The Inquisition
From Valwiki
| The Inquisition (ret.) | |
| |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Greendale with various outposts throughout Ganelon, Lucca, and the Capital. | |
| Information | |
| Leader | Darius Marcello III |
| Population | Approx. 100 members.* |
| Color(s) | Black & Gold |
| Established | Year 54, by mandate of King Cedric Alber |
| Foe(s) | Ignis Fatuus, The Fervent Watch |
| Quick Stats | |
| Current Event | |
| Average Pay | |
| Starting Rank | Sentinel |
| Highest Rank | Grand Commandant |
| *IC: approx. 25. Some reconnaissance ranks not included.
It should be noted that this is old information. The Inquisition no longer exists. | |
Contents |
Establishment
The previous leadership of Chancellor Vaslavil Katissimo had left the crumbled Valikorlian Empire with little funds, and a shaky feud with Hammerforge, the great Dwarven nation high in the eastern Mountains. The General at the time had disbanded the military and fled from Greendale weeks before the alleged first battle would begin, leaving the future empire with little-to-no militia in its stock. To ease tensions between Hammerforge and Valikorlia, the interim ruler Arolas Kanosek, a previous Celdinite King, had struck a deal with Alberea, a large warrior nation to the south. If an Alberean royal were to take control of Valikorlia, then the existing Alberea/Hammerforge alliance would also protect future Valikorlian states.
Consequently to the General's decision, during the early reign of King Cedric Alber, the Third Valikorlian Empire greatly lacked an authoritative branch. To remedy this fault, the King privately spoke with Alvin Ordin and established the early version of the Inquisition. However, this early version was unorganized and, at best, a small group of self-concerned men. The second original Inquisitor, Darius Marcello III, had planned an incursion to blasphemy and heresy, but could not enact this plan in the current state of the Inquisition. By ways known only to Alvin Ordin and Darius, Alvin had resigned from his position, and Darius had become the High Inquisitor.
Darius quickly sought the friendship of the King, and they soon became close colleagues. Darius Marcello III had used this to gain the newly created harkbus, the first gun of any kind in existence. With considerable weapon power, and growing manpower, and with the King's financial backing, Darius had begin to carry out his defense against blasphemy and heresy; the main group aimed by this Inquisition was the Ignis Fatuus, and all mages who would support them.
The Inquest of the Ignis Fatuus
The Inquest of the Ignis Fatuus was a violent opposition of Valikorlian military and the whole of the mage population. It was the first major inquest planned and enacted by High Inquisitor Darius Marcello III. The inquest was in response to a prospected attack from the Ignis Fatuus and the widely anti-mage Valikorlian Empire. As the empire was beginning to recover from past failed administrations, the King commissioned the Inquisition to investigate the matter and remedy it in whatever fashion needed.
Not wanting to carry out a long investigation in to the matter, the High Inquisitor created a mandate that would require all mages to register themselves with the government. Those who did not register would be labeled heretics, defectors, or terrorists and would have a non-monetary bounty on their heads. Many citizens acted as free mercenaries who captured mages for honor from the Church, as by then the Inquisition had completely absolved the priest-run Church and took it for themselves.
There was not much involvement from High Inquisitor in the inquest past the initial enactment. Soon after issuing the registration mandate, he went behind-the-scenes, often noting that, "It is the duty of the military to draw blood; it is my duty to ensure that blood should still be drawn."
After six months, Darius had decided to cut back on the eradication of non-registered mages, and by the seventh month, most Inquisitors were released from duty. Soon later, King Cedric Alber absolved the inquest. In an excerpt of a note to the King, Darius says:
His Sovereignty King Cedric Alber,
For the last seven months, I have staunchly supported the eradication of violent mages who wish to not cooperate with our Empire. I have conducted a formal investigation, and the finances of this inquest quickly dwindle with each passing week. I have found no evidence of any further threat to the prosperity or sovereignty of the Valikorlian Empire. It is my formal opinion that the inquest is to be dissolved.– Darius Marcello III, High Inquisitor
After the inquest was dissolved, the Inquisition spent more time in Greendale, overseeing the Church and the military. Not soon after, however, the Templars had reformed. The Templars took on a zealous approach to a new enemy: rogue paladins. While the Inquisition provided support to the Templars, they did not actively pursue this new goal as the Templars had done. Instead, the Inquisition saved it's funds.
Imperial Dalmar/Valikorlian War
The Valikorlia-Dalmar conflict was, and to this day, remains the only war lost by the Valikorlian Empire. It started when a group of unknown Templars ransacked a jailhouse in Selnic, the then-capital of Imperial Dalmar.
As the military leader (the Templars had not yet taken control of the military), the High Inquisitor departed from his duties with Greendale and traveled to Selnic. He was granted an audience with Tsar Nicholas II, the patron of the Wolfe family. However, during the meeting, two unknown Templars attacked the city guards of Selnic. The Tsar, who had taken gold and a harkbus from the High Inquisitor as a peace offering, immediately ordered all Valikorlian citizens and officials out of the Dalmarite Empire. Soon-there-after, the Tsar amassed troops and sieged the port city of Lucca.
By then, the Templars had usurped the Inquisition and controlled the military. They enlisted many unskilled men to fight for the Empire. However, they needed the skilled men of the Inquisition. The High Inquisitor refused to lend his men to the Templars, stating that "it [was their] war to fight", alluding to the unknown Templars who had started the original conflict.
In the following months, the Tsar of Imperial Dalmar was overthrown and a fearsome General had taken control of Dalmar.
Months passed, and Dalmar had, by then, taken control of Lucca, Northpoint, Ganelon, and Bridgeton; nearly 85% of the Valikorlian Empire. The Templars had failed in each attempt to regain their land. However, by what can only be assumed as a gift from the Gods, they had battled the Dalmarite troops at Lucca and won. However, Imperial Dalmar was not ready to back down. Shortly after, the General of Dalmar amassed a giant army, and sieged Greendale, the last unscathed city.
The war ended when an Oungmung line had been ruptured, causing it to explode. The continents were torn apart, and every city crumbled.
The Marcello Doctrine
The Marcello Doctrine is the canonical code of conduct for the Inquisition, written by High Inquisitor Darius Marcello III. It was signed as canon by the High Inquisitor, Grand Commandant, and the Regent-Emperor. The first half states the rules and regulations of internal affairs, including promotions, demotions, investigations, mutiny, and command structures. The second half lays down the process in which the Inquisition carries out investigations of heretics and traitors. The last part of the doctrine labels automatic heretical beings: tieflings, demons, devils, necromancers, dark Dragoons, Death Knights, and many more stereotypical evil beings, including worshipers of the House of Troubles. Below is a summary of the second half of the doctrine.
- To define a heretic, the person must meet one of the following prerequisites: blasphemy, undermining the Church, murdering an innocent, harboring a criminal or an enemy of the Church or State, engaging in the act of blackmail, preaching under the Church without explicit permission. Once a person has been labeled a heretic, the Inquisition has the responsibility of capturing the heretic and holding an investigation in to the matter. The investigation is only over when the High Inquisitor sends an order of death, exile, or reconciliation.
- To hold an inquest, the High Inquisitor must have proof of a large number of heretics belonging to one organization. An inquest can only be held upon the agreement of the Head of State at the time. During an inquest, the processes of defining and persecuting a heretic may be bypassed.
