Inquisition

File:Ordo Hereticus.JPG

The logo of the Inquisitors

The Inquisition (The Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition) is a secret organization. They act as the secret police of the Imperium, hunting down any and all threats to the stability of the God-Emperor's realm.

Formation of the Inquisition

To those who know of such things, Inquisition is widely believed to have been formed on the orders of the Emperor of Mankind shortly before his internment within the Golden Throne. The foundation of the Inquisition is shrouded in mystery and is a much debated subject.

It is generally accepted that the Inquisition solidified into its modern form some time in the 32nd Millennium, some 800 years after the Horus Heresy, although it's the essential components and apparatus (the Black Ships, the 'Witch Hunters' of the Sisters of Silence, etc.) were active before the Heresy. Recent sources, (such as the Thorian Sourcebook, cited below) posit that the Inquisition had four key founders, who were active before, during and after the Great Crusade. Before the Emperor left Terra to battle Horus, he had ordered his regent, Malcador the Sigilite, to gather men of unswerving loyalty and devotion who might seek out the hidden foes of humanity. Malcador presented 12 such individuals to the Emperor, 8 of them Space Marines (possibly Nathaniel Garro and a few others who had escaped their traitor legions). Current background material strongly implies these marines became the earliest members of the Deathwatch, the Ordos Xenos chamber militant.

There were originally only two Orders within the Inquisition, but a third (the Ordo Hereticus) was added after the events of the Age of Apostasy to prevent a future "Plague of Unbelief".

Ordos of the Inquisition

In early editions of Warhammer 40,000, the Inquisition was a single, undivided organization - purposefully without the bureaucracy of the rest of the Imperium - with a single inner order, the Ordo Malleus. The Malleus's purpose was to police the Inquisition itself. Its other, secret purpose was dealing with the threat of Chaos.

Today, the Inquisition is divided into a series of organisations known as Ordos. Each Ordo is responsible for assessing and combating a threat to humanity. There are three major Ordos devoted to combating threats Within, Without, and Beyond.

As of the 41st millennium, the three Major Ordos are:

• The Ordo Malleus (Daemonhunters, or Order of the Hammer), concerning itself with destroying daemons and other servants of Chaos. In the game, they are represented by the Daemonhunters Army.
• The Ordo Xenos (Alien Hunters, or Order of the Aliens), seeking out and eliminating alien influence and corruption within the Imperium. This branch is represented by the Deathwatch chapter kill teams, the rules appearing in a copy of White Dwarf. The Deathwatch are not a true Adeptus Astartes chapter, instead their ranks are filled from Space Marines seconded from other chapters who remain as part of the kill team for several years before returning to their home chapter (such as Battle Brother Artemis).
• The Ordo Hereticus (Witch Hunters, or Order of the Heretics), focusing on stopping the actions of heretics, traitors and rogue psykers within the Imperium. This branch is represented by the Witch Hunters Army.

It should also be noted that there are some freelance inquisitors that are not part of one specific branch of the Inquisition. There are also several minor Ordos.

Ordos Minoris

Subordinate to the Major Ordos are several smaller organizations, known as the Ordos Minoris. These 'minor Ordos' are significantly smaller than the main three, and are often formed to combat specific, rather than broad, threats:

• The Ordo Sicarius is tasked with investigating and controlling the Officio Assassinorum.
• The Ordo Militum has the duty of monitoring the Imperium's military bodies, such the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, the Commisariat, the Adeptus Psykana, the Adeptus Astartes (although see below), and - together with the Ordo Hereticus - the Adeptus Sororitas.
• The Ordo Sepulturum is one of the smallest of the Ordos Minoris, formed during the 13th Black Crusade. Their focus is the relatively new threat from Plague Zombies.
• The Ordo Obsuletus is another Ordo, dedicated, seemingly, to mysteries such as the appearances of Legion of the Damned and the reappearances of Lord Varlak after his incineration (Korsk II, then on Necromunda, and on Vanor XXI). Mentioned in White Dwarf.
• A fifth minor order, whose name is unknown, develops methods to limit the independence of the Adeptus Astartes. It was founded during the Horus Heresy and has since been almost forgotten. They were mentioned in the Space Wolf novel "Wolfblade", where the assassin Xenothan used a poison made from the first blossoms of the Mecurian Swamp Orchid that could temporarily paralyze Space Marines. It worked by disrupting and confusing the Marines' genetically engineered poison-neutralizing gland, effectively turning it into a weapon against the Marine. Note that, as the aforementioned Ordo Militum is a relatively early and little-used aspect of the Inquisition (in terms of background), this could be a reference to it.

