Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Have inquisitors ever taken command of a whole space marine strike force or company? (not Deathwatch)

No.

They can ask for aid, but if they come in trying to throw their weight around--they tend to meet an 'accident'.

Which itself also tends to result in "accidents" happening to the Space Marine chapter in return from any of that inquisitor's friends, whom themselves are occasionally also inquisitors. Nasty business.

Inquisitors generally know that it's best to ask instead of demand.

Which in turn tends to result in those Inquisitors getting a stern talking to, since Inquisitors can be replaced far easier than Marines.

Not if Dark Heresy: Ascension is anything to go by...

The recruitment and qualification "exam" used to determine who becomes an Inquisitor are... uhm...

Well, they consider a planet worth less than a good Inquisitor, and will full well plunge an Imperial world into chaos for the sake of testing said potential Inquisitor out.

And that's only a single test of many. Inquisitors are truly exceptional beings,with willpower and resourcefulness FAR beyond the average Astartes. An skilled Inquisitor is far more valuable to the Imperium than an Astartes is.

I think that this was an exception rather than the rule, most Inquisitors are Acolytes that accompany their Inquisitor mentor. If the potential Acolyte proves himself worthy then it is the Inquisitor that gives the nod for approval. Sure, certain inquisitors might plunge whole planets into chaos to test an inquisitor-in-training. But I'm sure that would be viewed as very irresponsible by his peers.

Ya in the blood angels novel there was an inquisitor that lead an entire company then he became corrupt

Kanluwen wrote:No.

They can ask for aid, but if they come in trying to throw their weight around--they tend to meet an 'accident'.

Reminds me of a bit in the Eisenhorn's trilogies first book. When the heretics had captured Eisenhorn. After one of his retinue contacts another Inquisitor on the planet; Voke; Voke makes a demand. It certainly made it clear that it was a demand; as it 'went above' the head of the Fleet Admiral forces near this planet and went STRAIGHT to the desk of the Lord General Militant; demanding a force to be requisitioned to him to get eisenhorn back with.

The Lord Militant; even though was preparing to leave on a crusade; immediately signed over a detachment of men within an hour; he was that scared. That was two Inquisitors with minor retinues vs a newly-formed Regiment and forces in preparing for Crusade. Lord General Militant is no minor rank either.

Voke was an experienced Inquisitor and did everything out in the open; using his Inquisitorial Mandate as much as possible; with no negatives to himself. Its said he throws his weight around and makes it very clear that he is in charge. There are other Inquisitors like this.

You cannot just kill an Inquisitor and think nothing will happen. Being an Astartes means nothing in this regard.

They can only ask for assistance because Space Marines ( being the Imperium finest warriors and also baring the gene of Emperor's own sons ) are only answering to the Emperor and no one else.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Mr Hyena wrote:Being an Astartes means nothing in this regard.

Tell that to Black Templars, who have 6000+ Astartes spread all across Imperium of Man. Inquisition is quite powerful force, but in Imperium nothing is more powerful than Astartes. But, that occasions are rare, most Astartes seeing as a thing of honor to accompany lord inquisitor on his journey. They are only disliked by Space Marine commanders, because most of the Inquisitors are reckless when it comes to sacrifice other to achieve goals. And Space Marines don't like losing their brothers.

Brother Coa wrote:in Imperium nothing is more powerful than Astartes.

There are plenty of things in the Imperium which are FAR more powerful than an Astartes.

Inquisitors are one of them. Inquisitors command the Imperium, and Astartes chapters know this. Most Astartes chapters are unwilling to disobey an Inquisitorial request-- and the only ones that can actually get away with it without reprisal are the most famous and beloved chapters, such as the first and second foundings. Average chapter number five hundred and seventy five has no ability to resist an Inquisitorial request, because they know if they piss off the wrong Inquisitor their chapter can quite potentially be wiped out.

The Inquisition (including the 3 main ordos), the Mechanicus (including the Titan Legions), the High Lords, the Officio Assassinotorum, the Custodes and Ecclesiarchy ALL pull rank on the Astartes.

Melissia wrote:

Brother Coa wrote:in Imperium nothing is more powerful than Astartes.

There are plenty of things in the Imperium which are FAR more powerful than an Astartes.

Inquisitors are one of them. Inquisitors command the Imperium, and Astartes chapters know this. Most Astartes chapters are unwilling to disobey an Inquisitorial request-- and the only ones that can actually get away with it without reprisal are the most famous and beloved chapters, such as the first and second foundings. Average chapter number five hundred and seventy five has no ability to resist an Inquisitorial request, because they know if they piss off the wrong Inquisitor their chapter can quite potentially be wiped out.

True, but still: two words - Black Templars. And it's not the authority that gives the Space marines Chapter obligation to assist them, it's their duty. Inquisitors are one of the most proud and feared warriors of the Emperor. Many of them are highly respected amongst he Astartes, and Astartes see helping them as a matter of honor.

