In the unfathomable depths of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, there exists a powerful force of Inquisitors, the Ordo Malleus. Their ranks teem with battle-hardened warriors, for they stand against demons, entities that cannot be repelled by mere espionage or subterfuge. Instead, these monstrous adversaries demand the expertise of those skilled with sanctified weapons and the purifying fires of faith.
The Ordo Malleus Inquisitors delve into the mysteries of the warp’s inception, seeking to understand the nature of their enemy. They gather information on the creatures of the Imperium, training to restrain and bind the monsters. While the task often involves seeking out vulnerabilities of the immaterium inhabitants, some Malleus operatives go further, imprisoning the monsters in the mortal bodies of their hosts, forcing them to battle against their kin.
This vigorous order, tasked with the obliteration of any demonic entities, stands as the most formidable unit of the Inquisition from a military standpoint. They are supported in their endeavors by the legendary Grey Knights Space Marines of Chapter 666. The origins of this alliance, like those of the Inquisition itself, are shrouded in the final days before the Emperor’s Ascension.
The Brotherhood of Titan, unlike other Adeptus Astartes orders that fight against any enemies of the Imperium, is dedicated solely to exterminating demons. They stand ready to assist the Malleus’s operatives in their long war against chaos.
A distinct branch of the Inquisition, Ordo Xenos, not only studies and describes alien races but also determines which ones can benefit the Imperium and prepares xenocide campaigns for those posing threats to humans. Alien Slayers, the most eccentric among the Inquisitors, spend years, sometimes decades, wandering or living outside human space.
Their mission is to unearth as much information as possible about the races they encounter so that the Imperium can either benefit or destroy these Xenos. Many Ordo Xenos agents maintain close associations with Free Traders, often wandering in the company of non-human mercenaries or travelers. Yet, Ordo Xenos has witnessed more casualties than any other branch of the Inquisition.
An intriguing part of the Inquisition is Ordo Hereticus, the Witch Hunters. They stand like sentinels, guarding humanity from external dangers and their own weaknesses. The Witch Hunters of Ordo Hereticus are formidable and sinister individuals, often spending days in the torture chambers of the Inquisition or reading ancient tomes that reveal the essence of apostates and their plots.
The existence of this Ordo was guarded so fanatically that even other Inquisitors knew of it only by rumor for thousands of years. This changed after the end of the Age of Apostasy, when it was decided that the Ordo Hereticus would serve as a more effective hammer over the Imperium than a myth that could be easily dismissed.
As Ecclesiarchy grew, so did the ranks of the Hereticus. It is not uncommon for operatives of this Ordo to pose as adherents of the minor and servilely cater to a Cardinal until they gather evidence of guilt. When an agent of the Ordo Hereticus appears, awe and anxiety ripple through the people, for no one knows who the Inquisitor’s gaze will fall upon or who will be suspected of sedition. The Hereticus agents maintain a vigilant watch over the Ecclesiarchy, ensuring its loyalty to the Emperor.
Join me again in the next part of this series as we delve deeper into the labyrinthine lore of Warhammer 40,000.
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