Curia of the Isle

'In the 18th century, a secretive cabal of scholars established the 'Curia of the Isle' to manage Hush House, making it a haven of knowledge until 1896 when a disgraced Librarian brought the House to penury.'
'Curia Period'

The Curia of the Isle was a council/organisation of nebulous origins (possibly from the Obliviates) formed in 1785 as occupants and caretakers of Hush House. The Curia transformed Hush House from the abandoned Dewulf estate into an occult-oriented library, part of the Watchman's Tree, later specialised in Hushery. A particular person was appointed as Librarian and was succeeded by another after their resignation, death or in various cases, disappearance.

In House of Light, the Librarian has the opportunity to re-found the Curia as the Lighthouse Institute, with members and a mission of their choosing.

The Curia (and the Institute, should the Librarian choose to create it) had six positions of leadership in the form of "Secretaries":

• the Treasurer, who managed the Curia's finances.
• the Secretary Nunciant, who communicated and negotiated with other organizations.
• the Secretary Enigmatic, who would either conceal or reveal the secrets of the Curia.
• the Secretary Salvant, who oversaw healing and restoration efforts.
• the Secretary Vigilant, who ensured the safety of the Curia.
• the Secretary Persistent, who maintained the continuity of the Curia. The position that could only be held by a member of the Ligeia Club, as they had to be both immortal and with one foot outside the laws of the Hours.

While the Librarian was not officially a part of the Curia's leadership, in practice they would often serve as one nevertheless.

Dr. Ambrose Westcott

'A true adept is never troubled by fire, nor by fever, nor by restless spirit..'
'Quenchings and Quellings'

Dr. Ambrose Westcott (1734-1797) was the first Librarian of Hush House. As the Curia of the Isle was founded in 1785, Ambrose most likely gained the title of Librarian in the same year. As Librarian, Ambrose oversaw major architectural changes to Hush House, including constructing the Librarian's Quarters and a Smoking-Room, as well as refurnishing the foundry. As an academic, Ambrose did research on metallurgy, alchemy, pyroglyphics, and cooking. When it comes to the Great Arts, Ambrose is identified as an nyctodromist, even though the above mentioned research topics more closely align to Ithastry. The bust of Ambrose has the Forge principle, further pointing to him being more of an ithastrist. His cause of death is unknown, but it is known that he suffered multiple strokes during his lifetime.

Ambrose was a heavy smoker, and there are many references to him smoking both pipes and cigars. At one point he racked up a bill with his tobacconist that he refused to pay, perhaps due to the cost being too high. Ambrose believed smoking could dispell lies, calling it: "the Oracles of the Pipe". He belivied it worked by manifesting the Red Flower of the Watchman's Tree, the part of the Calyptra that burns knowlege to create light. Apart from smoking, Ambrose also enjoyed drinking. He never commented on its oneiric qualities, however.

At some point in time, Ambrose was a member of the order of Obliviates. There he took part of the Carbonek Schism, where parts of the Obliviates left for Port Noon, while the others followed Ambrose to an undisclosed place after finding a solution in The Sun Disfigured. Since the book that describes this event, The Carbonek Schism, was written during the Baronial Period of Hush House, it can be assumed that it happened before Ambrose arrived to Brancrug Isle. If the undisclosed place that Ambrose departed to was Hush House, it would line up with the connection between the Obliviates and Hush House made in the description of the Silver Vault.

Kitty Mazarine

'Ambrose used to say that Music minus Time was Ink. But Ambrose liked brandy as much as he liked ink.'
'Mystery and Mastery'

Second Librarian, Kitty Mazarine was a musician and composer known for her eccentricities and possible triple nationality—French, Spanish and American. It is implied that she came to Hush House from America, and considering her musical nature it is very likely she has as connection to another library there, Crossrow.

She departed from many of the traditions established by Westcott as Librarian, and is notable for creating the Mazarine music room, where she hosted frequent recitals for Bancrug.

