kaled
21st January 2009, 19:53
Evening all,
Following recent discussions on here and elsewhere about the Inquisition, I was dismayed to learn just how little a lot of people seem to know about this aspect of the 40k background. It seems that some of the more popular sites dealing in the 40k background are propagating a lot of misunderstandings about the Inquisition, so I have attempted to put together an essay to dispel some of the more common fallacies. Everything written below is based on material published by GW, and I have included references so if anyone wants to go look it up for themselves they can do. I've done my best to keep speculation to a minimum, however like most aspects of the 40k canon some of the information out there is contradictory or incomplete.
This is my first draft of the essay, and I would appreciate hearing any comments people have - especially where they have information that I have not included or where they spot something that they believe is incorrect. If you do have information you think I should include, I would appreciate a reference to the location where it can be found.
Hope you find it interesting reading.
- Dave
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The Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition
Introduction
The Inquisition has been a part of the 40k background from the beginning; like many things, it was introduced in Rogue Trader and has evolved and been expanded since then. For many years the Inquisition was a generally overlooked part of the background until the release of the narrative skirmish game Inquisitor which brought with it a great deal of information about the Inquisition. Around the same time, Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn Trilogy were published and these two events attracted the interest of fans. Not long afterwards, the Inquisition entered the battlefields of Warhammer 40,000 with the release of Codex: Daemonhunters and Codex: Witch Hunters based around armies led by Inquisitors of the Ordo Malleus and the Ordo Hereticus respectively.
Despite the renewed interest in the Inquisition, there are a great many myth and half-truths surrounding the organisation which have been propagated across the internet. This article attempts to dispel some of that and give players an accurate guide to the organisation, philosophies and background of this fascinating organisation.
The Founding of the Inquisition
The actual founding of the Inquisition is shrouded in mystery, but the publication of the Horus Heresy novels and art books give some information. Prior to the Siege of Terra, the Emperor tells his trusted friend and ally Malcador to gather 'men of character, skill and determination', that these men will form the 'cadre of an elite group of investigators whose job it is to root out heresy and treachery wherever it may hide' <Visions of Death p6>.
At the height of the siege of the Imperial Palace, Malcador presents twelve individuals to the Emperor, eight Astartes and four humans <Visions of Death p41> who he has gathered in response to the Emperor's commands. The Astartes are described as having 'cast aside their allegiance to Primarch and Legion who have sides with Horus and pledged themselves anew to [the Emperor]'. Maclador goes on to say that they are 'blessed with paranormal skills' which are 'most apt in combating the horrors that have recently emerged from the warp'.
The identities of these humans and Astartes is never revealed, however after Captain Garro leads the Eisenstein to Terra to warn the Emperor of Horus's treachery he is met by Malcador who tells him that 'the Imperium needs men and women of inquisitive nature, hunters who might seek the witch, the traitor, the mutant, the Xenos' and refers to Captain Nathaniel Garro of the Death Guard, Captain Iacton Qruze of the Luna Wolves, and Sister of Silence Amendera Kendel as just such people.
It is commonly supposed that the eight Astartes are involved in the formation of the Grey Knights (and perhaps the Deathwatch), and that the four humans are founding members of the Inquisition.
The Thorian Sourcebook <Thorian Sourcebook p3> tells a different story. Immediately after the Emperor was interred in his Golden Throne, four trusted servants of the Emperor gathered in secret to discuss what was to happen next. Their opinions were divided; two believed the Emperor could be returned to life, the other two believed it folly to interfere with the events that had unfolded. The two two resurrectionists, known as Promeus and Moriana, left Terra to begin their quest to bring the Emperor back to life. The two that remained acted quickly to establish themselves with the Senatorum Imperialis and created an organisation to combat the efforts of the resurrectionists - from this seed, the Inquisition was formed.
It is entirely possible that both of these stories are 'true'. It is said <Inquisitor rulebook p38> that when the Senatorum Imperialis was convened on the first anniversary of the Emperor's Ascension a grim-faced man joined the council and identified himself as a representative of the 'Holy Orders of Emperor's Inquisitors'. The fact that they called themselves 'Orders' plural could be taken to suggest that the early Inquisition was an amalgamation of several organisations.
It is worth noting for completeness that there are one or two references in some of the Rogue Trader era books that suggest the Inquisition may have been around prior to the Horus Heresy, however all of the more recent background points to the Inquisition being founded after the Heresy. It is possible however, that the Imperium may have had one of more 'secret service' organisations during the Great Crusade which were later subsumed into the Inquisition.
