The world and characters of The Tower of Expurgation

The monastery, known as "Fiaccola della Conoscenza," stands in the peaceful and picturesque countryside near New Florence. Its architecture is an amalgamation of Old World Spanish and Italian influences, exuding a sense of ancient wisdom and serenity. The main building is a large, imposing structure with tall black marbled pillars and a roof covered in rounded gray clay tiles. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, featuring lush, freshly trimmed grass and flower gardens. Monks dressed in ivory robes and burgundy hoods walk around, maintaining an atmosphere of contemplation and spirituality. Inside the library, the air is filled with the scent of old books, and sunlight streams in through plate windows, illuminating the dusty space. The shelves are packed with ancient tomes, some nearly disintegrated with age, showcasing the monastery's rich history and commitment to knowledge and learning. Brother Dominic, a warm and knowledgeable monk with rosy red cheeks and thinning silver hair, is among the residents who graciously welcome visitors seeking spiritual counsel and guidance.

 Located at the mouth of the Acheron, where the river empties into an unnamed sea in the Inferno. Small waves disintegrate on the rocky shoreline, and a guardhouse carved into the cliffside holds a mysterious ambigram-like marking on its door. Here serves Cato, the Keeper of the Way to the Isle of Redemption. Cato is a man with caramel-brown weathered skin, silver shimmering hair, and captivating star-like eyes. He wears off-white linen clothing with black and gold embroidery and wields a unique sword-like scepter with an amber pommel and black wing-like designs. The surroundings resemble rocky shores with cliffs jutting up from fine sands, and the sea glimmers with amber light from the setting sun, offering a sense of peace amidst the eerie Inferno landscape.  

 In this new environment on the Isle of Purgatory, a lush, dense rainforest surrounds gleamingly white sandy shores. The sky takes on a pink hue, contrasting the dusky orange of the nearby Inferno. The jungle's air is heavy with humidity from recent rainfall, and the soothing sounds of insects and birds fill the atmosphere. Strange exotic flowers bloom amidst the thick vegetation, while distant rumbling sounds pique curiosity. A procession of sullen shades, the inhabitants of Purgatory, pass through the jungle, their forms fading into the shadows as they move on. 

 The Tier of the Unswayed is a vast and dimly lit expanse on the Isle of Purgatory. A wide path leads from an elevator, flanked by millions of clear glass tables, each occupied by shades undergoing the Cleansing process. At the end of the path, a large throne is guarded by angels and demon-like Hellspawn. The ruler of this Tier, Satarel, sits on the throne with his striking appearance, kelly green skin, and sharp features. He wears a white linen garment and has clockwork wings. Surrounding him are angels and Hellspawn, some wielding flaming swords and spears. The atmosphere is filled with cacophonic screams and the faint sizzling of torture, as shades are restrained and subjected to agonizing purification. 

 The Tier of the Lustful on the Isle of Purgatory is a space filled with a soft pink haze that floats like dust in the air. It resembles the previous Tier, but instead of glass tables, the space is entirely empty. Shades run ravenously through the haze, chasing after beautiful nude men and women who are terrified of their pursuers. The Tier is ruled by Theliel, the Watchman Angel of Love, who stands around eight feet tall with a muscular and boyish face. He wears modern clothing, a light gray sport coat, a white button-down shirt, and dark blue jeans, and has crystal wings and a halo floating above his head. The atmosphere is charged with arousal and desire, but also a sense of discomfort as the shades experience physical pain whenever they act on their lustful impulses, causing their skin to burn and blister. 

 The Tier of the Gluttons on the Isle of Purgatory is a vast field filled with shades in varying stages of posture between lying down and standing upright. The atmosphere is thick with shimmering and flickering dust, giving it a glittery snow-like appearance. Expurgatori wander around the space, lashing the shades with whips and narrow rods of wood as they struggle to avoid the torture, battling weariness and pain. The more upright the shades stand, the stronger and bulkier they appear. The Watchman of this Tier is Isda, an angel of burnt orange skin and metallic burgundy nails, who wears a form-fitting A-line cocktail dress. The constant falling of the glittering powder makes it increasingly difficult to exert energy, and the weightiness of the space causes immense fatigue to those who pass through it. 

