Grove – Ancient History
Long ago, a site where the thin veil between universes was discovered, several rebellious and intrepid monks used ancient arcane crafts to attempt to breach the division. They thought they would discover a direct path to an Eden governed and blessed by the hand of their God. However, when the veil was breached, the realm they discovered was far from the Eden they had expected.
Creatures of unnamable curiosity met their discovery. Many were harmless and willing to join with the monks in friendship. Others, however, lusted after a whole new world of amusement open to them. They captured and enslaved many humans during the war and diseased time known as the “Dark Ages.”
The monks were appalled at the behavior of creatures they now deemed demons, and with the help of some of the more friendly inhabitants, they built a magically powerful gateway which allowed them to regulate who could enter the mortal world and who could enter the realms. This “Gateway” was unknown to the mortal world. The monks intended it that way, for if the humans knew about the Realms’ existence, they would surely want to enter and seek miracles. They would also perhaps fall victim to less-than-hospitable creatures therein.
In an attempt to even further protect the Gateway, the monks built a large monastery on the site. For generations, the monks protected their secret closely with none the wiser.
Grove – Modern History
The new world is a world of greed and of money. A poor monastery with little to offer besides scholarly notoriety is on the swift journey to bankruptcy. Only an intervention by a wealthy family is able to save the building – and its all important secret Gateway. The Family has an ancient name – Grove – and they were charmed by the beautiful appearance of their namesake grouping of trees on the monastery grounds. Deciding to share the wealth of the land the monastery grove sat on, the family re-purposed the building and made it into an Academy for enlightened education.
The inhabitants of the realms knew of the misfortune surrounding the monastery on the other side of the Gateway, and both kind and fearsome creatures were frightened that perhaps their link to the mortal realm would be lost forever should the building be destroyed. When they heard word that the Grove family had saved the Gateway, they were relieved.
In their gratitude, the inhabitants of the Realms gifted all subsequent headmasters of the Grove Academy with powers not unlike their own. Now, every person responsible for the upkeep of the Academy would to the citizens of the Realms the official Keeper of the Gateway. This person was to be revered for their power in unifying the two universes. They enjoy enhanced awareness, making them conscious of everything that goes on within the boundaries of the Grove Academy walls.
Thus, a relative peace comes over Grove Academy. It is watched over by the headmasters who diligently protect the secret Gateway.
Grove Academy – The Present
The Secret is out. Some indiscriminate Realms citizens have been procreating with humans, and the offspring of their unions are imbued with certain powers distinguishing them from average humans. These supernatural children are now the subject of intense discussion and debate amongst world leadership conferences. What are their rights? Should they be restricted? How do you combat someone with inhuman powers? More to the point, what to do about the problem of the mysterious Realms creatures that have seeped into the mortal world and are spreading their genetics through the world?
The questions have all come to naught, no one seems sure of what to do without definitive answers. For the time being, it is decided that corralling all of them into one place would be perhaps the best way to keep an eye on them. The UN has contacted Grove Academy Headmaster Kaien Sordeau. The person in charge of regulating the flow of Realms residents to and from the Gateway would be a natural choice for the person to control those humans descended from rogue Realms creatures.
And what luck! Grove Academy is well known in academics. This way, the UN will have no problem passing off corralling those who hold threatening powers as simply trying to give them a better opportunity in life other than being freaks in circus side shows. Yes, Grove Academy will work well as a place for freakish children.
