Lethe House

Motto

**Lethe House**, known as the titular "Ninth House" in Leigh Bardugo's *Ninth House*, is the organization that monitors the arcane activities of the Ancient Eight secret societies of Yale University, all of which are dedicated to one branch of the occult. The headquarters of Lethe House is Il Bastone in New Haven, Connecticut.

Lethe House operates primarily through the Dante and Virgil offices. No ritual of any risk was allowed without Lethe House delegates present. They ensure the societies do not break university rules and thus put the university's interests at risk. Punishments for societies who act against university interests are subject to fines, suspensions from conducting magic, and the most dire, the loss of a tomb, although the latter is reserved for the most serious cases.

Lethe House's secondary mission is to unravel the mysteries of what lay beyond the Veil. Part of that includes studying magical sites, beings and phenomena and also tracking and surveilling magically-inclined individuals.

## Function

* *Motto*: We are the Shepherds
* *Teachings*: Responsible for monitoring the activities of the other eight ancient secret societies on campus.

### Monitoring Magic

Lethe House is charged with monitoring the other eight Houses of the Veil and act as liaison between the societies and the university administration. As such, no ritual of any risk was allowed without Lethe delegates present and societies were not allowed to use magic on the delegates. Lethe was usually permitted entry to the tombs only on ritual nights and during sanctioned inspections.

Lethe House also dedicates its resources to find out more about the nature of magic. As such, Lethe keep tabs on magically-inclined individuals, seeking to use their abilities to learn more about magic and that beyond the Veil. Many of these individuals, who were said to be able to see ghosts, were designated as mentally-unfit or became “no longer tenable” as candidates. Lethe House has recorded instances of these individuals going mad, becoming aggressive and armed with unheard of strength. After the outbursts, the subjects were always left in a catatonic state that made them impossible for Lethe House to study or question.

### Magic

Lethe House has no specialized magic. When they do perform magic, it is spell-and object-based, consisting of borrowed enchantments that do not require a nexus to perform. While Lethe delegates are capable of performing rites, they don't rely on them, as their magic is very stable in comparison to the powerful forces of magic Ancient Eight specialize in. This stable magic allows Lethe House to maintain various wards, including the ones on Il Bastone and the Hutch.

## History

### 1800's

Before Lethe House was established, early forms of the Ancient Eight societies conducted their rites, resulting in countless deaths and other instances of magical chaos. For example, in 1824, the body of local girl Bathsheba Smith was found in the basement of the Yale Medical School in 1824. The Resurrection Riot soon was carried out by the New Haven public as a result. Lethe House thinks that Bathsheba was an early attempt to communicate with the dead.

Lethe House was founded in 1898 as after a man considered to be of no consequence turned up dead with evidence of magical foul play. Charlie Baxter was found with burns to his hands, feet, and scrotum, and a black scarab where his tongue should be. After his death, the societies soon found themselves under threat from the university as a result of public pressure. In response, Edward Harkness of Wolf’s Head, joined with William Payne Whitney of Skull and Bones, and Hiram Bingham III of the now-defunct Acacia Fraternity, formed the League of Lethe that year as an oversight body for the societies’ occult activities.

Lethe was funded by Harkness' initial investment of capital and a mandatory contribution from the trusts of each of the Ancient Eight. Harkness recruited James Gamble Rogers of the Scroll and Key class of 1889 to create a plan for Yale and design many of its structures. Gamble Rogers ensured that safe houses and tunnels for Lethe would be built throughout the campus.

Harkness, Whitney, and Bingham gathered knowledge from each of the Houses of the Veil to create a storehouse of arcane magic for use by Lethe House delegates. From the earliest meetings, Lethe House set out to monitor the magics of the Houses of the Veil with the express intent of keeping citizens and students from harm and to foster amicable relations between societies and the school administration.

### 1900's

More than knowing ghosts existed, Lethe suspected for years before confirmation that the presence of Grays in sacred circles and temple halls were disrupting the spells and rituals of the societies. However, Lethe had no proof and no way to prevent it. They sought an elixir that would allow them to see spirits, experimenting on themselves through sometimes-deadly trial. Hiram Bingham III would solve this problem when he acquired Hiram's Crucible from his excavation of Machu Picchu in 1911. The Crucible is used to make Orozcerio, the elixir Lethe delegates must take in order to be able to see and prevent Gray interference during an Ancient Eight rite.

### Ninth House

Once Alex Stern's encounters with Grays were recorded by Child Protective Services (CPS) and child psychologists, Alex has been in Lethe's records as an individual who can see Grays. The summer before her first year, Alex was offered a place at Yale University for her service with Lethe House despite Alex not fitting the usual profile for a Lethe delegate at all.

