The Castle

Welcome to Landoll’s Academy of Sorcery! Located on a little unplottable niche in Ohio’s Mohican countryside, Landoll’s Mohican Castle houses this extraordinary teaching institution. The castle is an expansive and beautiful estate; it ties together the majesty of the old country’s wizarding world and the new pioneering attitude of American witches and wizards.

Three witches and wizards, who met by chance in the flourishing woods west of the colonies, founded the school in 1782. In the years prior, France had claimed the Ohio territory for exploration and cultivation and it was home to the Iroquois, Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandot, and Miami Native American tribes. Prominent among the natives was an Indian witch, Pauwau. She often traveled from tribe to tribe using her magical ability to heal and to search out others with magical gifts, teaching them what she could. She was a pivotal figure in the first interactions between the Europeans moving westward and the native tribes.

Gregoire Grosvenor, a French wizard traveling with the hunters and trappers who had traveled into the Ohio area, came across this native witch near modern day Columbus in 1735. Pauwau was immediately aware that Gregoire possessed magical abilities. The two hit it off quite well and began sharing spells and potion recipes. During their travels in the years after, as the two became thick friends, they met Noll Northwoode, a wizard settler of Virginia, who was working as a scout for the Ohio Company of Virginia. The three discussed a need for a common place to teach witches and wizards who were born in the lands west of the colonies. By this time Ohio had been surrendered to England and was fast on its way to becoming part of the Northwest Territory. The population of muggles and wizardkind was growing steadily. The Salem Witches Institute had been nearly overcome by the number of students wishing to learn outside of the home. The trio established the castle as a place where magical pioneers in the new world could congregate and learn basic magical skills. With its creation both schools were able to serve the entire magical population of the colonies until L'Université des Arts Magiques in New Orleans, and the California Progressive Magic Institution were established some years later.

The founders named the school Landoll’s, after a family of great generosity who were rumored to live in the area and were known to bestow gifts upon favored witches and wizards. Landoll’s Academy of Sorcery organized their students into three houses, Wolf, Bear, and Hawk. Each animal represents the spirit animal (or Patronus) of the founders. The founders imposed many of their values onto their houses: The House of Wolf values ingenuity and strategic thought, the House of Bear values honor and a protective nature and the House of Hawk values creativity and craftsmanship.

The founders taught along side other accomplished witches and wizards until the mid 1800’s, at which time they felt it was right to pass on the administration of the school to others. Pauwau rejoined her people in the reservations of Oklahoma and passed on quietly in 1878. Gregoire and Noll retired to a small wizarding village in Northern Ohio. Along the shores of Lake Erie, they ran a small bookstore and continued to contribute to the education of the locals.

Edwin Erstwhile succeeded them as the first Headmaster of the school and resided over it until 1894 when he died. A Native American mystic by the name of Nahimana stepped in to run the school for the next 20 years, guiding the school through the turn of the century. After he retired, Headmistress Helena Bramhall took the reins and steered the school through the rough times of the World Wars and the Great Depression. She retired in 1964 to the west coast and took up the hobby of surfing. Her deputy, Sedgwick Stillwagon, declined the position of Headmaster preferring to continue teaching. The U.S. Department of Magical Education then voted to elect Taliesen Turcotte as Headmaster. Headmaster Turcotte served until recently when he turned over the school to the staff who are organizing this ball.

The school’s curriculum includes classes in Herbology, Charms, Transfiguration, Ancient and Native Cultural Runes, Medical Magic, Arithmancy, Potions, Understanding Animals (magical and non-magical), Power Dance and Other Physical Magic, Astronomy, Divination, Flying, American History of Magic, World History of Magic and Defensive Magic. Landoll’s also has an extensive array of extra-curricular activities such as various sporting teams (flying and non), Charms Club, Choir, Band, Orchestra as well as The Mohican Mystic (school newspaper), and The Pensieve (Yearbook).

Find out your LAS House! Are you in Bear, Hawk or Wolf? Take this sorting quiz to discover where you belong!

	Bear House Founder: Pauwau, Indian Witch, 1689 - 1878 Colors: Red and Black Values: Honor and a Protective Nature Landoll's founder, Pauwau, an Indian witch, valued above all else integrity and a protective nature. This was evident in her Patronus, a fierce mother bear. She believed in leading a simple and honorable life filled with family and friends. Also, like the bear and her people, she enjoyed the natural world and all it had to offer. The members who claim the House of the Bear as their own are usually strong friends that you can count on who will never lead you willingly into harm's way.
	Hawk House Founder: Noll Northwoode, Virgina Scout, 1710 - 1915 Colors: Hunter Green and Brown Values: Creativity and Craftsmanship Landoll's founder, Noll Northwoode, a Virginia scout, was a strong admirer of woodcraft and art. When LAS was built he lent his creative touch to the beautiful workmanship of its halls, spires and exterior. He also had a great freedom of spirit which soared with his Patronus, a great hawk. One had only to look at his paintings to see both the skill and the soul of the artist. The members of this creative house are usually clever allies who will see a solution outside of the normal path.
	Wolf House Founder: Gregoire Grosvenor, French Trapper and Trader, 1705 - 1902 Colors: Midnight Blue and White Values: Ingenuity and Strategic Thought Landoll's founder, Gregoire Grosvenor, a French wizard and hunter extraordinaire, loved the thrill and challenge of the hunt. He searched for problems and mystery in life which often lead him to interesting adventures and even more interesting inventions. His Patronus, the wolf, represented his outlook on life: hunt and live for the pack. Members of this house are shrewd companions who will often offer strategic advice whether you ask or not!

For any questions or comments please email: CrystalBall@hp-ohio.com