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Specifically, I'm talking about an Interrogator, the first rank of Inquisitor, fresh out of training, maybe just recently promoted from being an Acolyte. How powerful are they? Can they Requisition entire Space Marine Battle Forces and Call Exterminatus at will, or do their Ordos limit what they do when they start out?

an Interrogator isn't a inquisitor.

rather, he is an Inquisitors apprentence that is simply working for the Reccomendation to become an inquisitor himself.


he's just another meatbag in the inquisitors retinue that is working for the reccomendation(high profile inquisitors can have dozens of these guys)

they help the inquisitor in his big tasks and have great responsibility, but have no authority other then what being on the Staff of an Inquisitor gives and any deliniated responsibility he gives them.

Huh, odd. Guess I misread, then.

Well, then, how do Inquisitor's ranks work? And how powerful is said newbie Inquisitor?

Inquisitors are very powerful, however, they play more of a political game then you'd imagine whenever they use said power. A newbie Inquisitor is still powerful enough to, say, take command of an imperial guard platoon. However, the Ordo's will convene ( See Siege of Vrakas Part 3) and it pretty much turns into congress. So, I'd imagine the newbie inquisitor mostly running errands for Inquisitor Lords. And, while not having many allies/enemies within the inquisition, very little real power within it. As in, not enough to instigate purges or inquests without seeking prior approval or a very, very good reason.

Platoon? Try regiment(s)

Look up Dark Heresy's Ascension supplement. Should have the info you want.

Each inquisitor's power and reputation is unique to that inquisitor. There are no easy answers.

They are the 2'nd most powerful entity in the Imperium ( first one would be Space Marine ). And they have UNLIMITED recourses in combating the Chaos or some other enemy of Man. And they can destoy entire world with just one word.

Melissia wrote:Platoon? Try regiment(s)

Look up Dark Heresy's Ascension supplement. Should have the info you want.

Each inquisitor's power and reputation is unique to that inquisitor. There are no easy answers.

I second Melissia.

The Inquisition is an administration governed by politics, favors, demands and betrayals.

Powerful Inquisitors like Hector Rex and Coteaz are also very talented politicians.

For instance, to gain control of all military assets during the siege of Vraks, Rex had to do an intense lobbying campaign within the Inquisition.

The same goes with Coteaz, who was only granted the title "High Protector of the Formosa Sector" after many political maneuvers against his rivals from the radical inquisitors.


As such, a "newbie" inquisitor will only have a very limited reputation and influence, and thus will probably never be given important responsibilities (like controlling an entire war front, or summoning the help of SM or GK).

However, ANY inquisitor, regardless of rank, has ultimate authority over Imperial entities(except the Astartes, the inquisitor has to play his cards very carefully in this department)


any inquisitor could walk into a military compound, flash his Rosette, and have complete command.


the only people an inquisitor has to answer to are his fellow inquisitors(of equal or higher rank)


Inquisitors are always playing a dangerous game of politics(don't wanna be called a radical by a rival) so they always tread carefully when flexing their power.

Plus not all Inquisitors are just human as well. There are many of case in the ranks of Death Watch, Space Marines that has lost their charpter can become an Inquisitors.

mrblacksunshine_1978 wrote:Plus not all Inquisitors are just human as well. There are many of case in the ranks of Death Watch, Space Marines that has lost their charpter can become an Inquisitors.

That's definitely false...

Inquisitors must be human. They represent the Imperium, which is a human organization. The deathwatch roleplay makes no mention of marines becoming inquisitors IIRC and that's the best source of info we have on that subject. Certainly I've never heard of an astartes inquisitor.

There's also no such thing as a mechanicus inquisitor either.

I'm not sure about that.


Nothing in any fluff i have read has this in it.

Grey Templar wrote:However, ANY inquisitor, regardless of rank, has ultimate authority over Imperial entities(except the Astartes, the inquisitor has to play his cards very carefully in this department)


any inquisitor could walk into a military compound, flash his Rosette, and have complete command.


the only people an inquisitor has to answer to are his fellow inquisitors(of equal or higher rank)


Inquisitors are always playing a dangerous game of politics(don't wanna be called a radical by a rival) so they always tread carefully when flexing their power.

Not quite, Admirals, Arbites Lords, high ranking bureaucrats, powerfull planetary governors and others can pretty much ruin some newbie inquisitors day, no matter how much nominal power he posesses.
Warmasters also seem to have absolute authority over their particular crusade, no matter what some inquisitor says.

That depends on the level of plot armor those particular officials have in the story.

It's the old difference between "De facto" and "De jure".

"De Jure" - by the letter, any inquisitor can walk up, flash the rosette, and take command.

"De Facto" - in reality, if he tries to push around someone too powerful, they can either make him disappear (treason, sure, but quiet, limited treason) or call upon their own contacts with the Inquistion to have him called on the carpet by his peers.

Not really, as I said it depends on the plot armor of the individuals, rather than their relative importance (plot armor and in-lore importance are not mutually inclusive).

SMDVogrin wrote:"De Facto" - in reality, if he tries to push around someone too powerful, they can either make him disappear (treason, sure, but quiet, limited treason) or call upon their own contacts with the Inquistion to have him called on the carpet by his peers.

That's definitely true.

I remember reading a while ago in some short story or article about how a random inquisitor from the Ordo Xenos visited a SM fortress-monastry. Apparently, this Inquisitor was relatively young and wanted to make a name for himself, so he accused two battle-brothers of this chapter of heresy and sentenced them to death (IIRC, one battle-brother was using a xenos piece of equipment, and the second SM protested against the accusation).