Organisation and Structure of the Inquisition
The Inquisition does not have a formal organisation <Thorian Sourcebook p25> and is really only organised at the most fundamental level - the single Inquisitor. Every Inquisitor embodies the whole Inquisition and is granted the same absolute power by virtue of the Inquisitorial Mandate. As the word of an Inquisitor is absolute and beyond reproach, except by other Inquisitors, the Inquisition is self-policing as well as it's role of protecting the Imperium <Thorian Sourcebook p23>. At one time it was said that the Ordo Malleus was responsible for policing the Inquisition <Slaves to Darkness p246>, however this idea seems to have been abandoned and there are now those within each of the Ordos who focus their time in purging the Inquisition of rogue elements; the Ordo Hereticus is particularly noted for having members who keep a close eye on fellow members of the Inquisition <Codex: Witch Hunters p5>.
Going back to Rogue Trader we can see that the idea of the Inquisition not having a formal organisation has been there from the beginning; 'Every Inquisitor is a free agent, operating independently of other Inquisitors or central authority' <Rogue Trader p142>. In Rogue Trader there is however one Inquisitor who is said to rank above the others, he is known as the Master of the Inquisition and his job is to report on the Inquisition to the Emperor and to communicate His commands back to the Inquisition <Rogue Trader p144>. In later editions, the Master of the Inquisition became the Inquisitorial Representative, whose job it is to report to the Senatorum Imperialis.
Despite the lack of a formal organisation, there are many types of Inquisitorial groupings that an Inquisitor may belong to, however membership of these is not mandatory. For example an Inquisitor may choose not to join an Ordo, however by not doing so he will be unable to access their resources <Thorian Sourcebook p17>. Similarly, an Inquisitor is expected to announce his presence to the head of the Conclave overseeing the region in which he operates, however many Inquisitors prefer to work in secret <Disciples of the Dark Gods p174>.
Conclaves
Inquisitorial Conclaves can be split into two rough groups. The first are Conclaves called by an Inquisitor (or High Conclaves called by an Inquisitor Lord); these are gatherings called to discuss a particular subject <Thorian Sourcebook p25>. There are also more permanent regional Conclaves; these are federations of Inquisitors who watch over a particular area of Imperial space. The larger of these regional Conclaves may have resources such as ships, armies, fortresses and libraries for the use of their members <Dark Heresy p273>; however not all sectors of Imperial space are covered by a Conclave, and some areas are devoid of a permanent Inquisitorial presence>. The head of each regional Conclave is normally an Inquisitor Lord, and is nominally appointed by the High Lords on Terra <Dark Heresy p294>. There are also Conclaves operating at the Segmentum level <Disciples of the Dark Gods p174>, again headed by an Inquisitor Lord.
It is also worth noting at this point that some regional Conclaves term themselves the Ordos something, such as the Ordos Helican; the Conclave for the region in which Eisenhorn operates <Eisenhorn>.
Cabals
A cabal is a rare body instituted by a Conclave and dedicated to investigating a particular matter. They form a specialist task-force charged with the prosecution of a particular concern. Generally they gather Inquisitors from varied backgrounds and philosophies, all working together via their differing methods and focused on a single goal. All too often, Cabals are despised by many who see them as secret societies within a Conclave. <Dark Heresy p274>
Cells
Similar to a Cabal, a Cell is an ad-hoc group of Inquisitors who share a common goal. Often they are factional in nature, or are formed to confront a particular problem <Thorian Sourcebook p27>. The principle difference between Cabals and Cells is that the latter are entirely informal and are transitive in nature.
Ordos
The most well known groupings of Inquisitors are the Ordos. An Ordo is properly defined as a group of Inquisitors dedicated to combating a particular threat <Dark Heresy p268>. The exact number of Inquisitorial Ordos is unknown; there are three Ordos Majoris and an unspecified number of Ordos Minoris.
Ordo Hereticus - the Ordo Hereticus was founded following the events of the Age of Apostasy <Codex: Witch Hunters p4> and their original mandate was to watch over the Ecclesiarchy and ensure that such events could never again occur. Over the years, their remit has been expanded <Codex: Witch Hunters p5> and they are now well known to combat all threats originating within the Imperium, such as heretics, psykers and traitors.
Ordo Xenos - the Ordo Xenos is dedicated to combating the enemy without, i.e. aliens and all their works. It is not known when the Ordo Xenos was founded but is is commonly supposed that it was created at a similar time to the Ordo Malleus. Of the three major Ordos, it is the only one not to have a Codex, and hence there is less background material for it than the other two.
Ordo Malleus - the Ordo Malleus were created to combat the threat from the enemy beyond. While the actual events surrounding the founding of the Ordo are shrouded in mystery, it is claimed that the Ordo was created by order of the Emperor <Slaves to Darkness p246>. The Ordo came into being immediately after the Horus Heresy <Codex: Daemonhunters p6>, and therefore has been a part of the Inquisition from the beginning.
