Inquisition

Yes, I know they will lie. Everyone lies. I want to hear what they sound like when they are lying. I want them to know I can see through them.

Inquisitor Reuben, of the Assembly of Vigilance

Synod Judgement

• Assembly of Nine, Virtue or National Assembly
• Lesser Majority

Overview

The primary purpose of inquisition is to investigate and expose unvirtuous behaviour. The target or targets of the inquisition are compelled to appear for questioning before the Synod at the appointed hour. The priest who raised the judgement is expected to lead the proceedings; some prefer to conduct the inquisition entirely by themselves, while others will ask one or more peers to help them question the accused. Whatever they decide, they have one hour to asking probing questions to discover the truth behind the actions and motives of the accused.

Judgement

A judgement of inquisition may be raised by the Assembly of Nine or by any Virtue or national Assembly of the Synod. When the judgement is raised in a national assembly, it may only be used to inquisition members of that nation. The Assembly of Nine and the Virtue assemblies may raise a judgement against anyone - but the latter are expected to restrict the remit of their inquisition to matters concerning their virtue. The Assembly of the Way is usually considered to have a wide enough remit to investigate any matter via inquisition.

The judgement must name each specific individual who will be covered. A judgement may only name more than one individual if they are members of the same oathsworn band - either a banner, sect, or coven at the time the judgement is raised. If there are multiple names on the judgement, then members of the Synod must either vote for or against the entire list - they may not split their votes.

When a judgement of inquisition is submitted, the priest who raises the judgement is expected to agree a time for the questioning with the subject of the inquisition. If there is evidence that this has not happened then the Tribune will take steps to attempt to inform the subject of the judgement. Usually they will send a messenger to find the citizen to ask them to attend the Hub so that they can be briefed on the development.

A judgement of inquisition requires a lesser majority to pass.

Assembly

Virtue

Any priest may raise a judgement of inquisition in their Virtue assembly, but there is an explicit expectation that they will focus their inquisition on matters concerning their virtue. Historically, the Vigilance Assembly have often pushed the boundaries, arguing that being alert to all dangers; within and without, is literally the guidance on the Path of Virtue. None-the-less, attempts by anyone other than the Assembly in question to castigate a citizen for a lack of that Virtue invites fierce pushback from the relevant assembly.

Both the Assembly of Loyalty and the Assembly of Prosperity have been particularly active in this regard at various times in the Empire's history. The Assembly of Loyalty has frequently acted to strenuously defend individuals criticized for putting a personal Loyalty above deference to their nation or the Empire. The Assembly of Prosperity has periodically felt moved to protect individuals accused of a lack of Prosperity for failing to share their wealth with others, or for charging too high a price for the goods they sell.

The Assembly of the Way has a much wider remit than any other assembly. Formally, they are expected to be responsible for the integrity of the Way itself, employing inquisition against any individual or group whose actions subvert the Doctrines of the Faith. In practice this gives the Assembly significant leeway to issue a writ of inquisition to anyone whose behaviour is questionable. Historically the Assembly of the Way has often been the first to act to expose heretics and blasphemers whose actions threaten the Way but don't necessarily contradict the tenets of a specific Virtue.

At various times, the Assembly of the Way has been a crucial bulwark against the heterodoxy, pushing back against attempts to dilute the Doctrines with tacit or explicit approval of superstition or worse and has jealousy guaraded their right to employ inquisition in service of this goal.

National

National assemblies can only call members of their nation to inquisition, and thus traditionally focus their attention on matters that have significant consequence for their land and people. In the Empire's history, some national assemblies have been accused of acting partisan in this regard, inherently supporting members of their nation despite their misdeeds - but equally often it provides an opportunity for getting their own house in order and ensuring matters are handled by those with the appropriate cultural understanding.

Nine

Whilst it is unusual for the Assembly of the Nine to raise a judgement of inquisition, they have the authority to investigate anyone, and their involvement usually signals that the matter in question is extremely urgent. With their inherent ability to revoke many Imperial titles with a mere five votes in favour, there is often an expectation that the Nine will act decisively in matters where their attention is thus drawn.

Hearsay is half lies.

Marcher Proverb

Writ of Inquisition

If the judgement is successful, the priest is authorised to issue a writ of inquisition summoning the individuals named in the judgement to a formal inquisition at the agreed time and place. It is the responsibility of the priest who raises the judgement to ensure that the people involved are aware of the inquisition. In practice the expectation is that the priest will work with the subjects of the inquisition to ensure that the venue and date are practical for them to attend. Some priests take time to create a formal document for the writ, or employ a scrivener to produce one for them, but the writ can be delivered verbally if needed.