Role of the Inquisition

The Inquisition is immensely powerful, and the only individual that is exempt from their scrutiny is the Emperor. If he has good cause, an Inquisitor may demand any service from any Imperial citizen, up to and including the High Lords of Terra. The Adeptus Custodes who guard the Emperor's palace and person are exempt from conscription, because their duty to the Emperor is clear and unchanging. When it comes to the Adeptus Astartes, Inquisitors often show some discretion, as Space Marine chapters are often willing to come to blood over any infringement on their autonomy. However, not even the Adeptus Astartes are immune from their scrutiny and justice, and entire worlds have been destroyed in order to cleanse them.

Inquisitors also have absolute power to judge supposed heretics, mutants, untrained or rogue psykers and the like, with no appeal save the intervention of another Inquisitor. Practically, all possible verdicts are death sentences, although the means by which they are achieved differ. Traitors, the worst grades of offenders, are considered irredeemable and will be quickly executed. Heretics may be redeemed, often after considerable amounts of torture, and may receive absolution through death in service to the Imperium. This service may consist of arco-flagellation, conscription into Imperial armies, becoming the operator of one of the Ministorum's Penitent Engines or, in the case of penitent psykers, being sent to Holy Terra to become fuel for the Golden Throne. Certain traitors deemed useful to the Inquisition may in extremely rare cases be mind-scrubbed, their old memories and identity erased and replaced with one loyal to the Inquisition. If it is beyond their means to track down and kill a particular individual or organization, an Inquisitor can simply declare the offending entity Excommunicate Traitoris, stripping them of whatever rights they may have had and as such marking them as a target fit for extermination by any and all servants of the Emperor.

If the Inquisitor deems it necessary he or she can attach a stigma to a dangerous heretic or alien race. Each of the major Ordos has a different stigma. They are 'Extremis Diabolis' for the Ordo Malleus, 'Xenos Horrificus' for the Ordo Xenos and 'Hereticus Abomini' for the Ordo Hereticus. The Inquisition will also declare 'tainted' Space Marine chapters Excommunicate Traitoris. The Chapter will usually be hunted down by the Grey Knights or the Sisters of Battle, usually resulting in the chapter fleeing to the Eye of Terror (If it has not already done so). The Soul Drinkers chapter is an exception, as they still believe themselves servants of the Emperor, and continue to defend the Imperium, even though they are no longer part of it.

Young psykers who have not worked against the Imperium or used their powers much will usually be repeatedly tested, and if they are young, strong and pious enough, may be taken in by the Black Ships of the Inquisition to become a Sanctioned Psyker or even an Inquisitor. The requirements are strict and many will be found wanting. Those that fail the Inquisition's tests will either be executed or used to power the vast psychic beacon of the Astronomican, sacrificed for the ultimate good of mankind to sustain the Golden Throne which keeps the Emperor alive.

If a world is the subject of extreme corruption by choas, an Inquisitor may call down the verdict of Exterminatus, destroying all ecosystems on the planet and rendering the world completely lifeless. Many question the necessity of such acts, but the Inquisition feels fully justified in performing them. They feel that it is better for countless servants of the Emperor to be sacrificed than to let a single heretic escape their wrath. Typically, though, such an act is reserved for only the most extreme cases, such as a massive outbreak of Chaos activity that threatens to corrupt other worlds or unchecked infiltration by Genestealer cults that precede Tyranid invasion.

