Terra Incognita Academy

[+ Alec Lerwick]

It was 1999 when He Who Must Not Be Named returned to power. Fifteen years of constant fear followed, until he was finally killed in 2014, by the revered Harry James Potter and his five friends, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Ginevra Weasley. In the new era that followed, they became the Titans - figures of complete and total power.

Perhaps it went to their head, but by 2100 all six of the Titans were living dependant on the Elixir of Life, and they were running the country with a hand of steel. In a tragic reversal of events, Potter and his five attempted to force non-magical lifestyles on their people, and while many were happy to get stuck in and give it a go, there was certain discontent. Witches and wizards all over the the United Kingdom were starting to regret giving Harry Potter such a position of power. Witches and wizards were not programmed to work without magic.

A new rise of Rebels arrived. They appealed to the surrounding European countries of France, Italy, and Spain for assistance and help. One representative came from each place - Blake Atone from France, a Muggle strategist and prodigy; Leon Mischelo from Italy, the best duelist ever known to wizardkind; and Marius Jari from Spain, leader of the largest werewolf pack in the country. These three brought with them the most formidable of armies, and alongside the British Rebels, they sought to elimiinate the Titans.

The ten years of war that followed was known as the Titanomachy. Witches, wizards, werewolves, vampires and Muggles all fought either side by side or against each other. Harry Potter had lost all of his Gryffindor valour over the years, and rather than fight the Rebels himself, he sent countless numbers of supporters to their deaths. People soon started to realise that the Titans were nothing but tyrants with too much power. The pendulum started to swing in the favour of the Rebels.

It was finally all ended by Blake, Leon, and Marius, thanks to a bright idea. The Rebels gathered their best strategists, and together with the three, they contaminated the Titan's supply of the Elixir. They died in reverse order of their importance in the world, which meant that Harry Potter was the last to lose his life - alone, broken, and old, surrounded by the three who were so clearly his superiors.

The Titanomachy ended.

The three adopted the name of those who had brought them into the battle: they became The Rebels as an entity. They ruled over all four countries - Britain, France, Italy, and Spain - and founded a school of their own, to represent international peace and a safe haven for Muggles and wizards alike. They named it 'Terra Incognita'.

There were three Houses of Terra Incognita, representative of it's three founders. Never before had a school been founded on the very three pegs that had constantly warred. In A Priori, there was the intelligence of Blake; in Carpe Diem, the ambition of Marius; in Memento Mori, the trust and sincerity of Leon.

It is now 2300. The Rebels did not let power go to their head, and instead continued that ancient tradition of passing the crown down the family line - the first born son of each ruled after them, their first born sons after that, and so on. The world is now under the control of Muggle Henri Atone, wizard Stefano Mischelo, and werewolf leader Felipe Jari. Their trusted friend, Alec Lerwick, is Headmaster of the school their anscestors built.

All is well. Or perhaps that is what they want us to think.

There are still families out there who very very much pro-Titan throughout all the battles. They are not happy with the way the school is being run, and they are not happy with the way the world is being run either. The Titans may have promoted equality between wizards and Muggles, but where do werewolves come into it? And what use is there in having a Muggle ruler of a wizard world?

With conflict outside, there is bound to be resulting conflict within the Academy walls. The Houses are looking at each other suspiciously - Carpe Diem students joke about the A Priori house being founded by a Muggle; the Memento Mori students are wary of the Carpe Diem's and their thirst for power; the A Priori's were suspicious of the Memento Mori's, wondering if they were planning something.

There is dischord. And with The Rebels safe in their stronghold in England, who will revive the sense of equality at Terra Incognita Academy?

[Annike Johannessen]

One year gone... one year forgotten. Or was it?

Spring and summer brought about an end to another year at Terra Incognita Academy, and with it left another graduating class. They took their NEWTs, some even passed them, and as adults in a new world they moved off to bigger and better things... which, for some, was scraping to make ends meet while working two or three jobs. Some found the independent life they desired, and more still just disappeared from all correspondence with the school. After all, who wants to sit around and converse with the past?

Hidden among the recent alumni, however, were the members of a secret organization. The Olympians, or so they were titled, were dissatisfied with the current Rebel Administration and sought to bring about an end to their rule... one person at a time. During their relatively short run at Terra Incognita Academy, they did their best at bringing about a general sense of distrust amongst the students. They preyed, stealthily and secretly, on the already present suspicions of the houses between themselves and, in such a way, stirred from the passive lines those who were born to be activists for their cause. This organization succeeded, but in more ways than they could have planned. They stirred activists on both sides to take a stand, and all but open feuding broke out between the students at TIA. Those who were on the side of the Rebels, and those who were on the side of... something else... made their presence known in loud and, sometimes, destructive ways.

But such incidents were quickly dispersed by the coming of summer, and nothing more was thought of them. It was a hard spell, but surely such a great government based on equality, and a school based on the same principals, could weather such trifle storms? Still, over the summer the tension spread and raids began to be reported in the papers. There were some, other than the students at TIA, who were clearly not pleased with the current system.

Autumn has now set upon the school and students have returned to their isolated island of so-called equality. The houses are wary of all but their own members, and the muggles and squibs that attend the school are wary of all. To make matters worse, rumors are swirling around of teachers and nearby alumni cultivating activist clubs for their own cause, whatever that may be. The board has been set for this game of chess, and friendships and loyalties will be tested. Tension is growing, war is beginning to rear its head, and the question lies...

What side shall you take?