To date, the only minor Ordos to have been described in any detail are the Ordo Sepulturum and the Ordo Sicarius; The Ordo Sepulturum was founded to combat the growing threat from unnatural zombie plagues in the region surrounding the Eye of Terror around the time of Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade <Thorian Sourcebook p20>. The Ordo Sicarius was founded to oversee the activities of the Officio Assassinorum following the events of the Wars of Vindication which resulted from the events of Vandire's Reign of Blood <Codex: Assassins p12, Exterminatus 8 p22>.
The Ordo Obsoletus is often cited as an Ordo Minoris, however the only reference to it was as the Ordo of an Inquisitor reporting on the mysterious Legion of the Damned <White Dwarf 195>. From this brief mention, many fans have concluded that the Ordo Obsoletus is a sort of Inquisitorial X-Files division who investigate all manner of unexplained phenomena. It is worth pointing out that this is just conjecture, and there are other competing theories as to their role. It is also possible that the Ordo Obsoletus is not strictly speaking an Ordo at all, it may be a regional Conclave (see above) that calls itself an Ordo.
The Ordo Hydra <The Inquisition War> is again often cited as an Ordo Minoris, however the Ordo Hydra is a group who use a particular tool rather than a group who combat a specific threat, and so despite their name they are perhaps better described as an Inquisitorial Cabal. Of course, the truth is that The Inquisition War was written long before the distinction betweens Ordos, Conclaves and Cabals was made and so it is something of an anachronism.
Dark Heresy <Dark Heresy p272> discusses the existence of other minor Ordos, but does not name them; Ordos mentioned include ones rumoured to police the workings of the Blackships and others whose sole task is to purge the ranks of the Inquisition itself. It also mentions an Ordo who watch over the Imperial military; fans have dubbed this group the Ordo Militum, however that name does not appear in the GW canon.
Many sources suggest the Ordos are well known in the Inquisition, whereas others suggest the Ordos are more secretive and are hidden from the uninitiated <Thorian Sourcebook p17>. These facts combined suggest that the Ordos may operate differently in different sectors. In sectors close to the Eye of Terror the Ordo Malleus may operate openly - after all, the baleful eye is a constant presence in the skies of some planets and there would be little to gain by the Ordo operating in secret. In contrast, in sectors where the main threat is from foul xenos, the Ordo Malleus may remain rather more hidden and the Ordo Xenos would be far more prominent. It is likely that the Ordos Majoris have a presence, if even just a small one, in every sector of Imperial space; whereas the Ordos Minoris may often be more localised. The Ordo Sepulturum for instance is said to only really be active around the Eye of Terror <Thorian Sourcebook p20>.
While there is no formal hierarchy in the Inquisition, the same may not be true in the Ordos. The Ordo Malleus in particular is described in older sources as having a rigid and formalised hierarchy <Slaves to Darkness p246> however it is noted that it is unique in having such a formal structure.
Whether or not an Ordo has a formal hierarchy, the Ordos control significant resources from fortresses, safe-houses and libraries, through military assets such as fleets and stormtroopers, all the way up to the Chamber Militants. In return for access to these resources, an Inquisitor will be expected to pledge their loyalty to the Ordo. It is likely that the resources of an Ordo with be marshalled by an Inquisitor Lord (and if not, by a highly respected Inquisitor), and although his rank gives him no more authority in the Inquisition, his position in the Ordo may give him some authority over other members by virtue of the oaths they swears upon joining the Ordo.
Factions
The various Inquisitorial Factions are groups of Inquisitors who share the same philosophies. Factions can be divided into two rough groups, puritans and radicals. Puritan factions include the Monodominants, Amalathians and Thorians <Inquisitor rulebook p5> who tend to uphold the letter of the Lore and the dictates of the Emperor to the letter. Radical factions, such as the Xanthites, Recongregators and Istvaanians, feel they are free to enforce the spirit and intent of the Emperor’s Judgements, and for them the end really does justify the means.
Recruitment and Promotion
Recruitment within the Inquisition is not centralised, and an Inquisitor is free to recruit whoever he so chooses as an acolyte. There are many different names given to acolytes, Interrogator, Explicator, Neophyte, Novitiates, Neophytes, Approbators etc, but in themselves they carry no authority (only that which they are granted by their Inquisitor) <Thorian Sourcebook p24>. Although some Inquisitors may have their acolytes pass through various 'ranks' on their progression to Inquisitor, those ranks are not standardised across the Inquisition.