Organization and Operation

The basic unit of the Inquisition is the individual Inquisitor with retinue. Each Inquisitor travels the Imperium as his duties, studies, interests and local events direct him, and seeks out threats to the Imperium wherever he goes. When one is found, the Inquisitor will usually deal with it personally if his resources permit. If they do not, the authority of the Inquisition allows him to bypass the often unwieldy power structures that would hinder effective halting of such a threat by directly requisitioning military force, Officio Assassinorum aid or whatever else they may require, and applying them where needed.

To allow this to happen safely and without abuse, the Inquisition gives each appointed Inquisitor an Inquisitorial seal. This is a rosette, signet ring or similar adornment bearing the Inquisitorial logo, and gives the bearer all the powers of the Inquisition, including the authority to requisition troops, call upon all the Chambers Militant and more besides ("by the authority of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind" rule ). The seal usually doubles as a decoder for encrypted Imperial documents up to extremely high levels of security clearance and may have similar perks. The crime of forging an Inquisitorial seal carries some of the worst punishments the Inquisition can call down on transgressors.

Occasionally a matter will surface that requires more lengthy study and debate than a normal Inquisitorial case. In such cases, Inquisitors may hold Apotropaic studies. These studies usually gather between two or three Inquisitors. Larger meetings known as Apotropaic Councils or Conclaves will gather at least eleven Inquisitors for debate and study of an important issue, or they may be called to ensure communication within the members of a faction or philosophical grouping of the Inquisition. Quite rarely, a so called "High Conclave" or Apotropaic Congress may be convened, but only by an Inquisitor Lord. These will often gather dozens of Inquisitors for weeks of debate on many related topics. Usually, it is at conclaves and meetings of this sort new Inquisitors will be appointed. It is also during such meetings that the Inquisition polices its own ranks, as no other organisation has the authority to do so.

Inquisitors with a certain degree of seniority (usually several decades of field experience) will often take on apprentices from various sources. These apprentices are often known as Interrogators, though there are several other ranks of apprenticeship. When his master deems him ready, an apprentice Inquisitor may be elevated to the rank of full Inquisitor. Normally, this requires the consent of at least three other Inquisitors or an Inquisitor Lord, but in extraordinary circumstances, such as the untimely death of his master, an apprentice may become an Inquisitor without these formal approvals.

Very senior Inquisitors may become Inquisitor Lords. This largely honorific rank is bestowed by invitation from an existing Lord only, and requires the approval of two other Lords to be officially bestowed. The latter requirement is largely a formality, however, as Lords are few and far between and the odds of one Inquisitor being personally known to more than one is vanishingly small. Lords have a few extra powers within the Inquisition itself, but the title is mostly an acknowledgement of extraordinary servants of the Emperor and the position they have within the Inquisition.

Part of the nature of the Inquisition's work requires numerous undercover operations (depending on the individual Inquisitor, of course). Particularly dangerous or sensitive missions may require the Inquisitor and his crew to operate without even the remit or knowledge of local planetary authorities; in some cases, the Inquisitor may fake the deaths of themselves and their crew in order to move their mission forward invisibly. At times like this, Inquisitors operate under a mandate known as Special Condition, which means that the Inquisitorial team, to all intents and purposes, no longer exists. The normal Inquisitorial]I[symbol of office is replaced with a somewhat altered symbol that has a dagger-like point at the end and is colored a distinct blue shade, with a winged skull prominent near the top of the sigil; it is presented only when recruiting members to the team who can be trusted not to jeopardize the mission. Eisenhorn and Ravenor are two of the most famous inquisitors to have gone on special condition, and this has been illustrated in both of the trilogies written about them by Dan Abnett.

Inquisitorial Retinues (henchmen)

Often experienced inquisitors or ones in need of specific services depending on ordo or the current situation at hand will have retinues of henchmen that he has deemed most useful. These retinues can be made up of a variety of individuals from Chirurgeon medics to lobotomised gun servitors carrying massive heavy weapons. The full list of known used henchmen is described below:

• Acolytes - Interrogator/Explicator: An Inquisitor can take on apprentices and teach them everything they know so that they too can some day be full inquisitors like their master.