This was because Lethe House were facing a re-up year. The monitoring body was dependent on the other Houses of the Veil for funding. After going so long without a major incident, there was a danger that the Houses were going to cut Lethe's funding. The Lethe board made a unanimous decision to recruit Alex as the newest Dante, bypassing the usual recruitment process, in hopes that Alex's abilities would lend to Lethe's performance and understanding of the uncanny.

After Alex brought the nefarious actions of Dean Elliot Sandow to the Lethe board, the members agreed to continue to cover up Sandow's role in Tara Hutchins' murder in order to hide Sandow's attempt to create a nexus. The Lethe board didn’t want anyone to attempt the creation of a nexus through ritual homicide and they didn’t want Lethe connected to Tara’s death. As a result of Alex keeping Belbalm and Wheelwalkers a secret, the Lethe board had no idea what Belbalm had been or how she was connected to Sandow’s death.

## Administration

### Dante and Virgil

The Dante and Virgil offices are fulfilled by undergraduate students chosen with the purpose of being Lethe representatives and monitors of the arcane activities of the Ancient Eight societies. Dante and Virgil are supported by the Lethe Board in their enforcement of the Lethe-Ancient Eight society protocols, requiring the duo to file reports and stay in contact with the Dean of Lethe House, aka the Praetor. As a result of their duties, Dante and Virgil's have to be familiar with each society's branch of magics and various occult knowledge, such as the spells and wardings necessary to contain these magics should they spiral out of control. In return, Lethe provides free tuition to Yale.

Dante's are recruited once every three years. The Virgil officer, as Dante's mentor, has a say in the choice of Dante. According to protocol, Virgil would assess all incoming Yale first-years before choosing 20 candidates to pass onto the Lethe Board and the Ancient Eight societies, the latter being able to say their preference of Dante but has no real say in the final decision. The Lethe board would vet the candidates' backgrounds, health risks, signs of mental illness, and financial vulnerabilities. The choice of candidate are based on the highest standards (See Below. Dante takes on the position of Virgil in their second year when their own mentor graduates and eventually, in their final undergraduate year, they are partnered with a new Dante of their own to mentor.

Dante and Virgil ingest Hiram's Bullet, also known as Orozcerio, with every magic rite the societies' conduct in which it is necessary to stop the Grays' interference. These specific rites usually require the channels to the Veil to remain open, allowing the magic to gather. Orozcerio is toxic, however, and the process incredibly painful. It is why the office of Dante (and thus Virgil) is fulfilled by a young student and their term is limited to four years, and why older Lethe alumni don't drink the elixir or risk kidney failure, liver failure, or death.

### Oculus

Lethe's residences, archives, and magical objects are maintained by Oculus, who is also charged with serving as Dante's and Virgil's research assistant. Most delegates from the Ancient Eight societies have no awareness of Oculus, the person or the position, as it very much is a behind-the-scenes role.

### Centurion

Centurion is the official liaison between Lethe House and the Chief of Police, reporting directly with the Praetor and working in conjunction with the Dante and Virgil officers. Centurion is charged with investigating any cases that might have a connection with magic and the Ancient Eight societies. In the event of an incident, Centurion skips the chain of command to report to the Police Chief. The office of Centurion is financially compensated.

### Praetor

As dean and the official liaison between Lethe House and the President of the University, the Praetor of Lethe House takes care of the administration aspect of the Ninth House. The Praetor is in charge of reviewing all reports made by Dante, Virgil and Centurion. The Dean is responsible for passing pertinent reports to the Lethe Board. As such, the position is also the main bridge of communication between the acting members of Lethe and the Lethe Board as well as the boards of other Houses of the Veil. The position of Praetor and dean is filled by any former Lethe House deputy and had to either be a member of Yale faculty or at least reside in New Haven.

### Lethe Board of Trustees

The Lethe Board is made up of former Lethe alums and within the board members is the president of the Lethe Trust. In the event of a homicide, it is within Lethe protocol to have a colloquy be called in which the president of the Trust is in attendance. The Praetor sends pertinent reports to the Lethe Board.

## Lethe-Affiliated Locations

Lethe has safe houses and bolt holes throughout Yale campus, though the only two known to Alex are the Hutch and Il Bastone. Unlike the Ancient Eight societies, which are heavily tied to their tombs, Lethe House does not require their bases be tied to a nexus to perform their magic.

### Hutch

Located above a clothing store at the corner of York and Elm was the Hutch, a warded place to snack and take a quick rest. Closer to the dorms and classrooms, the Hutch provided the bare bones of comfort.

### Il Bastone

Il Bastone is Lethe's main headquarters; it is a three-story mansion nearly a mile from the heart of campus, protected by spirit hounds that take the form of jackals that are bound to serve the sons and daughters of Lethe. Within Il Bastone is the grand parlor, the kitchen and pantry; the downstairs training rooms; and the second-floor armory, the Il Bastone Library, and the Dante and Virgil bedrooms.