For an acolyte to be raised to the rank of Inquisitor, the consent of three Inquisitors or an Inquisitor Lord is required. There have been cases where the situation has called for an acolyte to take on full Inquisitorial responsibilities immediately without the blessing of three Inquisitors of a Lord. For example if their Inquisitor is killed in action, their apprentice may inherit their Inquisitorial Seal and fulfil the role of an Inquisitor subject to repeal by another Inquisitor <Thorian Sourcebook p24>.
Inquisitorial 'Ranks'
Inquisitor Lords (also known as Lord Inquisitors or High Inquisitors)
The Inquisition does not have formal organisation, and there is no system of ranks or command such as is found in the military or Adeptus Terra <Dark Heresy p278, Thorian Sourcebook p25>. Authority within the Inquisition is governed by two factors - reputation and influence. Seniority is in itself no indicator of authority, however most Inquisitors will take heed of the wisdom an older and more experienced peer.
Despite this, there is a need for a higher tier of Inquisitors to help maintain the integrity of the organisation, and to watch over and guide its members. They are known my various names including Lord Inquisitors, Inquisitor Lords and High Inquisitors <Thorian Sourcebook p25>. Inquisitor Lord (or one of it's variations) is a recognition rather than an absolute rank, and is more a formalisation of a position enjoyed by the Inquisitor rather than an actual promotion.
Promotion to the ranks of Inquisitor Lord is by invitation only; an Inquisitor must be nominated by an existing Lord and have his nomination approved by two others. It is an honour that is only extended to those that have proven their courage, ability, loyalty and integrity numerous times.
Although the rank of Inquisitor Lord in itself brings no temporal authority, it is likely that such a respected and influential Inquisitor will have some measure of control over resources within the Inquisition or his Ordo and his control of those resources will give him some measure of authority over Inquisitors who wish to use them. For example, Lord Inquisitor Caidin oversees the activities of all Inquisitors operating in the Calixis sector <Dark Heresy p294> and does his best to orchestrate and monitor their activities. Caidin is not the only Inquisitor Lord operating in the Calixis sector; Lord Inquisitor Anton Zerbe runs the Tyrantine Cabal, a group of Inquisitors investigating the threat of the Tyrant Star.
Grandmaster
Grandmaster is a title sometimes given to the Inquisitor Lord who runs a sector or sub-sector Conclave, such as Lord Orsini, Grandmaster of the Ordos Helican <Eisenhorn>.
Master
Where an Ordo has a strong presence in a sector or sub-sector, the senior Inquisitor Lord of each Ordo may be given the title 'Master'. In the Ordos Helican, there are three Masters, one for each of the Ordos Majoris; who as well as overseeing the members of their Ordos also provide counsel to the Grandmaster and are responsible for choosing his successor should he die or retire <Eisenhorn>.
The Inquisitorial Representative
The Inquisitorial Representative is the voice of the Inquisition on the Senatorum Imperialis. Although the role does not bring any additional authority above that of Inquisitor Lord, it does put the holder in a position of unrivalled power and authority due to the influence he has at the highest levels of power <Thorian Sourcebook p26>.
The Inquisitorial Representative is nominated from amongst the Inquisitor Lords of the sectors surrounding Terra, and Inquisitors that have filled this role are referred to as an Inquisitor Lord Terran. Also, it is not unusual for several Inquisitor Lords Terran to share the role of Inquisitorial Representative at the same time. The maximum term that an Inquisitor Lord Terran can serve on the Senatorum is five years, after which they must stand down <Thorian Sourcebook p26>.
Inquisitorial Mandate
The Inquisition has absolute authority over all other Imperial organisations, and the presentation of an Inquisitorial seal to an Imperial Guard Colonel, Master of the Administratum, Imperial Navy Admiral or Imperial Commander cannot be gainsaid <Thorian Sourcebook p23>. However there are a number of areas where, although the Inquisition technically has authority, they must tread carefully - chief among these are their dealings with the Adeptus Astartes and Adeptus Mechanicus.
The Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes are fiercely independent and not welcoming of outside investigators. Traditionally, the Space Marines have been extended a lot more latitude than other Imperial forces concerning their organisation and activities, and there have been a few occasions when an over-zealous Inquisitor has instigated a problem where none previously existed <Thorian Sourcebook p24>.
Although the Adeptus Mechanicus is often seen as an allied empire existing alongside the Imperium, the Inquisitorial Mandate supersedes the Treaty of Mars, and the Adeptus Mechanicus do fall within the remit of the Inquisition <Dark Adeptus p64, Codex Titanicus p16>. However, the fact that the Adeptus Mechanicus has an effective stranglehold on technology within the Imperium means that they are often willing to block or hamper the investigations of an Inquisitor by any means possible.
