Hellfire Club

## History

The Hellfire Club is a secret society and social club that counts many of the world's most wealthy and powerful persons among its prestigious ranks.

Originally founded as the Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe, the Hellfire Club began in 18th century England as a social club for the British social elite and wealthy. As its regular parties were conducted in private and its membership was exclusive, it was seen as a way to provide its members with pleasures that often defied the moral standards of the time and to allow members to consolidate their influence over economic and political matters.

To encourage its members to release their inhibitions, the Hellfire Club's meeting chambers would ask guests to disrobe to their undergarments (or even further during special gatherings) if they wished to proceed beyond the initial meeting hall. This dress code became a convenient way to assure quarreling members that their rivals would not be armed, allowing for the Hellfire Club's celebrations to be an ideal neutral ground for tense negotiations.

## Membership

Membership within the ranks of the Club is further organized into a number of circles. The first rank is known as the First Circle and is made up of the newly recruited, uninitiated members by virtue of birthright legacy membership, and its servants and staff. This membership allows members free reign of the chapter houses during the day, but restricts their access to the meeting hall and non-restricted areas of the Club's properties after nightfall.

After initiation, usually conducted at the first full moon festival attended by a member wishing to proceed deeper into the society, members can join the Second Circle and attend the majority of Hellfire gatherings.

While there is no limit to the number of members in the First or Second Circles, there is a finite number of Third Circle members. The exact number able to join the Third Circle fluctuates year to year on the whims of the leadership, as required for recruitment, investment in assets, and controlling the Club's exclusivity. A member goes from the Second Circle to the Third by sponsorship of a member of a higher rank and the approval of another member from the Club's chapter leadership. It is also worth noting that the ranks of the Club starting at the Third Circle adhere to a strict equal division among the genders.

Collectively, the First, Second, and Third Circles are known as the Outer Circles (or often "the Outer Circle").

An entirely different process is used to join the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Circles (collectively known as the Congregation). Each of these Circles become increasingly exclusive. Membership in the Congregation is tightly controlled and many see these ranks as the markings of a true member of the Hellfire Club.

Three hundred members of the Congregation belong to the Fourth Circle. Joining the Fourth Circle requires an invitation from the Congregation and only members from the Third Circle are eligible for consideration of receiving the invitation when there is one or more openings. Induction to the Fourth Circle is conducted at quarterly gatherings during the nights of the solstices and equinoxes.

Two hundred members of the Congregation belong to the Fifth Circle. They are the members who may submit Third Circle members for consideration to join the Congregation and may also nominate Fourth Circle members for approval to become Fifth Circle members.

One hundred members of the Congregation belong to the Sixth Circle. They are those who vote on which members to invite to join the Congregation or join the ranks of the Fifth Circle. To become a Sixth Circle member, a member must attain the approval of the Inner Circle.

The Inner Circle (originally known as the Council of Chosen) is the leadership of the Hellfire Club and is made up of members of the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Circles. Its collective ranks consists of sixty-six members who have reached the elite echelon of the Club through consolidating power and pooling influence. All members of the Inner Circle retain their membership in the Congregation for purposes of voting and Congregational Summits. All membership in the Inner Circle is determined by the First Circle and is divided almost equally among the Hellfire Club's four chapters.

The Seventh Circle has fifty members. The Black and White Chapters each have thirteen members in the Seventh Circle while the newer chapters of the Red and Gold Chapters have twelve members. The members of the Seventh Circle are collectively known as the Council of Chosen and make up the local leadership of their chapter. They are often called the "pawns" of the Inner Circle as they oversee much of the dirty work which needs to be conducted at the local level to preserve the integrity of the Hellfire Club's Chapters. Only the Council of Chosen can approve a member for joining the Third Circle.

The Eighth Circle concerns itself with the business of the Hellfire Club as a whole, on a global scale. Each Chapter House has three members of the Eighth Circle and unlike other positions, membership in the Eighth Circle is temporary, lasting only as long as their service is requested by their Chapter's Ninth Circle delegate. Membership in the Eighth Circle also bears unique titles and roles.

* A Rook oversees the Chapter House's security and secrecy, and works with the other Rooks to maintain the security and secrecy of the Hellfire Club as a whole.
* A Knight oversees the Chapter House's interests outside the Chapter House, such as Club-owned property or alliances which further the Club's own agenda.
* A Bishop is a master of ceremonies, judge in disciplinary matters, and an interpreter of the Club's bylines. The Bishop also calls to order meetings of the Council of Chosen and any other Inner Circle gatherings in their Chapter House. Unlike a Rook or Knight, a Bishop is not removed from their office upon the death of the Chapter's Ninth Circle delegate, but remains in power until a new Ninth Circle delegate ascends to power.