Attendance is a legal requirement, but magistrates must be satisfied that the choice was reasonable and viable for the recipient. Refusal to attend an inquisition is usually sufficient grounds for castigation and prosecution for subverting the agencies of state, provided that the subject or subjects could reasonably have attended.

The legal duration of an inquisition is up to one hour. The subject may choose to leave at any point after the hour has passed.

An individual can only be compelled to attend inquisition once per summit; anyone who has already undergone an inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another. An individual may voluntarily attend additional inquisitions after the first, if they so choose, but they are there entirely voluntarily and may leave whenever they wish. While it is legal for a priest to issue a writ of inquisition against themselves, doing so risks castigation or criminal prosecution for abuse of priestly powers.

The priest who issued the writ is expected to lead the questioning at an inquisition, but at their discretion they may choose to invite other priests to assist them in questioning the accused. Whatever happens, Imperial law is still in force during the inquisition. and any unlawful treatment of the person under inquisition is still a crime.

Escalation

If the inquisition identifies behaviour that warrants the attention of the wider Empire then the priest who issued the writ of inquisition may ask the Tribune to escalate the matter to a sanction, either penance, vindication or castigation. This escalation is submitted by the Tribune on behalf of the priest who issued the writ at their request. An inquisition can only be escalated for judgement by the same assembly that was responsible for providing the writ, and only if it does not name any new targets. An escalated sanction may use fewer names than the original writ of inquisition, but it may not add a new name to the list.

The Tribune will only escalate an admistrative judgement on behalf of the priest originally responsible for issuing the writ - but any priest with a judgement may use it to submit their own competing sanction in any assembly they are part of. For example, if the Assembly of Prosperity do not agree with the outcome of an inquisition performed by a member of the Assembly of the Way, they may submit a judgement of vindication in their own Assembly or in the General Assembly if they believe there will be enough support for it.

Magistrate Elsbet plucked her pince-nez from her nose and laid it carefully on her desk. She rubbed the weariness of a long day from her eyes, and then returned her gaze to the advocate standing in the doorway.

"So you issued James with a writ of inquisition as authorised by the Assembly of Ambition, but James did not show up?"

"That is correct, magistrate - we castigated him for his absence. And now we are bringing the matter to your attention to deal with."

"How generous. What time did you set for your inquisition?"

"Two hours past midday, magistrate."

The faintest flicker of a smirk passed over the Dawnish man's face. Elsbet sighed again. She briefly contemplated trying the case, but her time wasn't worth the fine the advocate was going to get, so she opted for sarcasm instead.

"Two hours past midday. But wait! By sheer misfortune you chose exactly the time of the Senate Session - and with that important vote on the assignment due. What a coincidence. I'm surprised James didn't mention the conflict when you sent word of the inquisition."

The man's face turned sour, there was no smirk in sight now. "It's still a crime, magistrate - failing to appear before an inquisition is subverting the agencies of state!"

Elsbet snorted in derision. "Oh a crime has been committed - of that I have no doubt. Inquisition is a delicate tool citizen, a scalpel to be wielded by a clever surgeon to expose wrong-doing. It is not a club with which to bludgeon your political rivals. Your transparent ruse to inquisit the senator at a time he clearly could not be expected to make is self-evidently an abuse of powers - by you. Fortunately for you, it is not technically illegal, so you are free to go on your way. I suggest you take advantage of that and leave me to get on with some real work - or I shall speak to the Gatekeeper of Wisdom about raising a suitable judgement."

She picked up her pince-nez as the advocate turned and fled. Sighing again, she put them back on her nose and returned her attention to the militia report. It had been a long day.

Further Reading

Core Reading

• Synod
• Assembly
• Cardinal
• Member of the Synod

Judgements

• Judgements
  • Appointment
  • Castigation
  • Challenge
  • Change of Doctrine
  • Exaltation
  • Inquisition
  • Mandate
  • Penance
  • Proscription
  • Recognition
  • Revocation
  • Rewarding
  • Statement of Principle
  • Veto
  • Vindication
  • Writ of Consecration
  • Writ of Excommunication

Additional Information

• Synod Positions
  • Conscience of the Senate
  • Gatekeeper
  • Virtue Inquisitor
  • Tribune of the Synod
• Religious Crime
• Imperial Theology
• Inspirations
  • Paragons and Exemplars
  • Known Exemplars
  • Signs of the Paragon and Exemplar
  • Schools of Thought
  • Inspirational Location

Click Expand to see a summary of judgements and other pages related to the Synod.