Underneath the city of Gotham lies a network of labyrinths, built during 1799 for one specific purpose.
To act as a hidden meeting place for the elite of Old Gotham, the ones who held the Money and influence in the city of that time.
And over the years, that group of elites has transformed, in order to get on with the times, into a collective council that runs the city of Gotham from behind the shadows.
Only those whose families built Gotham all those years prior hold a seat in that council.
And once a family leaves the council, their seat is saved, in case a descendant would step up to take their spot.
"Andrew Forrest has a Granddaughter,"
Those words echoed around one of the many underground chambers that the hidden council used to host their meetings.
"They left for Metropolis," One voice called out.
"The Girl returned to Gotham," Another said.
"She has no place in our court!" One member yelled.
"She has just as much a spot here as we all do," Another tried to intervene.
All around the meeting hall, members of the Court said their piece, waiting for a final decision to be made.
And then the Judge spoke.
"Rose Forrest will not be invited to join our court as a member as of this moment," Their words silenced the members of the council around the hall.
"We will assign a Talon to watch over her from afar, but the girl's knowledge of our Court will remain hidden,"
The members started murmuring.
"In five years, we shall decide if the girl shall be included into our court," The Judge that sat at the head of the hidden council of the Gotham Elite finished their words.
"That is all, Court dismissed."
Beware The Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime. They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send the Talon for your head.