School: Ohtori Academy

Ohtori Academy was founded by the Ohtori Group in the early 1900s on Southern Cross Island. The Academy was built out of a number of smaller schools acquired by the Group, but all of those are now just parts of the Ohtori machine. Based on principles of elegance, nobility and talent, Ohtori Academy is considered an elite institution for elite people. As it boasts a healthy, even aggressive, scholarship program, students from the middle classes and up are perfectly capable of attending, but the best-known students are for the most part very wealthy, very powerful, and very dangerous. That density of wealthy students gives Ohtori a disproportionate influence, with businesses lining up around the block to win the favor of future magnates.

Ohtori Academy's emphasis on personal greatness gives it a number of eccentricities. Its sports programs eschew 'commoner' activities for gentleman's sports; while Juuban practices lacrosse and Infinity's as likely as not to field an ultimate frisbee team to a regional event, Ohtori's top coaches teach combat sports like fencing and boxing, and refined athletics like basketball and rugby. Similarly, Ohtori expects all of its students to obtain a broad education, bulwarking its wide-based general program with after-school arts programs. Unlike Infinity, it offers little in the way of specialty programs; Ohtori expects excellence in everything, from everyone.

By far the most unique feature of the school, however, is Ohtori Academy's enormously powerful student council. A powerful student government has been a part of the Ohtori Group's dream since the foundation of the school, and the student council has long wielded very wide powers. In the modern Ohtori that power has expanded to the point the students wield sometimes more authority than the staff.

Although an informal rule, it is widely known among students that those who oppose the student council quickly find themselves expelled, and by the same token, working with the council provides enormous benefits. Nominally, the student council's task is to protect the interests of the student body, but the current council often seems more interested in its own...

The student council is broken into two parts: The actual Student Council itself, which governs the junior and senior high schools; and the Guardians, a smaller, somewhat more idiosyncratic body which protects the interests of the elementary school students. The youthful Guardians are easily the more idealistic, and although technically they govern different spheres, there are plenty of rumors about the Guardians and Student Council coming to blows over one or the other overreaching their authority.

Ohtori, being a home for elites and nobles, is inevitably rife with intrigue. The Student Council, and a select few other students, wear a rose signet they guard jealously; some say there are others around campus who wear a strange golden mask. People in black suits who won't talk to anyone, businessmen of world-class companies who come by seemingly much too often. Ohtori is a hub of mysterious agendas and transformative people, and the rumors about those many agendas are myriad.

Unbeknownst to the normal students but nakedly obvious to those with the sight, Ohtori is a veritable goldmine of mystic power. Where Infinity's very foundations were designed to leash the World Tree's power, and Juuban draws strange people to it like a magnet, Ohtori Academy's grounds are rife with the seals and signs of ancient evil. The island is so thick with ancient powers of the soul that emotion on the island runs thicker - passions higher, obsessions hotter, loves more powerful and hates more virulent.

Perhaps that should have been the first sign of the doom that lives on Southern Cross Island, but it is far from the only. The clock in the library ticks on, but not to anything so pedestrian as tomorrow; the mine in the hills leads down, but what is the light at the bottom? Witches, Orphans and Noise throng across the island, drawn to a rich stew of emotion, and in turn thickening that miasma of obsession. Above it all, the Castle Where Eternity Dwells looms invisible and insubstantial over the island - a silent harbinger of the coming revolution of the world.

History

Long ago, in another Age, there was the Land of Fuuka - a shining island of light and wonder. In that place, the Obsidian Lord held court over his kingdom; a demon king of phenomenal power, sealed away by the power of the Silver Crystal. To placate him, and to serve as entertainment for the masses, once in three hundred years the HiME Festival was held, where those chosen by the King's power would battle for supremacy, the King's hand in marriage - and the honor of a single miraculous wish from their new groom. It was one such wish that allowed the release of Metallia, bringing about the fall of the Silver Millennium.

