The Alan Hoyne Institute for Sparked Individuals

The Alan Hoyne Institute for Sparked Individuals is Citropolis’ only specialist school for Sparked young people; a place where they can get their education in a way that is “safe for everyone else, and for themselves”.

The school is located off the coast of Cape Falchion, only connected to the mainland by a causeway. This access road is completely covered over during high tide, cutting off travel between The Institute and the rest of the city. Students generally stay under supervision at the Institute 24/7, although well behaved students can earn merits that let them leave for evenings, or even weekends! There are also rumours that some of the veteran students might know of a way to sneak out without being detected…

Students are referred here either by medical professionals who discover their sparks, or through legal organisations, should any young offender be discovered to have a spark. In theory, Sparked individuals are able to complete their education here – but in its thirty odd years of existing, only very few former students have gone on to further success.

Students at The Alan Hoyne Institute are between 11-21 (PCs can be between 16-21).

Mr Blavatsky (he/him, 51): After thirty years of being the only teacher at The Alan Hoyne Institute, Mr. Blavatsky has become deeply disinterested and jaded with teaching. He probably would have tried to get a different job – if it weren’t for the very prominent third eye on his forehead. As it is, the only engagement or emotion most of the students ever see from him are his clear hatred for Dr. Hilsgen and anyone else involved in running The Institute.

Mx Brady (they/them, 24): A new recruit at the Institute, Mx Brady is straight out of teacher training and excited to bring hope and education to a new generation of students!

Dr. Hilsgen (she/her, 46): Technically The Institute’s school nurse. However, in reality, Dr. Hilsgen is only ever at The Institute for the monthly check-ups – a mandatory part of attendance here.

Lana Fredericks (she/her, 19): After an accident where she burned down her family home, Lana was transferred to the Institute “for the safety of herself and others”. Since then, she’s been constantly anxious about losing control again.

Jake Everett (they/them, 14): A pickpocket who, when they were eventually caught, was sent to The Institute (instead of doing community service or going to juvie) after it was revealed that their success was due to being able to move faster than the human eye could catch.

Kay Kelly (they/them, 16): Kay was the smartest kid at their old school… before their second, third, and fourth sets of teeth grew in. Now, they’re the smartest kid at The Institute, but constantly frustrated at the lack of academic supervision in their new school.

Jen Bryum (she/her, 18): Having been born covered in scales rather than skin, Jen has spent her entire education at The Institute, and her life isolated at home. She’s very curious about “regular” life, and will quiz any new students about their time before they arrived.

Ellen Palmer (she/her, 18): The newest student at The Institute, Ellen recently transferred here from Citropolis High after an ‘incident’ with another student revealed her ability to transform her skin into rocks at will.

The Institute is where kids who cannot hide their spark (for whatever reason), or those who local authorities deem “too dangerous”, are sent to school. Students here deal with issues of prejudice, underfunding, and isolation. If you’re interested in exploring anti-Spark prejudice within the world of Origin Story, particularly some of the darker consequences of it and its effect on teenagers, then this school will be a good fit for you.