Post by Warren Worthington III on Jan 22, 2007 21:46:51 GMT
Officially the HFC is an international social club for wealthy elites. It controls fantastic resources and owns property around the world and is involved in all kinds of business and humanitarian activities. Unofficially it is known to be involved with any number of criminal acts, though no charges have ever been brought against it or its members. It traces its origins back for centuries (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfire_Club).
For some decades now it has been taken over by an Inner Circle of powerful mutants. This is known to the sorts of people who also know about Xavier’s Institute, but is not at all public knowledge. The HFC deliberately spreads wild rumors about itself as being run by virgin-sacrificing mutant Satanists and so forth so that, if anything does get out into the public, it will be dismissed.
The Inner Circle dress in 18th-century garb (more or less) and use titles/ranks named after chess pieces. Current members are Sebastian Shaw (Black King), Donald Pierce (White Bishop), Harry Leland (Black Bishop), Jason Wyngarde (White Rook). (Their personalities and powers are as per wikipedia.) Both Xavier and Magneto were, at various times, considered and rejected for the position of White King.
The Inner Circle use the HFC as a tool for world domination. Their notion of “world domination” involves influencing politicians, buying corporations, etc. rather than blowing things up or conquering territory. Not that they’re squeamish about violence, but in general they consider it bad for business and think both the Brotherhood and the X-Men are basically foolish for that reason.
Miscellaneous additional facts:
* The HFC Manors are enforced safe spaces - if you've been invited, you will be able to leave undamaged. The Inner Circle makes this stick, because it lets them host negotiations that would otherwise be impossible.
For example, they can invite rival gang-lords to meet on their turf and everyone knows that not only with the HFC not attack them, but they'll prevent either side from doing so.
This reputation has been somewhat damaged by Emma Frost's Halloween '06 plot, but the HFC is trying hard to recover it.
* Emma Frost was once the White Queen, but was kicked out of the HFC after her disasterous attempt to mind-control a bunch of HFC guests. In fact, the HFC wants her dead and will pay handsomely to anyone who kills her.
* Warren Worthington II (Angel's dad) is an HFC member.
He's not a mutant, not part of the Inner Circle, and not particularly in the know about what they do, but he's a member, as his father was before him.
For some decades now it has been taken over by an Inner Circle of powerful mutants. This is known to the sorts of people who also know about Xavier’s Institute, but is not at all public knowledge. The HFC deliberately spreads wild rumors about itself as being run by virgin-sacrificing mutant Satanists and so forth so that, if anything does get out into the public, it will be dismissed.
The Inner Circle dress in 18th-century garb (more or less) and use titles/ranks named after chess pieces. Current members are Sebastian Shaw (Black King), Donald Pierce (White Bishop), Harry Leland (Black Bishop), Jason Wyngarde (White Rook). (Their personalities and powers are as per wikipedia.) Both Xavier and Magneto were, at various times, considered and rejected for the position of White King.
The Inner Circle use the HFC as a tool for world domination. Their notion of “world domination” involves influencing politicians, buying corporations, etc. rather than blowing things up or conquering territory. Not that they’re squeamish about violence, but in general they consider it bad for business and think both the Brotherhood and the X-Men are basically foolish for that reason.
Miscellaneous additional facts:
* The HFC Manors are enforced safe spaces - if you've been invited, you will be able to leave undamaged. The Inner Circle makes this stick, because it lets them host negotiations that would otherwise be impossible.
For example, they can invite rival gang-lords to meet on their turf and everyone knows that not only with the HFC not attack them, but they'll prevent either side from doing so.
This reputation has been somewhat damaged by Emma Frost's Halloween '06 plot, but the HFC is trying hard to recover it.
* Emma Frost was once the White Queen, but was kicked out of the HFC after her disasterous attempt to mind-control a bunch of HFC guests. In fact, the HFC wants her dead and will pay handsomely to anyone who kills her.
* Warren Worthington II (Angel's dad) is an HFC member.
He's not a mutant, not part of the Inner Circle, and not particularly in the know about what they do, but he's a member, as his father was before him.