Amid the ruins of the Serenity Dynasty, the Silver Queen's bindings shattered, and at last the Obsidian Lord was free. Summoning to his side the spirits and powers of his innumerable brides past, the Obsidian Lord called forth the beacon of his omnipotence, the HiME Star. With the Senshi fallen and the Earth Court sundered, the few surviving HiME themselves were forced to rise to the challenge, binding the King to Fuuka, and using great magic to seal the island away; then giving their lives to hurl the HiME Star far into space, where Serenity's final wishes ensured it would once again wander, lost.

The Age turned, as ages do; but the new world would not be safe forever. Clow Reed wouldn't break the Earth's seals for hundreds of years, but another force found its way across the stars, an alien race seeking respite from the destruction of their world by their own hubris. Crashing to Earth, the power that their science could barely contain blew through the seals hiding the Land of Fuuka from the world; when people arrived to investigate, the visitors begged for the aid of magic to seal away the accursed legacy they had created, and together, they settled what would become Southern Cross Island - and buried yet another terrible secret beneath its hills.

The greatest seal broken, the HiME Star veered toward Earth anew, beginning yet again the ancient Festival - more savage now, without the Silver Queen's bindings to soften the Obsidian Lord's ravenous malice. But the Earth was lucky, for the Obsidian Lord's new bride was cunning and brave, and found a way to cast him back to sleep and send the Star hurtling back into space. On the site of the island, before vanishing into history, she founded an academy that became the moniker for the whole island: Southern Cross.

More recently, Southern Cross Academy and several other Island schools were acquired by the wealthy Ohtori family, and the whole collection of schools renamed after its new masters. Patterning the new curriculum after Western academies and building toward a future of excellence, Ohtori became known for its harsh studies but sterling graduates. Building on that tradition of superiority, the Ohtori student council was given phenomenal power, and faculty allowed to override them only rarely. In time, a young prodigy in the elementary school campus, with bright eyes and a powerful insight, even convinced the Family to create the elementary section its own body, to protect the hearts and interests of the younger students: The Guardians.

In the last few years, the present head of the Ohtori house has fallen ill. The position of president of Ohtori Academy - de facto master of the grounds - has fallen to his daughter's fiance, Akio. Akio is perhaps the most hands-off president the school has ever seen, leaving things largely to the respective principals and student bodies of the various schools; however, when Akio speaks, every student listens.

Student Body

This list can be edited by players to add their characters and NPCs to their appropriate grade. Feel free to add your name as a link to your character page!

Ohtori's Student Body

Faculty and Staff: Midori Sugiura, Akio Ohtori, Souji Mikage, Yuu Nikaidou. University: Shizuru Fujino, Mamoru Chiba Grade 12: Kyouichi Saionji, Juri Arisugawa, Touga Kiryuu, Mai Tokiha, Natsuki Kuga, Takeo Akamizu, Shiori Takatsuki, Rinji Sakurai, Chihaya Izumi Grade 11: Nao Yuuki, Mikoto Minagi, Ye-jin Song, Kasagami Araki, Georgia Jenks Grade 10: Anthy Himemiya, Utena Tenjou, Rei Hino, Umi Ryuuzaki, Homura Akemi, Madoka Kaname, Eri Shimanouchi, Sayaka Miki, Nori Ankou, Inori Yamabuki, Chigusa Sanjouin, and Kaori Fujino Grade 9: Miki Kaoru, Nanami Kiryuu, Kimiko Akane, Ai Yamamoto Grade 8: Grade 7: Haruka Haruno Grade 6: Kukai Souma Grade 5: Amu Hinamori, [[[Kairi Sanjou]], Nadeshiko Fujisaki, Tadase Hotori. Grade 4: Yaya Yuiki Grade 3: Grade 2: Grade 1: Grade K:

Student Council

Among the significant adults of Ohtori's staff, Elementary School Principal Tsukasa Amakawa and Middle/High School Principal Mashiro Kazahana report directly to the headmaster of the overall academy; the Ohtori clan patriarch is presently very ill, however, and so the acting headmaster is Akio Ohtori, the fiance of the Ohtori heiress. Akio engages his duties extremely rarely, but when he does, his word is absolute.

