Welcome to Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Leechtown Lodge, actually, just a 30km West North-West of the beautiful city of Victoria (as the crow flies).
You've been in this (very) cold land reserve for almost 3-months now and your time to graduate to bigger things is soon approaching. Each of your respective factions has nominated you to pursue your training as an unpracticed Awakened here. Magical orders would, under normal circumstances, conduct training within their own ranks; however, this place has long been established as a haven for city-dwellers to exercise their magic away from the eyes of Sleepers.
For many it is a welcomed respite from the chaos of city life; particularly among members of the Free Council, Silver Ladder or Adamantine Arrow. However, for others, it is sometimes used as a form of punishment. A mandatory sabbatical that is gently given to low-ranking members who have done something that clashed with their order's way of doing things. 3-months of heaven or 3-months of hell is in the eye of the beholder.
The campus is equipped with the bare necessities. It houses about 15 students and is operated by a single man named Johnny. Johnny runs the whole show. You're up for breakfast at when the sun comes up, you do chores without the aid of magic for three hours, then you train for the rest of the day until it gets dark or you pass out from exhaustion.
There is a library in the main cabin, adjacent to Johnny's, that is joined with a large auditorium used for duels, demonstrations and tutorials. Other than that, there are some shared cabins, complete with storage lockers, and a simple mess hall.
Right now, there are only six students in Leechtown Lodge-- you and two others: Maou Sadao (a young Japanese boy who goes by "Lucy") and Cindy Starr (a single mother). Each of you had been living in New York and were mandated to come at around the same time, each for a different reason (presumably-- you're welcome to coordinate that though). The other two are from elsewhere.
Since boarding together, the four of you have become very close and have even formed a cabal. Dawn has managed to secure you all a sanctum and hallow in the city with a small plot of (currently) uncontested territory. It's a small place out of the way and was found with the help of one of her mentors in the Free Council. Once you finish your time here, you're all going to resume your normal lives in the city, but now with people you've grown to trust and even call friends.
- If you provide me with a typed backstory (a few paragraphs) you will be granted 3 additional XP.
- If you provide me with a portrait or photograph of what you think your character looks like in the game you will be granted 3 additional XP.
- You're not allowed to leave the lodge during your training. It is radio silence. This includes any forms of magical communication. If you're found to have been doing this, you'll be evicted and your order will be informed. Breaking the rules of the lodge (in some cases) can result in banishment from controlled territory.
- You're welcome to have met before the training. In the city, it's not uncommon to come across other mages. Please collaborate with each other if this is something you would like to have done. Maybe you're old friends. Maybe you crossed paths at a club. Maybe you're an old fling. You get the idea.
- You may decide why you're at the lodge. It can be part of your backstory or it may be something you've done, but you should all have a good reason for being there. This does not have to be public, so feel free to let me know privately if you do not want to share your reasons.
- You will all get to do introductions with each other at the beginning of the game. Your cabal mates will have been able to get to know you for the past 6-months. You get to decide how much information they've learned about you. Be ready to summarize the important background details as well as your character's physical appearance.