The Iron Church (The Inquisition of the Eastern Kingdoms)

The Iron Church:

"...the Inquisition merely performs the duty of its office. To further fear them is redundant, to hate them, heretical. Those more sensible will place responsibility with those who forced their hands..."
— Paladinus Knight Commander Isaac Whitecrest, Griphon Knights of The Eldorin Empire, Chapter I, after the Chronicles of the Dawnflower.


Introduction:
The Inquisition of the Eastern Kingdoms is a relatively secret organisation that exists outside the standard administrative hierarchy of the Imperium of Man. The Inquisition acts as the secret police force of the Middle-Earth, hunting down any and all of the myriad threats to the stability of the realms, from the corruption caused by the Forces of Chaos, The dark void, Heretics and rebels, (to assaults from other dimensions or vicious alien species and mutants in the future "Sci-fi campaign setting"). It was Amaros Blackrain who first created the secret organisation in pursuit to find a group of men and women of an "inquisitive nature" to search out the enemies of the Eastern Kingdoms, whether they lay within or without.






Order of the Inquisition: Function
Even though the Inquisition possesses formal hierarchy and leadership, each Inquisitor is free to pursue the mission of Humanity's survival in the manner he or she believes most appropriate. Like-minded fellows gather together to investigate areas of mutual interest or concern, as bounded by one of the many Inquisitorial Orders. Each Order waxes and wanes with the times, for many Inquisitors move freely between them according to where they judge the need to lie. The greater the level of demonic activity, the larger the Order Malleus becomes; in times of heresy, the Order Hereticus grows to match the threat. An Order can lie fallow for years, existing only as a historical curio until its field of study becomes relevant once more. Such is the nature of the galaxy, however, that some perils –- specifically those posed by the Demon, the alien void and the heretic -– are ever-present. Accordingly, the Orders dedicated to combating them are all members of The Iron Church , for their vigil is never-ending. Nevertheless, there are many scores of Orders as well, lesser branches dedicated to more transient dangers.

Association with one of the Inquisitorial Orders is not a matter of absolute allegiance. Inquisitors investigate and act where they wish. Indeed, many Inquisitors would argue that to compartmentalise the foes of Mankind would be a tragic error, for all too often, the lines between disciplines are fine to the point of nonexistence. Just as a plague of mutation might originate from an alien infestation, a blossoming population of organized crime might prove to be the vanguard of an imminent demonic incursion.

The Inquisition have a similar hierarchy, and a system of ranks or command such as found in the Imperial military. Authority or power towards the outside world is mostly governed by two factors -- reputation and influence. Seniority is in itself no direct indicator of authority, however most Inquisitors will take heed of the wisdom of an older and more experienced peer. Usually many of these peers attain the rank of Senior Inquisitor, given that they live long enough to be granted this title. If still alive at old age, they attain a position of authority, suited to their achievements after many decades of dedicated service and ironclad loyalty.







To be a member of an Order and gaining rank:
Membership of any Order is a statement of interest, a field of study. If an Inquisitor declares himself a part of the Malleus Order, his fellows will know that his sphere of endeavour encompasses matters demonic. He need seek no approval to do so. As an Inquisitor grows more accomplished and learned, he garners esteem, and by common consent is graced with a title, such as "Inquisitor Lord". These are marks of respect, and unconditional authority. Even higher ranking Inquisitors may defer to a colleague's experience and reputation, but they are by no means required to do so.

The Iron Church encourages the orders fields of endeavour to overlap. Each branch, after all, encompasses an almost infinite potential for study and investigation. Thus, Inquisitors sometimes band together into a loose association called a conclave. A conclave is assembled at the request of a respected Inquisitor, who seeks to pool the skills, knowledge and resources of his peers in order to oppose a threat too great for a single Inquisitor to face. Most commonly, a conclave will call upon several branches of the Inquisition, if the situation requires it. Members of the conclave seldom take a martial lead – such things are best left to the commander of whichever forces the conclave has requisitioned. Nevertheless, the conclave invariably sends a representative to oversee any military actions, and thus ensure that the focus of the mission is not lost in the heat of battle. If necessary, this emissary will seize command of the entire mission, but most Inquisitors find it preferable to remain in the shadows whilst the armies of the Eastern Kingdoms go about their bloody work.