## Notable Members

* Alex Stern, as Virgil (as of *Hell Bent*)
* Daniel Arlington, as Virgil
* Pamela Dawes, as Oculus
* Abel Turner, as Centurion
* Raymond Walsh-Whiteley, as Praetor (as of *Hell Bent*)
* Elliot Sandow, former Praetor
* Michelle Alameddine , former deputy of Lethe

## Known members

* Hiram Bingham III, one of the founders and patron saint of Lethe.
* Edward Harkness, founder of Lethe
* William Payne Whitney, founder of Lethe
* Cabot Collins, poet of Lethe.
* Lee De Forest, Lethe alum and inventor of many Lethe tools.
* Richard Albemarle, creator of Il Bastone's Library magics.
* Chester Vance, Oculus, died being crushed by Il Bastone's Library.
* Lowell Scott (B.A., English, 1909)
* Sinclair Bell Braverman (no degree, 1950)
* Rudolph Kittscher (“Jonathan Edwards College 1933)
* Phillip Walter Merriman, Oculus, (1933)
* Jason Barclay Cartwright (Lethe deputy)

Lethe Days Diary

* George Petit (Saybrook College 1956)
* Charles "Chase" MacMahon (Saybrook College 1988)
* Butler Romano (Saybrook College 1965)
* Naomi Farwell (Timothy Dwight College 1989)
* Carl Roehmer (Branford College 1954)
* Dez Carghill (Branford College 1962)
* Nelson Hartwell (Davenport College, 1938)
* Raymond Walsh-Whiteley (Silliman College 1978)

## Guidelines for Lethe House candidates

The guidelines for Lethe House candidates were located near the back of the pamphlet and had last been updated in 1962.

* High academic achievement with an emphasis on history and chemistry.
* Facility with languages and a working knowledge of Latin and Greek.
* Good physical health and hygiene. Evidence of a regular fitness regimen encouraged.
* Exhibits signs of a steady character with a mind toward discretion.
* An interest in the arcane is discouraged, as this is a frequent indicator of an “outsider” disposition.
* Should demonstrate no squeamishness toward the realities of the human body.

## Tools of Lethe House

* *The Life of Lethe: Procedures and Protocols of the Ninth House*
* Lethe: A Legacy
* Day Diaries of old Lethe members
* Lethe armory archive
* Hiram's Crucible: aka the Golden Bowl.
* Orozcerio
* Two pocket magnets - used for negating portal magic
* Cedar oil and palo santo - the only scents of soap/oils that can counteract the stink of the Veil.
* Cuthbert’s Pearls of Protection - Power to protect wearer from lightning strikes. Had to be worn for a few hours every month or they'd lose their luster and their power.
* Revolution Clock - invention of Lee De Forest. Showed an accurate countdown to armed revolt in countries around the globe. Had 22 faces and 76 hands and had to be wound regularly or it would simply begin screaming.
* Bone dust and graveyard dirt - used during secret society rites to block against interference from Grays.
* Perdition Water vials - very rare, said to come from the seven rivers of hell and that were to be used only in case of emergency.
* Basso Belladonna
* Translation stones
* Mirrored Compact
* Carpet of Ozymandias
* Monsoon Rings - for calling rain; incomplete set
* Palillos del Dios
* Rete Mirabile
* Knuckles of Shimshon

## Trivia

* Il Bastone, the headquarters of the "ninth house" in the novel is based on the Anderson Mansion, the real-life New Haven headquarters of the Yale secret society Shabtai
* A bust of Hiram Bingham III, the patron saint of Lethe, lies on a table beneath a coat rack at Il Bastone.
* Lethe has its own sweatshirts and sweatpants embroidered with the Lethe spirit hound.
* The first known female Lethe delegate was in 1989 with Naomi Farwell.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 *Ninth House* Chapter 2 (Last Fall)
2. ↑ *Ninth House* Chapter 24 (Winter)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 *Ninth House* Chapter 1 (Winter)
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 *Ninth House* Chapter 4 (Last Fall)
5. ↑ *Ninth House* Chapter 32 (Spring)
6. ↑ *Ninth House.* Alex makes several references to being assigned readings by Darlington and having to memorize signs and proportions before supervising a new ritual
7. ↑ *Ninth House* Chapter 10 (Last Fall)
8. ↑ Guidelines for Lethe candidates (see below)
9. ↑ Ninth House Chapter 11 (Winter)
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ninth House Chapter 7 (Winter)
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 *Ninth House* Prologue (Early Spring)
12. ↑ *Hell Bent* Chapter 22
13. ↑ Chapter 17 Winter
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 *Hell Bent* Chapter 1
 Lethe House on Wikipedia