• Chirurgeons - Torturer/Excoriator/Sister Hospitalier: Members of the orders hospitalier or just those trained in torture and punishment, they can aid an Inquisitor in interrogating prisoners or healing wounds done to the Inquisitor in battle.

• Familiars - Cherubim/Servo-skull/Psyber-eagle: By far the strangest of henchmen, familiars boost the psychic prowess of Inquisitors and allow him greater initiative. (N.B.: In Inquisitor game terms, these would normally be considered as part of a character's equipment, not as a member of the warband.)

• Hierophant - Castigator/Ecclesiarchy Priest/Exorcist: Fiery members of the Ecclesiarchy, they boost the faith of the demonhunters they are in service to and chant exorcisms and prayers that can cause agony to nearby daemons.

• Mystics - Astropath/Warp-Seer/Sanctioned Psyker: Sanctioned psykers used by the Inquisition to detect the presence of daemonic creatures.

• Penitent - Bound Psyker/Penitent Witch/Pariah: When a Witch Hunter makes a heretic psyker repent his sins (a notably rare event), he could become what could be called a "psychic lightning rod", absorbing the psychic attacks of other heretic psykers and protecting the inquisitor and retinue in battle.

• Sages - Autosavant/Lexmechanic/Calculus Logi: Individuals whose mathematical skills are so keen that they can calculate firing angles and trajectories perfectly, increasing the chance for an Inquisitor's ranged weaponry of hitting its mark.

• Warrior - Imperial Guard Veteran/Combat-Servitor/Gun-Servitor /Crusader: They act as bodyguards and gunmen for inquisitors that serve their master in the direct, physical combat against the minions of Chaos.

• Untouchables - Untouchable: Inquisitors may also bring in an untouchable to counter detection from that of another psyker or a group of psykers. Normally an untouchable do little more than serve as a "tourist" that follows the inquisitor. Use of untouchables in the Inquisition was first introduced by Inquisitor Eisenhorn who, after finding an untouchable, helps form a distaff because of their usefulness against the many powerful psykers the Inquisition encounters. (This distaff was attacked and destroyed by the heretic Pontius Glaw, but untouchables were used after their underrated ability saved Inquisitor Eisenhorn many times. Some examples of untouchables prominent in the Warhammer galaxy include Wystan Frauka of Gideon Ravenor's retinue, and Jurgen, who was used among other reasons by Commisar Ciaphas Cain.)

Especially helpful, competent (or attractive) retainers may become permanent members of an inquisitor's retinue, helping him bring light to the dark corners of the galaxy. Note that this list is not exhaustive as many different kinds of individuals with many different personalities and jobs have been seen in the employ of inquisitors in fiction. This allows for Inquisitorial Retinues and the Inquisitors themselves to be highly characterful models with different personalities, weapons, histories and attitudes.

Philosophy

The Inquisition is broadly broken down into two schools of thought; that of the Radical and that of the Puritan. To the Radical 'the ends justifies the means' in every instance, whether through the employ of Exterminatus, daemonhosts, or alien weaponry. By contrast, the Puritans adhere strictly to Imperial doctrine and typically persecute their more unorthodox brethren.

The main tenets of the Inquisition, beyond the Radical/Puritan divide, can be defined below:

Puritans

• Thorianism - These members of the Inquisition believe that the Emperor will some day be reincarnated. This is the most 'radical' of the Puritan ideologies due to the possible upheaval that could result should the Thorians actually be able to summon the Emperor into a new form, as Believers and Unbelievers turned upon each other. Named after Sebastian Thor.

• Monodominance - This philosophy holds that man can only survive in the Galaxy at the death of every other creature, be it alien, mutant, or even psyker (which would potentially harm the Imperium, seeing as all galactic communication and long-distance travel is psychic in nature). They are arguably the most extreme of the Puritans.

• Amalathianism - The conservative philosophy of Puritanism. It advocates unity between Imperial organisations and lack of tumultuous change. Amalathian inquisitors oppose the Inqusition's division into factions. Ironically, their idealisms mark them as their own faction in the Inquisition. It was at the birth of this philosophy, on Gathalamor, at Mount Amalath, that Lord Solar Macharius was spurred on to his grand conquest of nearly a thousand worlds.