The Inquisitors in person:
The Inquisitors, command fear and respect in equal measure. They are creatures of myth as much of flesh and blood, relentless beings who descend from on high to pass judgement upon the mutant, the traitor and the heretic. It is a rare citizen who does not dread drawing an Inquisitor's steely gaze, who does not experience the starkest terror in his or her presence. Every Imperial citizen, from the poorest of underhive scum to the highest and wealthiest of nobles, has heard the tales of death and destruction, of the all-seeing eye that condemns or absolves with impunity. Those who have crossed an Inquisitor's path and survived to tell of it are seldom eager to invite his attention again. Inquisitors are as varied in appearance and manner as the myriad threats they face. They range in age from fiery young zealots to hoary old veterans who have fought in the darkness for centuries. Some wear ostentatious robes and symbols of their allegiance, whilst others shun the trappings of status, preferring to remain hidden whilst rooting out their next targets. Inquisitors commonly carry a wide range of weapons and wargear, so as to be prepared for any threat they might face. Some Inquisitors use outlandish weaponry, taken from defeated foes: exotic hardware, foreign magic or Demon-possessed weapons.

Inquisitors themselves care little for morality, and nothing at all for the Eastern Kingdom's many laws and procedures, except when they choose to make use of them. They were the Eldorin Emperor's left hand, and stand in judgement over all the Western and Eastern Kingdom's organisations. Indeed, an Inquisitor is apart from the rest of Mankind in every way that matters. By ancient tradition, his authority comes directly from the Emperor himself; there is no hierarchy to which he must answer, and he is beholden only to his fellows. More than this, a bearer of the Inquisitorial Seal can requisition any servant in the Eastern Kingdom to assist in his mission, from the lowliest of clerks to entire legions and Imperial Navy battlefleets.



Purpose of the Inquisitor:
Survival is the only goal for which Inquisitors strive; not personal survival, for they, more than any, understand that one life is meaningless when set upon the galactic scale. An Inquisitor labours for nothing less than the endurance of Mankind. This is a cold-hearted pragmatism, so unyielding and fervid that it eclipses the faith of even the most devout of the Iron Church's adepts and acolytes. The Inquisitor is an arbiter of absolute truth. In his or her eyes, tradition is irrelevant, decades of blameless existence count for nothing, and ignorance matters not one whit. The deeds of the hour are the Inquisitor's obsession, and the consequences spiralling from the most seemingly insignificant acts his burden.

Though learned, Inquisitors do not possess some all-encompassing store of knowledge and certainty, for even the furthest-travelled and most experienced of their number hold but a fraction of the Grand Master’s wisdom. Though there are many thousands of Inquisitors scattered across the Eastern Kingdoms, such are the threats arrayed against Mankind that ten times their number could not hope to achieve lasting victory, or even meaningful respite. Demons clamour beyond the light of the sun, waiting for the hour in which the darkness of the void drowns all. The wilful, the foolish, the misguided and the arrogant within Humanity's own ranks unknowingly work towards their own destruction ("Sci-fi campagin":And aliens crowd close, subverting and destroying whole worlds, dimensional rifts tear open and pour nightmares into our world when unknown technology is used and left unchecked). All of these threats must be opposed and contained, by whatever means are necessary, and only Inquisitors have the breadth of vision and authority to do so. Where a Planetary Governor or military commander might perceive only an insurrection to be crushed, an Inquisitor will recognise the heresy of which that rebellion is but a symptom. He will have the contacts and resources to root out alien conspiracies, bureaucratic corruption and the gene-seed deviances festering within hitherto blameless individuals.






The Inquisitors`s ironclad determination:
If perspicacious enough, an Inquisitor will be able to detect incipient disaster through analysis or instinct, excising the cancer before it takes root. Too often, however, his efforts are expended on a cataclysm already begun, one which can only be ended by the sledgehammer of The Iron Church. There are no lengths to which an Inquisitor will not go in pursuit of his duty, no sanction too extreme. He knows that it is better for a billion blameless souls to perish alongside a single guilty fugitive, if it ensures the threat is ended. Most Inquisitors grieve for the murder they wreak in survival's cause; they mourn every death, and forge on only through the knowledge that the act served a greater purpose. Others have become so emotionally cauterised that they give the matter no more thought than they would when sweeping the pieces from a gaming board. Yet there are occasionally acts of mercy to balance those of murder. Inquisitors are not blind to the possibility of redemption. Virtue in the present can sometimes outweigh the evils of the past, though such reprieves are rare indeed.
Lesser men might believe that the means matter more than the end, but those who bear the Inquisitorial Seal know better if a situation requires it to make sure mankind endures. Perhaps in another time – another place -– the men and women of the Inquisition would be considered as monstrous as the threats they oppose, but to judge them as such is to wilfully overlook a brutal truth: morality and compassion are luxuries that The Iron Church can ill afford in face of extinction.




