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Post by CELS on Dec 6, 2004 16:37:58 GMT -5
Hello all. After the nice reception of my Ork essay on Portent, I've been inspired to continue work on my essay on the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Inquistion. Now, I haven't actually begun writing the Inquisition essay, but after lots and lots and discussion on this forum, I have a vague idea of where I want to take it. Now I'm opening discussion about what the ultimate essay on the Inquisition would cover.
Here's a suggestion for the composition. If there's anything you feel is missing or if there's something you think should be different, scream.
1.0 - The origin and purpose of the Inquisition 1.1 - The duty of an Inquisitor 2.0 - The structure of the Inquisition 2.1 - The Ordos 2.2 - Hierarchy (Interrogators, Inquisitors, Lord Inquisitors, Inquisitor Generals, etc.) 2.3 - Topographical organisation (sector level, subsector level) 2.4 - Cells 3.0 - The division of the Inquisition 3.1 - The Philosophies of the Inquisition (Monodominants, Horusians, etc) 3.2 - The Paradigms of the Inquisition 3.3 - Internal conflicts in the Inquisition (What happens when two Inquisitors disagree? Can an Inquisitor burn a Lord Inquisitor for heresy? How do conflicts in the Inquisition work? Are they always resolved at the business end of a daemon host?)
Anything you feel should be added? Is there something you've always wanted to know about the Inquisition, or something you always wanted everyone else to know?
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Post by Kage2020 on Dec 6, 2004 22:17:51 GMT -5
Paradigms of the Inquisition...? A holdover from the structure of your adeptus mechanicus article perhaps? As a more personal note, I would love or there to be a reference to one of the more interesting - and now defunct - concepts behind the Inquisition: the Inner Circle. Now that they've made the ordo malleus all "fluffy bunny", wouldn't it be great to contain information on such things as the 'Hidden Masters', the Inner Circle, etc. ...Increase the depth and interest of the Inquisition! As to what is missing? One thing that is missing from the majority of essays is integration with the RPG side of things...
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Post by Insidious Threat on Dec 7, 2004 4:15:08 GMT -5
Nice idea, and i would very much be willing to contribute if you are interested . The only suggestion that i have is an overview of the hold that the Inquisition has over it;s chamber militant(s) as this is a bit in tangible in both the Inquisitor and 40K fluff references. More information on where and when they have been able to request such forces, within the history of the ASP, would be most useful in seeing exactly what kind of power the less 'god-like' Inquisitors have over the subjects of the Emperor...
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Post by CELS on Dec 7, 2004 4:27:15 GMT -5
Paradigms of the Inquisition...? A holdover from the structure of your adeptus mechanicus article perhaps? Obviously I don't see why the idea of paradigms should be restricted to a single organisation. The question is how I can make this interesting for the Inquisition as well. But I have some ideas. If it doesn't work, I'll just drop it. Ah yes. The Inner Circle, constantly watching over other Inquisitors. How exactly would you like to see this concept described? LoL! For some reason, I am reminded of the text 'New and improved flavour' from certain chocolate bars. The question we're left with, of course, is... how? Indeed, but that isn't quite the purpose of this essay. Nor is it integration with the wargame side of things. Of course, I suppose I could always write a small add-on to the essay, with suggestions for plot hooks in the Anargo sector. Now that you mention it, I was going to do the same for my standard representations too, like you did for Tir'asur. Nice idea, and i would very much be willing to contribute if you are interested . I definitely need all the help I can get! I see this working much like the writing of the ork article/essay; I discuss ideas with other members, noting their suggestions, criticism and whatever, and then I compile it all and write the article. I'd be very happy if you'd visit this thread every now and then, because I need as much input as possible. The more the merrier. The Chambers Militant! I'd forgotten about those. Yes, I'll need to include them, and also write something about the power of the Inquisition. Can a fresh Inquisitor order the extermination of any Imperial world, for example? What happens if another Inquisitor challenges the first Inquisitor to stop the Exterminatus? The idea that they have unlimited power sounds cool, but how does it work? Can an Inquisitor stop a Crusade, for example? (This begs the question "why would he", but there are many Inquisitors, and one of them just might be insane)
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Post by Insidious Threat on Dec 7, 2004 7:50:28 GMT -5
Maybe a focus on the fact that such power is based on a Mentoring system from other Inquisitiors, the fluff concerning Tyrus shows that Inquisitors are pretty much the harsh father figures of their Acolytes, until they are ready to go on to the Inquisitorial position themselves. This means that there are alot of nurture and emotional factors in the development of Inquisitors. Also, they do have a little more knowledge (though tainted by personal opinion) about the way of things in the Galaxy at large, and so they may have a desire to maintain the status quo for personal reasons as well as 'For the Emperor'. Over all, i do think that the two biggest limiting facotrs for the Inquisition are the continued support of the other Adeptus (as at the end of the day, they CAN be refused... it is usually suicidal to do so, but if they went around annoying everyone, they would have little power outside of shouting and threatening with their somewhat better, but much smaller resources), and the fact that they are co-dependant on their Mentors, the Lord Inquisitors and the general stability of the organisation at large to maintain that authority that coudl be so easily abused... After all, even a Puritan can be called a heretic for their actions, as the warp is an insidious ting, and saying that you are slaying millions in the name of purity could just be a cover for a Khorne worshipped in the eyes of your bretheren....
