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{{Infobox Organisation
{{Infobox Organisation
|name              = Hellfire Club
|leader            = {{il|[[Francis Dashwood]]|[[Mary Culver]]|[[Lord Sandwich]]|[[Scarlette]]|[[Sebastian Grayle]]|[[Brigham Elisha Dashwood III]]}}
|leader            = {{il|Sir [[Francis Dashwood]]|[[Sebastian Grayle]]|[[Brigham Elisha Dashwood III]]}}
|aka              = The Order of Saint Francis of [[Medmenham]]
|aka              = The Order of Saint Francis of Medmenham
|affiliation      = [[Faction Paradox]]
|affiliation      =[[Faction Paradox]]
|bases            = {{il|[[Medmenham Abbey]], [[1760s]]|[[Wycombe Caves]], [[1806]]|[[London]], mid-[[1890s]]|[[Malebolgia]], [[2003]]}}
|bases            = {{il|[[Wycombe Caves]], [[1806]]|[[Malebolgia]], USA, [[2003]]}}
|first mention    = The Nightmare Fair (novelisation)
|appearances      = {{il|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Seasons of Fear]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Adventuress of Henrietta Street]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Jago & Son (audio story)|Jago & Son]]''}}
|first            = The Man in the Velvet Mask (novel)
|size         = a few dozen
|appearances      = {{il|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Adventuress of Henrietta Street (novel)|The Adventuress of Henrietta Street]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Seasons of Fear (audio story)|Seasons of Fear]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Sabbath Dei (audio story)|Sabbath Dei]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Jago & Son (audio story)|Jago & Son]]''}}
|size             = a few dozen
}}
}}
The '''Hellfire Club''' was a semi-secret organisation of politicians, businessmen and other powerful people for drinking and debauchery. A number of people used the organisation over the centuries as a cover for attempts to conjure [[demon]]s and [[alien]]s in the guise of Lucifer.
The '''Order of Saint Francis of [[Medmenham]]''', informally known as the '''Hellfire Club''', was a secret [[occult]] organisation of politicians, businessmen, and other powerful people.


== History ==
== History ==
The club was created to mock the prevalent religion of the time. Sir [[Francis Dashwood]] continued the tradition in the [[1750s]]. The [[Eighth Doctor]] described their activities thusly:
The club was created to mock the prevalent religion of the time. Sir [[Francis Dashwood]] continued the tradition in the [[1750s]]. The [[Eighth Doctor]] described them as "simply a group of chums who spent [[weekend]]s with him at [[Medmenham]] from time to time", dismissing the possibility of their involvement with [[human sacrifice]]s or "pacts with anyone called [[Satan|Lucifer]]." ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]'')


:"[Francis Dashwood's] so-called Club was simply a group of chums who spent weekends with him at Medmenham from time to time. No doubt they drank more than was good for them, but the nearest thing they had to a manifestation of The Devil was one of their inebriated number sticking horns on his head, and jumping out of a bush yelling 'Boo!' Certainly Sir Francis was interested in reinventing the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries, but that's a far cry from human sacrifices and pacts with anyone called Lucifer." ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell]]'')
In [[1762]], [[Mary Culver]], a member of the original Hellfire Club, [[ritual]]ly [[suicide|slit her own throat]] with a [[Piece of glass (The Adventuress of Henrietta Street)|piece of broken glass]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Adventuress of Henrietta Street (novel)|The Adventuress of Henrietta Street]]'') completing the [[Supplication of the Anakim]] and becoming a host for [[Compassion]]. From the [[whispering gallery]] of [[St Paul's Cathedral]], she directed [[Lord Sandwich]] in the affairs of the Club. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Sabbath Dei (audio story)|Sabbath Dei]]'')


The Club fell into disrepute in the [[1760s]] and faded into obscurity. In the following decades it was sporadically reformed by various people making serious attempts at summoning arcane beings.
The Club fell into disrepute in the [[1760s]] and faded into obscurity ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]'') by [[1770]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Adventuress of Henrietta Street (novel)|The Adventuress of Henrietta Street]]'') In the following decades it was sporadically reformed by various people making serious attempts at summoning arcane beings. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]'')