Radicals

• Xanthism - The most obviously Radical grouping within the Inquisition, it advocates the use of warp-based weaponry, such as daemon possessed swords, daemonhosts, and generally turning the power of Chaos against itself. Named after Inquisitor-Master Zaranchek Xanthus, executed as a heretic in the 32nd millennium. Note that, unlike other inquisitors, Xanthite Inquisitors will be denied Grey Knights if they requisition them.

• Horusians - A sub-sect of the Xanthites, this sect wishes to create a new leader for humanity, much like the puritan Thorians. Both factions strive for a powerful, god-like figurehead to lead the Imperium into a new golden age. But the Horusians view the might of Horus as a wasted opportunity; believing that should the limitless power of Chaos be harnessed and bound into a great leader of men, Humanity could once more become united and crush all before it. Needless to say, even open-minded members of the Inquisition view the Horusians as dangerous in the extreme.

• Recongregationism - The Imperium, after millennia, has become decadent and corrupt according to this philosophy. To remedy this, Recongregators consider that the Imperium should be rebuilt, lest it stagnate further and collapse under the pressure of countless threats from both without and within.

• Istvaanism - To this ideology, conflict is desirable to further progress through strife. It holds that mankind has made its greatest achievements after periods of conflict, such as the Horus Heresy, or Age of Apostasy. It is the place of the Istvaanians to strengthen mankind through adversity, and so follow a 'survival of the fittest' doctrine. The philosophy is named after the Istvaan III virus-bombings that initiated the Horus Heresy.

The following examples come from the Dark Heresy Supplement, 'Disciples of the Dark Gods' and may not be canon.

Xeno Hybris - It is speculated that the faction grew out of a gathering of Radical Ordo Xenos Inquisitors and agents drawn together in the sector in search of clues to lost alien civilisations. Whatever the case, today the faction works diligently to uncover alien technology and better understand the alien mind.

Seculos Attendous - As yet, the faction has remained very quiet about its intentions and goals, no doubt to avoid immediate censure and the risk of excommunication. They view the hulking dogma and doctrine of the Ministorum to be slowly corrupting man and hampering its growth, pointing to the Age of Apostasy and the reign of the tyrant Goge Vandire as proof of this. They seek to undermine the influence of the Ecclesiarchy and slowly weaken its power over the Imperium's masses.

Polypsykana - An offshoot of the Xanthites, the Polypsykana is a radical faction obsessed with the power of psykers. Members believe that the psyker is a natural evolution of man's development into a higher being. The faction believes that this transformation is inevitable and ultimately humanity's only salvation. To this end, members work to protect and nurture psykers and increase the role they play within the Imperium.

History

Inquisitors have been a part of the Warhammer 40,000 universe since the first edition of the game, Rogue Trader. However, they have had a higher profile since the release of the 54 mm miniatures game Inquisitor, which is a narrative game based around warbands which often comprise of an Inquisitor and his henchmen. The creation of Inquisitor was followed by a great deal of information about the Inquisition, and the organization attracted the interest of fans. This led to the creation of Codex: Daemonhunters and Codex: Witch Hunters, both based around armies led by Inquisitors (of the Ordo Malleus and the Ordo Hereticus, respectively). In addition there are online rules for using Deathwatch, the militant arm of the Ordo Xenos and one such Ordo Xenos Inquisitor has been released by Forge World.

Famous Inquisitors

Agmar, Inquistor

As a young member of the Ordo Hereticus, he lead attacks upon Ichar IV's capital city of Lomas to break up rebellion among strange cult members. It turned out that the rebellion was created by a massive Genestealer infestation. With the Adeptus Arbites, he destroyed enough defenses to allow the Ultramarines to seize back the planet. It was then that Angmar's Astropaths felt the approach of Hive Fleet Kraken and it was his initiative that led to the breaking of Hive Fleet Kraken at Ichar IV. .

Barzano, Ario

Member of the Ordo Xenos. Featured in the book Night Bringer by Graham McNiell, He disguises himself as an adept of the administratum on the planet Pavonis in order to help the Ultramarines stop the awakening of the C'tan called the Nightbringer. He dies in the attempt and is buried on Pavonis.

