Administrator
Factions of Dark Ages: Inquisitor
The Holy Inquisition
- Overview: The Holy Inquisition is a formal arm of the Church tasked with rooting out heresy and combating supernatural threats. Composed of zealous priests, scholars, and warriors, the Inquisition walks a fine line between divine service and ruthless dogma.
- Beliefs: Supernatural entities are tools of the Devil, and heresy is as dangerous as vampirism or witchcraft. Only through unwavering faith and action can humanity be saved.
- Sub-Groups:
- The Monastic Orders: Religious scholars and investigators who apply theology and scripture to their work, such as the Dominicans and Franciscans.
- The Knights of the Cross: Militant factions like the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller, trained for holy war.
- Penitents: Former sinners or heretics who have repented and now serve the Inquisition, often with unique insight into the supernatural.
- Goals: Eradicate heresy, destroy supernatural evils, and maintain the Church's authority.
- Enemies: Supernatural beings (vampires, werewolves, mages), heretics, and even rival Church factions.
The Faithful
- Overview: Ordinary people with extraordinary faith who rise to combat darkness. These individuals might not be formally trained, but their unshakable belief grants them miraculous abilities, from healing wounds to repelling evil.
- Beliefs: Faith is the ultimate weapon against the forces of darkness, and anyone who believes can be a vessel of God's will.
- Roles:
- Visionaries: Individuals who receive divine visions, guiding the Inquisition or local communities.
- Saints: Rare, chosen individuals whose faith manifests as miraculous powers.
- Martyrs: Those willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, to fight for the divine cause.
- Goals: Inspire others, serve as living examples of God's power, and bring light to the darkest corners of the world.
- Enemies: Supernatural creatures, corrupt Church officials, and skeptics.
The Cathars and Heretical Movements
- Overview: The Cathars are a dualist Christian sect considered heretical by the Church, believing the material world is inherently evil. Other heretical groups also challenge Church orthodoxy, sometimes wielding mystical power or allying with supernatural forces.
- Beliefs: The Church is corrupt, and its teachings are flawed. True spirituality exists outside its grasp.
- Goals: Survive persecution, protect their beliefs, and in some cases, oppose supernatural threats on their own terms.
- Enemies: The Holy Inquisition, local Church authorities, and sometimes supernatural entities.
The Templars
- Overview: While formally under the authority of the Pope, the Templars are an enigmatic order with their own agendas. Some embrace mystical practices or secrets gained during the Crusades, leading to suspicion even within the Church.
- Beliefs: Faith and martial skill are essential to combating the forces of darkness, but knowledge is power, even if it comes from unconventional sources.
- Roles:
- Crusaders: Warriors who bring divine wrath to supernatural enemies.
- Mystics: Templars who study forbidden texts and relics, seeking to understand their enemies.
- Guardians: Protectors of holy relics and sites believed to hold divine power.
- Goals: Defend Christendom, uncover supernatural truths, and maintain their independence.
- Enemies: Supernatural foes, rival Inquisitors, and sometimes the Church itself.
The Black Friars
- Overview: A shadowy faction within the Inquisition, the Black Friars are an elite group of inquisitors who delve into the darkest mysteries of the supernatural. Known for their ruthlessness and secrecy, they often operate outside traditional Church authority.
- Beliefs: Knowledge is key to defeating evil, even if it requires consorting with forbidden texts or methods.
- Goals: Uncover the truth behind supernatural phenomena, destroy powerful supernatural entities, and manipulate Church politics to ensure their survival.
- Enemies: Supernatural creatures, rivals within the Church, and those who fear their methods.
Secular Authorities
- Overview: Kings, lords, and local rulers often intersect with the Inquisition's work, lending support or resisting it based on political necessity. Some secular leaders use the Inquisition as a tool for consolidating power, while others see it as a threat.
- Beliefs: Faith is important, but political stability and power take precedence.
- Goals: Protect their domains, maintain order, and manipulate the Church when possible.
- Enemies: Rival lords, rebellious peasants, and occasionally, the Inquisition itself.
Infernal Cults
- Overview: Human agents of demonic forces who seek power, wealth, or knowledge in exchange for their souls. These cults are among the Inquisition's most feared enemies.
- Beliefs: Demonic pacts offer power that the Church and God deny.
- Goals: Expand their influence, serve their infernal masters, and corrupt the world.
- Enemies: The Holy Inquisition, rival cults, and sometimes their own supernatural patrons.
The Lost and the Corrupted
- Overview: Individuals who have strayed from faith or fallen victim to supernatural forces. Some are potential allies seeking redemption, while others have fully embraced darkness.
- Beliefs: Varies—some seek redemption, while others revel in despair.
- Goals: Survive, find purpose, or destroy their enemies.
- Enemies: Often everyone, as they are mistrusted by both the Church and supernatural factions.
Supernatural Foes
While not a unified faction, supernatural beings such as vampires, werewolves, and mages are the primary targets of the Inquisition.- Vampires: Represent the ultimate corruption of the soul, preying on humanity and spreading darkness.
- Werewolves: Often seen as monstrous agents of chaos and destruction.
- Mages: Practitioners of forbidden arts, often confused with heretics or witches.
- Demons: The Inquisition's ultimate adversaries, embodying pure evil and corruption.
Themes of the Inquisitor Factions
- Faith vs. Corruption: The Inquisition walks a line between divine service and the corruption of power.
- Truth vs. Dogma: Different factions interpret divine will in conflicting ways, leading to internal strife.
- Man vs. Monster: Inquisitors struggle with the idea that the greatest monsters may not be supernatural but human.
- Redemption vs. Damnation: Even the most flawed characters can seek redemption—or succumb to despair.