Origin
It should come as no surprise that the Inquisition's past is shrouded in secrecy. Even the Inquisitors themselves have only the haziest of understandings as to how their organisation was founded, and must rely on hundreds of disparate and contradictory legends for guidance. ("Scfi-fi campaign": there is a branch of the Inquisition itself –- the Order of the Originatus -- dedicated to unravelling millennias of myths, exaggerations and lies. This is a difficult task, raised to impossibility due to the opposing work of the Order Redactus, who focus their own efforts into deliberately obscuring the past, lest the enemies of Mankind discover some advantage through knowledge of the Inquisition's beginnings).

What almost all the legends agree on, however, is that the Inquisition is widely believed to have been formed by Amaros Blackrain as a result of the assassinated Emperor of the Griffin Empire. As the story goes, Amaros Blackrain, the highest ranking paladin of their order, was charged by the archbishop of Leos to gather a group of dedicated Imperial servants whose loyalty, courage, and strength of mind was unquestioned. Amaros initially chose 12 persons of "an inquisitive nature," 8 loyal Astartes and 4 mortal Imperial lords and administrators, who would respectively become the initial core of the High Counsil of the Inquisition. Thus founding the Iron Church. They were presented by Amaros to the archbishop at the Imperial Palace in Siria after being brought secretly through enemy lines during the civil wars, that broke out after the Emperor and his queen was announced dead. This assassination was the final campaign of the Heresy of the 13th century. These were individuals of unblemished loyalty, determination and strength of mind, who would serve the Iron Church well in the decades to come. Beyond that one story, the legends diverge, ascribing numerous identities to each of the twelve -- some ludicrous, many credible and all utterly unprovable. The foundation of the Inquisition remains shrouded in mystery and is still a much-debated subject amongst Imperial scholars.



The Inquisition today:
Though it is widely known across the kingdoms that the Inquisition exists, its deeds are all but impossible to trace. Records are sealed, restricted or simply destroyed. Witnesses are silenced, suffer telepathic mind-wipe or are slain out of hand. Yet the signs are there for those who know how to look for them. Many Imperial scholars believe that the Inquisition have played pivotal roles in many momentous events throughout history. There are gaps in official records that indicate whole branches of the different priestly or knightly orders have been put to the sword in the past, and who but the Inquisition have the authority to do such a thing, let alone disguise the act thereafter? Most who seek the Inquisition's past go a lifetime without proof, and those that do uncover evidence have a tendency to disappear. Some attract an Inquisitor's attention, their skills deemed suitable for advancing the Inquisition’s goals. Most simply perish, their lifeless bodies later discovered in situations so damning as to call their character into question. The Inquisition watch over the human kingdoms –- they do not care to be watched in return.



The Inquisition concerning other political organizations today:
There is one position amongst the Inquisition that carries with it more power and authority than any other - The Emissary. One of the four High councilmen ranked Master is nominated, and Inquisitors that fill this role are referred to as an Emissary. It is not unusual for several Masters to share the role of Emissary at the same time. Though the attendance of the High Counsil is always appreciated, their position in the chambers of the remaining governments of Eldorin in the capitol Siria, is often empty and their vote conferred by missive -- such are the demands of the Inquisition. An Emissary may fulfill their role only once in their life, or they may attend the High Council for several years. The requirements of service to the Inquisition may necessitate them leaving any homelands to attend The High Council, while others quickly tire of the bureaucracy and politics that the council is based upon and relinquish their position to return to more active roles out in the wider kingdoms. To avoid unpleasant politicking on the part of the High Council, the maximum term that an Emissary can serve on the Council five years, after which they must stand down.

