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I would imagine that this has been done at some other point in the illustrious history of Dakka, but my searching has turned nothing up from after the new(ish) inquisition codex came out, which added a whole heap more background. So, my objective is simple; to create a comprehensive list of all of the Ordos (Majoris and Minoris) of the Inquisition, and their respective areas of interest. The following is what I have so far:

Hereticus – Witches, Mutants, Heretics
Malleus – Deamons/Chaos
Xenos – Aliens
Aegis – Cadian Gate
Astartes – Space Marines
Astra – Stellar Cartography
Bararus – Feral Worlds
Custodum – Terra
Desolatus - ?
Excorium - Exterminatus
Militarum – Imperial Guard, Navy, Schola Progenium
Necros - ?
Sanctorum - Ecclesiarchy
Senatorum - ?
Thanatos - ?
Vigilus – Ordo Necros
Chronos - Time
Hydra - (Conclave)
Machinum – Adeptus Mechanicus
Obsoletus -
Originatus – Uncovering the past
Redactus – Obscuring the past
Scriptorum – Records and Communiques
Sepulturum – Plagues and Diseases
Sicarius - Assassins

If anybody knows of any which should be on the list but aren't, or are on the list but should not be, please let me know.

Necros - necrons? Dead worlds?

No one knows. The Ordos Vigilos, Necrons and Thanatos are shrouded in mystery.

Going by their names though, they have something to do with death.

So several possibilities -

Necrons

Reviving the Emperor

Eldar Wraith tech

Spirits

The Warp (afterlife)

Senatorum might have something to do with the High Lords (senatorum = senate)

The only places I've seen the Ordo Necros mentioned have left their area of interest blank. Their name means 'Death', so they could investigate what happens when people die, or Death Worlds. Necrons are another possibility, but they come under the purview of the Ordo Xenos. Though of course, the ecclesiarchy comes under the domain of the Ordo Heraticus, but they also have a dedicated branch now in the form of the Ordo Sanctorum. So Necros=Necrons is not beyong the bounds of possibility.

But that does not explain why they have a dedicated ordo (Vigilus) towatch over them.

Thanatos is more than likely dealing with death. Maybe records of death statistics in the Imperium? Since Thanatos in mythology and various fantasy settings as relating to a manifestation or realm of death.

Senatorum is more than likely involved with Imperial politics.

Obsoletus is probably somehow involved with technological discovery (obsolete machinery?).

Desolatus may have something to do with dead/abandoned worlds judging by the root word likely being desolation.

I agree with Obsoletus being involved with ancient technology.

Necros sounds a lot like necromancy doesn't it?Maybe its got something to do with that?
And don't forget the orkos!
Orkos unorky
Weird stuff
Morkus

There's a bunch of Inquisitors who have ideas about the state of the God-Emperor and are exploring ways to either fix the Golden Throne or shut it down and allow him to be reborn, reincarnate, or do whatever it is he's going to do.

None of these various groups agree with one another, of course.

Psiensis; it would be an interesting advancement to the fluff in philosophies like the Thorians (who think that the emperor at various points reincarnates in figures like Sebastian Thor) developed from not just being standpoints within the other Ordos to forming a dedicated order of their own - such as the 'Necros' (if they are investigating the 'death' of the Emperor, which does sound plausible).

Of course it would be, which is probably precisely why GW will never do that.

I really enjoy this aspect of the fluff, as there's so much room to grow in terms of official canon, as well as interpretations in building models and armies.

Oh, and how appropriate that there is an Ordo for uncovering the past, and an Ordo for obscuring what they uncover.

I always thought that Necros were the Inquisitors who fed Psykers to the Dead God Emperor.

No one would know about The Emperors hinted ability to regenerate or be reborn as no one has been told. So it's unlikely they would be investigating it.

Actually, the Thorians suspect that the Emperor can be revived, iirc.

Mellow wrote:
No one would know about The Emperors hinted ability to regenerate or be reborn as no one has been told. So it's unlikely they would be investigating it.

One of the various "creation myths" we've been provided by the studio for the founding of the Inquisition suggests that this is precisely why there exists so many factions within the Inquisition. The original split was "what to do with the Emperor?", between keeping him in the Golden Throne or risking his regeneration/reincarnation/death.

The Ordo Hydra is obviously there to help the Al infiltrate the Imperium.

Or to study how the Alpha Legion is doing it to put a stop to it in the future. This Ordo obviously lacks for funding, however.

 Psienesis wrote:
Or to study how the Alpha Legion is doing it to put a stop to it in the future. This Ordo obviously lacks for funding, however.

They're also, obviously, very thorough, having declared the AL wiped out several times.

Again, it's that whole lack of funding.

 Psienesis wrote:
Again, it's that whole lack of funding.

Purely a coincidence that it's they who get nealy no funding.

Indeed. Entirely, completely coincidental.

>.>

Unfortunately for the above speculation, the Ordo Hydra has a canon function that has nothing to do with the Alpha Legion:

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Ordo_Hydra#.U1AzK_ldXT8

I know. It's a joke. A hydra being the symbol of the Alpha Legion, the Alpha Legion having infiltrated everything, including whatever comptroller's office determines where the vast funds of the Inquisition are spent, and the fact that the Ordo Hydra does not *appear* to study the Alpha Legion (even though you know they totally do).

It's also the name of a secret society that infiltrated SHIELD in the DC comics universe, being all former Nazis and such. So the Alpha Legion has also been time-traveling, probably looking for a guy with the initials JC.

What do you have when you put three inquisitors in a room together?

Four secret agenda, five ordo and a conclave.

And a repto-avian in a pear tree?

Maybe Ordo Necros are dedicated to uncovering what might happen if the Emperor dies, or preparing for that event. Then Ordo Vigilus would be dedicated to absolutely making sure that Ordo Necros is not plotting to kill the Emperor.

 Psienesis wrote:

It's also the name of a secret society that infiltrated SHIELD in the DC comics universe, being all former Nazis and such. So the Alpha Legion has also been time-traveling, probably looking for a guy with the initials JC.

Dear Madam or Sir, I will have you know that SHIELD is Marvel, how dare you!

Whichever. I have to admit that I really don't pay attention to the major studio comic books. I read a couple indep titles, and a couple Dynamite prints, but that's about it.

 Psienesis wrote:
Whichever. I have to admit that I really don't pay attention to the major studio comic books. I read a couple indep titles, and a couple Dynamite prints, but that's about it.

HERESY! BLAM!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Nah, jk.

I kind of like the idea of the Ordo Necros being about studying what will happen if the Emperor dies and the Ordo Vigilus dedicated to keeping them under constant surveillance for obvious reasons.
A few more ideas:
Obsoletus: Dedicated to studying the DAoT and the war with the Iron Men
Desolatus: Dedicated to studying dead worlds, particularly those that used to support human life but don't anymore.
Senatorum: Probably watches the Administratum, including planetary governors and the High Lords of Terra, as people have already guessed.
Thanatos: Possibly dedicated to studying what happens to the soul after death. There's actually already a group that does that, and is very interested in Eldar Wraith tech, but their a radical faction, not an Ordo: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Revivificators#.U1GjlfldVpt