AS for FAR more powerful, the only military force that can stand against them in full force are Titan Legions and Inquisition forces. But, as Captain Miklos Furnow said: "Titans? They're just like anything else. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.". And for the Inquisition, Astartes have sher number at their side + the hollow machines of war like the Land Raiders.

And Remember that Goge Vandire declared war on Space Marines and Adeptus Mechanicus and he was slain at the end.

I assume they didn't mean powerful as in military might, but rather, in command structure. They might not be able to beat the Astartes in a straight fight, but they can order everyone else to fight for them

Old GW Site:
These threats are so pernicious that the Inquisition has full command of the might of the Imperium of Man, from the stalwart Space Marines to the ordering of Exterminatus – the orbital destruction of an entire world.

Old GW Site:
An Inquisitor has at his disposal every member of the Imperium and will not hesitate to commandeer local troops at a moment's notice. Such is the influence of the Inquisitor that he can even call upon the Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes, leading a force of the Imperium's finest warriors against Humanity's foul enemies, wherever they appear.

Codex: Witch hunters
Even the Space Marines may be called upon to aid an Inquisitor should the threat be greater than he and any locally requisitioned forces are able to counter.

Codex: Daemonhunters
An Inquisitor has at his disposal every member of the Imperium, and will not hesitate to requisition local troops at a moment’s notice. Such is the influence of the Inquisitor that he can even call upon the Space
Marines of the Adeptus Astartes, leading a force of the Imperium’s finest warriors against Humanity’s foul nemesis, wherever it appears.

Doesn't mean they would actually tell an Astartes what to do, but it is within their power to take command if necessary. Members of the Inquisition are the right hand of the Emperor regardless of how a Chapter Master feels about it.

Despite all this...I still think the Space Wolves hold the record for telling the Inquisition where they can bury their noses...

Cerebrium wrote:The Inquisition (including the 3 main ordos), the Mechanicus (including the Titan Legions), the High Lords, the Officio Assassinotorum, the Custodes and Ecclesiarchy ALL pull rank on the Astartes.

The Mechanicus and the Astartes has an agreement.
Ecclesiarchy have no power at all over SM.
The officio Assassinaorum doesn't either.
Inq. has power over damn near eveything but they know it is better to ask the SM rather than demand.
Custodes... not entirely sure but i feel they have no rank but are obeyed out of respect for their positiopn and experience.

Brother Coa wrote:They can only ask for assistance because Space Marines ( being the Imperium finest warriors and also baring the gene of Emperor's own sons ) are only answering to the Emperor and no one else.

And the Inquisition speaks with the voice of the Emperor.

Sure, they could refuse, but ask the Celestial Lions how well that worked out for them...

shealyr wrote:

Brother Coa wrote:They can only ask for assistance because Space Marines ( being the Imperium finest warriors and also baring the gene of Emperor's own sons ) are only answering to the Emperor and no one else.

And the Inquisition speaks with the voice of the Emperor.

Sure, they could refuse, but ask the Celestial Lions how well that worked out for them...

The Celestial Lions were pushing complaints...
Simply refusing is an open and shut case, though they won't like you much afterwards.

purplefood wrote:

Cerebrium wrote:The Inquisition (including the 3 main ordos), the Mechanicus (including the Titan Legions), the High Lords, the Officio Assassinotorum, the Custodes and Ecclesiarchy ALL pull rank on the Astartes.

The Mechanicus and the Astartes has an agreement.
Ecclesiarchy have no power at all over SM.
The officio Assassinaorum doesn't either.
Inq. has power over damn near eveything but they know it is better to ask the SM rather than demand.
Custodes... not entirely sure but i feel they have no rank but are obeyed out of respect for their positiopn and experience.

I have to agree with Purplefood,
custodes only have power within the palace of Terra
officio assassinaorum are the hands of the high lords, they don't actually have alot of power
the mechanicus has been proved to be on equal footings to space marines, Blood Angels still have the stc for the baal predator
the ecclesairchy is proved to be unable to do anything about space marines, most chapters don't believe the Emperor is a god, you don't see the ecclesairchy doing anything about it.

Inquisitors are on a balanced footing with older chapters, they are less powerful that first founding chapters and more powerful than new founding chapters

The High Lords of Terra are above everyone as they are the voice of the Emperor.

Black Templar standing up in full force against the Inquisition? Two things:

1) Exterminatus the world their forces are on. Done. Sacrificing a world means nothing; its a cheap cost to make.
2) An Inquisitorial Fleet is much much much bigger than the Black Templar's.

The Templars wouldn't stand a chance.

FireWolf698 wrote:Despite all this...I still think the Space Wolves hold the record for telling the Inquisition where they can bury their noses...

Hence why I think the Space Wolves personally are bordering on heretics. Striking a devout member of the God-Emperor's Holy Inquisition; is a clean sign of heresy.

Inquisitors are on a balanced footing with older chapters, they are less powerful that first founding chapters and more powerful than new founding chapters

Incorrect. Inquisitors answer only to their Ordo and the Emperor. Nobody else has power over them. The Inquisition however has power over everything, High Lords of Terra included.

purplefood wrote:

Cerebrium wrote:The Inquisition (including the 3 main ordos), the Mechanicus (including the Titan Legions), the High Lords, the Officio Assassinotorum, the Custodes and Ecclesiarchy ALL pull rank on the Astartes.