Following recent discussions on here and elsewhere about the Inquisition, I was dismayed to learn just how little a lot of people seem to know about this aspect of the 40k background. It seems that some of the more popular sites dealing in the 40k background are propagating a lot of misunderstandings about the Inquisition, so I have attempted to put together an essay to dispel some of the more common fallacies. Everything written below is based on material published by GW, and I have included references so if anyone wants to go look it up for themselves they can do. I've done my best to keep speculation to a minimum, however like most aspects of the 40k canon some of the information out there is contradictory or incomplete.
This is my first draft of the essay, and I would appreciate hearing any comments people have - especially where they have information that I have not included or where they spot something that they believe is incorrect. If you do have information you think I should include, I would appreciate a reference to the location where it can be found.
Hope you find it interesting reading.
- Dave
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The Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition
Introduction
The Inquisition has been a part of the 40k background from the beginning; like many things, it was introduced in Rogue Trader and has evolved and been expanded since then. For many years the Inquisition was a generally overlooked part of the background until the release of the narrative skirmish game Inquisitor which brought with it a great deal of information about the Inquisition. Around the same time, Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn Trilogy were published and these two events attracted the interest of fans. Not long afterwards, the Inquisition entered the battlefields of Warhammer 40,000 with the release of Codex: Daemonhunters and Codex: Witch Hunters based around armies led by Inquisitors of the Ordo Malleus and the Ordo Hereticus respectively.
Despite the renewed interest in the Inquisition, there are a great many myth and half-truths surrounding the organisation which have been propagated across the internet. This article attempts to dispel some of that and give players an accurate guide to the organisation, philosophies and background of this fascinating organisation.
The Founding of the Inquisition
The actual founding of the Inquisition is shrouded in mystery, but the publication of the Horus Heresy novels and art books give some information. Prior to the Siege of Terra, the Emperor tells his trusted friend and ally Malcador to gather 'men of character, skill and determination', that these men will form the 'cadre of an elite group of investigators whose job it is to root out heresy and treachery wherever it may hide' <Visions of Death p6>.
At the height of the siege of the Imperial Palace, Malcador presents twelve individuals to the Emperor, eight Astartes and four humans <Visions of Death p41> who he has gathered in response to the Emperor's commands. The Astartes are described as having 'cast aside their allegiance to Primarch and Legion who have sides with Horus and pledged themselves anew to [the Emperor]'. Maclador goes on to say that they are 'blessed with paranormal skills' which are 'most apt in combating the horrors that have recently emerged from the warp'.
The identities of these humans and Astartes is never revealed, however after Captain Garro leads the Eisenstein to Terra to warn the Emperor of Horus's treachery he is met by Malcador who tells him that 'the Imperium needs men and women of inquisitive nature, hunters who might seek the witch, the traitor, the mutant, the Xenos' and refers to Captain Nathaniel Garro of the Death Guard, Captain Iacton Qruze of the Luna Wolves, and Sister of Silence Amendera Kendel as just such people.
It is commonly supposed that the eight Astartes are involved in the formation of the Grey Knights (and perhaps the Deathwatch), and that the four humans are founding members of the Inquisition.
The Thorian Sourcebook <Thorian Sourcebook p3> tells a different story. Immediately after the Emperor was interred in his Golden Throne, four trusted servants of the Emperor gathered in secret to discuss what was to happen next. Their opinions were divided; two believed the Emperor could be returned to life, the other two believed it folly to interfere with the events that had unfolded. The two two resurrectionists, known as Promeus and Moriana, left Terra to begin their quest to bring the Emperor back to life. The two that remained acted quickly to establish themselves with the Senatorum Imperialis and created an organisation to combat the efforts of the resurrectionists - from this seed, the Inquisition was formed.
It is entirely possible that both of these stories are 'true'. It is said <Inquisitor rulebook p38> that when the Senatorum Imperialis was convened on the first anniversary of the Emperor's Ascension a grim-faced man joined the council and identified himself as a representative of the 'Holy Orders of Emperor's Inquisitors'. The fact that they called themselves 'Orders' plural could be taken to suggest that the early Inquisition was an amalgamation of several organisations.
It is worth noting for completeness that there are one or two references in some of the Rogue Trader era books that suggest the Inquisition may have been around prior to the Horus Heresy, however all of the more recent background points to the Inquisition being founded after the Heresy. It is possible however, that the Imperium may have had one of more 'secret service' organisations during the Great Crusade which were later subsumed into the Inquisition.