Covenant

One of a new breed of Daemonhunters who hunts down traitorous members of the Inquisition itself and their Daemonhosts. Trained Daemonhuntress Ivixia Dannica. Covenant is equipped with a power-falchion, a psy-cannon and limited psychic powers.

Coteaz, Torquemada

An Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Malleus and High Protector of the Formosa Sector, a title he took from Inquisitor Laredian when it was revealed that Laredian created Daemonhosts and other abominations. Coteaz is an infamous adversary and destroyer of daemons; his name is a reference to Tomás de Torquemada.

Czevak

One of the few non-Eldar to gain access to the infamous Black Library. Czevak reported the destruction caused against the Eldar craftworld Iyanden and its supporting spacefleet.

Dannica, Daemonhuntress Ivixia

After her father Colonel Dannica was murdered by a daemon summoned by cultists who wanted revenge for the purge he enacted on them and their brethren, Ivixia was trained by Covenant. She had her father's skull fitted with an autogun and fitted to her armour so he could serve the Emperor beyond death. Wields a power halberd made from the shards of Saint Josmane's armour. The weapon is filled with the power of the saint and has sent scores of daemons screaming back to the depths of the warp.

Draco, Jaq

Main character in the Inqusition War Series. Gained access to the Eldar Black Library and stole the Book of Rhana Dandra. One of the few to enter the Emperors Throne Room since his internment. Draco has, for much of the Inquisition War Series, a retinues consisting of a Navigator, an Assassin and a Squat. He is a formidable psyker.

Eisenhorn, Gregor

An Amalathian member of Ordo Xenos, he was the infamous inquisitor who orchestrated the downfall of Quixos the Bright and Pontius Glaw using a stolen daemonhost named Cherubael, a former tool of Quixos. He seemingly vanished soon after the downfall of Pontius Glaw. Eisenhorn changes during the course of the novelisation from being amalathian to radical through justified choices he makes. Choices such as choosing, against all odds, to keep the Malus Codicium for himself, and trying to save his comrades from the attack of Cruor Vult (a chaos warhound titan) by summoning Cherubael. Gregor also causes the downfall of many other foes - such as Beldame Sadia, Mandragore, The house of Glaw, Cruor Vult, and rogue inquisitors Lyko and Quixos.

Hand, Silas

He is an important character of Daemonifuge, a graphic novel by Kev Walker. He was first a Witch Hunters serving under the Ordos Solar and eliminated thousands of heretics. After being approached by an important Daemonhunter, Inquisitor Lord Hephaestos Grudd, he was invited and joined the Ordo Malleus.

Inquisitor Hand was sent to Ophelia VII to identify if Ephrael Stern was tainted by Chaos. Mysteriously, she was the sole survivor out of 12,000 that was sent to the planet Parnis. His investigation led to no conclusion, and Hand was forced to return with her to the planet Parnis. During the return, their vessel's navigator was possessed by Chaos and destroyed their ship the "Hammer of Thor." Escaping, both Hand and Stern were able to land upon the surface. However, they soon confronted the Daemon Q'tlahsi'issho'akshami. Only Stern managed to live through the battle.

Hunt, Jason

Ordo Malleus Inquisitor and Warden of the Stromgard sector. Hunt is closely affiliated with Commander Marcus Flintlock of the Storm Dragons Space Marines, and has used detachments of that force frequently in pursuit of his missions. He is also a high-level psyker.

Jerico, Lady Helena

Ordo Xenos Inquisitor. Has had numerous dealings on the planet Necromunda. Mother of bounty hunter Kal Jerico.

Karamazov, Fyodor

An Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Hereticus, also known as the Pyrophant Judge of Salem Proctor. This is a reference to Authur Miller's The Crucible, Proctor being the name of one convicted, yet innocent, witch; and Salem being the puritan township he lived in. A staunch Amalathian, Karamazov habitually judges and does battle from his massive Throne of Judgement and is generally hated by the Ecclesiarchy and Thorian inquisitors for his actions on Salem Proctor. His name is a reference to Fyodor Dostoevsky, Russian author of the novel The Brothers Karamazov, which contains a parable entitled The Grand Inquisitor. Karamazov made the infamous quote that is used to sum up an inquisitorial investigation: "There is no such thing as a plea of innocence in my court. A plea of innocence is guilty of wasting my time."

