'Tongues of fire on high a-flaring,
News of foemen near declaring,
To heroic deeds of daring,
Call ye fearless men!'
The Order of the Penitent Ministry of Saint Elias the Radiant Light or, as they are more commonly known, the Inquisition, are an order of brothers and sisters of the Anhald church, bound in service to the one true God, Ignis Synnove. Their duties are to uphold the only law that matters, the law of God, with fire and sword no matter what the circumstances may be.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
The leader of the Inquisition is the Kriegsbischof, which in common means 'war bishop'. In common, however, the title is referred to as Lord Inquisitor The only land the Lord Inquisitor may hold is a monastery or holy citadel, which may not have any ties to the house he belonged to before devoting his life to the Inquisition. Additionally, the only two people the Lord Inquisitor can serve are the King and God, for bowing to the wishes of mortal men is to put God second. The punishment for this crime is three years as a wandering flagellant before beginning again as a servant to the new Lord Inquisitor
Below the Lord Inquisitor are the Pious Brothers, knights and men-at-arms who serve the order as field judges and executioners. Despite the name, both men and women may take part in this position. They are chosen from Repentant who prove themselves as faithful to God, and from knights and lords who leave their positions to join the Inquisition. They may raise families but cannot hold land, and cannot inherit if born into nobility. Their families are also forbidden from holding land, until the family member that belongs to the Inquisition has been deceased for two years.
Below the Pious Brothers are the Repentant, peasants or second sons of noblemen who devote their lives to the Inquisition but have yet to gain the experience of their betters in the order. The Repentant must live their lives in a monastery of the Inquisition, and may not have relations outside of their monastery until they have proven their loyalty with six months of service. Collectively with Pious Brothers, they are referred to as Inquisitors. They must address each other as Brother and Sister.
When a new member of the Inquisition proves his loyalty, or joins the Pious Brothers, their head is shaved by their comrades, and they are anointed with oil and bathed in holy water. Once their body is purified in this manner, they blindfold themselves and walk, with the guidance of other Inquisitors, through a field of burning coals. If they trust their companions and make it through unburned, they are given a week's leave to celebrate before graduating to the position of full Inquisitors. If they fail, they retake the test once every six months.
CRIME AND JUDGEMENT
Crimes covered by the Inquisition are heresy, witchcraft, defamation, and apostasy. Respectively these are practicing false religions, engaging in black magic, speaking against the church, and betraying the church. The punishment for all crime carries one similar idea - Reeducation or death.
Heretics are thought of first as uneducated, like children or animals, who are not yet mentally developed enough to understand the truths of Ignis Synnove. An Inquisitor must first seek to cure heretics of their mental disease and teach them the truth of Ignis Synnove. If this fails, they are to be punished physically and mentally until they submit to reeducation. How this is done is up to the Inquisitor judging their crimes. If they fail to submit to reeducation, heretics are to be crucified to demonstrate to other heretics the punishment for working against God.
Witchcraft is the practice of magic that does not fall into the confines of a school of magical practice. Witchcraft is considered a knowledgeable crime- Meaning one you cannot practice without intending to. If it cannot be proven by the witch in question [which is a gender neutral term in Anhald] that they had no intentions of their crime, they are to be burned to death.
Defamation is, like witchcraft, knowledgeable, although children under nine cannot be charged with defamation, as it is believed they are not yet developed enough to comprehend the truth of Ignis Synnove. Preaching against Ignis, or preaching for the worship of Demons, is considered defamation. Depending on the severity of the insults to God, the criminal may lose a hand, their tongue, or in the worst and most irredeemable cases, their eyes. Once this is done, it is the duty of the Inquisitor to reeducate the criminal.
Apostasy is betrayal of Ignis Synnove and working against the church. There is no mercy for traitors who knowingly work against those who trusted them. The punishment for apostasy is to be flayed alive. Murdering another Inquisitor or a man of the faith is considered apostasy, even if the criminal continues to pray to Ignis Synnove.
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