It is rare that the Inquisitors ranked Masters of the High Council, cannot agree on a candidate for the role, for it does carry little more honour than that of messenger - the Emissary communicates the will of the Inquisition, not his own. However, it does come with a great deal of responsibility. While the Inquisition enjoys absolute authority, in reality the cooperation of the other governing organizations of the Eastern Kingdoms is essential in maintaining this position. If a Representative were to cross the Knightly order of the Griffin Empire, for instance, the heavy cavalery and soldiers by which the Inquisition's power is maintained may be put a risk. Conversely, if the Inquisition feels that an organisation is stinting in its dedication, pressure can be applied to the relevant Faction Leader, Baron, Duke, Ruler, or Knight Commander hereby referred to as "High Lord", turning an organisational issue into one of personal confidence. In this respect, the Emissary is in an unparalleled position of leverage, for he has not attained his role by personal ambition or desire, and therefore risks no personal stake in his dealings with the other High Lords throughout the Eastern Kingdoms. They, on the other hand, will be only too aware of the subordinates that view their position with envy and ambition, and so must actively protect their power at each turn. The merest hint of the Inquisition's displeasure can be the catalyst for a High Lord being removed by those he represents. Those High Lords whose position is non-permanent, such as the leader of the different political factions in Siria or the pathfinder society, are particularly vulnerable to this type of careful manipulation by the Emissary, for they risk not only their personal privilege, but also that of the organisation they represent. Thus the careful balance of power between the Inquisition and the rest of the Eastern Kingdoms is carefully preserved.






Responsibilities of the Emissary:
As well as garnering support for the Inquisition's endeavours, the Emissary has two other main responsibilities. The first is to warn the High Council of threats significant enough to trouble their debates. The Inquisition operates in such a way that it is normally the first to become aware of emergent menaces to the Eastern or Western Kingdoms. Thus the Inquisition serves as the High Lords' eyes and ears across the galaxy, enabling them to bypass the dreary and lengthy processes maintained by the Adeptus Terra, when the need arises. Such warnings come not only for information, but are inevitably attended with a recommended course of action. The High Lords will debate this recommendation, usually modifying it in some form or other, and then begin turning the great wheels of the Imperium to implement their plans. There have been instances in the Imperium's past when the Representative has been absent for many years, and in such times the Senatorum has become more rife with politics and infighting than is usual. The height of this was Lord Goge Vandire's claiming of the joint titles of Master of the Administratum and Ecclesiarch, heralding the Age of Apostasy, or the Assassin Wars of Vindication that followed shortly after the Reign of Blood. The Inquisition was unaware of these internal problems, faced as they were by increasing discoveries of an ancient alien civilisation seeded through the halo stars and dead worlds at the edge of the galaxy.



Responsibilities of the Inquisitor Lords:
There has always been a need for a higher tier of Inquisitor to help maintain the integrity of the Inquisition and to watch over the rest of the organisation and the marshalling of resources. They are known as Lord Inquisitors, Inquisitor Lords or High Inquisitors. Promotion to the ranks of Inquisitor Lord is by invitation only, and is extended to those that have proven themselves numerous times, not only their courage and ability, but also their integrity and loyalty.

To become an Inquisitor Lord, one must be nominated by an existing Lord, and to have the nomination approved by two others. Quite often this is a formality, as the word of an Inquisitor Lord is sacrosanct to his fellows. However, there is occasionally contention and a conclave may have to be convened to discuss the matter - usually, but not always, with the nominee in attendance to answer enquiries as to their activities and beliefs. Being an Inquisitor Lord is a recognition as well as an absolute rank. The Inquisitor Lord has no real temporal dominion - they are not responsible for any given area of the kingdoms (Sci-fi campaign=or the galaxy) nor specific individuals. Instead, it is reinforcement of the Inquisitor's authority and in particular to power within the organisation. The most obvious benefits are the ability to recognise the appointments of others to the ranks of Inquisitor, to convene High Conclaves and to requisition greater resources from the Inquisition's forces and agents.






Recruitment
As with all aspects of the Inquisition, the matter of recruitment is not centralised, and the power to invest others into its ranks lies with the Inquisitors. Some do not recruit at all, spending their years in the pursuit of their enemies and dedicating themselves to their duties within their own lifetime. Others feel it is one of their burdens to bring about the next generation of Inquisitors to carry forward the battle that they must wage. Inquisitors are left to their own judgement in all matters, subject only to scrutiny by their peers, and the same applies to recruiting new Inquisitors. Many Inquisitors leave such matters to chance or perhaps fate, picking a suitable candidate or candidates from amongst those individuals whose paths they cross. Other Inquisitors are more rigorous in their pursuit of apprentices. They will spend a proportion of their time seeking out suitable candidates, perhaps from amongst the ranks of other Imperial organisations.