Solomon Husher

'Death alters; Snow endures.'
'Putrefactions and Calcinations'

Third and one of the more famed Librarians, Solomon Husher was a renowned scholar of Hushery, author of On the White, and rival to Julian Coseley. Coseley, an anarchist and Worm who vehemently opposed the rule of the Hours, took significant issue with Husher's less radical position and belief in "the paradox of the eternal ending", though there is evidence that the two eventually reconciled some of their differences later in life .

Reverend Solomon Husher's place of origin is unknown. As librarian he was known for his solemn, severe manner, and his obsessive study of silence and endings. Solomon disappeared on January 9, 1838 during a heavy snowstorm, speaking of Winter and Janus in his resignation letter. This date is notably the Agonalia of Janus, a sacred feast day to the god.

Fraser Strathcoyne

'I shall tell you something in confidence, Librarian. I have long been haunted by a certain dream of eyes.'
'On the Unfettered Eye'

Fraser Strathcoyne was often Treasurer of the Curia and reluctantly fourth Librarian in absence of other options after Husher's sudden disappearance, though his time in this position is noted to be fairly brief. Strathcoyne is well-known in modern times as a philanthropist and collector of occult artifacts and writings; his residence is able to be visited (and burglarized) in Cultist Simulator. He appears as a visitor in Book of Hours interested in matters relating to the Carapace Cross after discovering his descent from the Scimafectra-kind, and appears to be seeking a way to fully embrace his heritage.

Strathcoyne was also the adoptive father of the famous occult writer Christopher Illopoly. The two had a complicated relationship—although Illopoly appeared to respect and appreciate Strathcoyne, the latter's secretive nature and unclear motives (as well as the recurring dream of eyes his presence appeared to induce) eventually led to the two parting "almost amicably".

Natalia Brulleau

'Break a window. What have you made? A way? A new light? A weapon?'
'Glaziery & Lightsmithing'

Natalia Brulleau was fifth Librarian, with a particular affinity for the arts of Edge and the study of Illumination. She is known as a duelist, mystic, and traveler. During her time, a dyad of Edge-Long visited Hush House, ostensibly so that Brulleau could study them over the course of a year and a day, though they ended up staying only for a single duel.

Brulleau was responsible for furbishing the Dueling Hall of the Hush House, and also constructed in secrecy the Nighy Gallery. She retired as Librarian in 1861.

Willem Harries

'The lock seeks its key, the wall seeks its door, and we who would pass learn at last that they are not our servants.'
'Door & Wall'

Sixth Librarian, Willem Harries was a dutch priest drawn to Hush House after a change of faith to St Agnes of the Gate, skilled in the arts of openings and doors akin to Knock. Prior to that he had been stationed in the Dutch East Indies, and proved himself a promising candidate as Librarian by presenting the Curia with the key to the Hidden Stair of the House.

Harries was a skilled Nyctodromist and compiled a catalog of sealed and unsealed passages through the Bounds while at Hush House. It is a mystery to most how exactly his tenure as Librarian ended.

Thirza Blake

'When an egg is not dead, something may emerge. When an egg is dead, something may be placed within'
'Egg'

Infamous seventh Librarian, Thirza Blake was renowned for her extensive knowledge of Wood and Nectar lore and less-renowned for her inordinate spending that led to the selling of part of Hush House to the Nocturnal Branch.

Blake was a fiercely independent, capricious, and outgoing individual, often telling outlandish stories and spending House funds on various bizarre projects. She was responsible for hiring the Lantern-Long Poemander to furnish the Hall of Division with its numerous mirrors for the purposes of containing Mansus spirits, as well as the Nocturnary.

Despite her many attempts to cut costs and bring in additional funds, her reckless expenses drained the House of its fortunes, and opened the door for the Nocturnal Branch to begin operations on Bancrug. She then disappeared.

