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KamikazeCanuck wrote:The Emperor doesn't want Texas to be cool in the summer. He wants your AC to not blow up the planet.

Come on, Melissia, that was fething hilarious.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:The Emperor doesn't want Texas to be cool in the summer. He wants your AC to not blow up the planet.

Actually, the Emperor would probably endorse much of the Inquistion's actions. I think you may be idealizing him a bit too much.

This is the man who destroyed every surviving religion on Earth in order to weaken Chaos.

He imprisoned the Void Dragon on Mars, KNOWING that he would influence the inhabitants, in order to speed up their tech advances.

He ordered the complete destruction of an Imperial Capital city, just to try to make a point to one of the Primarchs.


The Emperor was not a nice guy. I'm not sure why you'd expect the organization founded on his orders to be any LESS fond of the ends justifying the means.

"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."

Not so sure about this, in theory they should all be equal, and in reality i'd say the hereticus had more power, seeing as they're more likely to be belived when they yell "heretic!"

As for the power of inquisitors, new or otherwise,my theory is that they all have the same pull, but whether they use it is down to the individual and their goals, a newbie inquisitor might be a little cautious about jumping straight in and trying to hijack an entire chapter.

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

You do realize its called the Inquisition... right?

Dark Apostle 666 wrote:

"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."

Not so sure about this, in theory they should all be equal, and in reality i'd say the hereticus had more power, seeing as they're more likely to be belived when they yell "heretic!"

As for the power of inquisitors, new or otherwise,my theory is that they all have the same pull, but whether they use it is down to the individual and their goals, a newbie inquisitor might be a little cautious about jumping straight in and trying to hijack an entire chapter.

In theory they should be. The fact they aren't is a source of much animosity between them.

Hereticus has the most political sway on the day to day, month to month, and year to year activities of the Imperium. But Malleus has the most widely respected authority (nobody feths with the Ordo Malleus).

Ordo Xenos is more subtle than either, concerning itself not with humans at all except as peripherals.

An Interrogator, by himself, doesn't have any power within the Imperium, other than any left-over from his pre-Inquisition life. With a Seal of Office or Rosette given to him/her by the Inquisitor(s) in charge of their training, however, they speak with their Master's authority (and they damn well better watch what they say!). Internal to the retinue, however, they are generally in a leadership role, being second only to the Inquisitor themselves. Thronius, from the Ravenor series, was a gifted Interrogator, but (IMO) did poorly in establishing himself within the retinue in general... they don't have to like you, but they damn well better respect you.

Once they become full Inquisitors, however, they are given rosettes of their own, and all the prestige and responsibilities inferred thereby. Within the Imperium in general, their power is nearly limitless. Within the Inquisition, things are much more political, and a newbie Inquisitor will rely heavily on the name of their Master, and any allies they manage to court within their Ordo and the Inquisition in general. A newly-raised Inquisitor who is the protege of a particularly famed Inquisitor or Lord Inquisitor has powerful allies, indeed.

There are 2 organizations within the Imperium that do not, and can not, fall under the gaze of the Inquisition. The first of these organizations is the God-Emperor, Himself. The second is the Adeptus Custodes who maintain the Golden Throne. No other Imperial citizen, Adeptus, Departmento or Officio is free from the Inquisition's suspicion. That said, it can be very difficult for the Inquisition to prosecute a suspected Heretic who has a planet's (or sector's) resources at his disposal, not to mention that pursuing Space Marines suspected of Heresy can be very dangerous, not least of which reasons being that the Astartes tend to prefer to keep such issues in-house.

The Dark Heresy RPG and the book Ascension (from the same line) quite clearly establishes the Inquisition as one of the most powerful (if not *the* most powerful) organizations in the Imperium.

Melissia wrote:Hereticus has the most political sway on the day to day, month to month, and year to year activities of the Imperium. But Malleus has the most widely respected authority (nobody feths with the Ordo Malleus).

Ordo Xenos is more subtle than either, concerning itself not with humans at all except as peripherals.

The Eccelsiarchy has the most day to day power. After that it gets a little complicatd. Ordo Xenos probably does the most actual investigating. They actually do police work and archeology. Poor Ordo Xenos they don't even get to use the Jokaeo. Those guys should totally be under Ordo Xenos jurisdiction but the mightly Malleus gets all the Power Armour, TDA, Daemon Hosts, It's own chapter and the super-monkeys too! Damn them!

KamikazeCanuck wrote: Poor Ordo Xenos they don't even get to use the Jokaeo. Those guys should totally be under Ordo Xenos jurisdiction but the mightly Malleus gets all the Power Armour, TDA, Daemon Hosts, It's own chapter and the super-monkeys too! Damn them!

Well, I guess that's because the Ordo Xenos usually deals with civilized aliens like the tau, whereas Ordo Malleus inquisitors have to eat daemon princes and CSM for breakfast. Failing that, they get eaten for breakfast.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:The Eccelsiarchy has the most day to day power.

Oh no, I meant amongst the Inquisition. The Ecclesiarchy is a separate entity.

I knew what you meant.

The Ordo Xenos probably has the most contact with the every day Imperial Citizen then the other ordos.


the Alien is certaintly the most obvious threat and the Ordo can work openly within the Imperium.


the Ordo Hereticus and Ordo Malleus by nature of their foes, must work under cover to face them.


the Ordo Xenos also must be present at any excavation of possable Xeno ruins in order to take custody of Xeno tech. they also combat the smuggling of Xeno Tech.

The Ordo Herecitus probably has the most everyday contact with regular imperials. It's been stated a few times that by far the everyday witch consumes the majority of the Inquisitions time and resources. The average person isn't even aware there's different factions and just calls them Witch Hunters. Basically most people think the Ordo Herecitus is the entirety of the Inquisition.

Something the other ordos of the Inquisition use to their advantage.

How so?

KamikazeCanuck wrote:How so?

Because of the stereotypical view of what an Inquisitor is, many Inquisitors choose disguises and don personalities which are completely contrary.

Thus allowing them to infiltrate, move without detection, etc.

Melissia wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:How so?

Because of the stereotypical view of what an Inquisitor is, many Inquisitors choose disguises and don personalities which are completely contrary.

Thus allowing them to infiltrate, move without detection, etc.

sort of like how Amberly Vail once posed as a Singer at a party , and Commissar cain was caught off guard by her cheerful and joking personality, for example?

Yep, that's one example.