There are no consistent criteria of age of physical condition required to be suitable for investiture into the Inquisition. Proof of intelligence and loyalty are the key requisites, and often these aspects of a person's character cannot be properly judged until later in life. It may happen that extraordinary circumstances lead and Inquisitor to recruit a boy or girl whilst still in their teens, if they show exceptional ability, but this is not common practice. On the whole, Inquisitors will take note of individuals that are free-thinking, possessed of willpower and determination and unflinching principles. If they find a suitable person, they will become part of the Inquisitor's retinue, perhaps serving in a more minor capacity while the Inquisitor continues their evaluation. Those that prove their worth working with the Inquisitor will then be taken into their master's or mistress' greater confidence.






Promotion to Explicator/Interrogator: [Rank: 3]
Over several years, the apprentice will learn what they can of the Inquisitor's knowledge and in time will take on many duties. Inquisitors will in due time promote these semi-qualified individuals to Explicators, or interrogators. Such individuals may undertake missions on their own, or control operations in concert with the Inquisitor, but they are still subordinate until their master or mistress fully invests them. It normally requires the consent of three Inquisitors or an Inquisitor Lord to pass on the full powers of an Inquisitor and grant an Inquisitorial Seal, though there have been occasions when this has not been necessary, or the immediate situation has dictated that the apprentice take on full Inquisitorial responsibilities immediately. This is likely if an Inquisitor is killed -- their apprentice will inherit their Inquisitorial Seal and may fulfil the role of an Inquisitor subject to repeal by another Inquisitor. Such inheritance of rank rarely occur. Other examples are when a individual have made such outstanding examples of their deeds, that there is no doubt that they are ready to undertake the path of an Inquisitor.

Interrogators may pass from one Inquisitor/teacher to another as fate and necessity dictates. It is in this period that the ideals of the Inquisitor are passed on and spread, and through this generational growth, the factions and institutions that make up the Inquisition are propagated across the centuries. As well as philosophy, the student will also learn what their tutor knows of the internal working of the Inquisition - or such facts as the Inquisitor feels is right and proper. It is an important tradition amongst Inquisitors that each of them earns the knowledge that is theirs, as well as the respect of their peers. Such wisdom cannot be freely given nor taken without effort, for it devalues the knowledge itself. As the saying goes, "Knowledge is power; guard it well."



Promotion to Inquisitor: [Rank: 4]
When an Explicator is promoted to the full rank of Inquisitor, he is presented with an Inquisitorial Rosette. A mark of rank, this symbol is incontrovertible evidence that the bearer wields ultimate authority, and they do so in the name of their Grand Master. In addition to the symbolic authority of the rosette, the Inquisitor must be possessed of a palpable ability to invoke obedience. They must be stern and ruthless, radiating an air of confidence that demands absolute deference. Inquisitors are of a rare breed indeed, able to face arrogant Imperial Governors and hardened recidivists with equal resolve, the word of the Grand Master upon their lips and the Inquisitorial Rosette upon their breast.



Limitations on the Power of the Inquisition
The Inquisition’s remit places it above most of the East and western kingdom’s institutions, as long as their inquieries are well-grounded. In theory, a single Inquisitor can denounce an entire planetary government, requisition whole armies of the Imperial Guard and hold the fate of populations in his hands if matters are serious enough. In practice, however, the reality is far more complicated. For a start, the Inquisition moves in many different ways, according to the judgement and character of its agents. Some are brash and bombastic, others dark and threatening. Some announce their coming so as to strike terror into the hearts of their foes, while others move about stealthily, watching from the shadows before striking. An Inquisitor would be foolish indeed to arrive at a world or city suspected of imminent secession and attempt to arrest an Imperial Commander or a highly regarded Duke, for he may find the entire population rising in opposition. Therefore, an Inquisitor in such a position has to ensure that there are significant resources at hand to combat an uprising, and to attain them he has to gain the support of other bodies.
In practice then, Inquisitors are essentially ‘peers of the Kingdoms’. Although many consider themselves answerable only to the High Lords of the shattered Griffin Empire.

The powers of an Inquisitor are not, in practice, defined by the remit of the Holy Orders of the Inquisition. They are constantly shifting in response to their position within the dark and feudal power structures within the Inquisition, as well as being subject to many outside influences. An Inquisitor that takes action against a powerful heretic, only to find out later that the individual was being sponsored by a rival may find himself the target of attack. One that declares a world purgatus without the agreement of his peers may find himself ostracised and unable to call upon the aid of his fellows in times of need. These and a million other factors serve to inhibit the powers Inquisitors can actually wield when operating in the field.






