The Inquisition

This describes the Otkorioni Inquisition, described in both Hero Wars and RuneQuest terms. In the case of the former, it makes an excellent example of a Hero Band.

Background

The roots of the Inquisition lie within the appearance of the Thanatari Heresy. It came to infest the cult of St. Lhankor Mhy when Miles Buchanan created the Golden Wand Sect, described more fully elsewhere on my webpage. In 1515 ST Scott Lochie, a famed sage whose comrades and apprentices had either been assassinated by Thanatari or fallen to his sway, who eventually rallied together a group of like-minded sages to combat the threat. One by one they fell, their investigations would lead to chaos lairs where they would be slaughtered like lambs in the slaughter shed. Yet Scott, driven on by his purpose, continued and his speeches would stir the heart of many a young sage who had seen what the claw of Thanatar had done to his people. At the same time, the growing cult of St. Urox, part of the Aeolian Church of Orlanth Logicbringer (which later was subsumed by Surantyr as part of the Henotheistic Church), was active in southern Otkorion. A foreigner from Heortland, one of those who moved with the early cultists of St. Urox, led many raids against suspected Thanatari cultists. His name was Argran Steelsword, and soon heard of Scott's endeavours. Like many of the early Uroxi, he was unruly, crude and uncultured, but was still blessed to have the wisdom to know his limits. He was quick to see that Scott could locate the chaos nests, route out the infidels and call upon the gods to single out the heretics, whilst his group of warriors could dispose of them. Within the space of a few years, they have proven that they were a well organised team of warriors, seemingly Scott and Argran were well matched as partners in this new band of heroes.

Numerous raids were carried out against the troll lands in the west, and in the covenants and libraries of St. Lhankor Mhy during the years between 1515-21 ST. Evidence was gathered, leads followed and cultists interrogated. It seemed almost certain that it was Thanatar who lay behind the Heresy that was spreading through not just the cult of St. Lhankor Mhy, but the entire country as well. In 1522 ST, the Finshad family appointed the cult of St. Urox to be the official patron of Valantia, much to the annoyance of the Church of Nomia at the time. With this rise to power, Argran convinced the cult and the Finshad royalty to fund the hunts for Thanatari. The sect was officially called the Athal Luslani, or Grey Cowl Inquisitors. Quickly, however, their name became simply known as the Inquisition.

The Inquisition were instrumental in keeping the Heresy from expanding to consume the Otkorioni, and in doing so ingratiated themselves with most organisations, religious and secular, within the land. However, they did not get to strike the killing blow for members of the cult of Arkat the Destroyer infiltrated their ranks, and gained information whilst working alongside them, so that they and they alone could destroy the Grand Covence of the Thanatari and claim the glory for themselves and Queen Kristine of Fiesive. However, the Inquisition would continue to prove it's worth by chasing away remnants of the Heresy and destroying remaining chaos nests. It was also about this time that more Uroxi joined, and the Inquisition started hunting out other chaos worshippers other than Thanatari.

In 1540 ST, the Churches of Henotheism within Valantia forged themselves into a single church, the Church of St. Orlanth Godsson. The Inquisition became a religious order contained within it. They were also on good terms with Orlanthi in the north and continued their hunting activities throughout Otkorion and Tinaros. A few times they forayed into Belstos to root out Boristi, until political pressure from the Finshad royalty persuaded them otherwise. They were also supporters of Surantyr's when the Conference of Henotheism was held, swayed by his promises of more power, support and influence. It is perhaps the activities of the Inquisition that led to St. Urox remaining within the Church, as the rest of the cult was far less interested in political manoeuvring.

Nowadays, the cult of St. Urox is waning in power. Less and less people believe that the Inquisition is necessary, the Heresy has not been seen for a long time, and other forms of chaos are a minor threat that could be dealt with by the Church Militant and the cult of St. Urox, independently of the Inquisition. The undead threat posed by the restless spirits in the south and the Salantia forest in the north is more of an issue for the St. Humakti cult, and the Inquisition has never thought fit to argue with the Temporal Incarnation of Death on the matter. Many a time people have questioned the broad power that the sect has been awarded, and the money that they take from Church coffers, but so far they have remained in a strong position.

Actual Name: Athal Luslani.
Form: Otkorioni anti-chaos sect.
Cultural Contest: Fearsome hunters of the Evil Emperor's servants.
Idelology: "What, you mean you've never heard of Thanatari? That's kinda suspicious..."
Look and Feel: Well organised warriors who hunt chaos and care little for etiquette as they do so.
Purpose: To rid Otkorion of chaos infestation, specifically Thanatar.
Reactions: Most people respect the Inquisition, but would rather respect them at a distance. The Inquisition have no qualms about taking innocent people into their interrogation chambers to ensure that they truly are innocent, and also have little qualm about the damage they inflict in destroying the chaotic influence. If they were not kept on a short leash by the Church and Valantian royalty they might be almost as fanatical in their cause as worshippers of Arkat the Destroyer.