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Post by Tynesh on Dec 7, 2004 16:33:26 GMT -5
Nice to see more of your essay writing will be heading our way CELS.
Please let me know if I can be of any help. I have some interesting ideas about the ideas and members of the Ordo Anargo. Most of this has stemmed from my musings for a set of stories following the life of Lord Inquisitor Emmettius, the current head of the Ordo Anargo.
I would also be interested in the development of new factions within the Inquisition - in particular with respects to Monodominants:)
I am however not to hot on essay writing but would be willing to contribute efforts in the more 'traditional' fluff presentation of GW or as stories/reports from those in the Sector.
Let me know and may the Emperor guide your work.
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Post by Dazo on Dec 8, 2004 3:18:07 GMT -5
Just some more old stuff, there were also in the beginning, Chambers Theoretical and Historical as well as Militant.
And if you want me to I can type out some of what appeared in the first ed of Slaves to Darkness about the Ordo Malleus, it a little(16 years) out of date but there might be something in it you could use. Or do you have you own copy.
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Post by CELS on Dec 8, 2004 5:35:32 GMT -5
Maybe a focus on the fact that such power is based on a Mentoring system from other Inquisitiors, the fluff concerning Tyrus shows that Inquisitors are pretty much the harsh father figures of their Acolytes, until they are ready to go on to the Inquisitorial position themselves. Of course. This will be detailed under the section on the hierarchy, since there's really not enough for me to say about it to warrant a seperate heading. It depends on the mentor, doesn't it? If you draw parallels to the Star Wars universe, whether a student (padawan / explicator) chooses the 'dark side' or not depends greatly on what influence he / she has from the mentor. If you get a Sith Lord or Horusian Inquisitor as your mentor, you're pretty much screwed Indeed. Some do oppose the Inquisition. Space Marines, for example. But it is rather rare, of course. I hope you're not saying that Inquisitors are co-dependant on their Mentors even after their rise to power...? Anyway, I know that there's no way an Inquisitor could do extreme damage without good cause and away with it, but I'm talking about the few Inquisitors that stray from the one path. If you have an Inquisitor who has been corrupted in some way, and he knows he's going to leave the Imperium, what's to stop him from ordering an Exterminatus before he leaves? Note: This is mostly a hypothetical question, since no Inquisitor would actually do such a thing, but still... That too. Nice to see more of your essay writing will be heading our way CELS. Please let me know if I can be of any help. Thanks, Tynesh! The best way of helping me is actually by checking in on this thread from time to time, look at what I've done and give me some feedback. If a few people would do just that, I think I'd be alright Note that this essay is about the entire organisation, not the Inquisition in Anargo. Just like when I wrote the essay on the Orks, it was about all Orks. Feel free to develop your ideas on the Ordos Anargo, but please start new threads for that That's the sort of stuff that would be interesting for my Inquisition essay. Just some more old stuff, there were also in the beginning, Chambers Theoretical and Historical as well as Militant. I'd love to hear more about that. If it's not in the Fluff Bible, I'd love to see it
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Post by Dazo on Dec 8, 2004 8:33:58 GMT -5
The Emperor has seen the dangers that chaos holds for humanity, and long ago established the Inquisition to search out all threats to the Imperium. In maintaining the imperial rule, the inquisition devotes much of its efforts to seeking out and controlling emergent psykers. By destroying the weak and dragooning the strong into imperial service the inquisition attempts to hold the line against the rise of wild psykic talent.
