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So, I'm about to start writing a story/piece of fiction, and I wanted people's input on the background I've come up with so far.

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Background

The Fortuna Sector is located in the Segmentum Pacificus, not too far from the border separating Pacificus and Obscurus. At the heart of the sector lies Oria Prime; located in the Oria system, Soreil subsector, Oria Prime is to Fortuna as Scintilla is to Calixis. Currently the Fortuna Sector is a bastion of peace - as far as peace can be kept in the tumult of the galaxy - and diligent hard-work, where the ordinary citizen goes about their daily lives and any thought of breaking the law is extinguished before it can be acted upon. Adeptus Arbites stalk every street, quelling public disorder before it can become noteworthy, and the presence of Battlefleet Fortuna deters would-be smugglers or pirates from bringing their 'business' to the sector. But perhaps the most foreboding aspect of the Fortuna Sector, and the reason it is such a fortress, is the ever-vigilant presence of the Inquisition.

In the 38th Millennium, with the 9th Black Crusade being waged, the oppressed citizens of Oria Prime rose up in rebellion against the sector governor. For several weeks clashes between protestors and the Adeptus Arbites shook the city, with deaths on both sides. It was only during the second month that Governor Tura received word that other planets were beginning to rebel, and these rebellions were not confined solely to the Oria system. Neighbouring systems - indeed, neighbouring subsectors - were feeling the ravages of rebellion, made worse by whispers that heretics had come from the Black Crusade to bolster the rebels and sow further discord and destruction. Fearing the attention of the Warmaster of Chaos himself, Governor Tura sent a distress call to the closest Adeptus Astartes recruiting world, hoping to receive Space Marine reinforcements, thus crushing the rebellion and shoring up defences in case Chaos pushed against the sector.

What she received were members of the Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition.

Three members - one from each of the Ordo Majoris - arrived, supported by members of their respective Chamber Militants and entire regiments of Imperial Guard. With righteous fury they descended upon the sector, cleansing world after world of the taint of Chaos. None suspected were spared, even if there was proof lacking, though many escaped the culling by fighting against the enemy or being able to prove they'd opposed the heretics since the beginning of the rebellion. Why the Inquisition didn't just exterminate the entire sector is unknown, as they have done before, but there are whispers. Some suspect one of the original Inquisitors was born in the sector and compromised emotionally, a far-fetched but not impossible theory. Others say the Inquisition was privy to knowledge that unique technology was hidden beneath the planet that they wished to preserve. Whatever the reason, they fought tooth and nail rather than simply burn everything. Before the year was out, Fortuna was settling back into a period of calm and purity.

The work of the Inquisition was not done, however.

Governor Tura was executed for dereliction of duty and her palace turned over to the Inquisition, whereby the trio established themselves as a permanent force of power and authority in the system. This was a unique move, virtually unprecedented. It would, in time, pave the way for the unofficial designations of "Inquisitor-General", an individual who serves as permanent attachment to a planet and its military, and Inquisitor Lord Coteaz's title of "Protector of the Formosa Sector". Citing the inconsistency in government and the need for Inquisitorial oversight with Chaos so near at hand, the three Inquisitors elected one of their own to the position of "Inquisitorial Governor", with the remaining two taking the titles of "Inquisitor-General" and "Inquisitor-Admiral". In time their authority was spread across the local military and elements of Battlefleet Fortuna. Allegations of corruption were levelled, both from within and without the Inquisition, but their record was sterling, their authority clear and their actions justified by the nature of the system.

To this day the Fortuna Sector remains under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition. The Inquisitors of old have all perished, replaced in time by the Fortuna Conclave. Never consisting of more than six members, one of them elected the leader of the Conclave and by default the sector governor, the Inquisitors hold has always been criticized, but has consistently led to good results. Throughout Black Crusades and times of strife, the Fortuna Sector has never again rebelled, and in fact contributes more to the Imperial Guard per year than many other planets in the Segmentum Pacificus, along with a handful of Space Marine recruits every decade or so. Their titles have since been dropped, but they each retain an unofficial capacity which they specialize in. Fortuna is, to say the least, a dark place guided by dark, if determined, people.

