Ordo Malleus
From Lexicanum
The Ordo Malleus is one of the three major Ordos of the Inquisition. Meaning Order of the Hammer in its literal translation from High Gothic, the Ordo Malleus is tasked with the most dangerous responsibility of investigating and destroying the physical manifestations of Chaos throughout the Imperial Domain.
Known colloquially as Daemonhunters, the members of the Ordo Malleus are the greatest men and women of the age - able to stare into the Abyss and know their foe without succumbing to madness and heresy. The strength of the Inquisitors of the Ordo Malleus is bolstered by their Chamber Militant, the Grey Knights.
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Foundation
The Ordo Malleus is the eldest Inquisitorial institution, created by direct decree of the Emperor prior to His internment and ascension to the Golden Throne of Terra. In His twilight hours following the defeat of Warmaster Horus, the Emperor understood that others must take His place as the bulwark between the Warp and Humanity - so that the grand designs of the Chaos Gods might never come to pass.
- They shall be My Hammer, the sword in My hand, the gauntlet about My fist, the bane of My foes and woes of the treacherous. When no others may stand beside them, they shall fight. Only the greatest shall enter their ranks, for unto them do I entrust stewardship over the Gates of Hell.
Historians and savants denote this declaration, known as the Charge of the Malleus, as the founding moment of the Ordo. The Charge is scribed in pure gold over the Ultimate Gateway of the Malleus Fortress on Titan and is reaffirmed by every Malleus Inquisitor upon elevation to full Inquisitor status.
Role
Directly tasked with the understanding and destruction of the Daemonic, the power and authority of the Ordo Malleus extends beyond the nominal boundaries of the Imperial Inquisition. The Inquisition refers to this specialized jurisdiction as the Malleus Remit. In dire events of emergency concerning potential Daemonic threats, a Malleus Inquisitor may demand the services and/or resources of any Imperial servant or organization and, under penalty of death, cannot be refused. Even the High Lords of Terra and Adeptus Astartes, are charged by Holy Edict to follow the Malleus Remit without pause.
In normal circumstances, the Ordo Malleus focuses its investigations toward two unique and terrible areas of corruption:
- The Daemon Without: The combat of Daemons physically manifested in the material universe and mortals dedicated to the service of Chaos.
- The Daemon Within: The hunting and execution of Inquisitors declared Extremis Diabolus.
Organization
The Ordo Malleus follows the modern structure of the Imperial Inquisition.
Military forces
The armies of the Ordo Malleus are extremely small, as only a precious few number of individuals can be trusted with the full knowledge of Chaos. Daemonhunter strike forces are largely comprised of the Malleus Inquisitor him or herself, a retinue, and as many Grey Knights as can be spared.
In battle, the greatest advantage of any Malleus Inquisitor rests upon the specialized and consecrated weaponry of the Ordo Malleus. Utilizing techniques and metallurgy lost to the rest of the Imperium, Malleus savants and techpriests product and maintain immensely powerful arms and armour specifically designed to combat Daemons.
In addition to these weapons and forces, the Malleus Remit allows any Daemonhunter strike force to be bolstered by Space Marines, Imperial Guardsmen, Inquisitorial Stormtroopers, and agents of the Officio Assassinorum at the behest of a Malleus Inquisitor.
Grey Knights
The greatest Space Marines ever born, the Grey Knights are a fitting Chamber Militant for the Gatekeepers of Hell. Trained and taught to fight the Daemon, the Grey Knights alone bear the full knowledge of Chaos and the multitude of evil besieging the Imperial Realm. Above even Exterminatus, the Grey Knights are the most powerful force the Ordo Malleus might deploy. Only the words of a Malleus Grandmaster carries enough authority to unleash them, for the life of a Grey Knight is an infinitely precious resource.
Issued with the best equipment in the Imperium, the Grey Knights are called upon to face the Princes of the Abyss in holy combat - with the souls of all Imperial servants as the victor's prize. Millennia-old aegis armor steels the bodies and souls of the Grey Knights against psychically-charged Daemonic attack. The faith of Grey Knights, coiled around their powerful psychic talents, is so pure that it is repellant and blinding to Daemons. Armed with thrice-blessed stormbolters and Nemesis Force Weapons, there is very little a Grey Knight cannot achieve.
Notable Members
- Jaq Draco - Former Inquisitor and declared heretic. Accredited with raiding the Black Library of Chaos and stealing the Book of the Rhana Dandra.
- Torquemada Coteaz - Inquisitor Lord.
- Hector Rex - Inquisitor Lord.
Images
 Ordo Malleus Inquisitor in Terminator armour |
 Ordo Malleus Inquisitor (Rogue Trader/Realm of Chaos era) |
Sources
- 1 Codex: Daemonhunters (3rd Edition)
- 2 Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness, 1st Edition
