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[Alessandro]

Magic and the Supernatural:

Ten thousand years before the modern day, the Immortals walked Perinia and involved themselves in its affairs. At times, their ‘involvement’ resulted in offspring. Although ten thousand years have passed and the Immortals no longer pass so freely amongst their creations, the bloodlines of the Immortals still live on. Those with the blood of Immortals in their veins posses Gifts – immense strength, exquisite perception, the ability to cast arcane spells, or communion with the Immortals.

Eight thousand years ago, in a period of great turmoil, the common masses began to fear and despise Heroes for their abilities, political power, and personal wealth. Fueled by fear and greed, the non-heroic nobility raised armies and hired assassins to eliminate heroes when they were found. It is unknown how many heroes lost their lives in the time of the Purging, nor how many bloodlines were lost, but those that survived gathered together and called upon the Immortals to protect them.

The Immortals granted divine blessing to two amongst the heroes. The first, Archmage Goering, the most powerful mage of the era, cast an enchantment to prevent the common people from recognizing magic and the supernatural when they saw it. The second, Lady Evelyn, the most gifted cleric of the era, dulled the commoners memory of heroes, causing what were histories and biographies to be considered myths and legends. Both Goering and Evelyn lost their lives in the casting.

Today, heroes still live under the blessing of Goering’s Gift. Any act of divine blood witnessed by one of the commons will be misinterpreted, attributed to mundane causes, and forgotten or waved off as a trick of vision. Historical writings from shortly after the casting of Goering’s Gift suggest that if enough of the supernatural is witnessed by one or more of the commons, Goering’s Gift may fail – allowing them to see the true state of things. Even if a given act is not enough to totally break Goering’s Gift, impressive or flamboyant acts of supernatural abilities will cause panic or aggression, so one must still be careful to limit use of their Gift in the presence of the commons.

In return for granting protection and secrecy to the Heroes, the Immortals have placed certain restrictions upon them. Primarily, heroes have an immense amount of trouble with modern technology. Though a given hero might be able to do simple things such as operate a microwave or a DVD player or drive a car, they generally have a enough trouble with high level computers, stunt driving, and firearms that they don’t bother.

The Institutions of the Supernatural:

Three schools exist with the purpose of locating, training, and governing Heroes. The Mithos Academy recruits from and governs Alsandria, the Goering School holds sway in Plymond, and Bastion is in Aloen. Although all three are free to govern their lands as they see fit, all three contain or eliminate those that threaten to expose heroes and their abilities to the commons.

Each school tends to employ many of students who graduate from their halls, either as instructors, researchers, spies, assassins, or collectors or rare artifacts. Students who are not employed by the school can choose to live more mundane lives or can attempt to form or join one of various gifted organizations.

A select few of the commons are aware of the existence of the supernatural, such as the heads of government and some of the ultra-wealthy. Some heroes who are not employed by the Schools act as heads of security for government officials, business tycoons, or others that might need protection from magical influence. They are highly paid because of their ability to recognize and defend against the supernatural.

National Agencies for the Control of Magic:

The Executive Branch of each government is aware of the existence of magic. Because of their inability to control it (or even to recognize it) each government has secret agencies tasked with seeking out and eliminating heroes where they can be found. Each Agency locates and trains its own students (students trained at the various Schools have not to date betrayed their friends and instructors by joining an Agency or revealing the Schools’ locations). The Academy is not nearly powerful enough to combat or attack the schools themselves, but – given the opportunity – they will attempt to detain or kill heroes conducting their business