The Fortuna Conclave

The Fortuna Conclave consists of six Inquisitors, and never more, though why remains a mystery. Since the end of the 39th Millennium the nominal head of the conclave has always been an Inquisitor Lord, the only one on the conclave, and the governor of the entire Fortuna Sector. How an individual is chosen to join the Fortuna Conclave is unknown, but what is known is that the methods are difficult to overcome; at least four Inquisitors have failed the tests set before them and died in the process. The members of the conclave are an extremely tight-knight group; whilst they serve different Ordos and each has a different ideological slant - though all are Puritan to the core - they work well together, which is most likely a reason the sector has remained so secure. Currently the conclave has a Malleus-slant to it, for the first time since its creation; the Ordo Hereticus was formerly the leading Ordo. The current roster for the conclave is as follows:

Uria;
- Inquisitor Lord
- Ordo Malleus
- Puritan / Thorian
- Head of the Conclave / Sector Governor

Alexandros Constantin Hourn;
- Inquisitor
- Ordo Malleus
- Puritan / Amalathian
- Joined 33 years ago
- Known for extensive work with Battlefleet Fortuna

Dorel Yorecht;
- Female Inquisitor
- Ordo Malleus
- Puritan / Amalathian
- Joined 12 years ago
- Known for extensive work with the Imperial Guard

Beatrix le Mayn;
- Female Inquisitor
- Ordo Xenos
- Puritan / Monodominant
- Joined 33 years ago
- Known for extensive work with the Administratum

Lutrex vol’Tar;
- Male Inquisitor
- Ordo Hereticus
- Puritan / Thorian
- Joined 26 years ago
- Known for extensive work with the Adeptus Astra Telepathica

Rhogal Tuyn;
- Male Inquisitor
- Ordo Hereticus
- Puritan / Thorian
- Joined 49 years ago
- Known for extensive work with the Adeptus Mechanicus

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The idea is, each Inquisitor has stretched their hand into a particular field to try and ensure complete dominance over the sector, which they've achieved for the most part, with the exception of the Ecclesiarchy. The main character, Alexandros, is a conclave member who quite enjoys the power and authority he wields, but has begun to suspect certain conclave members of having more radical ideologies. The story would centre upon him exercising what power he does have, whilst trying to determine which of his colleagues to confide his fears in - if any - and try to determine whether his suspicions are correct or whether he's just becoming paranoid. He's definitely not the "good" guy, or even the anti-hero that Eisenhorn become. He's the "I love my power, and if these bastards are jeapordizing it, I'll kill them", though he does believe the Inquisitorial dictatorship of Fortuna is for the best.

My main concern is the idea of Inquisitors taking over sectors may not be easy to write; Coteaz and Neve held unique positions of authority, but not as sector governors or even unofficial controllers of such wide areas. What do you all think? Constructive criticism welcome.

I find this background quite interesting. I don't know if there are any contradictions in the background because I haven't read much inquisitorial stuff lately, but even if it did contradict, there are usually exceptions that would allow something like this to happen.
I think the idea of your main character is also a good choice.

It seems to be an interesting idea you've come up with. The only thing that particularly stuck out at me was that all of the Inquisitors were puritans, with no radicals on the council. I'm curious as to why this is? Did you think it seems more likely that the conclave would consist of Inquisitors of a certain persuasion (which is at all possible, although I would think that the idea of having the Inquisition directly control an entire section would be a more radical idea than puritan, especially if they are hunting for some unique technology or knowledge lost in the sector), or is this a specific plot point which you are hoping on building upon?

RegalPhantom wrote:
It seems to be an interesting idea you've come up with. The only thing that particularly stuck out at me was that all of the Inquisitors were puritans, with no radicals on the council. I'm curious as to why this is? Did you think it seems more likely that the conclave would consist of Inquisitors of a certain persuasion (which is at all possible, although I would think that the idea of having the Inquisition directly control an entire section would be a more radical idea than puritan, especially if they are hunting for some unique technology or knowledge lost in the sector), or is this a specific plot point which you are hoping on building upon?

The idea is that the original Inquisitors who arrived just happened to be, coincidentally, puritan. Different ideologies, but the same overarching loyalty to Puritan ideologies. This has stemmed down through the passing Conclave compositions. But the main driving plot of this story is the realization that perhaps not every member of the Conclave is a Puritan, or has the best interests of the sector at heart. I could have wrote which Inquisitor I plan on turning radical but, that would have taken away the surprise factor heh.

I also think the fact that they're Puritan makes it more likely to be accepted - still grudgingly, mind - that they run the sector. After all, I expect the Imperium would rather a bunch of Puritans run a mid-size sector than a group of Radicals who might burn the adjoining sectors just for fun!