Organisation

They are led by Duac Bemurok, a Bull Knight of St. Urox. It is unknown to the outside world how the sect leaders are selected, in reality they listen to the magical voice of Hrothmir's Echo (see below). The head of the sect is advised by a council of ten individuals selected mainly from wise and proficient sages of St. Lhankor Mhy who have served in the Inquisition, and the rare St. Uroxi who had lived so long as to be unable to fight anymore and chosen to remain behind in an advisory capacity rather than head out to one last chaos hunt. Below this leadership are the Luslanifal, individual houses of the Inquisition located in the major settlements in and around Otkorion (plus, there are rumoured to be hidden Luslanifal in Tinaros and Belstos). A single Knight of St. Urox who runs the thirty to fifty St. Uroxi underneath them leads each Luslanifal. St. Lhankor Mhy sages (known as Hunters) serve in an advisory capacity, although they are always treated with respect for their powers and abilities. In more recent times, less and less sages have come to work for the Inquisition. Hunters answer only to the head of the Luslanifal, unless sent out on an expedition, in which case they answer to the individual leading it (which can, sometimes, be a sage of St. Lhankor Mhy).

Resources

Leader: Duac Bemuork.
Renowned Members: Hamer Bemurok, Ruth Bemurok, Francis Halifar.
Membership: 390 members in all, about one quarter of which are Hunters of St. Lhankor Mhy.
Headquarters: The main Luslanifal is in Valantia, and has numerous records on those under suspicion of being chaotic.
Other Contacts: The Inquisition is so closely related to the cult of St. Urox the two are often mistaken as being identical to one another - certainly they have close relationships but are not the same. The Inquisition also has contacts with the cult of St. Lhankor Mhy and is on friendly terms with three separate temples to Arkat Chaosbane. It is rumoured that the Inquisition also know a being on the Heroplane who provides them with information.

The Inquisition have bases in Valantia, Urox's Fort on the border of Tinaros, Fiesive, Tempest Halls (although this is small, and mainly populated by sages), three locations in mid-Otkorion, and one small base near the Poldark. They may also have more secret locations in places where it might be seen as being political inconvenient.

Membership Keywords

If using Hero Wars then this section is useful. The occupational keywords of Thanatari Headhunter and Sages (who can become Hunters) are already listed in conversions to Hero Wars. They have access to the divine resource of the Hero Band.

Divine Resource; Hrothmir's Echo

Hrothmir was the son of St. Urox in the Godtime. He fought Tien, the monster god, and with his axe cut it's head from it's shoulders to make the gods Atyar and Than (later reassembled to become Thanatar). Hrothmir vanished when the darkness that came from Tien's severed neck consumed him, whilst his own head was taken and placed atop the body of Than. Hrothmir is revered as a great hero against Thanatar himself by those who know of him.

The words of Hrothmir, however, escaped when the darkness took his body and Than's claws took his head, flowing out into the nooks and crannies of the cosmos as they slipped from his severed throat. When the Inquisition was first formed, Argran Steelsword went on a HeroQuest with a magical wind bag given to him by a devotee of Orlanth. He hunted out the words, and captured them, returning them to the headquarters of the Inquisition where they grant wisdom to those who know how to utilise it properly. However, this is a secret known only to those who have proven themselves loyal to the Inquisition, and not common knowledge to anyone, not even the Archbishop himself.

Hero Wars

Entry Requirements: Must have a relationship to the Inquisition of at least 5W, which shows their devotion.
Physical Skills: Hear Whispers.
Mental Skills: Thanatari Secrets.
Feat:Hrothmir's Whispers (Allows the Hero to detect Thanatari, and with more difficulty those things that have had contact with Thanatari).
Secret: Escape the Void (Allows a Hero to render themselves immune to Thanatari Head Magics. Whilst they may die during the ritual, they can escape to the afterlife and their head/mind is useless to the Thanatari. The Thanatari conducting the ritual must also resist against the rating of the secret or be struck dead by Urox's might.)
Worshippers: The Inquisition.
OtherSide: Hrothmir's Echo is stored within a bag deep in the headquarters in Valantia. However, a ritual is known whereby the bag can be opened, someone can step inside and travel to the cave where the whispers were found. There is a way into the Greater Darkness, and where the whispers of Hrothmir reside - although they rarely grant anything useful except in the situations of greatest importance.
Other Connections: Hrothmir's Echoes are a remnant of Hrothmir, and therefore related to St. Urox himself.
Disadvantages: Rarely, the whispers tell a worshipper something so terrible that they never recover. Therefore, few people will ask the Echoes something for fear of what it will tell.

RuneQuest

The GM will have to adjudicate when a worshipper is determined to be loyal enough to be allowed into the subcult. They gain access to the rune spells of Find Thanatari and Escape the Void.

Escape the Void
4 points
ritual ceremony, one-use
This ritual can only be cast upon oneself whilst in the presence of the bag that contains Hrothmir's Echoes. If successful the caster is rendered immune to the Thanatari spells of Create Head and Consume Mind, and should any of these spells be used upon the affected Bull Knight then upon their death a Sever Spirit effects the Thanatari, who must resist against the Bull Knights POW, and the Sever Spirit is boosted with magic points equal to the Bull Knight's current magic points.