From Lexicanum

This article is about the Imperium institutional role, for the other uses see Inquisitor (disambiguation)

Inquisitors are members of the Inquisition, the organization responsible for investigating and dealing with all potential threats to the Imperium and humanity.

Contents 1 Recruitment 2 Retinue 3 Images 4 See also 5 Sources

Recruitment

Potential Inquisitors are usually drawn from the Progena of the Schola Progenium showing the most promise³.

As is the case with all the aspects of the Inquisition, the matter of recruitment is not a centralised process but the power to invest it within others is left in the hands of the individual Inquisitors. Some are known to not recruit at all and instead spend their years of service in prusuit of their enemies as well as dedicating their hours to duty for the rest of their lives. Others, however, feel that it is one of their many burdens to bring about the next generation of Inquisitors who are destined to carry forth the battle that the Inquisition must wage. Ultimately, the matter is left to the judgement of the individual Inquisitors who are subject only to the scrutiny of their peers. A majority of Inquisitors typically leave such matters to chance or perhaps to fate in regards to picking a suitable candidate from amongst the groups of individuals whose paths cross that of the Inquisition. There are a number of Inquisitors who are more rigorous in regard to the pursuit of apprentices and will spent a proportion of their time seeking suitable candidates - sometimes from the ranks of other Imperial organizations.⁴

There exists no set criteria in regards to physical condition for a possible candidate when being selected to join the ranks of the Inquisition. All that is required is proof of intelligence and loyalty which are key requisites for such a choice though there is no proper method of judging these attributes until later in life. However, there may exist an extraordinary circumstance which are uncommon practices which leads to an Inquisitor choosing a boy or girl whilst they are still within their teens though this is only the case if the subject shows exceptional ability. Generally, an Inquisitor will take note of an individual if they are a free-thinking person with will power and determination as well as unflinching principles. If a suitable candidate is found, they will become part of the Inquisitor's retinue where they may serve in a minor capacity whilst the Inquisitor continues their evaluation. Those that later prove their worth whilst working with the Inquisitor can be taken into the greater confidence of their lord or lady.⁴

Over the years that pass by, the apprentice will begin to learn what they can of the Inquisitor's knowledge and their many duties. Certain Inquisitors often refer to these semi-skilled individuals as Interrogators though they are more commonly known as Novitiates, Neophytes and as Approbators. At this stage, the individuals can undertake missions of their own or control operations in concert with their master or mistress though ultimately they are still subordinate to them until the Inquisitor fully invests in them. In normal conditions, it is required that the consent of three Inquisitors or an Inquisitor Lord is needed to bestow the full powers of an Inquisitor on an apprentice as well as grant them the Inquisitorial Seal. Whilst this is typically done, there have been occasions which warrant an apprentice taking full Inquisitorial powers immediately. This is likely the case where the Inquisitor in charge has been killed which means the apprentice inherits their master or mistresses' position.⁴

Apprentices may pass from one Inquisitor to another as fate dictates and through this way, the ideals of the Inquisitor are passed and spread during the generational growth. This in turn allows the factions and institutions of the Inquisition to propage across the centuries. In addition to philosophy, the student also learns what their teacher knows of the internal workings of the Inquisition. An important tradition amongst Inquisitors to earn the knowledge that is theirs as well as the respect of their peers. However, such knowledge cannot be freely given and it cannot be taken without effort as that would devalue the knowledge itself. This goes in line with the saying "Knowledge is Power; Guard it Well."⁴

All Inquisitors begin as Acolytes, apprentice-Inquisitors given over to the tutelage of a more experienced member of the Inquisition. Acolytes accompany a fully experienced Inquisitor in his Inquisitorial duties. He may perform a number of tasks such as warrior, scribe, and interrogator. After a set amount of time, his master will give him a recommendation to the Ordos of the Inquisition to advance his pupil to full Inquisitorial rank. After this, the Acolyte is a full Inquisitor and begins his own agenda and operations. Although the Acolyte/Inquisitor is no longer bound to his old master, they will have formed a bond and may work together and help one another in the future.

Retinue

Inquisitors have the right to call on the services of any citizen or servant of the Emperor. Often an experienced Inquisitor, or one in need of specific services (depending on the current situation at hand), will have a retinue of henchmen that he has deemed most useful. These retinues are made up of individuals drawn from citizens with unique and useful talents, and from the ranks of all Imperial institutions, such as the Ecclesiarchy and Adeptus Mechanicus. The full list of known henchmen types is described below^{1, 2}:

• Acolytes - Apprentice-Inquisitors; in game terms they are useful for taking damage. Acolytes are in training to become full-fledged Inquisitors.