The Mechanicus and the Astartes has an agreement.
Ecclesiarchy have no power at all over SM.
The officio Assassinaorum doesn't either.
Inq. has power over damn near eveything but they know it is better to ask the SM rather than demand.
Custodes... not entirely sure but i feel they have no rank but are obeyed out of respect for their positiopn and experience.

Yeah, actually none of those things you mentioned can pull rank on the Astartes Cerebrium.

Mr Hyena wrote:Black Templar standing up in full force against the Inquisition? Two things:

1) Exterminatus the world their forces are on. Done. Sacrificing a world means nothing; its a cheap cost to make.
2) An Inquisitorial Fleet is much much much bigger than the Black Templar's.

The Templars wouldn't stand a chance.

FireWolf698 wrote:Despite all this...I still think the Space Wolves hold the record for telling the Inquisition where they can bury their noses...

Hence why I think the Space Wolves personally are bordering on heretics. Striking a devout member of the God-Emperor's Holy Inquisition; is a clean sign of heresy.

Inquisitors are on a balanced footing with older chapters, they are less powerful that first founding chapters and more powerful than new founding chapters

Incorrect. Inquisitors answer only to their Ordo and the Emperor. Nobody else has power over them. The Inquisition however has power over everything, High Lords of Terra included.

The legion successors get a lot of leeway.
SW have proved they are devoted defenders of the Imperium and they have allies in many organisations as well as enemies. They have a fair amount of political power as well.
Don't try pulling the whole mutant arguments either c'os that doesn't fly whatsoever.

Technically SM have to obey the inquisition. The SM are forced to obey only the emperor and the inquisition is recognised as the emperor voice. They can take control of any imperial force.

In practice SM could disobey but they would be breaking the rules set on them. Whether the inquisistion follows up any disagreements depends on the inqusitor, which chapte it was and how important the role they had was.

Basically you can't make a blanket statement about the Space Marines or Inquisition.

Each Chapter and actually each individual Inquisitor is its own political entity with wildly varying amounts of clout and authority.

4M2A wrote:Technically SM have to obey the inquisition. The SM are forced to obey only the emperor and the inquisition is recognised as the emperor voice. They can take control of any imperial force.

In practice SM could disobey but they would be breaking the rules set on them. Whether the inquisistion follows up any disagreements depends on the inqusitor, which chapte it was and how important the role they had was.

Actually, no.

The Inquisition acts with the 'authority of the High Lords of Terra'.

The High Lords are the Emperor's Voice.

Any SM can decline it, because they're not directly beholden to the High Lords of Terra.

Mr Hyena wrote:Black Templar standing up in full force against the Inquisition? Two things:

1) Exterminatus the world their forces are on. Done. Sacrificing a world means nothing; its a cheap cost to make.
2) An Inquisitorial Fleet is much much much bigger than the Black Templar's.

The Templars wouldn't stand a chance.

1) major mistake. Crusading forces are based on fleets, thus they are also "in space" and won't sit there having their ground troops attacked
2) the Inquisition has not much menpower/vehicles. They have to rely upon the IoM's military branches.
3) does the Inquisition know how many BT are out there, yet? Last time I checked they didn't...

The problem here is, the Inquisition acts more behind the scenes than openly.
So any "power" of the =I= is based on knowledge and influence where it counts.
Look at events like the Badab war. The Inquisiton had its fingers in this, but did not directly command at the front. They pulled the strings and gathered
forces to fight. But there is no "Inq.fleet" to oppose anyone on its own. Still either selfsupporting forces ( SM ) or IG + IN.

IMO the Inquisition pretty much runs the entire Imperium.

I'll try and dig it out but there is a peice in the old DH codex that mentions an inquisitors authority. It's a long description of the power of the inquisition- IIRC it describes the inquisition as being the purest servants of the emperor.

The inquisition don't work with the authority of the high lords- they are entirely independant from the imperial comand structure, thats what makes them so efective - they can do what every it takes. If the inquisition as an organisation wanted to investigate one of the high lords of terra they would have the authority (whether they have the power is another matter).

depends on the Inquisitor.

Long story short, yes, the Inquisition does have the authority to requisition Space Marines.

However, the Astartes have more wiggle room when it comes to the imperial command structure than just about anyone else. They are in general unlikely to flat out decline, and more likely to give some sort of excuse as to why they cannot come the the aid of the inquisition.

Even if they did outright decline the request, the inquisition would think long and hard before they decided to hand down any kind of punishment. A chapter of Astartes is nothing to trifle with lightly. I'd imagine that in general the inquisition just sort of tallies these things up until it thinks it has enough reason to have the chapter completely destroyed (which can, and has, happened).

The SW codex comes to mind, where it is pointed out that the SW's have a lot of enemies in the imperium, but that, so far, those enemies realize that declaring the SW's renegade would end far worse than simply letting them do their thing.