Kryptmann

Member of the Ordo Xenos, Tyranid expert, saviour of the Imperium in the Hive Fleet Leviathan crisis, and the discoverer of a full 82 alien species (all of which he subsequently deemed a threat to the Imperium and ordered eradicated).

He was the first Inquisitor to witness the devastating effects of a Tyranid invasion during the attack of Hive Fleet Behemoth and fought the Tyranids for over 250 years. He was one of the most active members of the Inquisition against the Tyranid invasions, even taking drastic measures to the dismay of other Inquisitors. During the Invasion of Hive Fleet Leviathan, Kryptman led Deathwatch Kill-teams to the Tarsis sector to aid the Mortifactors Chapter and the Ultramarines of Tarsis Ultra. By capturing a Lictor, Magos Biologis Locard (Kryptman's Adeptus Mechanicus Biologist) created a biological weapon to use against the Tyranids and Deathwatch members used it to destroy the Norn Queen.

He later authorised the largest single act of genocide the Imperium has ever inflicted on itself by abandoning or destroying all worlds in Hive Fleet Leviathan's path. He was later issued a "Carta Extremis" and was stripped of his title. However, this did not stop him and he soon led his loyal Deathwatch warriors to steal Genestealers in statis and used them to lure Tyranids to the Ork homeworlds of the Orks of Octavius .

Ligea, Inquisitor

Inqusitor Ligea can be described as "Looking more like an elegant family matriarch rather than a hunter of daemons." Ligea was an unusual Inquisitor, in that she did not see much combat, but rather focused her efforts on texts and ancient writing. She possessed at least one minor psyker ability, which allowed her to apprehend information simply by contacting an object, such as a book or a statue. She was recruited into the Ordo Hereticus at a very young age. One of her most notable parts was in the novel "Grey Knights" by Ben Counter, which tells the tale of Ligea, and how she was attached to the Grey Knights on the trail of Saint Evisser, looking for Ghargatuloth, Prince of a Thousand Faces, a powerful daemon of Tzeentch. Unfortunately, Inquisitor Ligea eventually succumbed to the taint of Ghargatuloth after allowing herself to delve to deeply into tainted knowledge, opening her mind to daemons which caused her to lose her mind.

Having gone quite insane and fallen mostly to Chaos in the process, Ligea was captured by the Inquisition she once served. However, having opened herself up to Ghargatuloth, she was able to learn and reveal the true name of Ghargatuloth to Justicar Alaric, through a recording of her interrogations, in which she babbled what was apparently a meaningless string of syllables. This gave the Grey Knights the advantage they needed in order to destroy Ghargatuloth every thousand of years. Inquisitor Ligea died in an interrogation room high above the planet Mimas when Inquisitor Nyxos ordered her cell opened to space.

Lok, Solomon

Member of the Ordo Xenos, lead the investigation of the loss in communication from Beta Anphelion IV, supported by Space Marines from the Red Scorpions chapter, along with the Eylsian Drop troop regiment D-99 and also a regiment from the Cadian Guard. Featured in Imperial Armour IV, and one of the few Inquisitor models cast by Forge World.

Orechiel, Lady Jena

The daughter of an Imperial Governor and member of the Ordo Xenos, Jena is currently investigating the supposed reawakening of the C'tan. Jena is a character in the game Inquisitor.