Sir David Greene

''A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.' - Graham Greene'
'The End of the Affair'

Sir David Greene was eight Librarian, and former Nocturnal Branch superintendent. He is credited with refurbishing the Map Room in Hush House in order to better plan his explorations and manage his agents. He was also a believer in the Second Dawn and financed the refurbishment of the Abbey's stained-glass windows.

Greene represented the collaboration between Hush House and the Nocturnal Branch, though his own writings in 1903 make clear his misgivings about the Branch's current activities. During his tenure the Branch began construction of the Oubliette, designed to contain what Greene described as "the Sun's bastard grandchild" and which concerned him greatly.

Following the Ortucchio Incident and the absorption of the Nocturnal Branch into the Suppression Bureau, Greene made plans to escape with a mysterious A.F. with embezzled funds, though the success of this endeavor is uncertain.

Roscraggan Whisky is also known to have been his favourite alcoholic drink.

Dr. Brian Levinsen

'On a clear autumn day, the story goes, you can see Ys from the Watchman's Tower. I don't know whether that's true. But on a clear day in Numa… you would see the City Unbuilt.'
'Horizon-sight'

Brian Levinsen was ninth Librarian, a painter and a doctor. He was known for his "prefigures", copies of paintings created before the originals were, particularly with 20 years of anticipation. He claimed their visions came to him in "mirror-dreams".

Levinsen revitalised Hush House's Infirmary, after which he volunteered as a medic in the Great War, where he perished and was never found. He was also known to have sympathies for Valentine Dewulf, even comissioning a memorial for him before heading into war.

Dr. Serena Blackwood

''Every key has its lock,' Serena Blackwood once said, 'sounds much grander than when we say that every spanner has its nut. But both remain true.''
'Spanners'

Serena Blackwood was tenth Librarian. She had a particular animosity with the then-prison governor of the Library, George Collers.

As Librarian of Hush House, Blackwood invited Christopher Illopoly to the House to help with the collection, as well as to serve as an ally against Collers. She also reluctantly aided the governor's project to install the House's clock tower, unaware that the techniques used would later be applied to Collers' Condignator. In exchange, she insisted the Bureau pay for refurbishing the Church bells.

Blackwood never completed her term, likely due to growing frustrations with the Bureau, and ultimately left to become Librarian of the Invisible Serapeum.

Gervinus van Lauren

'When I was another, I made a foolish wager with the Hooded Princes, to solve seven riddles. I had not realised the riddles would be set by me for the one I would become...'
'Letters to My Successor'

Eleventh Librarian, Gervinus van Lauren was a recluse adept in the closing and warding ways, responsible for the closing of the Winding Stair in collaboration with the Nocturnal Branch. A number of the wards and protections found in the rooms of Hush House were placed by Van Lauren, who also developed a method to rid texts of Sthenic Taint.

Van Lauren had a fondness of riddle and paradoxes and claimed that he once made "when [he] was another" a wager with the Hooded Princes to solve seven riddles, not realizing the full consequences of this arrangement. Hints and parallels throughout Book of Hours imply a connection between Van Lauren and Willem Harries.

Van Lauren was a reluctant cooperator with the Suppression Bureau and Collers, and seemed to have been charged with maintaining the confinement of a Chandler Name in the Oubliette, though he foresaw the doom of this endeavor. He is heavily implied to have perished in the Hush House fire.

Other Members

• Dr Ibn al-Adim: A Secretary Nunciant.

• Ehsan Fekri: A Secretary Salvant, who used to be a skaptodon.

• George Collers: A Secretary Vigilant, who became the one and only governor of the Brancurg Gaol during the Nocturnal period.

• cc: A Secretary Enigmatic, who is described as a changeling and may reveal secrets of the Carapace Cross under specific circumstances.

• Professor Rowena Hengerst: The Secretary Persitent. Only Ligeians could take that position since the Secretary Persistent must be one foot outside the laws of Hours.

Sources