The Inquisition
The Inquisition is an inter-Aether order of warriors, scholars, mages, and judges who toil tirelessly to beat back the swelling tide of demons. Founded hundreds of years ago, the Inquisition has grown to include hundreds of thousands of members across worlds uncountable.
The Legions of the Inquisition
The Inquisition is organised into legions, each legion carrying out a specific purpose and specialising in specific areas of demonology. A legion need not be martial, nor is there a prerequisite for size. When circumstances demanded it, it has even been known for a legion of only a handful of members to be formed, if only briefly, to fulfill some specific task or bypass a restrictive ruling. Every legion is led by a High Inquisitor, the highest rank attainable in the Inquisition.
Some of the primary legions can be found below:
The First Legion
Before the Inquisition branched out into multiple legions, all swore allegiance to a single High Inquisitor. Despite the subsequent development of new legions, this original legion--called the First Legion--remains to this day. It comprises the bulk of typical inquisitors, men and women who possess a broad spectrum of abilities, forfeiting true excellence in one subject in favour of a wider competence. The High Inquisitor of the First Legion, called the First Inquisitor, is the closest thing the Inquisition has to a true leader.
The Iron Legion
The Iron Legion is the primary martial legion of the Inquisition, comprising the 'common' footsoldiers, most powerful warriors, and oldest veterans. The Iron Legion rarely acts on its own, serving instead as a supplementary legion to others. Nonetheless, the High Inquisitor of Iron, called the Iron Legate, wields considerable influence within the Inquisition, the services of his legion being a necessity to the operation of most of the others.
The Magi Legion
Comprised of the Inquisition's most powerful spellcasters, the Magi Legion serves as the magical arm of the Inquisition. Without the awesome powers brought to bear by these learned arcane inquisitors, the material plane would no doubt have long since been overwhelmed by demons. The High Magus of the Inquisition is a mage beyond compare, one of the most powerful in the known realms.
The Artisan Legion
The Artisan Legion are the smiths, enchanters, leatherworkers, and armourers of the Inquisition. Though they do produce the mundane tools of war with which the other legions arm themselves, their greatest purpose is in the forging of magical relics and artefacts, items of power without which even the greatest of heroes would surely fall. Only the artisans are trusted to work with the materials of the demon realm, that the weapons of the Inquisition's foes might be turned against them.
The Chronicler Legion
The Chronicler Legion comprises the Inquisition's record keepers and historians. Within the halls of the Chroniclers, every mission, every crusade, every discovery is recorded and classified, that future inquisitors might benefit from the experience and wisdom of those who came before them.
The Aether Legion
The Inquisition spans hundreds of worlds, great and small, hostile and benevolent. It is only by the starships of the Aether Legion that righteous fury can be delivered to distant realms. The Aether Legion is a navy the match of the greatest of inter-Aether civilisations, yet spread across more worlds than the largest of empires. When demons tear a rift into the aether, to spill forth their living ships and unending hordes, it is the Aether Legion that answers. The High Admiral of the Inquisition directs this fleet, and leads its flagship High Fury into battle.
The Shadow Legion
On every world, in every realm, members of the Shadow Legion lurk. A vast network of spies, assassins, and information brokers, the Shadow Legion provides the Inquisition with the intel necessary to root out and destroy demon cults, as well as the ability to eliminate high-value targets with discretion. In all stations high and low, from the most esteemed royal advisor to the lowliest beggar, members of the Shadow Legion work to shine a light on the darkness that is demonic corruption. The High Inquisitor of Shadow is as shrouded in mystery as his legion, sending representatives to stand in his stead, his true identity known only to a few, if any.
The Sovereign Legion
Who watches the watchers? It is the charge of the Sovereign Legion to remain ever vigilant of corruption with the ranks of the Inquisition. Be it the taint of the demon or the allure of material gain, an inquisitor is faced with many temptations. Should one succumb to such temptations, it is to the Sovereign Legion that one must answer.
The Last Legion
Even within the Inquisition, the Last Legion is viewed with no small degree of fear. Should a civilisation--or even an entire world--be judged as irrecoverable, as utterly and irredeemably lost to demonic corruption, then and only then is the Last Legion called upon. No inquisitor makes such a judgement lightly, for it spells the deaths of hundreds of thousands, millions even. It heralds the extinction of an entire people, the erasure of an entire culture. This legion is the last a world ever sees.
