THE INQUISITOR

A new dark fantasy background

When horrors rise from the depths of hell, even the heroes have to cast
their piety aside; for an inquisitor will have no rest till the wicked
walk the earth.

by FEDERICO PILLERI

arts by
Neil Spicer and Joyce Maureira,
used with permission

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INQUISITOR
Your job is to detect, apprehend, and condemn Skill proficiencies: Choose two from Insight,
the wicked; as a full-fledged agent of the Intimidation, Investigation, Religion
Inquisition, you are part of a larger group, a Tool Proficiencies: Torture tools
notorious and feared organization. Typically, Languages: One of your choice
inquisitors hunt down heretics and enemies of Equipment: a badge of service (a holy symbol or
the faith, but not all inquisitorial orders are a symbol of the authority you represent), a
religious in nature: many political authorities prayer book or law book, a scroll of authorization
maintain their own private police of inquisitors, (to act as a sanctioned inquisitor), manacles, a
sworn to detect and punish conspirators set of office clothes, a set of common clothes, a
against the crown. Perhaps your enemies are belt pouch containing 10 gp
not sinners or rebels, but something far more
dark and evil that your order swore to eradicate
Torture tools
from the world.
Weight: 8 lb.
Whether the case, as an inquisitor you are
Cost: 20 gp
sanctioned to act as detective, judge and jury. In their base form, torture tools
Feared and hated, you are nevertheless weight 8 lb. and cost 20 gp, but more
respected by those you stand to protect. cruel and creative minds can always
elaborate new ways to inflict pain to
others. Torture tools are used in
order to force the accused to
collaborate with the inquisitor, and
ideally they should be the last
resort. Sadistic jailors, however,
are often fond of torturing prisoners
with no reason at all.

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Inquisitorial Order Personality Trait
What was the specific nature and purpose of the d8 Personality Trait
order you swore into? You and your DM can 1 I prefer to maintain my
decide it based on your campaign setting, or affiliation a secret as long as I
can. Nobody expects the
you can choose or roll on the table below to Inquisition.
determine what is your order like.
2 I tend to pose too many
questions, even when I am not on
Inquisitorial Order duty.
3 There is no such thing as
d8 Inquisitorial order innocence, only degrees of guilt.
1 Religious order hunting down
heretics among the faithful. 4 My instinct never betrayed me,
first impression is the best
2 Religious order dedicated to
impression.
detect the enemies of the faith.
5 Everyone has his secrets, I must
3 Secret religious order directed
uncover them.
by the High Priest himself.
6 I can't tolerate those that
4 Fiend-hunting order.
assume no responsibilities for
5 Aberration-hunting order. their own actions.
6 Secret police of the crown. 7 I need to know all the available
information before emitting a
7 Order of inquisitors swore to a verdict.
dark entity.
8 I tend to annotate every detail,
8 Evil order dedicated to the even the most insignificant ones.
eradication of one or more races.

Feature: Sanctioned Inquisitor Ideal

Your position and your office are known to
d6 Ideal
those who serve or obey the same authority as 1 Cruelty. When in doubt, I condemn
you do. That same authority gave you the right them all: God will know His own.
to investigate with any mean and to rightfully (Evil)
condemn those you find guilty. In some cases 2 Leniency. To every sinner must be
you will have to cooperate with other granted a chance to redeem
inquisitors or similar agents, but even when not himself. (Good)
judge and jury you are a trusted and respected 3 Strictness. It is not my will
detective, one that nobody would dare to cross that judges, I am the executor of
a higher will. (Neutral)
as long as he falls under his jurisdiction.
4 Pliability. Every subject is a
different case, I must bear no
Suggested Characteristics prejudice. (Chaotic)
Feared, hated and nevertheless respected, 5 Protection. My duty is to drive
inquisitors are key figures in grim and dark out the wolves that prey upon the
herd. (Any)
times. They bear a great power, but must be
careful not to misuse such influence. 6 Authority. Should I have doubts,
I will always know who to turn to
have in order to unravel them
(Lawful).

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Bond Flaw
d6 Bond d6 Flaw
1 My master, the one who taught me 1 I have a secret in the closet
when I was still a novice, has that could turn me from
lost his way. inquisitor to accused.
2 I personally granted for a 2 I find lack of faith disturbing.
redeemed convict, and I am now
responsible for his actions. 3 I'm not new to use my authority
in order to pursue personal
3 I delivered a harsh condemnation, goals.
and now the family of the victim
wants to make me pay for it. 4 I can't suffer those who profess
ideas different from mine.
4 Even if we haven't seen each
other for years, my fellow 5 I'm sure that there is a secret
inquisitors can always count on conspiracy against the
me. Inquisition.

5 A young novice of the Inquisition 6 Those who are not with me are
looks at me as an example. against me.

6 The members of a different

faction within the Inquisition
are always breathing down my
back.

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