The last rank is that of the Ninth Circle. Only one member of each Chapter House can hold this rank. If they are male, their title is King. If they are female, they are Queen. They are elected upon the removal of a past King or Queen (usually by death) by a majority vote of the Chapter's Council of Chosen. The White and Black Chapters have an old tradition that any member of the Hellfire Club can be made King or Queen while the Red and Gold Clubs require membership in that Chapter's Council of Chosen. The only other requirement is to attain a balance of the genders so if the Red and Black chapters had kings, and the Gold had a queen, then the White Chapter would be required to elect a queen. Once appointed to the Ninth Circle, membership is for life.

### Chapters of the Hellfire Club

The Chapters of the Hellfire Club are:

* The original Chapter House of London (known as the White Chapter).
* The Black Chapter of New York.
* The Red Chapter of Tokyo.
* The Gold Chapter of Mumbai.

Though a Chapter House is an actual physical building, a Chapter's membership is not limited by mere geography. Members of any of the Hellfire Club's Chapters are welcome at all Chapter Houses and it is not uncommon for one chapter to own real estate or have investments in a city where another Chapter's Chapter House is located. In fact, most Chapters maintain luxury apartments near the Chapter Houses of other Chapters so its members have places to reside when traveling on Club business.

### Rules of the Hellfire Club

Rules of the Hellfire Club are simple:

1. Speaking of the Hellfire Club with outsiders should be done with discretion.
2. No member should conduct themselves in a hostile or disrespectful manner toward any member of a higher rank, for fear of punishment (self-defense is generally permitted).
3. Disciplinary matters and grievances between members of the Hellfire Club should be left to the Inner Circle.
4. No member should ever harm another member on Club grounds ("harm" is generally regarded as non-consensual injury, therefore allowing sporting, boxing, and other recreational activities on the grounds).
5. Betrayal of the Hellfire Club is forbidden.
6. Children born of members shall informed of their hereditary membership upon turning eighteen years of age. They shall be also be given the address of a Chapter House for confirmation upon request.

Iconography of the Hellfire Club bears allusions to Dante's Inferno primarily, as well as to Greek and Babylonian Underworlds, as well as Egyptian influences. Many of the Club's rituals involve being dedicated to Bennu, a figure from Egyptian mythology. The goddess Inanna is also often cited there is frequent mention of the Greek phoenix is the Club's member exclusive literature, the Books of Brimstone.

Most high-ranking members of the Hellfire Club joined for the lavish hedonistic parties, but become more involved upon discovering the rich lore in the Club's libraries which foster a desire to learn the secrets. Such secrets require higher ranks in the Club, with only the Inner Circle having full knowledge of the true purpose of the Hellfire Club.

### Notable Members of the Hellfire Club

* Howard Stark (Seventh Circle)
* Antonio Stark (Second Circle)
* General Wallace Worthington (Late 18th century Black King)
* Warren Worthington, Esq. (former Black Bishop)
* Warren Worthington Jr (Seventh Circle)
* Warren Worthington III (First Circle, hereditary membership)
* Charles Grey
* Malkin Grey
* Lady Eleanor Grey (Late 18th century White Queen)
* John Grey (Third Circle)
* Jean Grey (First Circle, hereditary membership)
* Dr. Nathaniel Essex (Sixth Circle)
* Nathan Milbury (Early 20th Century Black Bishop)
* Robert Windsor (Mid-19th Century White Bishop)
* James Braddock, Sr (Seventh Circle)
* James Braddock, Jr (Second Circle)
* Brian Braddock (First Circle, hereditary membership)
* Elisabeth Braddock (First Circle, hereditary membership)
* Matilda Grey
* David Graymalkin
* Sharon Graymalkin
* Brian Xavier (former Black Knight)
* Hazel Frost (Seventh Circle)
* Adrienne Frost (Fourth Circle)
* Christian Frost (Third Circle)
* Emma Frost (Second Circle)
* Cordelia Frost (First Circle, hereditary membership)
* Elisabeth Shaw-Worthington (Late 18th century Black Queen)
* Esau Shaw
* Jacob Shaw
* Sebastian Shaw
* Shinobi Shaw
* Norman Osborn (Fifth Circle)
* Harry Osborn (First Circle, hereditary membership)

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

* J. Jonah Jameson is affiliated to the Hellfire Club, according in two interview by his rival Barney Bushkin.

### Notes

* Hellfire Club are a team exclusive to Subsidiary Reality M.

## Links and References

* Appearances of the Hellfire Club
* Organization Gallery: Hellfire Club
* Membership of the Hellfire Club

1. ↑ E27M: Hellfire and Brimstone
2. ↑ J. Jonah Jameson, Jr.