Wielding authority and the rosette (Iquisitors seal):
In the shadowy world of duplicity and intrigue in which the Inquisitors operate, one would expect the rosette to be an easily abused symbol of power. It might be expected that recidivist elements might try to emulate Inquisitors in order to subvert power from Imperial organisations, or that some heretics might question the veracity of a rosette, and the right of its bearer to speak in the Emperor’s name. Indeed, there are those throughout history who have masqueraded as Inquisitors, and these have earned the very worst punishment the Inquisition can mete out. Yet, what is there to prove that a bearer of a rosette is in fact an Inquisitor?

The Inquisition is held in such fear and dread that very few indeed would even countenance disobeying an Inquisitor's orders. The adepts of the Western and Eastern Kingom's many institutions scarcely dare even think of the Inquisition, lest some distant thought-thief discern their impure dalliances and retribution follow. Few adepts dare openly speak of the agents of the Holy Iron Church of the Grand Master's Inquisition, knowing full well that their utterances would be reported to a superior and those agents would come. When an adept is actually confronted with an Inquisitor, he is in all likelihood so fearful for his own life that he goes to any end to ensure the Inquisitor's demands are met. Even the most senior of a jaor city's officers, including Imperial Commanders and Sector Governors, invariably make every effort to facilitate an Inquisitor’s needs, lest they invoke the wrath of the Grand Master's most feared agents.

There are subtler ways of enforcing authority, however, for on occasion an Inquisitor wishes to identify himself as such, without antagonising the person they address. This is particularly the case when dealing with those who consider themselves the Inquisitor's equal, a peer of the kingdoms. When dealing with some High Lords, Rogue Traders and Lords Militant, an Inquisitor calls upon a range of methods to prove their identity. Some imprint their Inquisitorial Rosette with machine-engrams able to communicate the bearer's authority to any cogitator, activating dormant sentinel-routines in the host system and confirming the bearer's clearance. Others bear psycho-activated tattoos upon their faces that are invisible until willed to appear, symbols and runes that serve as a hieratic script known only to the most highly placed within the Western and Eastern kingdom's upper echelons of power.

("Sci fi-campaign": In addition to these functions of the Inquisitorial Rosette, some Inquisitors have been known to apply more ingenious adaptations, often utilising the services of highly skilled artificers. Some rosettes are gene-locked, meaning they can only be handled by the owner, whose genetic identity is stored within. Should another take up the rosette, or no genetic sample be provided, the rosette may administer a dose of contact poison or even detonate a miniscule, yet devastating melta charge.
Many rosettes contain data-probes that allow the bearer access to almost any cogitation network in the Kingdoms. The rosette's machine-systems are capable of unlocking any network, the Inquisitor's ultra high level authority bypassing any logic-gates put in place to keep intruders out).

Despite the advantages granted by the Inquisitorial Rosette, not all Inquisitors bear it openly. When engaged upon a covert mission for example, an agent is likely to secret it in the most secure location possible, so that it may be produced only when needed most. Others openly comport themselves as Inquisitors, yet forego the wearing of the rosette, perhaps in an effort to put those they deal with at a disadvantage, and ignorant of their true intentions.

In addition to the power the rosette grants to the Inquisitor bearing it, a degree of authority is passed on to the Inquisitor's agents and companions, by way of association. One who claims authority in the name of an Inquisitor, such as an Interrogator, is said to "Bear the Seal". Such individuals do not literally carry their master's rosette, but few would afford them any less respect than their master, and for the very same reasons. To many, there is no difference between a Inquisitor and any of their agents, for merely invoking the power of the Inquisition is sufficient to inspire total obedience. Explicators do have their own seal, the flame. But they can be personally sent by a fully fledged Inquisitor to complete a task in their name.





Inquisitorial seals of the Iron Church (Rosettes)
Perhaps the most common shared traditions are those steeped in powerful symbolism. In many ways, man is a very simple creature, who responds very well to certain images. The Inquisition knows this, and is happy to exploit it to suit its own needs. Fire is traditionally associated with the Inquisition and its works. The image of the cleansing flame is a strong one and Explicators are encouraged to employ it when they have need to strike fear. Wherever there is the white-hot excruciator, a witch pyre or a promethium-dripping flamer, there too is the Inquisition. Other than the literal interpretation of fire as a weapon, there are other uses for such symbolism. Many Inquisitors consider their role to be that of the cleansing flame, there to burn away the rotting flesh of corruption. Some also hold that they are guardians of the old god's light, the holy flame of faith. ("Sci-fi campaign"=Those that attend the Black Ships speak of fuelling the mystical beacon of the Astronomican, casting willing souls into the furnace of the Emperor's will). The hammer is also associated with the Inquisition. Many Inquisitors carry gorgeously bedecked warhammers with which to smite their foes. Many members of the Inquisition regard the hammer as a metaphor for piety, the force by which heresy and corruption are crushed. Warhammers are common gifts for Acolytes who have proven themselves especially adept at destroying cultists and heretics.



