Inquisitor Imperium of Man Art

In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, an Inquisitor is a member of the Inquisition, a powerful and secretive organization dedicated to rooting out heresy, corruption, and alien influences within the Imperium of Man. The Inquisition operates independently of the Imperium’s military and political structures, answering only to the Emperor of Mankind. Inquisitors are granted nearly unlimited authority to pursue their investigations and are often feared for their uncompromising methods.

Roles and Responsibilities
Inquisitors can be broadly categorized into three Ordos, each focusing on different threats to the Imperium:

Ordo Hereticus: These Inquisitors hunt down heretics, mutants, and rogue psykers. They are often involved in purging internal threats within the Imperium, such as cults and traitors.

Ordo Xenos: This branch focuses on the alien (xenos) threats to humanity. They combat alien incursions, study xenos technology, and often work with or against alien races to protect the Imperium.

Ordo Malleus: These Inquisitors deal with daemonic threats and Chaos. They are responsible for combating daemonic incursions, possessing entities, and rogue psykers who have fallen to Chaos.

Authority and Power
Inquisitors wield immense power and authority. They can command the resources of the Imperium, including the Imperial Guard, Space Marines, and other military forces. They have the power to declare Exterminatus, a last-resort measure to completely obliterate a planet deemed irredeemably corrupted by heresy or alien influence.

Methods and Tools
Inquisitors employ a variety of methods and tools in their investigations, including:

Interrogation and Torture: To extract information from suspects.
Psykers: Trained psykers who can detect and combat psychic threats.
Retinues: Teams of specialists, including warriors, scholars, and tech-priests, to assist in their missions.
Weapons and Technology: Advanced and often forbidden technologies to aid in their tasks.
Notable Inquisitors
Some of the most famous Inquisitors in Warhammer 40,000 include:

Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn: Known for his extensive and controversial career, which is chronicled in Dan Abnett’s “Eisenhorn” trilogy.
Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor: A former student of Eisenhorn, whose own story is told in the “Ravenor” series by Dan Abnett.
Inquisitor Karamazov: A member of the Ordo Hereticus, known for his zealotry and use of extreme measures.
Influence on the Lore
Inquisitors play a crucial role in the Warhammer 40,000 lore, embodying the grimdark nature of the setting. They highlight the constant vigilance required to protect humanity from both internal and external threats and the moral ambiguities inherent in wielding such immense power. Their stories often explore themes of duty, sacrifice, and the fine line between righteousness and tyranny.