However, Ohtori is notable for its especially powerful student body. This is an old tradition, and it is one of the few things Akio Ohtori has involved himself directly in maintaining. The Middle and High School Student Councils in particular wields nearly absolute authority, even able to overrule Principal Kazahana if they wish to... although that might be more the fact that the faculty lives in elemental terror of Juri Arisugawa. Indeed, there is a policy - informal and yet absolute - permitting the council to unilaterally expel students who defy their will (although often the Guardians of the Elementary School involve themselves when this clause is enacted).

It is entirely common for positions to be made up and eliminated by the Councils as necessary. While there are occasionally elections, Ohtori isn't exactly a bastion of democracy, and councilors are often summarily replaced by siblings (or rivals!) if they become mysteriously unable to perform their duties.

If you'd like to join the Student Council (new characters can easily be retconned in), please contact the Staff on-game.

Ohtori's Student Council

High School Student Council President: Touga Kiryuu President's Dubiously-Ranked Flunky: Kyouichi Saionji Vice President: Ye-jin Song Secretary: Kasagami Araki Treasurer: Juri Arisugawa Disciplinary Executive: Yukino Kikukawa University Advisor: Shizuru Fujino Middle School Student Council President: Open! Vice President: Open! Secretary: Miki Kaoru Treasurer: Open! The Guardians King's Chair: Tadase Hotori Queen's Chair: Open! Jack's Chair: Nagihiko Fujisaki Ace's Chair: Yaya Yuiki Joker's Chair: Amu Hinamori The Chair of Ten through the Chair of Two currently don't exist, but would be invented on the spot by Tadase and Tsukasa if they were needed.

Clubs

Owing to its venerable history, Ohtori's clubs are often especially formal and tradition-heavy. Many observe their own small holidays on especially significant dates, such as the anniversary of the club's founding. Clubs of the same and different types often engage in intrigue against one another, to their own ends or simply for pleasure.

This list may be edited by any player who wishes to note the on-camera existence of their club. There are many other clubs at Ohtori not listed here because they don't currently have any player characters in them.

