Inquisitor Things(Not sure about forum)

[IVSothicIV]

Like I said, I'm not sure if this is the right forum but I have some questions for Inquisitors.....

1. How are they selected? Are there any tests?
2. What the average age?
3.(fluff-wise) could a space marine be part of a retinue?

Again, not sure if this is the right forum(if not, mods please direct me)

[Inquisitor Rosenadel]

Fear not, the Emperor has given us Adeptus Arbites the power to move threads with our minds if we need to.

Anyway,

That's actually a really good question. I think I remember that Eisenhorn was an apprentice inquisitor at 24 years old, and maybe that he graduated around 40 or so... not sure at all on the second part. As for how they're chosen... also a good question. I know that they only use the purest psykers with tests, and if they survive, they are allowed to become Inquisitors.

I think perhaps this information is kept secret on purpose.

EDIT: Wikipedia has an article on Gregor Eisenhorn saying that he was a full-fledged Inquisitor at 24. So apperently, they are either picked very young, or becoming an Inquisitor does not take long. Judging by current fluff for the level of training for everything else in the Imperium, I'm guessing they are taken very young.

[experiment 626]

a youth might also be chosen to become an acolyte if he/she is a survivor of xenos/heretic/daemonic attack and found to still be free of any taint. (for example, inquisitor tyrus was the sole survivor of a daemonic assault upon his home and was thus taken under the tutilage of the inquisitor who banished the daemon!)

some acolytes might still be very young too - 10-14 years or so when they start their initiation into the ordos... (again, tyrus was just a boy when he was recruited!)
also as pointed out, a youth who is found to have powerful psychic potential can find himself recruited for training as an inquisitor!

and yes, space marines (especially librarians!) may become an excellent member of a high-ranking inquisitor's retinue. (though of corse, the marine will still owe his true loyalty to his chapter first!)
the relictors for example work very closely with many radical inquisitors - both sides using the other to further their studies into the workings of chaos itself!

cheers!

[Inquisitor Rosenadel]

Originally Posted by IVSothicIV

3.(fluff-wise) could a space marine be part of a retinue?

Well, not his immediate retinue. I think Relictors are the only space marines i've heard of that work especially closely with an Inquisitor, probably because of the mutual benefits experiment 626 mentioned: they're both radicals.

But I think other marines might not be so keen. I think just about every chapter has something to hide... and, also like experiment 626 said, I think Chapter loyalties would come first. The Adeptus Astartes are completely seperate entity, and extremely independent. Whereas Inquisitors demand the Imperial Guard's assistance, they consider it long and hard and then ask the Astartes.

[MSguardsmen]

1. How are they selected? Are there any tests?

The life of an Inquisitor is nothing but countless test. To live the life of the Inquisitor is to face constant test from all sides. You are constantly being scrutinized about everything you do. The higher ups will fear you and the lower orders will try to replace you constantly.

That aside Inquisitors are picked out of populations just like marines but for different qualities. They look for shrewdness, courage, and faith. If an inquisitor likes what he sees he will take the person sometimes with permission sometimes with out( whos gonna tell an inquisitor no after all). The person then lives in the retinue until the Inquisitor believes that he is ready to become one himself. he will make a request to his higher ups and they will issue the person test after test each testing a different virtue of the person.
2. What the average age?

20-500 with juvenant drugs. the younger they are the quicker they can be brainwashed

3.(fluff-wise) could a space marine be part of a retinue?

yes according to fluff the inquisitor can call upon ANY resource in the Imperium. From your toothbrush to a Land Raider (sometimes he doesnt even ask unless it concerns Space Marines but thats only to let them know that he is takeing their stuff and their is nothing the Space Marine can do.)

[experiment 626]

some chapters also have strong ties to the various inquisitorial ordos; for example the ultramarines, emperor's scythes and lamenters collectively have very strong ties to the ordo hereticus and battle-brothers from these three chapters form a large number of specialised kill-teams trained to fight tyranids!
the ultramarines especially owe their very exisitance to the now renegade lord inquisitor kryptman and thus are honour-bound to answer his calls for aid when nearby worlds come under threat from the great devourer

other chapters such as the iron hands who are very puritanical by nature wouldn't ask twice if an inquisitor requested their aid in purging any heretical cults! (indeed, they are famed for their brutal and blind supression of any populations that are found to be disloyal to the Emperor!)

cheers!

[IVSothicIV]

Now I have been learned about the Inquisition...Thanks for da' answers!

[IVSothicIV]

Could a fallen DA be with an inquisitor? Trying to redeem himself OR was chosen for his abilities but they do not know he is a space marine...

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

fully-fledged at 24? i thought an acolyte became a true inquisitor at around 100 years old. keep in mind eisenhorn is a special character, who tend to break the rules in more than one occasion

i was under the impression that inquisitors came from the purest of the pure from the schola progenium

[Inquisitor Rosenadel]

A member of the Fallen would most likely not be in an Inquisitor's retinue. If they were, that means the Inquisitor would know what happened to the Dark Angels, and the reason for all their secrecy. That Inquisitor would either a) extort the DA heavily, or if he was a more puritan Inquisitor, b) get the Grey Knights to exterminate the DA like they did to the Flame Falcons.

[masterofweirdness]

Originally Posted by MSguardsmen

1. How are they selected? Are there any tests?
yes according to fluff the inquisitor can call upon ANY resource in the Imperium. From your toothbrush to a Land Raider (sometimes he doesnt even ask unless it concerns Space Marines but thats only to let them know that he is takeing their stuff and their is nothing the Space Marine can do.)

