House Wrath

**House Wrath** is ruled over by Wrath, one of the seven princes of Hell. It is part of the Seven Circles that make Hell.

## Description

House Wrath's territory is bordered by House Lust, House Greed, part of the Black River, and the Lake of Fire. The House itself is designed like an elegant, manor-styled castle, fit with everything from the throne room to guest rooms to libraries.

Wrath's castle is massive, with a gate house, turrets, towers, and an enormous wall that spans the entire perimeter. It's a magnificent study in contrasts. Covered parapets surround the castle, with guards stationed along the walls. Vines that have been frozen solid cling to the walls. A half-circular drive marks the front entrance. Stone stairs lead to the front door. To the right, tucked near the wall, is a garden hidden with a hedge. It is large enough that there are more than a dozen stone staircases leading between floors. There are at least seven floors. It is fitted with giant arched windows looking out over the landscape and the Lake of Fire. The castle is built from pale stone, similar to limestone, and black tiled roofing. Some wings have been richly fitted with large, colorful tapestries. One wing has an image of angels in battle with monstrous creatures. It reminds Emilia of the art created during the Renaissance and stands out against the pale walls and columns. Doors carved from bone open to ballrooms, unused bedrooms, and sitting rooms. The stone corridors are elegant with arches rivaling any grand cathedral. Each magnificent landing ends on a floor that spans what seems like thousands of meters. Emilia believes this must be deception magic as Wrath's castle can't possibly be this large. There are hidden staircases and panels that are magically warded.

### Libraries

A towering set of double doors is carved with delicate tangles of vines with flowers and stars crawling up the edges and top, while the same vines twist into roots that plunge into the vowels of the earth at the bottom of the doors. Skeletons, skulls, and things left to rot and ruin adorn the lower portion. Through the doors is a beautiful library. It has rows and rows of glass shelves that go on for an eternity. Jewel-toned vellum spines of thousands of books are on the shelves. Someone has arranged them by color. It’s a rainbow of beauty set against a backdrop of ice. The books are all written in Latin. There are plush, oversized chairs scattered around. Wrath calls this library Haven, “close to Heaven but not quite as boring.” Wrath’s personal library is one level below, it’s called Hell.

A circular staircase near the back of Haven Library descends into darkness that leads to Hell Library. Dark, butter-soft worn leather chairs are placed before a fireplace that takes up a wall made of stacked stone that a person could easily stand upright in. Several rugs in various shades of charcoal and black with gold thread details are tastefully laid around the room. The shelves are obsidian gemstone, and the books are all about with dark shades of leather. A circular chandelier with thin iron arms hangs from exposed beams. There’s even a plush throw blanket tossed across the back of a reading chair. In an alcove off the main reading space hangs a set of manacled chains. On the large, imposing desk are books and journals on war strategy, history of demons and humans, witch rituals, grimoires, handwritten notes, pens, pots of ink, and a rough stone for sharpening blades. On a shelf behind the desk are seven volumes of journals dedicated to each demon House.

### The Crescent Shallows

The Crescent Shallows is a subterranean lagoon below House Wrath. The Lake of Fire feeds into it. It's one of the few places in the Seven Circles not touched by ice. It sits above a lava field, so the water is warmer than bathwater regardless of the air temperature. The lagoon itself is shaped like an enormous crescent moon, and the water is a milky, glacier blue. Fog drifts lazily above its surface. A mammoth piece of bone is in the water that looks like driftwood. The water is surrounded by walls of obsidian and the shore is dark and glittering. Phases of the moon and a smattering of stars have been painted on the ceiling.

Nothing made may enter the water. On occasion the Crescent Shallows seeks the heart of those who enter and reflects their truth. Certain magic cannot enter the waters without grave consequences. Some say the water once belonged to the goddesses and burns away that which doesn't belong.

### The Matron's Tower

The Matron of Curses and Poisons lives and works in a tower of House Wrath. The entrance is a scarred wooden door with medieval-looking torches burning brightly on either side of it. The circular room is composed of dark oak wood, cool stone, and shelves that climb all the way up the tower. A ladder leans against one section. An eclectic mixture of scents wafts around the space. On a long table near a lone arched window are several vials of strange liquids. One shelf has full-grown plants, seedlings, and dried petals and herbs. There are poultices, charms, cauldrons, and carved figurines of creatures, deities, and gods. There are stones, poison-tipped blades, and needles glinting in the flickering firelight. Fat candles drip wax onto a wooden mantle above a generous fireplace near the center of the room. Incense sticks burn in neat plumes. There’s a little wooden stool and a cabinet.

### Royal Dining Hall

The royal dining Hal has oversized bone-carved doors. A tapestry hangs on the far wall that depicts a warrior angel locked in battle with demons and with severed heads rolling at his feet. The main table is set against the back room. It's made from a solid piece of gorgeous old wood. Black earthenware plates are set before gilded chairs. The eating utensils are made of deep gold. It's pure rustic elegance, masculine edges with unexpected bits of warmth. It's perfect for a warrior prince. There are two aisles of similar yet smaller wooden tables on either side of the room, creating a path. These tables have matching wooden benches.