Clubs of Ohtori

Aikido and Aiki-ken Club Founded by Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido is a 'peaceful' martial art performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. This requires very little physical strength, as the defender 'leads' the attacker's momentum by using entering and turning movements. The techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks. It is a very 'ki' centered style. In addition there is the Aiki-ken club; Aiki-ken is the art of the sword based upon the principles of Aikido, originated by Ueshiba and his student Morihiro Saito. Aiki-ken uses wooden bokken, and currently shares the Aikido-club's funding. Members: Azyana Konstantinov Animal Care Club For horse enthusiasts who don't care to focus on competitive riding, and budding veterinarians. Members: Inori Yamabuki Boxing Club This is not Fight Club, so you can talk about it. Widely admired throughout the school. Members: Touga Kiryuu, Yua Chouku Crafts Club Ohtori has clubs specializing in every conceivable art and craft; essentially all of them see the Crafts Club as a bunch of amateur dilettantes, because this club's stated goal is to explore and enjoy different crafts through weekly, monthly and annual projects. For those interested in being a jack of all trades but a master of none, it makes for a fun, relatively casual place to be. Members: Madoka Kaname, Kairi Sanjou Dance Club All people, they love to dance. Separate from Ohtori's extra-curricular dance classes, dance club focuses on creative choreography and fierce competition. Classical styles are always in fashion, but more modern routines also see some representation. Members: Ye-jin Song Falconry Club A school as prestigious as Ohtori wouldn't be complete without sports of nobility, and it's Falconry Club is both well funded and well respected among animal lovers as well as those that enjoy hunting. It's birds are both rare and expensive, the club's members sparing no expense in showing their mastery over such beautiful, dangerous birds. Members: Kasagami Araki Fashion Club Ohtori's fashion club is about as cutthroat as the industry itself, but friendships are founded here on shared enthusiasm and obsession, and there are very real connections to be made with Ohtori alums who've gone professional. Members: Inori Yamabuki Fencing Club With over a century of tradition behind it, Ohtori Academy's fencing club is among the most glamorous clubs on campus, and unquestionably the most prestigious fencing club in Japan. They primarily practice classical fencing, but swap to sports fencing a few times a year in order to dominate regional, national, and even international meets. They don't win everything all the time, but it's always notable when they lose. Members who are not dedicated and passionate for the sport do not last long, but no prior experience with a blade is expected in order to join the fun; they train fencers at every level, from the simple to the sublime. Members: Juri Arisugawa (Captain), Miki Kaoru, Nori Ankou, Umi Ryuuzaki, Ginka Shimizu Gardening Club Landscaping is a little bit declasse by the standards of Ohtori's elite, who mostly prefer less dirty and more formal clubs like ikebana, but the gardening club toils gloriously onward with justifiable satisfaction: the Academy is overflowing with flowers, and while they certainly don't tend every lawn or trim every terrace, most of the truly spectacular manicured gardens and endless fields of blooms are their pride and joy. Those sufficiently interested in the study of botany, such that they're willing to get their hands a little dirty, can learn many secrets about the language of flowers, and other, more subtle plants besides. With the destruction of most of the forests of Southern Cross Island, the Gardening Club is leading the effort to restore greenery around campus. Members: Eri Shimanouchi, Madoka Kaname, Tadase Hotori, Anthy Himemiya (vague affiliate) Kendo Club The ancient art of kendo has been performed at Japan's most prestigious private school for a very long time. They enjoy a proud and ancient tradition -- and a rivalry with the fencing club. Members: Kyouichi Saionji (Captain), Masashi Takeda (Sub-Captain), Kairi Sanjou, Takeo Akamizu, Touga Kiryuu Music Club Ohtori actually has lots of music clubs which form along genre lines or a desire to form a coherent band, but the overarching umbrella exists, mostly to give them more clout in efforts to lobby the Student Council for funding. It tends to focus on classical music. Members: Georgia Jenks, Yua Chouku Softball Club Sumo may be Japan's official national sport, but everyone knows it's actually baseball. In the Softball Club, the balls are a little softer, but the romance of the ballgame is the same. Pitchers stare down batters for an elemental duel, home runs rush toward the sky with all the force of an untamed metaphor, and individuals become something more as part of a team. A few times per academic session, the coaches will wrangle seats at a professional game, too, and the club will go meet their jerseyed heroes. Members: Sayaka Miki (centerfield/batter), Sachiko Majime (starting pitcher) Swim Team Ohtori has a long and proud tradition in swimming, an underwater torch carried forward into the future by its latest batch of students. The sweet silence beneath the water, the roar of the stands above it, the burn of screaming muscles... it's all here. Members: Eri Shimanouchi, Kozue Kaoru, Ai Yamamoto Tea Ceremony Club One of Ohtori's oldest clubs, the Tea Ceremony Club owns millions of yen in equipment and kimono (a sentence they would find redundant). Many of the wealthiest children are enrolled in elementary school, and the clique is a tight one. Visitors by invitation only. Members: Chihaya Izumi, Shizuru Fujino Tennis Team A very popular and glamorous sport at Ohtori, played extensively by many students; the girls' team tends to get more attention. Members: Chihaya Izumi, Nanami Kiryuu, Wakaba Shinohara

Uniforms

Ohtori Academy's yellow-themed uniforms may be found here.

For more information, please see: Schools, Organization: Ends of the World, Theme