One part of the inquisition has a slightly different purpose. Unwitting and ignorant psykers are a danger, but the threat from those who worship chaos is altogether greater. Imperial policy can offer no mercy to those who choose to serve chaos, make allies of daemons and offer themselves and others as hosts for possession. The instrument of such policy are the daemon hunters of the ordo malleus.
The Ordo is an inner college within the imperium,itsactivities and existence shrouded in secrecy. The inquisition goes to great lenths to hide the existence of chaos and its warped servants from the bulk of humanity. The Emperor and his advisors fear that such knoledgewould have a terrible attraction for humanity, and chaos would be hastened. The Ordo, when it is mentioned at all, is always refered to as the watchdog of the inquisition itself. Its purpose, as the imperiums elite daemon hunterss is altogether more serious and sinister.
The origins of the ordo malleus are very ancient, and predate the emperors confinement in his throne machine. The ordo was originally established to police the thoughts and deeds of the inquisition itself. It is still responsible for the moral purity of all inquisitors, but it is now also charged with seeking out and destroying all manifestations of chaos within the imperium. Its cheif targets are the raiders of the traitor legions, covens of chaos worshippers who infect the imperium, and the sensei, who are regarded as a great threat to the good of the order of the empire.
Unlike the rest of the inquisition, the ordo has a ridgid and formalised hierarchy. It is controlled by a council of 169 masters, who have the right to direct audience with the Emperor. Their authority extends even to the Master of the Inquisition who has, on more than one occasion, been tried and executed by the masters of the ordo
Below the masters are the proctors and proctors minor, each of whom controls a chamber of the ordo. The chambers, named for there founding proctor, are the basic unit of the ordo. The rank and file of gthese are the inquisitors ordinary. Within a parallel organisation of 'Chambers Theoretical and Historical' are the inquisitors Historical. These are the older members of the ordo who can no longer carry out active duties for reasons of ill health or infirmaty. They are assigned to research and collatation projects in the vast Administratum Libraries. The number of inquisitors ordinary and historical in a chamber varies from only a few score for the chambers theoretical and historical (which are engaged in research and disputation) to hundreds for some of the chambers practical (the sector establishments of the ordo in the feild).
Taken from Slaves to Darkness first edition.
Not much, but a few interesting variations to the new stuff, ie these guys get to see the emperor, not only that its intimated the Emperor actually has a hand in what goes on. Also the new witchhunters seem to be nothing more than a branch of the old ordo malleus
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Post by Dazo on Dec 15, 2004 11:48:17 GMT -5
Have you ever heard of the Ordo Sicarius, apparently set up by the inquisition to keep an eye on the officio assassinorium
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Post by CELS on Dec 15, 2004 12:01:49 GMT -5
Thanks for that, Dazo.
And yes, I have. I was toying with the idea of making the Ordo Sicarius the inner circle, but I fear the fluff might have the Ordo Sicarius known to many within the Inquisition.
What say you?
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Post by Dazo on Dec 15, 2004 12:15:43 GMT -5
Well if it was supposed to monitor the assassins, it would have to be very secretive indeed, as those guys would be hard to keep tabs on, especially if they knew you were looking.
So definatly inner circle, known to very few, and its members would have to be very very very good at their job, I wouldn't like the Officio to find out I was spying on them.
Or alternatively, they would have to be very open, and all over the officio like a rash, sought of like, "we're watching you so behave or else"
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Post by Sojourner on Dec 15, 2004 14:03:40 GMT -5
I'm sure everyone has heard my opinion on the Inquisition i.e. the Ordos are specialised, secret divisions within the greater body of the Inquisition...
Obviously this doesn't fit with everybody else's, so I'll just keep quiet...
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Post by Dazo on Dec 16, 2004 3:14:38 GMT -5
Thank you, I prefered the Inquisition in those days, it was simpler, more in keeping with the ideals of the origional idea of 40k, I can't help think they have somewhat lessened its mystique with all the new stuff they bolted on. There honestly is little point in having the three ordo's as evderyone seems to end up doing everyone elses job anyway, eisenhorm bloody had a crack at all three.
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Post by Sojourner on Dec 16, 2004 5:17:22 GMT -5
Absolutely. Once upon a time, the Malleus and the Grey Knights were pretty much one and the same. Many Inquisitors were de facto members of the chapter, though obviously these were only the really hardass ones.
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