### Emilia's Chambers

Emilia's chambers are located near the end of the Crystal Wing and have no less than four rooms: a bathing room, a bedroom, a sitting room, and a leisure room. Every room is finely appointed, the furniture plush and welcoming and edged in elegance. The bedroom is enormous and elegant. The walls are pure snowy white with panels of decorative molding and trim. The ceiling has constellations of tiny lights glowing softly while the ceiling is painted a bruised shade of dark blue. There's a massive fireplace across from the bed that's edged in silver that reflects the flames. A giant, ornate mirror hangs above the fireplace. Silver sconces sit to either side of the mantel. Another set of identical cones are set on the wall behind the bed. All the metal is actually white gold, not silver. The bed is carved from the same gemstone that surrounds the gates of Hell. The sheets are the white and silver of shooting stars. The floor is covered in a dark blue rug the exact hue of the ceiling. Layered on top of the dark carpet is a yellow rug woven through with gold thread. All the fabrics in the room look soft, luxurious, and smell faintly of crisp winter air and musk. On the far side of the room are a set of glass chairs and matching table tastefully placed in a nook. Next to the fireplace is an enormous, tall, and imposing armoire made from dark wood. The doors are carved with little flowers, stars, and snakes, while crescent moons form the handles. Beside the wardrobe is a door that leads to another chamber or corridor. To the left of the bed is a door leading to the bathing room. A large canvas painting hangs beside the door. The ornate frame is silver, and the painting itself looks like an enchanted forest taken straight from a fairy tale. Her bedroom gains a beside table and clock after she wishes for them.

In the bathing room, everything, including the floors, ceiling, sunken tub, and vanity, is made of either solid crystal, frosted glass, or white gold. It's almost the size of her family's entire home. Candles flicker from a circular chandelier. The only bits of color from the makeup on the vanity. A crystal vase of beautiful flowers coated in ice is also on the vanity. There's a crystal stool for the vanity. The sunken tub takes up almost the entire center of the room. Emilia says she could easily swim laps in it.

The sitting room doubles as an antechamber which leads to the exit. The leisure room is designed for lounging, receiving guests, or dedicated to whatever other leisurely activity she wishes. It has an inviting divan that looks perfect for curling up with a good book. A rack of bottles that appear to be expensive spirits fill one wall.

### Wrath's Chambers

Wrath's private quarters are located at the end of the hall from Emilia's in the Crystal Wing. An ornate iron gate can be dropped down from the ceiling, locking out anyone who tries to enter this section of the castle. In his bedroom is a fireplace with a mantle. It has deep merlot walls and black furniture and fabric. It’s dark and sensual. Softly flickering candles and midnight fabric exudes a quiet sensuality. He has a large bed with silky sheets and an ebony fur throw covering the bottom portion. A doorway covered with sheer panels leads out to a balcony that looks out on snow-covered hills and mountains in the distance, and the Lake of Fire. There’s also an antechamber. Wrath's bathing chamber is a room of elegant beauty. It has slate-colored floors, black marble walls with gold veining, ebony candles, gleaming gold faucets and fixtures, and a massive claw-foot bathtub that can fit several people in the center of the room. An oversized black crystal chandelier hangs low over the tub. A stool is against one wall and a tray with linen clothes and bathing supplies is located near the tub.

Emilia and Wrath eventually decide to knock down the walls separating their chambers and make the entire floor their own private quarters.

### The Weapons Room

It's the pearl of House Wrath. It's a cavernous room with columns breaking the space into smaller, interconnected chambers. It’s beautiful, elegant, and deadly. The glass ceiling allows light to filer in. The walls and floor are black marble with gold veining. In the main room there’s an occult design featuring the phases of the moon on one side, a smattering of stars on the other, and a serpent swallowing its tail in a circular shape inlaid in gold on the floor. Gold serpents coil around the bony marble columns. Swords, daggers, shields, bows and arrows, and an assortment of knives gleam in black and gold from their positions on the walls. In the very back of the room is a mosaic of a serpent whose body is coiled into an intricate knot.

### Dungeons

Unexpectedly, the dungeons of House Wrath are not underground. Instead, they're located at the top of a wide stone staircase in a tower. Light pours in through a series of arched windows set high above. A lovely wood door is at the top that’s been magicked shut and locks from the outside.

## Known Locations

* Throne Room
* Royal Dining Room
* Haven Library
* Hell Library
* The Crescent Shallows
* Ballrooms
* Guest Bedrooms
* Sitting Rooms
* Kitchen
* Greenhouses
* Dungeons
* The Weapons Room
* The Matron's Tower
* Wine Cellar
* The Crystal Wing
	+ Wrath's Chambers
	+ Emilia's Chambers

## Known Members

* Wrath
* Emilia
* Anir
* Fauna
* The Matron of Curses and Poisons
* Sundra: a lady and House Wrath's emissary whose father is a duke
* Baylor Makaden: a lord with prominent standing in court
* Domitius: Wrath's lieutenant general
* Arcaline: a lady of House Wrath
* Harlow: a demon maid assigned to Emilia

## Trivia

* House Wrath's color is black, and gold is the item required when summoning a member of this House. Members of House Wrath can only be summoned at night. Ferns are needed to summon a demon of House Wrath.
* Wrath forbade "guttings at gatherings" at least a century ago.
* Within the Seven Circles, House Wrath is known as the City of Ice.
* The wine cellar is located deep within House Wrath. The oldest vintage it holds is a lilac and elderberry wine.