Organisation and Structure of the Inquisition
The Inquisition does not have a formal organisation <Thorian Sourcebook p25> and is really only organised at the most fundamental level - the single Inquisitor. Every Inquisitor embodies the whole Inquisition and is granted the same absolute power by virtue of the Inquisitorial Mandate. As the word of an Inquisitor is absolute and beyond reproach, except by other Inquisitors, the Inquisition is self-policing as well as it's role of protecting the Imperium <Thorian Sourcebook p23>. At one time it was said that the Ordo Malleus was responsible for policing the Inquisition <Slaves to Darkness p246>, however this idea seems to have been abandoned and there are now those within each of the Ordos who focus their time in purging the Inquisition of rogue elements; the Ordo Hereticus is particularly noted for having members who keep a close eye on fellow members of the Inquisition <Codex: Witch Hunters p5>.
Going back to Rogue Trader we can see that the idea of the Inquisition not having a formal organisation has been there from the beginning; 'Every Inquisitor is a free agent, operating independently of other Inquisitors or central authority' <Rogue Trader p142>. In Rogue Trader there is however one Inquisitor who is said to rank above the others, he is known as the Master of the Inquisition and his job is to report on the Inquisition to the Emperor and to communicate His commands back to the Inquisition <Rogue Trader p144>. In later editions, the Master of the Inquisition became the Inquisitorial Representative, whose job it is to report to the Senatorum Imperialis.
Despite the lack of a formal organisation, there are many types of Inquisitorial groupings that an Inquisitor may belong to, however membership of these is not mandatory. For example an Inquisitor may choose not to join an Ordo, however by not doing so he will be unable to access their resources <Thorian Sourcebook p17>. Similarly, an Inquisitor is expected to announce his presence to the head of the Conclave overseeing the region in which he operates, however many Inquisitors prefer to work in secret <Disciples of the Dark Gods p174>.
Conclaves
Inquisitorial Conclaves can be split into two rough groups. The first are Conclaves called by an Inquisitor (or High Conclaves called by an Inquisitor Lord); these are gatherings called to discuss a particular subject <Thorian Sourcebook p25>. There are also more permanent regional Conclaves; these are federations of Inquisitors who watch over a particular area of Imperial space. The larger of these regional Conclaves may have resources such as ships, armies, fortresses and libraries for the use of their members <Dark Heresy p273>; however not all sectors of Imperial space are covered by a Conclave, and some areas are devoid of a permanent Inquisitorial presence>. The head of each regional Conclave is normally an Inquisitor Lord, and is nominally appointed by the High Lords on Terra <Dark Heresy p294>. There are also Conclaves operating at the Segmentum level <Disciples of the Dark Gods p174>, again headed by an Inquisitor Lord.
It is also worth noting at this point that some regional Conclaves term themselves the Ordos something, such as the Ordos Helican; the Conclave for the region in which Eisenhorn operates <Eisenhorn>.
Cabals
A cabal is a rare body instituted by a Conclave and dedicated to investigating a particular matter. They form a specialist task-force charged with the prosecution of a particular concern. Generally they gather Inquisitors from varied backgrounds and philosophies, all working together via their differing methods and focused on a single goal. All too often, Cabals are despised by many who see them as secret societies within a Conclave. <Dark Heresy p274>
Cells
Similar to a Cabal, a Cell is an ad-hoc group of Inquisitors who share a common goal. Often they are factional in nature, or are formed to confront a particular problem <Thorian Sourcebook p27>. The principle difference between Cabals and Cells is that the latter are entirely informal and are transitive in nature.
Ordos
The most well known groupings of Inquisitors are the Ordos. An Ordo is properly defined as a group of Inquisitors dedicated to combating a particular threat <Dark Heresy p268>. The exact number of Inquisitorial Ordos is unknown; there are three Ordos Majoris and an unspecified number of Ordos Minoris.
Ordo Hereticus - the Ordo Hereticus was founded following the events of the Age of Apostasy <Codex: Witch Hunters p4> and their original mandate was to watch over the Ecclesiarchy and ensure that such events could never again occur. Over the years, their remit has been expanded <Codex: Witch Hunters p5> and they are now well known to combat all threats originating within the Imperium, such as heretics, psykers and traitors.
Ordo Xenos - the Ordo Xenos is dedicated to combating the enemy without, i.e. aliens and all their works. It is not known when the Ordo Xenos was founded but is is commonly supposed that it was created at a similar time to the Ordo Malleus. Of the three major Ordos, it is the only one not to have a Codex, and hence there is less background material for it than the other two.
Ordo Malleus - the Ordo Malleus were created to combat the threat from the enemy beyond. While the actual events surrounding the founding of the Ordo are shrouded in mystery, it is claimed that the Ordo was created by order of the Emperor <Slaves to Darkness p246>. The Ordo came into being immediately after the Horus Heresy <Codex: Daemonhunters p6>, and therefore has been a part of the Inquisition from the beginning.
