Post by 'ADMIN// on Mar 27, 2009 21:50:28 GMT -6
&&. the VARIEL ACADEMY
No one on this earth is the same. People have different appearances, different personalities, different abilities. Now, for the most part, all of these differences still fall into the category of a "normal" human being - something genetic, an injury, a learned skill. But then again, there are other anomalies that are not so "normal," and can cause a person to be cast out from society. The freaks, the surreal, the supernatural - this is the main group that the Variel Academy aims to target. More specifically, those who have come to be called "shifters." By some means, this small group of humans have gained the ability to shift their bodies into the forms of animals. Some have been shifters all of their life, others were possibly involved in a horrific accident - but, whatever the case, this shifting is looked down upon by the rest of the world.
So this brings us back to the start of the Variel Academy, which, incidentally, was less than a decade ago. Government officials were getting tired of dealing with shifters, especially those who could not control their abilities. It was a danger to everyone else to have a bear wondering into an office building, or for a tiger to roam the streets of a peaceful neighborhood. It just was not acceptable. And so, the shifters were forced to leave their lives behind, and ban together on their own, away from the "normal" humans.
During the process of forming a new community for themselves, most of the shifters did not survive. Those who could not control themselves would often savagely attack each other, and would, in return, have to be exterminated themselves. So, by the time the shifters finally found a place to live, there were only a few of them left. But, these few were able to ban together, and use their abilities to help create a large, thriving community for themselves. Therefore, the Variel Academy was formed, with "variel" meaning "changeable or different."
While this community is set up as a town, it exhibits the term of "academy" in the name because of its school like atmosphere. Residents here are expected to constantly learn about their abilities, themselves, and those around them. They also must train and exercise to keep their bodies, both human and animal, in shape, and so that they can control their shifts. Instead of a mayor, like a city or town would have, the Variel Academy has a dean. The dean was one of the original inhabitants, and is the most skilled and experienced of all the shifters. The dean rules the city, and set the guidelines for everyone who joins the academy. At times, the dean may seem strict and intimidating, but this is only because they are responsible for everyone at the academy, and if anything happens, it will be blamed on them. The dean is also the only member of the Variel Academy that is allowed to leave the town, since they must occasionally meet with the government. Along with the dean, there are several other vital members at the Variel Academy. There is a female and male advisor who live in the dorms. These advisors are always available to anyone of any age. If there are ever any questions or problems, these are your go-to people for help. A few teachers are also among the shifters here. For most of the year, they perform minimal tasks to help out in the community, but every now and then, they will hold continuing education classes. These classes could be optional, required, required for only certain shifters, by invitation only, or privately formed. Finally, there are several police around the academy. If they see anyone breaking a law, they have the authority to take any action necessary. The police report directly to the dean, and in extreme cases, the dean will decide on punishment.
So there you have it. The basics of the Variel Academy and how it came to be. Shifters who decide to stay are welcomed with open arms - and those who leave, well...they're typically never seen again. So the Variel Academy asks you to make the choice to stay, so that you can lead as normal of a life as you can.