Occult Regulation Office: A Mature Wizarding World Anthology
Short Version:
A mature wizarding world roleplay, here we would play a small group of witches and wizards whom investigate strange goings on in the human world. Although using the Potterverse as a backdrop, this is not a Harry Potter rp. Our goal will be to investigate murders, solve mysteries, exorcise ghosts and even meet a few mythical monsters along the way; all the while trying to do all this without losing our minds or our lives. Themes of death, sex, drugs and darkness will be our bread and butter, so if you’re looking for a whimsical jaunt through Hogwarts, this is not the rp for you. Mature players only.
As stated, since the Potterverse is just a setting, a vast knowledge of it is not necessary. Most of the stuff you would need to know can easily take a quick Google so don’t worry if you’re not that well informed. A lot of our inspiration will come from real world horror stories, like vampires, werewolves, cults and ghosts.
This story will be set out in an episodic format, with every new episode delving into a new case. I want input from all players, I really want this to be a collaborative effort. I will probably need a good Co-GM too due to other commitments.
Still with me? Good then read on…
The Story:
In 1998, Tom Riddle died during the Battle of Hogwarts. To most the name Tom Riddle means nothing compared to his other name, his true name…Lord Voldemort. Since the fall of the Dark Lord, the Ministry of Magic, guided by the battle hardened Aurors office and Harry Potter, has upped its war against the dark wizards and witches of the world. In a bid to extinguish evil wherever it may be, the Ministry began extending its reach into the Muggle world. With thousands of years of ghost stories, unsolved deaths and urban legends to sift through, the Aurors of the Ministry decided that a new operation had to begin.
Fall 2000, the Ministry of Magic, the Magical Congress of the United States and certain other governing bodies of magic banded together to discuss the growing darkness in the Muggle world. From this meeting, the Occult Regulation Office (ORO) was formed. A joint operation between the several different countries, ORO would be the secret fist of the wizarding world within the human plane. To avoid conflicts of interest, it was decided that the Regulators would work independently and would only answer to the Minister of Magic and the President of MACUSA respectively.
Seventeen years on from its inception, the ORO continues its fight against dark forces but it has become something that it did not intend, a horror story. It has become common knowledge that the life expectancy of the Regulator is very short and that many members of the office have died in the field, with only one seemingly retiring by choice. There are still those who are crazy or stupid enough to apply to join its ranks but they are few and far between. Being an Auror is a respected profession, hunting criminals and duelling dark wizards but being a Regulator? Only the mad would dare…
Recruitment:
The Occult Regulation Office (ORO) is a small but international operation taking only a few members at a time generally straight out of school at 17 or 18. It recruits usually from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, Hogwarts and Ilvermorny. Those recruited into ORO are usually in the upper echelon of their class but also they have a very unique thing in common; tragedy. In his many battles against the dark wizarding forces, Harry Potter came to learn that one of his greatest strengths was his experience and willingness to go one step further than many would consider. With that to guide him, the boy who lived felt that if ORO was going to be the ones to take a step into to the dark, then they must already have had a taste of it. Although not necessary, a good knowledge of Muggle customs is advantageous, as such over the years many Regulators have been Muggle born or half bloods. Once recruited, the ORO members would be assigned specific disciplines to master based on their school performance (Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology etc) learning these in an environment akin to a Muggle college. Upon graduation (which usually takes a further three to four years), the newly anointed Regulators would join the small office based on Lundy Island. Although advised against it, Regulators have been given license, similar to Aurors to use the three unforgivable curses but only in extreme circumstance. Wilful use of the curses may result in expulsion and a sentence in Azkaban.
Base of Operations:
To outside forces, the ORO office looks to be just another dilapidated old Victorian house. In reality it is the Mysterium Domum, quite literally latin for Mystery House. The Domum is a place concealed by many mystical charms and enhancements, with its location only known to those who already know where it is. All members of ORO are residents of the building, though some do tend to take leaves of absence to visit family and whatnot. The House can act as transport for the Regulators, moving itself to wherever its occupants need to go. However in that regard, the Domum must always return to Lundy to “recharge”. The House has several bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens as well as common rooms, offices and training rooms. The House itself is very much a living creature, as such a caretaker is required to keep it in a useable state. If the House does not possess a caretaker, it will fall to ruin and become useless.