To date, the only minor Ordos to have been described in any detail are the Ordo Sepulturum and the Ordo Sicarius; The Ordo Sepulturum was founded to combat the growing threat from unnatural zombie plagues in the region surrounding the Eye of Terror around the time of Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade <Thorian Sourcebook p20>. The Ordo Sicarius was founded to oversee the activities of the Officio Assassinorum following the events of the Wars of Vindication which resulted from the events of Vandire's Reign of Blood <Codex: Assassins p12, Exterminatus 8 p22>.
The Ordo Obsoletus is often cited as an Ordo Minoris, however the only reference to it was as the Ordo of an Inquisitor reporting on the mysterious Legion of the Damned <White Dwarf 195>. From this brief mention, many fans have concluded that the Ordo Obsoletus is a sort of Inquisitorial X-Files division who investigate all manner of unexplained phenomena. It is worth pointing out that this is just conjecture, and there are other competing theories as to their role. It is also possible that the Ordo Obsoletus is not strictly speaking an Ordo at all, it may be a regional Conclave (see above) that calls itself an Ordo.
The Ordo Hydra <The Inquisition War> is again often cited as an Ordo Minoris, however the Ordo Hydra is a group who use a particular tool rather than a group who combat a specific threat, and so despite their name they are perhaps better described as an Inquisitorial Cabal. Of course, the truth is that The Inquisition War was written long before the distinction betweens Ordos, Conclaves and Cabals was made and so it is something of an anachronism.
Dark Heresy <Dark Heresy p272> discusses the existence of other minor Ordos, but does not name them; Ordos mentioned include ones rumoured to police the workings of the Blackships and others whose sole task is to purge the ranks of the Inquisition itself. It also mentions an Ordo who watch over the Imperial military; fans have dubbed this group the Ordo Militum, however that name does not appear in the GW canon.
Many sources suggest the Ordos are well known in the Inquisition, whereas others suggest the Ordos are more secretive and are hidden from the uninitiated <Thorian Sourcebook p17>. These facts combined suggest that the Ordos may operate differently in different sectors. In sectors close to the Eye of Terror the Ordo Malleus may operate openly - after all, the baleful eye is a constant presence in the skies of some planets and there would be little to gain by the Ordo operating in secret. In contrast, in sectors where the main threat is from foul xenos, the Ordo Malleus may remain rather more hidden and the Ordo Xenos would be far more prominent. It is likely that the Ordos Majoris have a presence, if even just a small one, in every sector of Imperial space; whereas the Ordos Minoris may often be more localised. The Ordo Sepulturum for instance is said to only really be active around the Eye of Terror <Thorian Sourcebook p20>.
While there is no formal hierarchy in the Inquisition, the same may not be true in the Ordos. The Ordo Malleus in particular is described in older sources as having a rigid and formalised hierarchy <Slaves to Darkness p246> however it is noted that it is unique in having such a formal structure.
Whether or not an Ordo has a formal hierarchy, the Ordos control significant resources from fortresses, safe-houses and libraries, through military assets such as fleets and stormtroopers, all the way up to the Chamber Militants. In return for access to these resources, an Inquisitor will be expected to pledge their loyalty to the Ordo. It is likely that the resources of an Ordo with be marshalled by an Inquisitor Lord (and if not, by a highly respected Inquisitor), and although his rank gives him no more authority in the Inquisition, his position in the Ordo may give him some authority over other members by virtue of the oaths they swears upon joining the Ordo.
Factions
The various Inquisitorial Factions are groups of Inquisitors who share the same philosophies. Factions can be divided into two rough groups, puritans and radicals. Puritan factions include the Monodominants, Amalathians and Thorians <Inquisitor rulebook p5> who tend to uphold the letter of the Lore and the dictates of the Emperor to the letter. Radical factions, such as the Xanthites, Recongregators and Istvaanians, feel they are free to enforce the spirit and intent of the Emperor’s Judgements, and for them the end really does justify the means.
Recruitment and Promotion
Recruitment within the Inquisition is not centralised, and an Inquisitor is free to recruit whoever he so chooses as an acolyte. There are many different names given to acolytes, Interrogator, Explicator, Neophyte, Novitiates, Neophytes, Approbators etc, but in themselves they carry no authority (only that which they are granted by their Inquisitor) <Thorian Sourcebook p24>. Although some Inquisitors may have their acolytes pass through various 'ranks' on their progression to Inquisitor, those ranks are not standardised across the Inquisition.
