Sintered Lily — A Universe from the Mind of Uncle Grumbles

Rooted in a loose confederation of Gilded Age brothels, tempered in the Great Depression, and reforged in WW II and the Cold War, the Sintered Lily is a shadowy organization with somewhat twisted libertarian leanings. It has interests in, among other things, contraband law, biological technology, cognitive modeling, and education. Most of the Lily's orphanages, creches, and schools are perfectly benign refuges for children who go on to lead perfectly ordinary lives. But some of its charges have special needs and talents which the Lily is uniquely qualified to manage for their mutual benefit.