The Thistlewood Houses
A place manifested by the shared desires of those who wished to flee persecution, that exists outside of time. Thistlewood is a place that is only reached by traveling between the trees, beyond an unseen boundary. Originally a small community, Thistlewood grew to hold an elevator-style school system, town, cemetery, valley, and encroaching forest.
The Thistlewood schools employ a house system based of the areas of study its students pursue. For each house, there are special programs, classes, and a separate dormitory.
Ravens study Divination. Their classes focus on practices such as Tasseomancy, Palmistry, Tarot, and more. Their dorm is the Ravenroost. It includes an observatory for stargazing, a meditation room, and a parlor for tea reading.
Foxes study Literature. They read the grimoires of old, preserve ancient tomes, liberate lost artifacts, and decipher ancients texts. Their dorm is Foxknoll. It includes a private library, reading nooks and a rumored room of reliquaries.
Hares study Cultivation. They learn how to forage, grow, harvest, and utilize plants for daily and medical use. Their dorm is Harebramble. It is connected to a series of greenhouses, and a private garden. Rumor tells of a series of tunnels connecting the dorms to various areas around campus.
Spiders study The Arts. They learn to express themselves through different forms, including spell weaving, dance, painting, etc. Their dorm is called Spiderburrow. It includes a dance studio, theater pit, and private art gallery.
Coyotes seek Balance. Their focus is self-discovery, as they share courses with students from the other houses. Their dorm is Coyoteden. It features a lounge room and gymnasium.
Students, in some rare cases, are allowed to change their destination after a year of study. Those who retain familiars are allowed to keep them within the dormitories.
Boarding is offered to all students and faculty, however, it is not mandatory. Some choose to commute. However, the passage of time outside Thistlewood varies so it is requested that any pending assignments are completed before exiting the wood.