For an acolyte to be raised to the rank of Inquisitor, the consent of three Inquisitors or an Inquisitor Lord is required. There have been cases where the situation has called for an acolyte to take on full Inquisitorial responsibilities immediately without the blessing of three Inquisitors of a Lord. For example if their Inquisitor is killed in action, their apprentice may inherit their Inquisitorial Seal and fulfil the role of an Inquisitor subject to repeal by another Inquisitor <Thorian Sourcebook p24>.
Inquisitorial 'Ranks'
Inquisitor Lords (also known as Lord Inquisitors or High Inquisitors)
The Inquisition does not have formal organisation, and there is no system of ranks or command such as is found in the military or Adeptus Terra <Dark Heresy p278, Thorian Sourcebook p25>. Authority within the Inquisition is governed by two factors - reputation and influence. Seniority is in itself no indicator of authority, however most Inquisitors will take heed of the wisdom an older and more experienced peer.
Despite this, there is a need for a higher tier of Inquisitors to help maintain the integrity of the organisation, and to watch over and guide its members. They are known my various names including Lord Inquisitors, Inquisitor Lords and High Inquisitors <Thorian Sourcebook p25>. Inquisitor Lord (or one of it's variations) is a recognition rather than an absolute rank, and is more a formalisation of a position enjoyed by the Inquisitor rather than an actual promotion.
Promotion to the ranks of Inquisitor Lord is by invitation only; an Inquisitor must be nominated by an existing Lord and have his nomination approved by two others. It is an honour that is only extended to those that have proven their courage, ability, loyalty and integrity numerous times.
Although the rank of Inquisitor Lord in itself brings no temporal authority, it is likely that such a respected and influential Inquisitor will have some measure of control over resources within the Inquisition or his Ordo and his control of those resources will give him some measure of authority over Inquisitors who wish to use them. For example, Lord Inquisitor Caidin oversees the activities of all Inquisitors operating in the Calixis sector <Dark Heresy p294> and does his best to orchestrate and monitor their activities. Caidin is not the only Inquisitor Lord operating in the Calixis sector; Lord Inquisitor Anton Zerbe runs the Tyrantine Cabal, a group of Inquisitors investigating the threat of the Tyrant Star.
Grandmaster
Grandmaster is a title sometimes given to the Inquisitor Lord who runs a sector or sub-sector Conclave, such as Lord Orsini, Grandmaster of the Ordos Helican <Eisenhorn>.
Master
Where an Ordo has a strong presence in a sector or sub-sector, the senior Inquisitor Lord of each Ordo may be given the title 'Master'. In the Ordos Helican, there are three Masters, one for each of the Ordos Majoris; who as well as overseeing the members of their Ordos also provide counsel to the Grandmaster and are responsible for choosing his successor should he die or retire <Eisenhorn>.
The Inquisitorial Representative
The Inquisitorial Representative is the voice of the Inquisition on the Senatorum Imperialis. Although the role does not bring any additional authority above that of Inquisitor Lord, it does put the holder in a position of unrivalled power and authority due to the influence he has at the highest levels of power <Thorian Sourcebook p26>.
The Inquisitorial Representative is nominated from amongst the Inquisitor Lords of the sectors surrounding Terra, and Inquisitors that have filled this role are referred to as an Inquisitor Lord Terran. Also, it is not unusual for several Inquisitor Lords Terran to share the role of Inquisitorial Representative at the same time. The maximum term that an Inquisitor Lord Terran can serve on the Senatorum is five years, after which they must stand down <Thorian Sourcebook p26>.
Inquisitorial Mandate
The Inquisition has absolute authority over all other Imperial organisations, and the presentation of an Inquisitorial seal to an Imperial Guard Colonel, Master of the Administratum, Imperial Navy Admiral or Imperial Commander cannot be gainsaid <Thorian Sourcebook p23>. However there are a number of areas where, although the Inquisition technically has authority, they must tread carefully - chief among these are their dealings with the Adeptus Astartes and Adeptus Mechanicus.
The Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes are fiercely independent and not welcoming of outside investigators. Traditionally, the Space Marines have been extended a lot more latitude than other Imperial forces concerning their organisation and activities, and there have been a few occasions when an over-zealous Inquisitor has instigated a problem where none previously existed <Thorian Sourcebook p24>.
Although the Adeptus Mechanicus is often seen as an allied empire existing alongside the Imperium, the Inquisitorial Mandate supersedes the Treaty of Mars, and the Adeptus Mechanicus do fall within the remit of the Inquisition <Dark Adeptus p64, Codex Titanicus p16>. However, the fact that the Adeptus Mechanicus has an effective stranglehold on technology within the Imperium means that they are often willing to block or hamper the investigations of an Inquisitor by any means possible.