In [[July]] of [[1778]], [[Shardlow]] lost a game of [[backgammon]] to the [[Celestial Toymaker]] at the Hellfire Club and was forced to become his slave. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Nightmare Fair (novelisation)|The Nightmare Fair]]''/[[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Nightmare Fair (audio story)|The Nightmare Fair]]'')
[[Scarlette]], the proprietress of the [[Henrietta Street House]], was the last Madam of the Hellfire Club. She represented the Club at the [[Eighth Doctor]]'s [[Eighth Doctor and Scarlette's wedding|wedding]] in [[1782]] and used her arcane knowledge to help defend Earth from an invasion of [[Babewyn]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Adventuress of Henrietta Street (novel)|The Adventuress of Henrietta Street]]'')


[[Scarlette]], the proprietess of a brothel on Henrietta Street in London, claimed she was the last Madam of the Hellfire Club. She used her arcane knowledge and the Eighth Doctor's help to defend Earth from an invasion of [[Babewyn]]s in [[1782]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Adventuress of Henrietta Street]]'')
In [[July]] of [[1778]], [[Shardlow]] lost a game of [[backgammon]] to the [[The Toymaker|Celestial Toymaker]] at the Hellfire Club and was forced to become his slave. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Nightmare Fair (novelisation)|The Nightmare Fair]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Nightmare Fair (audio story)|The Nightmare Fair]]'')


=== 19th century ===
=== 19th century ===
In the early [[19th century|nineteenth century]], Lord [[Aldbourne]] set up his own version of the Hellfire Club in [[Devil's End]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors]]'')
In the early [[19th century]], Lord [[Aldbourne]] set up his own version of the Hellfire Club in [[Devil's End]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'')


In [[1806]] the [[Eighth Doctor]] and [[Charley Pollard]] arrived in [[Wycombe Caves]], chasing after [[Sebastian Grayle]]. Grayle had set up the Hellfire Club as a psychic conduit for summoning the [[Nimon]] to Earth. The Doctor and Charley interfered with Grayle's plans and stopped the invasion, but not before the Nimon had consumed most of the current membership. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Seasons of Fear]]'')
There was a version of the club in London at the end of the 19th century. [[Henry Gordon Jago]] and [[Henry Gordon Jago Jr]] found the dead body of [[Ruby Valentine]] there. After Jago Jr was kidnapped, Jago went there to find him. Jago and [[George Litefoot|Litefoot]] found a menagerie in the building. It contained a coffin of an alien being. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Jago & Son (audio story)|Jago & Son]]'')


=== 21st century ===
=== 21st century ===
By [[2003]] a new Hellfire Club had been set up in [[Malebolgia]] (the 51st state in the [[United States of America]]) to assist in electing [[Brigham Elisha Dashwood III]] as their first Governor... and to continue the drinking and debauchery of their predecessors. Dashwood summoned the demon [[Marchosias]], but the subsequent invasion of [[Psionovore]]s was prevented by the Eighth Doctor. This chapter of the Club was presumably shut down soon after. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell]]'')
By [[2003]] a new Hellfire Club had been set up in [[Malebolgia]] to assist in electing [[Brigham Elisha Dashwood III]] as their first Governor, and to continue the drinking and debauchery of their predecessors. Dashwood summoned the demon [[Marchosias]], but the subsequent invasion of [[Psionovore]]s was prevented by the Eighth Doctor. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]'')
 
=== Alternate timelines ===
In an [[World Machine|alternate timeline]] created by [[the Pageant]], [[Minski]] became the ruler of [[France]]. This was not a part of the Pageant's plans and in an attempt to defeat Minski, the Pageant influenced other nations across the world, posing as demons. This, coupled with the [[enlightenment]] results in the reformation of the Hellfire Club and worldwide demon-worshipping. The club consisted of the world's leaders, including [[William Pitt the Younger]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], as well as leaders from [[Russia]] and [[Austria]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man in the Velvet Mask (novel)|The Man in the Velvet Mask]]'')
 
