only the will " but the skill to know how to look for them. The only sign of its existence was buried deep within the Catacombs of Bristle Crios, the place that it mirrored within the Nexus.

Dy"Hauc called Angel one of the Awakened" except that she still slept; it's what made her susceptible to his possession in the first place. If she had been fully Awake, she would have had to invite him in " which did not make her safe, as many Awakened had invited him in over his long, long existence.

Until then, he would hide within her, silent and subtle; planning, and manipulating things around her to ensure that when she did Awaken, her path there would involve leaving behind those she held dear " leaving behind, or imperiling them that is. The choice would be hers.

None of this had come to fruition yet, of course. And Dy"Hauc, possessing Angel's body, as he had intermittently done for more than the past several weeks, sighed. He smiled a warm, infectious smile with her lips, and giggled with her sweet voice as he thought about all this to himself; it was hard not to, considering where else he had to go now, and realizing that he preyed essentially on children and the insane.

That the girls mother was now ran the risk of Awakening was something he'd come to accept; in fact it gave her just enough of an increased distraction, added to her already numerous obligations, that it gave Dy"Hauc time to groom a Dark Myriad perfectly suited to the eventual young woman his current host would become. Dy?Hauc would use Miranda's own search for happiness as much as possible, using the tiny amount of energies spent towards herself as a window , as a window to piggyback the Awakening of the Dark Myriad Reaper on top of Angel's own Awakening.

Rebecca looked startled. "I'm sorry," she began sheepishly, "It's really only the one because the other" I just thought it would sound better on paper that way. I thought it would be the right thing to do, especially since we had the freezer space again?" She took a breath and tried to continue down her mental list of things to address. "The flash frozen embryos and lesser creatures were collected and taken by the clean up crew you specified. The Pengallen team was in and out very effectively. They helped with some other tasks as well, though I'm not sure what. I let them do their work uninhibited as you instructed."

"At least you've got good taste in executive employee's; you must get that from me. Look at her, making sure everything is cleaned up and....tidy." Leta smirked. "No, you never asked me to do it - but without it, you wouldn't be here to fret over your little pet project." She turned from Lydia again, walking in a slow circle, and maintaining focus on Rebecca. Her booted heels perforated the conversation as she made her way around the secretary, around the desk, and back again; every time she passed behind her "sister", her eyes became black spheres, and her hungry look turned on Lydia.

"All worth it in the end, I suppose; you get to enjoy the accolades of the Coven founders - ever grateful for all the effort you've put into fostering the institution on their grounds. Your schedule is so busy," her tone became truly playful - in a nasty, mocking way, "they must be tracking you down between classes, offering collaborations, well wishes....and....such." Leta's last syllable fell flat as she spoke it, her tone immeasurably dry. "Don't they, sis. All at least say...."thanks"?" She paused now, by this time having come to stand behind Lydia's chair, her hand on the backrest as she looked down at her.

The secretary continued to her next focus, "Jacqueline Absinthe is working with crews to begin the rebuilding process based on the reconstruction plans put in place by Miranda Branson and Fiona O"Neill."

That was enough to divert Lydia's attention. Lydia turned sharply from following Leta to facing Rebecca. "What?" she said less hostile than her other remarks, but somehow even more offended.

"See," Leta's tone took on an air of "I told you so", though she hadn't said anything of the sort. "Miranda & Fiona are taking over the reconstruction, at least the plans, and that Absinthe tart is working with the crews; don't you feel better, now?" Her tone drifted back and forth between dripping sarcasm, and feigned honesty - but each remark shaped specifically to be a barb under Lydia's skin. "Why....you've done such a wonderful job that, they love it, they truly love it. In fact....they love it so much....it looks like," she leaned down now very close to Lydia's ear, her eyes watching Rebecca again even as Lydia was. "They're just going to....take it." She was so close to Lydia now, almost touching cheek to cheek as she whispered those last two words, and her eyes once again became solid black orbs. "Most likely Ms. Ammy Spiritor was their agent in this - if not accomplice; a convenient 'accident' allowing them to..." Leta's voice trailed off.

Lydia could almost feel Leta next to her face. Her eyes grew wider as she let each comment sink in. The "bad guy' had shifted from her twin to the three who were attacking her authority. "No!" She yelled, jumping up from her seat as Leta said they were trying to take the school from her. As she sprung up to face Leta, she was no longer there. She turned her fury to Rebecca. "No. I was already sick and tired of the school board dictating what can and can't be taught and all of the other rules and regulations I have to follow to maintain my hollow title of Headmistress. Now this! This Academy may be on Bristle Crios grounds, but I refuse to let the Bristle Crios leaders come in and "take it' from me. This school is mine!"

Rebecca looked at Lydia, puzzled. She head never heard Lydia talk this way. Not knowing what else to say, Rebecca said softly, "Of course. I will make sure all renovation efforts go through you first for prior approval." Not wanting to set her off again, she bowed her head lightly in respect and walked out the door, closing it gently behind her.