Apparently, it was the last time we ever heard of this young inquisitor and his retinue.

Melissia wrote:Platoon? Try regiment(s)

Look up Dark Heresy's Ascension supplement. Should have the info you want.

Each inquisitor's power and reputation is unique to that inquisitor. There are no easy answers.

Try Armies. On Vraks Hector Rex commandeers an army of millions with attached Navy, Astartes and Titan Legion elements.


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Melissia wrote:

mrblacksunshine_1978 wrote:Plus not all Inquisitors are just human as well. There are many of case in the ranks of Death Watch, Space Marines that has lost their charpter can become an Inquisitors.

That's definitely false...

Yes, but an Inquisitor can be created instead of recruited. Hector Rex was designed for great things while still young and so was able to get most of the Astartes improvements. He actually towers over Space Marines. Rex is pretty much the most Kick-ass Inquisitor ever is what I'm getting at.


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Laodamia wrote:

SMDVogrin wrote:"De Facto" - in reality, if he tries to push around someone too powerful, they can either make him disappear (treason, sure, but quiet, limited treason) or call upon their own contacts with the Inquistion to have him called on the carpet by his peers.

That's definitely true.

I remember reading a while ago in some short story or article about how a random inquisitor from the Ordo Xenos visited a SM fortress-monastry. Apparently, this Inquisitor was relatively young and wanted to make a name for himself, so he accused two battle-brothers of this chapter of heresy and sentenced them to death (IIRC, one battle-brother was using a xenos piece of equipment, and the second SM protested against the accusation).

Apparently, it was the last time we ever heard of this young inquisitor and his retinue.

Yeah. Also there's a picking order to Ordos themselves. Some are much more powerful than others. In order of power:

1) Malleus
2) Herectus
3) Xenos
4) The rest.

Hector Rex was augmented, but not in the way a marine is.

He's probably quite similer to Skittarii in the implants he has recieved.

Grey Templar wrote:Hector Rex was augmented, but not in the way a marine is.

He's probably quite similer to Skittarii in the implants he has recieved.

He was genetically enhanced not mechanically. But it's true he only has T 3. Should be 4 by the way he is described though.

arn't Skittarii genetically enhanced?

yes...

I think Eisenhorn is awesome as well, he is considered radical though, being in active control of a powerful daemon.
Inquisitors work primarily within Imperium held or formerly held territories as such they rarely need Astartes support or more so Titan legio support. But if the situation demands it, they may 'request' any available Astartes unit to prosecute a particularly tough heretical assignment, though this situation is very rare indeed.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Try Armies. On Vraks Hector Rex commandeers an army of millions with attached Navy, Astartes and Titan Legion elements.

I was referring to a brand new inquisitor, one whose symbol was recently minted.

Yes, but an Inquisitor can be created instead of recruited.

In a sense, most of them are. Some of them have biological or technological enhancements (I know in Dark HEresy there's one who, well, "he's more machine now than man" fits the bill), but that's not important.

In the end, he needs to be a human of indomitable will. A good Inquisitor is more valuable than a planet, and an Inquisitor Lord recruiting an Inquisitor often (As part of the training) arranges a crisis of some sort that can doom or damn an entire planet-- just to give a single test to the (often unknowing) Inquisitorial candidate.

If the candidate fails, oh well. The inquisitor mops up the mess and starts to look for a new one.

Melissia wrote:In the end, he needs to be a human of indomitable will. A good Inquisitor is more valuable than a planet, and an Inquisitor Lord recruiting an Inquisitor often (As part of the training) arranges a crisis of some sort that can doom or damn an entire planet-- just to give a single test to the (often unknowing) Inquisitorial candidate.

If the candidate fails, oh well. The inquisitor mops up the mess and starts to look for a new one.

That sounds a bit extreme. Is it really that bad?

I mean, I understand the need to ensure that all members of the Inquisition are utterly dedicated to their task, but putting an entire planet at risk just to test a newbie Inquisitor!??

Laodamia wrote:I mean, I understand the need to ensure that all members of the Inquisition are utterly dedicated to their task, but putting an entire planet at risk just to test a newbie Inquisitor!??

Oh no, he isn't even an inquisitor yet at that point in the test. Maybe if he passes.

Here, I'll quote Dark Heresy: Ascension on it:



It's so common amongst Inquisitors that it even has a name: "Armageddon Protocol". Oftentimes, it is a test that at face value they cannot succeed-- and the real test is whether or not they will surrender to fate or carry on to the last. Other tests include dumping the Inquisitor naked on a death world with a GPS and a note that they have to go to certain coordinates on it, or doing the same thing in a hive city, dumping them in the bottom of a hive city, removing all records of their existence, and then forcing them to make their way to the top, relying entirely on their own wits and abilities to escape the predations of vicious mutants, underhive gangers, etc. These are simply some of the trials, and the potential Inquisitor likely goes through many. These arent' the only kinds of tests, some of them are a bit less dangerous to life and limb, but just as dangerous to spirit and mind.

Holy .

I didn't know that.

I am almost tempted to turn renegade now.

What? You thought becoming an Inquisitor is easy?

Being an Inquisitor is a challenge and a privilege equal to nothing else in the Imperium.

Their will is indomitable and their power is vast.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:What? You thought becoming an Inquisitor is easy?

I never thought it was easy.

But I never thought the Inquisition was such a careless, excessively ruthless and over-zealous organisation either.

I don't think it's as "common" as you seem to suggest Melissia. And in the example you provided the whole world wasn't put in danger, but a major population center was.