In another alternate history where [[Sebastian Grayle]] achieved immortality, the Eighth Doctor and [[Charlotte Pollard]] arrived in [[Wycombe Caves]] in [[1806]]. Grayle had set up the Hellfire Club as a psychic conduit for summoning the [[Nimon]] to Earth. The Doctor and Charley interfered with Grayle's plans and stopped the invasion, but not before the Nimon had consumed most of the current membership. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Seasons of Fear (audio story)|Seasons of Fear]]'')
 
[[Category:Organisations from the real world]]
[[Category:Organisations from the real world]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Humour]]
[[Category:Drinking]]
[[Category:Drinking]]

Latest revision as of 17:50, 4 December 2023

Hellfire Club

The Order of Saint Francis of Medmenham, informally known as the Hellfire Club, was a secret occult organisation of politicians, businessmen, and other powerful people.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The club was created to mock the prevalent religion of the time. Sir Francis Dashwood continued the tradition in the 1750s. The Eighth Doctor described them as "simply a group of chums who spent weekends with him at Medmenham from time to time", dismissing the possibility of their involvement with human sacrifices or "pacts with anyone called Lucifer." (AUDIO: Minuet in Hell)

In 1762, Mary Culver, a member of the original Hellfire Club, ritually slit her own throat with a piece of broken glass, (PROSE: The Adventuress of Henrietta Street) completing the Supplication of the Anakim and becoming a host for Compassion. From the whispering gallery of St Paul's Cathedral, she directed Lord Sandwich in the affairs of the Club. (AUDIO: Sabbath Dei)

The Club fell into disrepute in the 1760s and faded into obscurity (AUDIO: Minuet in Hell) by 1770. (PROSE: The Adventuress of Henrietta Street) In the following decades it was sporadically reformed by various people making serious attempts at summoning arcane beings. (AUDIO: Minuet in Hell)

Scarlette, the proprietress of the Henrietta Street House, was the last Madam of the Hellfire Club. She represented the Club at the Eighth Doctor's wedding in 1782 and used her arcane knowledge to help defend Earth from an invasion of Babewyns. (PROSE: The Adventuress of Henrietta Street)

In July of 1778, Shardlow lost a game of backgammon to the Celestial Toymaker at the Hellfire Club and was forced to become his slave. (PROSE: The Nightmare Fair, AUDIO: The Nightmare Fair)

19th century[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the early 19th century, Lord Aldbourne set up his own version of the Hellfire Club in Devil's End. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors)

There was a version of the club in London at the end of the 19th century. Henry Gordon Jago and Henry Gordon Jago Jr found the dead body of Ruby Valentine there. After Jago Jr was kidnapped, Jago went there to find him. Jago and Litefoot found a menagerie in the building. It contained a coffin of an alien being. (AUDIO: Jago & Son)

21st century[[edit] | [edit source]]

By 2003 a new Hellfire Club had been set up in Malebolgia to assist in electing Brigham Elisha Dashwood III as their first Governor, and to continue the drinking and debauchery of their predecessors. Dashwood summoned the demon Marchosias, but the subsequent invasion of Psionovores was prevented by the Eighth Doctor. (AUDIO: Minuet in Hell)

Alternate timelines[[edit] | [edit source]]

In an alternate timeline created by the Pageant, Minski became the ruler of France. This was not a part of the Pageant's plans and in an attempt to defeat Minski, the Pageant influenced other nations across the world, posing as demons. This, coupled with the enlightenment results in the reformation of the Hellfire Club and worldwide demon-worshipping. The club consisted of the world's leaders, including William Pitt the Younger, Alexander Hamilton, as well as leaders from Russia and Austria. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask)

In another alternate history where Sebastian Grayle achieved immortality, the Eighth Doctor and Charlotte Pollard arrived in Wycombe Caves in 1806. Grayle had set up the Hellfire Club as a psychic conduit for summoning the Nimon to Earth. The Doctor and Charley interfered with Grayle's plans and stopped the invasion, but not before the Nimon had consumed most of the current membership. (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear)