RIEKER ACADEMY.

overview

• established in ancient greece, with ties to the goddess athena, the rieker academy has existed throughout every twist and turn in history and essentially, is so much more than just an academy for learning. in a way, it is its own independent city state. somewhere vaguely located in france, but exists in something like its own bubble. not quite a pocket dimension, but the magic surrounding it is so old, so deep and intense, it's often referred to in such a way. 

• should you gain entry, upon first glance it will appear as quite the jarring scene. an old castle-like building with overgrown grounds, it gives off the impression that it is crumbling. it isn’t at all welcoming, and that is by design. only once inside does the truth begin to unfold. the deeper you go, the more beautiful it gets. it is easy to get lost in rieker if you do not know your way around or have a guiding hand. it is in fact far more expansive than just 'one castle-like building'. 

• rieker has served as a place to preserve knowledge, to accurately record the passage of time, of events and stories and documenting all facets of the world, both the mundane and the supernatural and beyond. to teach and share and grow. 

• but more than that, the academy work best in its shroud of secrecy and mystery, something that has proven especially useful through times of invasion and war. those at rieker agree, through all time, on two goals: protect and share knowledge, and defend those that have been persecuted. 

• the rieker academy was incredibly active with this in centuries where witch hunts were common and have always done their best to protect people, to offer shelter and safety and to also fight against the oppressors. given the academy’s constant fight to preserve knowledge and bring peace and stability to the supernatural etc of the world, the gods of different cultures have remained particularly favourable to them and as such, many from others sought to align themselves with the academy. while heaven remained ambivalent toward the academy, those in hell drew a particular liking to the organisation. 

• the academy is made up of people from all walks of life. humans and magic users, creatures such as werewolves, vampires, fairies and everything in between. demons and fallen angels have become even more common in recent years especially with the wars between heaven and hell and even lucifer himself is fond of rieker and particularly the head of the academy, hugo cartier. but where it offers safety, the academy is by no means kind and easy. they do not take kindly to traitors, nor are they above holding people as prisoners. if a crime is commit, you will be punished. where the academy has often taken in refugees of wars around the world and in the other realms, they have also taken prisoners too. the academy may be about preserving knowledge, but the gaining of power has always been a clear goal too. they wouldn’t have survived this long otherwise.

important members & goals

• head of the academy: hugo cartier, atropa

• deputy head: aemilia kaufmann, witch 

• commander of rieker's 'military': marya devin, vampire who retained her witch powers 

• head weaponsmith: viktor luca, werewolf 

• universal liason: arielle, fallen angel, angel of hugo

• head librarian: oliver, centuries old- who knows what he is 

• leaders of the whisperers (rieker's assassins & information gatherers): sebastian belgrave & poppy smith

while the academy's primary goals and purpose will always remain, it cannot be ignored that as of recent months, things have shifted. certain goals that the likes of hugo hold, have become a little more public within the space of the academy and pushed to the front. for years, hugo has had tensions with the nightshade council. in spite of the fact that they are a group made up of hugo's people, the atropa, there are many reasons for the tensions. admittedly, some of it has remained more private as they are a group focused on 'protecting' and educating the twin soul, sebastian belgrave, and shaping him toward his destiny. but with lies and conspiracy becoming more clear in the past year or so especially, this has begun to shift further. 

now, the academy is geared to taking down the nightshade council, especially as the council are now working alongside the forces of heaven- a faction that are set on rieker's destruction. 

rieker are in a way, more heavily allied with hell now. a kind of agreed partnership to help one another since their goals overlap/have a common enemy.