Gateways: The Guardians

Sometimes there is more to the world than meets the eye, sometimes there is something bubbling just beneath the surface. An unseen and beautiful secret hidden from those that would seek its destruction. There was a world that most ordinary humans would never know, a world of magic and fantasy, a world far older and far wiser. A world of what some might call…monsters. Upon every discovered continent, every sacred mountain and even in the deep reaches of the boundless sea there were portals. Gateways to places hidden by the veils of magic as old as the civilized world itself. Should you know how to pass through these hallowed places, you would see things regular mortals dismiss as fanciful and outright lies. That is not to say these gates keep their notable residents in, far from it. The gateways are not a prison, as there is far more worry about in the external world of humans than those within. Humans have shown themselves to be ruthless and unforgiving creatures, prone to war and senseless violence. When encountering things they do not understand, they react violently. Modern humans have acquired a need to own and carefully control helpless creatures undoubtedly seen as powerful or exotic. So many magical beasts had fallen prey to these menageries before they were hidden away. Over the years, countless sects of mythical creatures and hybrids have learned the practical value of blending in or hiding in plain sight. The Vampires and Werewolves no longer hunted humans. (at least not enough per year to create an issue). The Wizkin no longer used magic for everyday conveniences (at least not in public anyway). The Merfolk learned to keep to themselves and, with help from other communities of supernatural, they provided safe harbors around the globe. That unfortunately grew more and more difficult as the decades passed. Humans have a tendency to over use and destroy the world around them; deforestation, pollution, global warming. If only they knew it was the magic of beings they would fear, that kept their now fragile lives in balance. The world beside our own was, of course, not a lawless one. They had parameters set down by the laws of their kind as well as those that governed the vaster supernatural world. In local areas, these laws are enforced by Clan councils. Among more diverse regions, a council is made of representatives from those in the community, much like the world's larger governing body, The Grand Tribunal. This is made up of heads of each species and only convenes in matters of great urgency. While their way of life differed from that of mortal humanity, the supernatural world still tried their best to fit in and not draw attention. Those who could pass for human often lived among the hustle and bustle of the urban cities or enjoyed the quiet suburbs and sprawling country.They knew the rules for their species and had Clan to help them when times grew tough. As they say, family knows best and the dynamics per species vary greatly. Even still, accidents happen periodically. That was where the Bureau of Ancient Affairs came into play. They would seek out these instances of breached protocols and try to conceal the evidence.The Bureau was an important part of maintaining the fragile balance between the world of humans and the supernatural. One only has to look to the past of witch trials and hunts for creatures with names older than the English tongue. Men only knew what fantasy had taught them of such beings, all the while believing them to be myths and tales to frighten fantasy-minded children. Vampires could not be harmed by garlic, the werewolves were not mindless beasts, witches had no interest in pacts with the “devil” and so on. Perhaps it was both good and bad that these myths existed. There are some that would say they helped to keep them safe. If mortals do not believe, then they are more willing to dismiss something they don't understand. Others would dye on the hill of of coexistance... if only it were so easy.