additional plot info

[Mal]

Estalia is a place of natural magic, a gold mine of potential waiting to be honed and perfected, chipped away at until individuals shine bright as stars. It began with the four founders—the original Guardians—whose strong relation to the elements guided them into self-teaching. They each learned to harness their abilities, exploring and evolving with each other. They bare no ill will—they never have, and they never will. Even in their graves, they are glorified and respected.

The Guardians extensive knowledge was passed on to others, and others, and others. Slowly a group with this knowledge, experience, and practice was formed, and they became known as the Guardians. But this expanding group was limited to the populace: the founders thought it best that the training techniques, and unlocking of abilities, be gifted through a rigorous test of capability, morality, and perseverance. Thus—the Gauntlet.

Today, no knowledge of unlocking abilities is common among the people. The Guardians (group) have continued to protect this education from but a select few: the chosen. They believe in its ability to destroy, and hope that by reducing the amount of knowing-people, that no war(s) will erupt.

Until recently, no female contenders have been admitted into Ainsley Academy. However, the Gauntlet admitted a woman in its last race, much to the rage of the people, and she won. Thus, Ainsley was forced to allow admittance to the female sex. There is no kind of affirmative action of female-to-male quota, the best of the best is still what makes up the student body. With the Gauntlet happening in exactly a year, the doors of Ainsley are opening once again.

[rose]

Note: This group was formed off of the show The Shannara Chronicles, but you need not have seen the show to understand the plot of this group -- since they are nothing alike. Really the only thing similar between them is the Gauntlet, and the sort of social interactions.

The setting is something of a fantasy dystopian world, something like middle-earth, Lord of the Rings type deal. If you need further elaboration on this concept, do not be afraid to ask.

Somethings to point out for the purpose of RPing:
- Gender roles are highly enforced, hence the outrage of a female Gauntlet winner
- The social classes are highly stratified, the Guardians being the most wealthy, and everyone else significantly below
- There is electricity and other forms of technology, but the Guardians are more traditional, so in the academy they are respective of that lifestyle
- There is medical technology and the like, but nothing like cell phones and PSPs and stuff
- Girls are allowed to wear pants, it's not that crazy
- The Academy is privately funded, so tuition is not a requirement of students (meaning wealth has nothing to do with application)

If you are having a hard time getting into the setting, imagine it to look something like this.

[Mal]

Further Information

• The Guardians are an elitist group whose purpose is to bring young elementals/magicians into their own. Each are equipped with immense power, controlled consciously through learned patience—but power does not make them special. The whole population is prone to a natural element (water, earth, fire, air), all empty of the knowledge of how to wield it. This affinity is instrumental to their freedom. The world is not in good shape, and many are unable, unfit, or weak in the face of its unforgiving nature. Despite the brutality exercised during the race, people apply for the Gauntlet in droves for a chance of security. However, there is a window (a very small window, if you ask most) of allowance into this game. Ages 18 through 25 are the only ones allowed access to the race, and it’s all or nothing. There are no second chances. People die. People survive. People change, for better or for worse.

• Ainsley Academy’s prospective trainees only account for about half of that year’s applicants; the application process is thorough and extensive. It inquires on an army of characteristics, familial ties, and educational history; while also requiring a written essay, and an interview for applicants whose forms have been timely submitted, reviewed, and deemed promising.

[rose]

• Before coming to train at the Academy, students and civilians in general probably have little to no idea the full potential of their capabilities regarding their elements, some might not even know what their elements are. There was some confusion about this topic, so I thought I'd elaborate a little bit more.

Guardians are the only people who know the secrets to unlocking magical ability, civilians are completely incapable of doing so, which is what makes the Guardians the leaders of the society and such respected figures. People who try to unlock their magic without being a Guardian either kill themselves because of how dangerous it is if done improperly, or they are executed by the Guardians for trying to do so unlawfully. Unlocking elemental abilities is extremely dangerous, and that is why only so many people are accepted into the Guardians every three years -- the process is extensive, and not just anyone is up for the task.

It is the academy's job to prepare students for the type of training they will have if they become a Guardian, so there is some magical education that happens in Ainsley, and this type of academic learning is mostly centered around honing your element, and building a deeper connection to it. Some students excel and learn a small understanding of controlling said elements, but this is rare and in the later parts of training in the year.

When most students come to Ainsley, they might have an idea of what element they feel connected to, but in some cases this still is not clear. Some examples of people being connected to an element would be:
- Always knowing when it's about to storm [water]
- Feeling the warmth of a fireplace from a large distance [fire]
- Having a sense of comfort when walking through the woods at odd moments [earth]
- Being able to tell which direction the wind is blowing by instinct [air]

And those are just some examples to steer you guys in the right direction. But by no means will a student come to Ainsley with the capability of already having mastered their element, or anything close.