Words softly echoed through the room, as if whispered from somewhere near - yet unseen. "Of course it's yours, sis. And sometimes, we have to defend what?s ours, don't we" Have to fight for it' Sometimes, Lydi, have to kill for it' Remember the blood stocks, Lydi. You didn't ask me to do it....but you still drank it."

The voice had been Leta's; her tone was her warmest and most affectionate - and most protective - of her sister.

But the message was Dy?Hauc's.

The first three floors of Mage Hall had been devastated. Acid from the small kraken offspring had melted everything from ceiling tiles to the flooring. Windows were smashed. Walls were marred with gashes and holes. The weakened structure caused the ceilings and floors to crack and splinter.

The top central floor of Mage hall had been the front line of the kraken's attack and had, as a result, fared the worst. It had been completely razed. The area where the classes had been was reduced to little more than rubble, which had then fallen into Mage Garden on the snow covered grounds below. The effective counter attack against the creature, while successful, had taken a heavy toll on the water system; the pipes were weakened, cracked, and, in some cases, shattered in order to expel the kraken offspring and embryos.

It looked as though the months after the kraken attack were going to be some of the busiest in Lydia's career, possibly even more hectic than when she was overseeing the initial building of the Academy. At that time, the vacant shell of a school had no students, no parents, and no staff to rely on her to keep them and their children safe. Now, there were countless people who depended on her. She would try to fight her constant guilt by focusing on righting the wrongs that were committed on her watch.

Lydia's priority was to enable students to return to their classes as soon as possible. The first step would be security. The entire school would be closed for two weeks to further investigate the events that led up to the attack, focusing on finding weaknesses in security and defense. Lydia would have several meetings with campus security to figure out how they could prevent such an attack in the future. Working together, they would develop better security plans and begin implementation of those plans immediately.

Two weeks later, Lydia had the Academy reopened. Aside from the busted water pipes around the main buildings, the majority of the school was in working order. As a result, a priority of repair would be to fix the plumbing to the Administration Building, Science Wing, and Physical Principles Center. They would be completely functional by May. The first two floors of Mage Hall would remain closed for repairs until June, just in time for the summer session. Until Mage Hall was opened, classes previously held there would be diverted to other areas of the Academy, with any over flow sent to available common areas of the seven Bristle Crios Houses. While in the Houses, the instructor would be responsible for monitoring their students to maintain order and privacy for those that reside there.

Lydia met with construction crews to consider options for improved structural stabilities prior to, and throughout, the rebuilding process. She was grateful for the suggested plans offered by the leaders of Bristle Crios and the Academy's School Board, but she remained adamant about having control over the final decisions, as if someone had planted a seed of suspicion within her. Most simply assumed her paranoia was due to her concerns over future similar attacks.

Lydia believed in open dialog during the reconstruction. On the first Monday evening of each month, Lydia would hold discussions open to the students and their families to present to them the progress, as well as to allow plenty of time to hear their thoughts, concerns, and proposals. She would do the same with the Academy staff on the last Wednesday evening of each month throughout the renovations. For those unable to attend, Lydia would assign her secretary, Rebecca, the task of sending out newsletters to all staff and students on the first of each month updating them on progress made to the buildings and the grounds.

Under Lydia's steadfast supervision, construction would begin in the spring for the damaged areas of the Academy. The garden would be cleared of all debris and replanted. The pipe lines and water systems throughout the main buildings would have to be repaired and replaced. Mage Hall would need an overhaul on its interior features and the top floor would have to be completely restructured and rebuilt. Lydia decided the top half would remain be closed until the Grand Re-Opening of Mage Hall on the first of September 2015, three years to the day of the opening of the Academy.

There were some who petitioned Lydia to allow Archmages or superior technology to complete the work in a fraction of the time that she had scheduled, but she was unwavering in her decision. She viewed this as an opportunity for learning and planned on offering spring and summer courses to allow staff and students help in the reconstruction. All types of mundane and exotic resources would be used to allow them to take part in the rebuilding of the facility.

She also had a particular idea which would be a tribute to those who aided in the battle with the kraken, those who worked on the rebuilding project, and for those who were kind enough to offer donations to the Academy during their time of need. Each one would have their names etched onto rough bricks that would line a section of the new hallway on the top floor of Mage Hall. In the center of the stone brick mural would be two special names, in honor of those who lost their lives during the fateful battle.

In Memory of: Murphy, Security Personnel for Mage Hall Winston, Student of Science Wing

((OOC Note: The following is the planned rebuilding schedule for the Academy? March: Academy reopened, Mage Hall and Mage Gardens remain closed April: Mage Gardens cleared of debris and reopened, replanting begins May: Water systems fully restored to Administration, Physical Principles, and Science buildings June: First two floors of Mage Hall reopened for Summer Courses, top floors remain closed September 1st: All of Mage Hall reopened for Fall Term, Academy rebuilding completed))