Ebon Inquisition

The High Inquisitor sets policy. The Council of the Black Flame handles advice and political negotiations, while Inquisitors investigate and Ebon Templars apply military force.

High Inquisitor — Seraphis Dorn sets direction and policy.
Council of the Black Flame — Senior Inquisitors advising the leader and conducting delicate negotiations.
Ebon Templars — Warriors, paladins, and spellcasters forming the militant arm.
Inquisitors — Investigate, interrogate, and lead field missions, often alone or in pairs.
Acolytes — Trainees assisting Inquisitors.

Enforcement — Hunt rogue mages, necromancers, and forbidden practices; pursue heresy and dissent.
Containment — Recover dangerous artifacts and investigate the Abyss.

Investigate the Endless Abyss and control its influence.
Purge forbidden magic and recover dangerous grimoires and relics.
Regulate arcane study and secure political influence in Altoria.

Extend the Inquisition’s presence beyond the city.

Recruits often come from orphanages, military academies, and arcane schools. Zealous applicants may seek purpose after losses caused by dark magic. Members train in combat, detection, interrogation, and arcane arts.

Demonstrate loyalty and determination.
Survive the literal and magical Rite of Flames and take the Binding Oath.

Serve the cause without question, regardless of personal risk.
Investigate and enforce the Inquisition’s judgments.
Remain loyal under a magical soul-binding oath.

Rite of Flames — A brutal initiation through literal and magical fire; only survivors may become Inquisitors.
Binding Oath — Members bind their souls to the cause, with immediate consequences for betrayal.
Night of Vigil — At an annual founding commemoration, members fast and meditate; some receive visions of the Abyss.

Seraphis Dorn — A former Celestial Order knight whose hardline leadership seeks complete control of magic.
Celene Valtaris — Targets forbidden knowledge involving time or destiny and is infamous for trials with predetermined outcomes.
Arla “The Veilbreaker” Voss — Uses arcane means to uncover secrets and extract confessions.
Vaelric Korr — Commands the Ebon Templars, loyal to Dorn while privately doubting the organization’s direction.

Celestial Order — an uneasy alliance against dark forces, strained by disagreements over methods.
Arcanum Obscura — is hunted for forbidden research and dangerous experiments.
Shadow Hand — trades illicit magical items and relics.
Grey Mantle — its neutrality toward light and dark is regarded as dangerous.

The Obsidian Bastion in the Ironclad Ward has defensive wards and magic-detection halls above interrogation cells and prisons.

The Ebon Vaults hold dangerous artifacts and texts. Deeper levels are rumored to house forbidden experiments concerning the Abyss.

History

The Inquisition formed centuries ago after a cult nearly destroyed Altoria by opening a rift to the Endless Abyss. Successive leaders expanded its mandate and enforcement powers.

Some believe the Abyss is corrupting the institution itself. Under Dorn, severe methods and arcane control have displaced much of its early protective mission.