Ranks in the Inquisition
The Inquisition is structured around a simple yet complicated hierarchy. At the top are the High Inquisitors, each the head of his or her legion. In matters concerning the Inquisition as a whole, a council is formed of all available High Inquisitors, and a complex voting system that weighs the relative influence of each legion is used to reach a decision.
Below these titanous figures are the Lord Inquisitors, the highest rank achievable by the vast majority of inquisitors. Lord Inquisitors wield tremendous power and influence, commanding hundreds or sometimes thousands, essentially operating with impunity in most of their endeavours.
It is here that the waters become muddied. Technically, there are no ranks between a Lord Inquisitor and an Inquisitor. Rather, a complex system of seniority that weighs experience, achievements, and alliances is used to determine who outranks whom. Disagreements, rare as they are, are decided by a tertiary individual with seniority over both.
Alongside this hierarchy are those of each individual legion. Different legions have different ranks, and the interaction between ranks of one legion and another is a convoluted affair. Some such hierarchies can be found below:
The First Legion
The First Legion's ranks can be split cleanly into two groups: the ranked Inquisitors and the Inquisitors-in-training. When a company needs to be padded, levees are drawn from other legions, typically the Iron Legion.
- The First Inquisitor is the High Inquisitor of the First Legion.
- The Hand is a council of five Lord Inquisitors to whom all inquisitors in the First Legion--barring the First Inquisitor--ultimately answer.
- A Lord Inquisitor is an experienced inquisitor who wields considerable authority within the Inquisition. Lord Inquisitors can command companies, grant Masks the rank of Inquisitor, pursue lengthy missions with limited oversight, and call for the assistance of the Last Legion.
- An Inquisitors is a full fledged member of the Inquisition, able to act with relative autonomy and pursue chosen missions, albeit with some oversight.
- A Mask is an acolyte embarked on their final test, the success of which will earn them the rank of Inquisitor.
- An Acolyte is a trainee inquisitor permitted to accompany inquisitors on missions into the field.
- An Initiate is a fledgling inquisitor confined to the halls of a Bastion until the completion of their training.
The Iron Legion
Modeled as it is after the armies of the Iridian Empire, it is no surprise that the Iron Legion is the most strictly structured of the legions. The Iron Legion is split into numerous 'smaller' legions, each of which is also known as an iron legion, with only a numerical prefix to distinguish one from the other.
The Iron Legion has dozens of ranks. Only the most significant of these are listed below. Not included are members of other legions (such as war mages from the Magus Legion or quartermasters from the Artisan Legion) who often hold crucial positions within an iron legion.
- The Iron Legate is the High Inquisitor of the Iron Legion, as well as the direct commander of the 2nd Iron Legion.
- The Legate of a legion is a Lord Inquisitor who commands the entire iron legion. Such legions range in size from mere hundreds to tens of thousands. A legate's power is typically proportional to the size of their legion.
- The Tribune is second-in-command of the legion, and is chosen by the legate.
- The Prefect is an Inquisitor elected from--and by--the lower ranks of the Iron Legion to serve as an advisor to a legate. Lord Inquisitors are forbidden from becoming Prefects, a tradition that goes back to the founding days of the Iron Legion when legionaries would elect an advocate from amongst themselves who would bring their concerns to the officers.
- A Primus is the head of a cohort, and personally leads the first century of the cohort. A Primus is almost always a Lord Inquisitor, though rare exceptions do exist. This rank doesn't exist in smaller legions.
- A Centurion is an Inquisitor who commands a century: one-hundred legionaries.
- A Decanus is a legionary who commands a unit of ten, including one or two ministers.
- Legionaries are the common rank-and-file members of the Iron Legion. Though skilled warriors, legionaries are not full-fledged Inquisitors since their area of expertise is mostly limited to martial matters.
- Ministers are the noncombatants of the Iron Legion, comprising healers, clerks, grooms, and servants.
The Magi Legion
The Magi Legion values learnedness, intelligence, and magical ability. Advancement through the ranks requires passing three increasingly difficult sets of exams.
- The High Magus is the High Inquisitor of the Magi Legion and the most powerful and learned of all the legion's sorcerers.