The Inquisitorial Seals meaning
Aside from the flame and the hammer, perhaps the most powerful of the Inquisition's symbols is the Seal. Each Inquisitor bears an Inquisitorial Seal. This is a small amulet or icon in the shape of a stylised column. Thought to depict a pillar of strength or rod of control, this seal is their badge of office and for an Inquisitor to reveal it shows that he is demanding that his authority be respected. ("Sci-fi campaign"=An Inquisitor who shows his seal to a planetary governor, for instance, expects to have the planet's resources at his disposal from that moment onwards. The Inquisitorial Seal is, in a sense, an Inquisitor's most important item of equipment, and he will never willingly relinquish it. Some seals incorporate circuits and sonic probes that can be used to hack into cogitators and open electronic locks, or double as simple weapons to ensure that the Inquisitor is never unarmed).



Usage of the Inquisitorial seal, the Rosette:
An Inquisitor and his cadre can display the Inquisitorial Rosette, a symbol of the Inquisition worn on an Inquisitor's clothing or wargear. The rosette can also be worn by those in an Inquisitor's employ and also be displayed on vehicles or by the armed forces being used/employed by the Inquisitor. The rosette signifies that an individual is in the employ of the Inquisition and is enough to ensure the fearful cooperation of most adepts and citizens who know of the Inquisition's purpose. The rosette, however, is used very sparingly, as most Inquisitors prefer to keep themselves and their Acolytes low-key. The rosette is most commonly used when in the company of fellow members of the Inquisition or when an Inquisitor wishes to strike fear and awe into the common man.



Philosophies of the Inquisition

"He who is not a Puritan in his youth has no heart; he who is still a Puritan in his maturity has no brain."
— Anonymous Inquisitor

In the future many Inquisitors blaze a unique trail through the galaxy, relying on their own judgement and knowledge to prevail. However, it is Mankind’s nature to seek consensus – a common path upon which to proceed – and Inquisitors are no different. At any time, there are scores of different philosophies advocated within the Inquisition, each considered the path of ultimate truth and salvation by their adherents. These are not doctrines, but ideas, tested with every tool at the Inquisitor’s disposal. If an Inquisitor adopts one philosophy to the exclusion of all others, it is not because its principles fulfill a religious need, but because he or she has come to embrace its tenets as the ultimate truth. Just as the size of an Order rise and fall, so too does the popularity of each philosophy, with some flaring but briefly and others enduring through the millennia. Though they are often pursued with the tenacity of religious belief, these are theories founded in reason and tested through scientific rigour. Inquisitors are, first and foremost, practical men and women – they do not waste their effort or time on ideas proven to be flights of fancy.

These philosophies are often so broad that they cut across the Inquisitorial disciplines, drawing like-minded Inquisitors together from across many regions. Such groupings are sometimes referred to as factions. All are equal in a philosophy's pursuit, even though they might choose different methods. ("Sci-fi campaign"=Thus, a Thorian – who believes that the Emperor's soul can be reborn into a new body of flesh and blood – might hail from one of many Ordos. Even as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos seeks alien gene-tech to create a new body, a member of the Ordo Malleus might delve into the study of the Warp to learn how the Emperor's spirit might be guided into the physical world. Meanwhile, an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus might contribute his own researches into the legends of the Ecclesiarchy). However, for each Inquisitor dedicated to such a philosophy, there is always at least one who opposes it as radical folly and seeks to destroy all traces of it. After all, central to the Inquisition's purpose is the credo "Trust No One", and this applies as much – or perhaps more greatly so – to one's fellow Inquisitors as any other living being.