Ravenor, Gideon

Previous acolyte to Gregor Eisenhorn, a more powerful psyker than even Eisenhorn himself, and author of many famous texts such as the 'Spheres of Longing'. Ravenor's early career saw him in action with Gregor Eisenhorn and together they brought down many heretics, most notably the Beldame Sadia - an accursed cybernetically enhanced xenophile. During the Triumph under the Spacian Gate (a large parade to celebrate the Warmaster's victorious purge of the Ophidian Sub-sector) Ravenor is caught on the edge of an explosion caused by a crashing Lightning Attack Fighter. He is rendered Blind, Deaf, Mute, and senseless. Were it not for his genius and Psychic potential it would have been the end of the finest Interrogator Eisenhorn ever raised. He has been encased in a mobile life support system that serves as his protector as well as as amplifying his already considerable psychic abilities. He communicates through telepathy with members of his retinue.

Reynaard, Inquisitor

Reynaard discovered a cult worshipping aliens on Mandall IV. Using a Deathwatch kill team, he attempted to destroy the cult, which proved to have taken over most of the capital city. After escaping, Reynaard returned with over 500,000 troops and eradicated all in the city.

Scarn

A very secretive inquisitor who avoids combat at all costs, and is instead a master manipulator. Last seen at an Inquisitorial conclave six decades previously. For the past sixty years he has been working his ultimate plan, which he believes will solve all the problems that the Imperium faces, and only now are the pieces in place for stage one. Scarn was featured in the Inquisitor Campaign Supplements.

Thaddeus

A Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, he was put in charge of hunting down and destroying the renegade Soul Drinkers space marine chapter. He is a rather patient man and does things more slow and concise as to do it right. He shuns other inquisitors who use force and fear on imperial citizens to get their information. He believes in speaking to people politely and with respect to get what he needs. He seemed to make a deal with Sarpedon, the Chapter Master of the Soul Drinkers. When Sarpedon was injured badly and held almost in death by an insanely powerful mutant attempting to gain godhood in the warp known as Teturact. Thaddeus decided to spare Sarpedon after months of trailing the Soul Drinkers and fire on Teturact, giving sarpedon time to finish him with the Soulspear. Thaddeus decided that Sarpedon wasn't nearly as dangerous to the Imperium as Teturact was. Thaddeus fell out of favour with the Lord Inquisitors for following the Soul Drinkers, but he still persued them and eventually met his end facing down the Howling Griffons after being seen as Sarpedon's ally.

Toth, Mordecai

Featured in the Dawn of War real-time strategy game. Wielder of the daemonhammer "God-splitter", crafted from a fragment of the weapon of an Eldar Avatar, which he later gifted to the Blood Ravens chapter. In the Dawn of War novel series, he reclaims the "God-splitter" from the Blood Ravens, and is portrayed as a probable agent of Tzeentch, the Chaos God of Change. In this story arc, he tricks Blood Raven Captain Gabriel Angelos into freeing a powerful daemon imprisoned by the Eldar.

Tyrus, Witch Hunter

A stanch Monodominant and hunter of all psykers, who wears elaborate ornate armour. He is suspicious of witches and psykers. He personally wants to kill them all, human or not.

Vail, Amberly

Member of the Ordo Xenos. Featured in the Ciaphas Cain series, she acts as the editor of the Cain Archive. It has been suggested that her relationship with Cain is more than professional.

Voke, Commodus

Ancient and famous Thorian leaning towards Monodominant save for his very powerful psychic abilities. Lived to be extremely old due to being extremely difficult to kill. Arrogant and open with his position and fame, he was a sometime ally of Eisenhorn. A legend during his time, a testament to his ability, is the fact that he fought an uncontained daemonhost in a psychic duel and was not obliterated outright.

References

• Abnett, Dan (2001). Malleus. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84154-204-0.
• Thorpe, Gav (1999). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Assassins. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-019-6.
• Thorpe, Gav. Inquistor Rulebook (PDF). Games Workshop. Retrieved on March 1, 2006.
• Thorpe, Gav. The Thorians: Faction Sourcebook (PDF). Inquistor Rulebook. Games Workshop. Retrieved on March 28, 2006.
• Watson, Ian (2004). The Inquisition War, 1st Omnibus Edition, Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-138-2.

See also

• Inquisitor (game)

External links

• Official Warhammer 40,000 Homepage

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Inquisition (Warhammer 40,000)". The primary authors of that article are : Agamemnon2, SanchiTachi, Pak21, Saberwyn and Cygnus360.