- The 8th Circle is a council comprised of the Magi Legion's eight most esteemed masters, all of whom are Lord Inquisitors. Each such master is a complete authority on his or her chosen field.
- A Master is an Inquisitor, often a lord, who has succeeded at the Finalem, a rigorous and dangerous series of tests and feats that grants a magus the title 'Master of the Arcane'. Masters typically specialise in either fieldwork or study, the former putting their skills to use in the never-ending battle against the forces of hell, while the latter works to guide and develop the next generation of magi.
- A Magus is an Inquisitor who has passed the Secundus, an onerous exam that is tailored to the aspiring magus' chosen area of study. Magi come in all shapes and sizes. Some confine themselves to study while others take on more Inquisitorial roles.
- A War Mage is a magus who chooses to enter into nonbinding service in the Iron Legion. Such magi specialise in destructive and defensive magicks, and are invaluable on the battlefield.
- A Neophyte is a magus-in-training who has passed the Tertius, an entry-level exam that tests basic magical aptitude. Neophytes' studies are typically split between academic learning in a Bastion and fieldwork under a magus or war mage.
- An Initiate is a fledgling magus who is confined to a Bastion until they pass the Tertius.
The Operation of the Inquisition
The Inquisition is a great beast with many, many limbs. For it to hunt effectively, all must move in concert. The Iron Legion would be useless without the weapons and armour forged by the Artisans. Without the Iron Legion to stand in stalwart defense, the Magi would be swarmed and overcome before the first spells could leave their lips. The Aether Legion allows the farthest worlds to be reached, while the Shadow Legion prepares a warm welcome. The Chroniclers keep records of everything, preserving ancient wisdom and the lessons of past mistakes. The First Legion bears the weight of the entire Inquisition, while the Last Legion bears the horrific burden of their duty, and the knowledge that yet more horrors lay ahead. The Sovereign binds all the legions together, ensuring that no corruption grows within the Inquisition itself.
It is rare for members of a single legion to act without the assistance of others. To this rule, there are three exceptions. Inquisitors of the First Legion often embark on solo missions, making contact only to send reports or make requests. As well, members of the Shadow Legion typically work in anonymity, sometimes going weeks, months, or even years without contact or interaction with other members of their legion, let alone other legions. Finally, the Last Legion is almost completely autonomous, with its own navy, magi, smiths, and army.
The Company
The standard response to most moderate threats is an Inquisitorial Company. There are a multitude of variations, each suited to different situations, but the typical company is as follows:
- 1 Lord Inquisitor, the leader of the company, usually drawn from the First Legion.
- 6-12 Inquisitors, usually with varied skill sets and of different experience levels.
- 0-3 Masks, performing their final test under the watchful eye of the Lord Inquisitor.
- 6-12 Acolytes, serving as aides to the company's Inquisitors and assisting them in battle when it is deemed appropriate to do so.
- 0-1 Centurions, who lead the company's Decani. Are usually only present in larger companies.
- 3-5 Decani, each leading a unit of ten legionaries. If the company lacks a centurion, one of the decani is given command of the others.
- 24-40 Legionaries, each under the command of a Decanus.
- 6-10 Ministers.
- 0-1 Masters. As with centurions, Masters of the Arcane usually only accompany larger companies.
- 1-3 Magi, at least one of whom is usually chosen specifically to combat the company's current foe.
- 0-3 War Mages, who work alongside the company's legionaries.
- 2-6 Neophytes, who steer clear of the front lines, working mostly to enhance the magi's spells, as well as to observe magic at work in the field.
Advancement and Reward
Advancement through the ranks of the Inquisition can come about through a number of different ways, but in almost all cases, some achievement on the field is a necessity.
In the First Legion, advancement and reward typically comes down to the number and severity of demon threats neutralised, as well as the resources consumed during the operation. An inquisitor who completes a mission without the aid of the rest of the Inquisition will secure faster advancement than one who partakes only in larger-scale missions as part of a company.
Service is not rewarded merely with high ranks, however. Magical weapons, armour, and other relics are often bestowed upon those inquisitors who prove themselves deserving. More spacious quarters, expensive luxuries, and greater autonomy are other coveted rewards. Some example magical items are as follows:
Anointed Armour
3 Armour, Worn, Clumsy, Sacred, 4 Weight
This suit of burnished steel plate armour is engraved with silver and bronze runes, the chain undershirt patterned with protective wards, the shoulderguards pinned with scrolls containing ancient oaths. When properly maintained (ritually anointed with the proper oils, purified in incense, etc.), this armour provides protection against demonic threats. The wearer cannot be possessed by demons, and demonic attacks that usually Ignore Armour or provide Piercing do not do so against the wearer of this plate.