IN THEORY a Inquistor can call upon any thing in the imperium (except a higher ranking inquistor or the High Lords). However, groups like the Astartes and the Mechanicus are indepedent groups within the Imperium, and thus don't have to follow Imperial Law, thus a Inquistor had better think twice before MAKING the Space Marines help him, they will kill him, and then say, "What ya going to do ta me, eh?" If anyone asks questions.

[r4wr89]

Originally Posted by DeAd_cOmMaNdO

fully-fledged at 24? i thought an acolyte became a true inquisitor at around 100 years old. keep in mind eisenhorn is a special character, who tend to break the rules in more than one occasion

i was under the impression that inquisitors came from the purest of the pure from the schola progenium

yea, i would have assumed that Eisenhorn would be a unique exception to the standard rules and regulations of becoming an inquisitor. i don't know much about him [lol other than his name] but he could have been a prodigy and therefore had jumped ranks fast ? :]
-ant

[MSguardsmen]

Originally Posted by masterofweirdness

IN THEORY a Inquistor can call upon any thing in the imperium (except a higher ranking inquistor or the High Lords). However, groups like the Astartes and the Mechanicus are indepedent groups within the Imperium, and thus don't have to follow Imperial Law, thus a Inquistor had better think twice before MAKING the Space Marines help him, they will kill him, and then say, "What ya going to do ta me, eh?" If anyone asks questions.

however remember that the inquisition is just an extension of the God-Emperor's will. Now is any Marine or Techpriest gonna tell the Emperor no? i think not and if a space marine does kill an inquisitor they will have alot of explaining to do to the Grey Knights.

[Inquisitor Rosenadel]

Originally Posted by MSguardsmen

however remember that the inquisition is just an extension of the God-Emperor's will. Now is any Marine or Techpriest gonna tell the Emperor no? i think not and if a space marine does kill an inquisitor they will have alot of explaining to do to the Grey Knights.

If the Inquisition ever finds out... little battles like that go on all the time, I hear. Misunderstandings, miscommunication, etc.

What's a little killing among friends?

[MSguardsmen]

Originally Posted by Inquisitor Rosenadel

If the Inquisition ever finds out... little battles like that go on all the time, I hear. Misunderstandings, miscommunication, etc.

What's a little killing among friends?

well i would believe that in an order like the inquisition where there main job is knowing everything and everyone the death on a battle field would be investigated and found out. also inquisitors are like 00 agents you kill one and another one will take his place.

I think some of us place too much power into the hands of the Inquisitor. They are mighty, but still bound by Imperial Law, technically. Space Marines are wholly independent of them, and often only comply with them if they are in their debt, as all Chapters have their secrets to hide. A Space Marine wouldn't think twice about killing an Inquisitor for his Chapter, but an Inquisitor will think long and hard about bossing around the Astartes.

[IVSothicIV]

They didn't(at first) in Grey Hunter.

[MSguardsmen]

actually the Inquisitors are above the law as Inquisitor Eisenhorn states in the beginning when he is accused of the crime of killing an entire worlds noble population. He mentions to the reader that he could just leave that there laws had no power over him.

The Inquisition is the law. They have the power to wipe out an entire planet if the need is dire enough. There is no second guessing them except by a trial of there peers or higher ups. They only ask the Adeptus Astartes for help instead of demanding it simply because of the great service they have done for the emperor

[rintinglen]

While in theory, an Inquisitor can call out any resource, the Astartes are a special case. And in practice, they usually don't call on a Chapter unannounced demanding service. It is precisely the general unreliability of the Space Marines that led to the development of the other forces of the inquisition. Deathwatch Units for Order Xenos, Gray Knights for Order Malleous, Sisters of Battle for the Order Hereticus, were all called into being to give the Inquisition better tools for their work. It is generally better to work with your own people, rather than call in some outsiders who may not mesh too well with the rest of your organization. Space Marines can be a sort of bull-in-the-china-shop solution, and not one to choose if all you wanted to do was get rid of some ants.
Bear in mind that while some Inquisitors have forged ties to individual Chapers, those ties are of a more personal nature than general. Just because Chapter Master "A" and Inquisitor "X" are old drinking buddies doesn't mean that Inquisitors "Y" and "Z" can make him jump through hoops. The first duty of the Space Marine is to the Emperor, But the Chapter Master has the task and authority to determine what that duty entails and how to perform it. He has hundreds of years experience in scores or even more wars and campaigns to draw on and will be properly reflective of the potential cost of any "demand" made on the Brothers whom he wards. Then too, there is a considerable range of Authority among Inquisitors. An Inquisitor Lord responsible for a Segmentum or Sector is a far cry from a journeyman Inquisitor who is merely seeking to root out some minor transgressors or heretics. The former has proven himself many times over and can be expected to have carefully considered all aspects of his mission before commmitting his forces. His Integrity, Faith, and Sense of Duty are on display in his past actions. A chapter master would give far more credence to a demand from an Inquisitor Lord than from a junior member of the Inquisition. After all, the Lord has many years experience, and his estimation of a potential threat is for more reliable.
Then too, there is a sense of Pride and Authority that comes with the successful practice of command. A Chapter Master of many years standing would tend to be wise, proud, and authoritarian. And I don't think that some 35 year old jumped-up Interogator could demand much in the way of obediance from some 600 to 1200 year old Chapter Master. He just might find himself posted among the missing.