 The Tier of the Greedy on the Isle of Purgatory is a vast space where shades wander, carrying bags filled with various riches. Expurgatori accompany them, pouring coins into the bags as the shades bear the weight of their accumulated wealth. Some shades stand motionless, seemingly hypnotized, while others are herded around by the Expurgatori. The Watchman of this Tier, Hasdiel, is enveloped in swirling multicolored smoke, and his body appears to be completely nude. Radiant beams of light replace wings, and more light emanates from behind his head in place of a halo 

 The Tier of the Wrathful is a dark and suffocating space, filled with a dense acidic fog that chokes and burns the shades within it. Some shades lie gasping on the ground, while others walk around seemingly unaffected, emitting occasional coughs. The Watchman Angel of this Tier, Rachmiel, appears as a crimson-skinned figure wrapped in blood-soaked medical bandages, with a halo fashioned from a neck brace. He is surrounded by Sancti and Maledicti Expurgatori, who guard his throne. The atmosphere is tense, with a palpable sense of anger and aggression lingering in the air. The shades seem tormented by their own inner wrath, trapped in a never-ending cycle of rage and torment. 

 The Tier of the Willfully Ignorant is characterized by bright ivory light emanating from huge white tiles. There is no visible ceiling, creating an impression of infinite space. The shades here are a smoky dark-gray color, and their eyes are sewn shut with rusted strands of iron. They wander aimlessly, drawn to large wooden chests scattered throughout the area. The Watchman Angel of Fascination, Tablibik, oversees the punishment, surrounded by an entourage of Expurgatori. The chests contain powerful magnets that pull the shades toward them. Inside each chest is a view of the truth they refused to accept in life, shown to them through the mind's eye or sight by faith. The punishment is both physical and psychological, forcing the shades to confront their willful ignorance. 

 The Tier of the Violent is an expansive area with tall, slender towers made of chiseled obsidian, each serving as the throne for a Watchman. Two female Watchmen, Sadriel and Gavreel, preside over this realm. Sadriel appears to be made of pure white alabaster with rose gold markings, plate gold wings, and a halo engraved with Celtic designs. She wields a rapier with a blade made of quartz. Gavreel, on the other hand, has ivory skin with embossed markings and copper wings and halo etched with similar designs. She holds a large titian-hued shield. The shades in this Tier are guilty of the Iniquitas Minora of Violence in all its forms. They pelt a person in the center with heavy stones, but with each strike, words of understanding and compassion are spoken by the victim, challenging the shades' perception of violence. Eventually, a shade may realize their past actions, move forward to help the person being stoned, and endure the stoning themselves. If they endure it, the victim reveals themselves to be an Expurgatori, freeing the shade to move on to the next place. 

 The Tier of the Dishonest is an arid desert with auburn dunes and harsh winds that whip up minuscule pellets that strip the flesh from shades upon exiting the elevator. The landscape resembles an open desert with a cloudless blue sky above. The Watchman, Hutriel, is stationed inside a white glass dome with an entryway guarded by Expurgatori. The interior features a throne made of the same white glass and cushioned with bold purple silk. Hutriel has emeraldine skin, batlike black wings, and African facial features with icy blue hair styled in a frohawk. He wears a plain charcoal gray t-shirt and tattered black jeans, a unique contrast to the typical Angel attire.

 The Tier of the Traitorous is an expansive void of empty blackness with floating rings of shades and Angels, each illuminated as if by their own light source. The shades wear armor pieces connected by chrome-coated chains, immobilizing them. Expurgatori charge at them, offering the cruel choice to either move and harm their neighboring shades or stay and endure the full impact. The Watchman, Shoftiel, sits on a glowing throne resembling a starlit quartz crystal. His skin is matte black with gloss black tattoos, his eyes are pure white, and his wings are large and white like a dove's. He wears an opulent white military uniform with shiny black trim, contrasting with the darkness of the Tier