When you Defend against a demon while wearing this armour, you can spend 1 hold to cause the demon to flinch, recoil, or hesitate in some way.
Hellbane Glaive
Reach, Close, Sacred, 2 Weight
Every spare inch of this silver-edged glaive's surface is etched with runes of detection and warning. When in the presence of demons, summoning circles, portals to hell, possessed mortals, demonic artefacts, and demonic energy, specific runes will begin to softly glow, growing brighter the stronger the demonic presence. Take +1d4 ongoing to damage you deal to demons.
When you carve through demonic magic, roll+Wis. On a 10+, the effect is banished, but if the magic is strong enough, it'll soon be back. On a 7-9, the effect is merely subdued, for who knows how long.
Circle Staff
Close, Two-Handed, Magical, 1 Weight
The base of this iron staff is smooth and circular, composed of a soft, malleable metal. An Inquisitor capable of carving a circle of summoning or warding (such as with the Circle of Protection move) can carve such circles into this base, the metal parting freely to the slightest touch of a scriber's pen. A circle can be wiped clean as easily as slate.
When you strike the base of this staff to the ground, you can cause the magical circle carved into the staff's base to immediately appear upon the ground. Roll the move as normal, but with the following additional effects. On a 10+, the circle is large, up to 10 feet in diameter. On a miss, the circle fails, and the staff's base is pressed out of shape. A lengthy ritual is required to fix it.
Factions within the Inquisition
The Inquisition is not divided into legions alone. Being an organisation numbering in the hundreds of thousands, maybe more, it is inevitable that factions, sects, and secret organisations would develop. Some such factions are limited to a single legion, while others span the entire Inquisition. Some factions of note are as follows:
- The Fists of Dragmar are a large faction of Inquisitors who revere Dragmar, the First Sword, a god of justice. Many Fists supplement their arcane abilities with divine magic granted from their worship of Dragmar, who's own priests and paladins have oft been allies of the Inquisition.
- The Tested are those inquisitors who have stood on the precipice of death and been greeted by High Inquisitor Kassus, the third High Inquisitor of the First Legion. As a test of faith, Kassus reveals to these dying inquisitor a terrible falsehood--that the Inquisition is under the control of a demon lord. Kassus offers to return the inquisitor to life if he or she swears fealty to the demon's cause. An inquisitor who accepts this offer earns only oblivion, while one who rejects it is sent back to the realm of the living with a brand across their heart. Those who bear this mark have proven themselves loyal and true even in death--but only other Tested can ever know. If the secret of Kassus' test were to become widely known, the test would be rendered useless.
- The Blackeyes are a dark sect of the Inquisition pledged to delivering destruction to Vasarik, the King of Chains, Demon Lord of Torment. Centuries ago, when High Inquisitor Duska Blackeyes fell to the King of Chains in battle, the demon lord ensnared Duska's soul and spirited it away to the deepest pits of his dungeon palace, and has tormented it ever since. It is the ultimate goal of the Blackeyes to rescue their namesake's soul, release it into the afterlife, and destroy Vasarik for good.
- The Sultanas are an all-female order of Inquisitors founded to combat Marabi, Queen of the Heart, Demon Lord of Lust. The Sultanas are named after Inquisitor Nahlia ibn Sagar, who was the wife of a powerful sultan before he fell to the wiles of a succubus. Nahlia gathered together and trained a band of warrior women, hunted down the succubus, and slayed it. Years later, she joined the Inquisition and founded the Sultanas, with the aim of combating Marabi and her dark efforts. Sultanas undergo rigorous mental and spiritual training in order to resist even the most tempting of the Queen of the Heart's servants.
- The Skullkeepers are a group of fanatical warriors who eschew magical training in favour of pure martial prowess. Skullkeepers earn glory and fame by seeking out powerful demons and defeating them in single combat. The skulls of such demons decorate the Skullkeeper's trophy rooms, grisly proof of mortal prowess.