Balt Meddin - The Institute Hidden In The Ocean
When Christianity arrived in Europe the Roman Empire tried to control the rest of the continent through banning anything that is not Christian. Witches and wizards had to hide from other witches and wizards that had taken the believes of Christianity on, destroying magical properties, cutting down holy trees, burning down groves and destroying ancient monuments. Where once temples stood, where once druids had used their magical abilities enhanced by nature to heal, churches were erected. Old Gods and Old Magic had been demolished. And those, who didnât want to let their world vanish, didnât want to let everything be destroyed, gathered in Poland with artifacts and knowledge, preserving the arts and dying for it along the way. Those who had lived and survived the Churches brutal banishment seeked refuge at the Baltic Sea in Poland. The chose the island of Hel although it is unknown who first sailed there. Nontheless, the message spread by word of mouth and people who tried to hied and tried to save what the Chruch wanted destroyed gathered at the isle.
Official records state the academy was built and founded in the year of 1077. Along the line a city sprouted surrounding the academy, becoming famous among non magical beings as a lucrative rich place for herring trade and a flourishing port. As every port city Gellen was full of strangers, but that didnât bother anyone and the witchard community grew rapidly, hiding in plain sight. Witches and wizards from Prussia, Poland, Livonia, Scandinavia and many other places created a cosmopolitan atmosphere of Balt Meddin, mainly from slavic countries.
During the 15th century tragic events of unknown origin took place, no recrods being found. Not even the Magical Administration of Poland (or short MAP) have records of these events. However, marks of powerful spells are still visible on the Hel peninsula, which is no longer an island, and misses a huge part of land. There are no accounts of what had happened, the event a mystery even to the non-magical community, which suggests a mass memory purge. The only known fact is that since the early years of the 16th century Balt Meddin has been hidden underwater, underneath an invisible dome. A new city has been built above, and itâs populated entirely by mundanes.
It is very little known about Balt Meddin.
Itâs not easy to get in or out of Balt Meddin either. Young witchards often receive their invitation via a trained porpoise or a seagull, sometimes when they had already been accepted at another wizarding school. There are magical ways to go through the water, but first graders and some other visitors are often swallowed and transported by trained whales and squids. These means of precaution proved to be extremely efficient during both World Wars. Dark witchards and regime supporters couldnât access the school, due to its splendid isolation.Â
Although MAPÂ did try to persuade the school in helping in the war against Hitler and Grindelwald. Without success. The school closed off completely during the wars, receiving harsh criticism from various magical communities. Balt Meddin never published an official statement and kept hidden, not letting any of the Dark Witchards into the school grounds, the protective spells insurmountable.
Balt Meddin doesnât need any dark arts to cause itself magical problemsâŚ
Students at Balt Meddin are sorted into three different Houses at the start of their schooling, much like at Czocha College. Unlike Czocha College, the students are not sorted based on their attitude or personality, but rather based on their skills and talents.
Lyngbakr, House of Whale, where students deal mainly with Intervallum, the space that is: travelling, bending space, flying, studying fragments of lost spells that could make ships and other means of transportation fly.
Hafgufa, House of Kraken, where students learn about Vis, the energy that makes the whole universe alive: concentrating the energy, speeding up entropy, fire, lightning bolts. Students in Hafgufa are sometimes called Pyromancers.
Uroborus, House of Sea Serpent, where students learn about time, Tempus. This is the most dangerous of arts and only the best students can enter the doors of an Uroborus workshop.
It remains a fact that very little is known about the history or teaching methods in this school. Even the Magical Administration of Poland has problems getting into the school grounds.Â
However, it is a fact that graduates tend to be very powerful witches and wizards. And they do not share their secrets willingly.