• Chirurgeons - Members of the Orders Hospitalier or just those trained in the medical field to assist in interrogation and torture; useful in combat for healing wounds suffered by the Inquisitor.

• Familiar - Familiars are artificial constructs, boosting the psychic prowess of inquisitors and allowing him faster initiative. (In Inquisitor these are characters' equipment, not members of the warband.)

• Hierophant - Fanatical members of the Ecclesiarchy, they boost the faith of the Demonhunters they are in service to and chant exorcisms and prayers that can cause agony to nearby daemons.

• Mystic - Psykers used by Inquisitors to detect the presence of daemonic creatures.

• Penitent - When a Witch Hunter makes a heretic psyker repent his sins (a notably rare event), he can become what could be called a "psychic lightning rod", used to absorb the psychic attacks of other heretic psykers and protecting the Inquisitor and his retinue in battle.

• Sage - Battlefield logisticians.

• Warrior - Bodyguards and gunmen.

Especially helpful, competent, or attractive retainers may become permanent members of an Inquisitor's retinue. Note that this list is not exhaustive as many different kinds of individuals with many different personalities and jobs have been seen in the employ of Inquisitors in fiction, including Navigators, mechanical technicians, bounty hunters, daemonhosts and assassins. This allows for Inquisitorial Retinues and the Inquisitors themselves to be highly characterful models with different personalities, weapons, histories and attitudes.^{1, 2}

Images

Ordo Malleus (Daemonhunter) Inquisitor	Ordo Malleus (Daemonhunter) Inquisitor	Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor	Inquisitor (Early Rogue Trader)
Ordo Malleus Inquisitor with Psycannon (Rogue Trader/Realm of Chaos era)	Ordo Malleus (Rogue Trader/Realm of Chaos era)	Ordo Malleus Inquisitor (Rogue Trader/Realm of Chaos era)	Inquisitor Lord Torquemada and his retinue.

See also

• Inquisition
• List of Inquisitors
• Inquisition Quotes

Sources

• ¹ Codex: Daemonhunters (3rd Edition)
• ² Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition)
• ³ Codex Imperialis, p. 39
• ⁴:Inquisitor The Thorians Sourcebook by Gav Thorpe (pg 24)

Ordo Hereticus Army List

HQ	Canoness • Palatine • Inquisitor Lord • Priest
Elites	Arco-flagellants • Callidus Assassin • Celestian Squad • Culexus Assassin • Death Cult Assassin • Eversor Assassin • Inquisitor • Vindicare Assassin • Repentia
Troops	Battle Sister Squad • Inquisitorial Storm Troopers • Zealots
	Seconded Units:	IG Armoured Fist Squad • IG Infantry Platoon • SM Tactical Squad • SM Scout Squad
Fast Attack	Dominion Squad • Seraphim Squad
	Seconded Units:	IG Rough Rider • IG Sentinel Squadron • SM Assault Squad • SM Bike Squadron • SM Land Speeder Squadron
Heavy Support	Exorcist • Immolator • Penitent Engine • Orbital Strike • Retributor Squad
	Seconded Units:	IG Leman Russ • SM Devastators • SM Dreadnought • SM Predator
Transport	Rhino • Chimera • Immolator

Ordo Malleus Army List

HQ	Grey Knights Grand Master • Brother-Captain • Inquisitor Lord
Elites	Callidus Assassin • Culexus Assassin • Death Cult Assassin • Eversor Assassin • Daemonhost • Inquisitor • Grey Knights Terminator Squad • Vindicare Assassin
Troops	Grey Knights • Inquisitorial Storm Troopers Seconded Units: IG Armoured Fist Squad • IG Infantry Platoon • SM Tactical Squad • SM Scout Squad
Fast Attack	Grey Knight Teleport Squad Seconded Units: IG Rough Rider • IG Sentinel Squadron • SM Assault Squad • SM Bike Squad • SM Land Speeder Squadron
Heavy Support	Grey Knights Dreadnought • Grey Knights Land Raider • Grey Knights Land Raider Crusader • Grey Knights Purgation Squad • Orbital Strike Seconded Units: IG Leman Russ • SM Devastators • SM Dreadnought • SM Predator
Transport	Rhino • Chimera • Land Raider