The Inquisition's members broadly adhere to two very different schools of thought about their ultimate purpose and the methods to be used in pursuit of that purpose; that of the Radical and that of the Puritan. To the Radical "the ends justifies the means" in every dire instance, whether through the employ of Exterminatus, Demonhosts, or alien weaponry. By contrast, the Puritans adhere strictly to official Imperial political and religious doctrine and typically persecute their more unorthodox brethren when given the chance, as they are most concerned with maintaining the Imperium's status quo. The main tenets of the Inquisition's competing philosophical sects on how best to defend the Eastern and Western Kingdoms, beyond the basic Radical/Puritan divide, can be defined below:



Puritan or Radical?
Discord between Orders, or between conclaves, is extremely rare, for each has its own clearly defined areas of interest. However, the same cannot be said for Inquisitors within a particular Order. The most frequent causes of disagreement centre around the methods used to combat the Order's enemies. Some Inquisitors believe that the enemy can only be fought with his own weapons, such as by employing sorcery against Demons. For others, such compromises are anathema, inviting corruption of the Order's work for questionable gain.

Such disagreements are often presented as a conflict between radical and puritan philosophies, but the truth is much more complex. The distinction between the two positions is not absolute, but relative, formed solely around the observer's subjective opinions. Few Inquisitors consider themselves either radical or puritan, though they are swift to label others as such. A member of the Malleus order might be quick to decry a colleague as radical for using forbidden lore to bind a Demon to his will, little recognising that others of his Order consider him just as dangerous for daring to consult a tome of blasphemous lore, even though he has no intention of employing the knowledge contained within. For some members of the Xenos order, even learning an alien language is considered dangerous, whilst others think nothing of hiring xenos mercenaries to fight their wars. In the Inquisition, truth is relative.

The nature of the Inquisition means that there can be no appeal to a higher power when an Inquisitor believes that one of his fellows has strayed irrevocably from the proper path. Perhaps, if enough evidence can be gathered, it can be presented before a conclave, and a judgement of Excommunicate Traitoris be sought. More commonly, an Inquisitor is left to take matters into his own hands. Given the shaded distinctions between needless and necessary evils, few Inquisitors willingly involve themselves in a quarrel between their fellows. Every disagreement has the prospect of sowing division throughout the Inquisition, and it is better for all if these matters can be kept at the level of a personal quarrel. Most of the time, such disagreements burn themselves out or are superseded by genuine
threats, but sometimes they descend into outright conflict between the two Inquisitors and their agents.
The ideological struggle between radical and puritan is not a battle between right and wrong, for such facile definitions seldom apply to an Inquisitor's work. Radical methods can serve as the salvation for millions, just as the close-mindedness of puritans can doom them. Alas, there is no way to see the outcome until it has occurred. An Inquisitor can read from the Grimoire Malefact, and can use its knowledge to close a Warp rift, but in so doing he risks opening his soul to Chaos, and becoming the very thing he fears. Those of a puritan mindset insist such risks are reckless and unnecessary, and would seek other methods to close the Warp rift, even if the delay doomed a dozen worlds. In this case, the radical methodology would appear to be the correct one. But what if, by opening his mind to the Warp, the reader of the Grimoire Malefact is later possessed by a Demon who wreaks more damage than the rift ever would have? It is little wonder that most Inquisitors cleave to a single certainty of belief, for to doubt one's actions is to be cast adrift on a sea of possibility, frozen to inaction for fear of charting the wrong course.






Puritans
Puritans more or less believe the Imperial Truth as it is handed down to the Imperium's citizens - the Emperor is a god, the dark forces of the warp are unutterably evil, and mutants, heretics and witches must not be tolerated. Furthermore they tend to believe in maintaining the status quo of the Imperium, since it is the instrument of the Emperor's will. Puritans are mostly young and full of fire, eager to prove themselves to their peers and their Emperor by hunting down mankind’s traditional foes and preserving the stability of the Imperium. Many Acolytes also share this zeal, particularly as they are often at the sharp end of any engagement with cultists, mutants and other such scum. Even if he does not entirely agree with this view of the Imperium, an Inquisitor will often encourage Puritan ideals within his servants, knowing that they will expedite the task of rooting out corruption with great gusto.



Radicals

"You have been told of the Inquisition; that shadowy organisation which defends Mankind and the Emperor from the perils of heresy, possession, alien dominance and rebellion."
"You have been told the Inquisition are the ultimate defence against the phantoms of fear and terror which lurk in the darkness between the stars."
"You have been told the Inquisition are the bright saviours in an eclipse of evil; purist and most devoted warriors of the Emperor."
"You have been told the Inquisition is united in its cause to rid the galaxy of any threat, from without or within."
"Everything you have been told is a lie!"
- Attr. Unknown