Witch Hunters
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- This article is about the military organisation from the Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe. For the Anime characters see Witch Hunter Robin.
When the people forget their duty they are no longer human and become something less than beasts. They have no place in the bosom of Humanity nor in the heart of the Emperor. Let them die and be forgotten.
~Prime Edicts of the Holy Synod of the Adeptus Ministorum
The Witch Hunters (or Ordo Hereticus) are a part of the Inquisition in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, similar to the Spanish Inquisition. It is their job to root out corruption, mutation, heresy, rogue psykers, and blasphemers against the God-Emperor.
Foundation
The Ordo Hereticus was founded much later than the Ordo Xenos and Ordo Malleus, created after the Age of Apostasy which occurred during the second century of the 36th millennium. The 'Plague of Unbelief', spread by the insane tyrant Lord Vandire, had severely destabilised the Imperium in a way not seen since the Horus Heresy.The Ordo Hereticus was created within the Inquisition as a check on The Ecclesiarchy, ensuring that another man like Vandire could not gain the level of power and control he did. Although the Ecclesiarchy has its own internal regulatory bodies, the Inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus act as another line of defence against corruption.
Role
Although primarily concerned with supervising the Ecclesiarchy and the Imperial Cult, the Ordo Hereticus has expanded its jurisdiction to encompass the internal threats to the Imperium; the witch, the mutant, the heretic, the traitor. Ordo Hereticus Inquisitors are considered to be the most sinister of the three Orders, as they must find their foes amongst the population of the Imperium's millions of inhabited worlds. The arrivial of an Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor on a world is met with equal parts awe and trepidation, as none but the Inquisitor know where his attentions will fall.The members of the Ordo Hereticus monitor the Wars of Faith inspired by the Ecclesiarchy, to ensure they remain within the objectives assigned by the Ecclesiarch. They ensure that the teachings preached by priests of the Imperial Cult remain true to the spirit of the Emperor's will. They regulate the wealth and territory claimed by members of the Ecclesiarchy, to prevent higher members of the institution from gaining more power than is appropriate.
The Ordo Hereticus is also called upon to monitor other Imperial organisations for internal threats, including the Adeptus Arbites, the Space Marines, and even the Inquisition itself. Only the Emperor is beyond their jurisdiction, and it is a brave man who crosses a member of the Ordo Hereticus.
The Adepta Sororitas
- See main article: Sisters of Battle
After the Age of Apostasy, the Ecclesiarchy was forbidden from possessing any "men under arms" by the Decree Passive issued by Sebastian Thor. A loophole was found and exploited by refounding the Daughters of the Emperor as warrior-nuns after merging them into the greater Sisterhood. The Sisterhood is an internal regulator, along with being an external army, ordered to ensure that true faith is spread throughout the Imperium and the galaxy.
The Sisters of Battle and the Ordo Hereticus have a common purpose; to protect the Imperium from internal threats, and to regulate the power amassed by the Ecclesiarchy. Recognising this, the two organisations joined together in their efforts, a relationship formalised by the Convocation of Nephilim. Although the Sisters of Battle remained under the day-to-day command of the Ecclesiarchy, they would respond without question when an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus called upon them.
Ordo Hereticus troops and weaponry
The Witch Hunters have a predisposition towards flamer and melta weapons. The Sisters of Battle are the main troops of the Ordo Hereticus, but Imperial Guard forces can be conscripted and Space Marines can be requested by an Inquisitor to supplement their force and capabilities.However Space Marines are not allowed to join or supplement a force that has Sisters of the Batttle. This constricts the capacity of the army and leaves less variety. The reason for this is unknown. However the Imperial Guard are allowed to be deployed within an army containing Sisters of the Battle.A full list of weapons and equipment used by the Ordo Hereticus can be found at the Weapons and Equipment and Vehicles of the Imperium articles.
References
| Warhammer 40,000 Articles |
|---|
| Main Armies
Chaos |
Daemonhunters |
Dark Eldar |
Eldar |
Imperial Guard
Ork | Necron | Space Marines | Tau | Tyranid | Witch Hunters | |
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