The Inquisition is an organization based in the Free City of Umberspire in Ulgu, where it primarily exists as a secret police force for the City Council (infamous for its Men in Black), and custodians of the city’s Soul Library. Its military branches also serve as surveyors of the Realms and contract enforcers for the City, and are often found abroad, away from Umberspire.
The different branches of the Inquisition serve directly under Councilmember Salazar, the Grand-Inquisitor, who rarely ventures out of the city itself. A veritable circle of Judges and Inquisitors manages the various factions and branches, and only rarely venture out into the realms to assist the the military branches of the organization.
Creator Notes
This army’s narrative emerged as the request from the organizers of the NOVA Open Grand Narrative 2019, where every player that participated in the event had to craft their own unique army story and background. They asked players in team Umberspire to fit their armies as playing a role in the city itself. Thus, the police-force of the Inquisition was born.
I have since taken this same army and their narrative, to many live gaming events, single pick-up games (thank you, Path to Glory rules!) and online campaigns. They started as a Legion of Grief from Legions of Nagash, and then as two parallel armies (Soulblight Gravelords and Nighthaunt) which draw allies significantly from each other. Every event I’ve participated has advanced their story, and motivated me to do new and different models. Some even in unexpected directions!
Nuno M @ WH_narratives
History
The Inquisition rose in political influence during the war with the Confederation of Nine, which concluded with Umberspire as the undisputed power in the Dawnland, one of the Thirteen Dominions of Ulgu. As enforcers-for-hire of the brutal laws and decrees of the mage-lords of the city, Inquisitor Salazar brought his hounds and vessels to every corner of the Dawnland to root out any dissenters and unmask coup attempts, serving as an effective secret police. A series of deals with the right council members saw the Inquisition be given vast rights over legal investigations in the city, and eventually management of the Soul Library.
The Inquisition today
Grand-Inquisitor Salazar is rarely seen in public these days, and his seat in the Council of the city has been thoroughly cemented. The Men in Black of the Inquisition still enforce the most brutal and silent “correction measures” deemed necessary across the city itself, and all investigative work that concerns the safety of the Council or the Soul Library. Everything else is left to the many guilds of the city, to enforce as they see fit.
With the expansion of the Inquisition’s duties overseeing the Soul Library and managing the “donation” of serviceable souls, the Grand Inquisitor established the Spire of Whispers: a grand abbey-stronghold lined with spells of soulbinding. Even before the mage-god Teclis laid Nagash low, the Grand-Inquisitor was weary of the necromancer god eventually usurping his control over the Inquisition’s forces, so he took measures to bind every ghost, corpse and bone construct in the Inquisition to the foundations of Umberspire itself.
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The Temple-Knights
The Holy Order of the Temple of Whispers was instituted to maintain the Spire of Whispers, and research places of power in the Realms on how to further secure the knowledge of the Library and break the hold that Nagash has on the souls of the dead. The Knights’ surveying army, currently led by Inquisitor Hastagar and the Keeper Zindimir, roams the realms for souls of interest and secrets of necromancy: never staying in once place for long, and forging deals and alliances of convenience as needed.
They are a dedicated force of spectral champions, selected from the Inquisition’s many conquered and donated souls. Their memories only distant murmurs and their deeds in life concealed deep in the Tomb of Memories, the record-keeping vaults of the Inquisition.
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The Hounds of the Inquisition
To ensure the safety of Umberspire and teach a lesson to the most nosy of Nagash’s servants, the Grand-Inquisitor gathered the best trackers and enforcers into a specialist strike force. One that could walk the realm’s edge and beyond, learn the secret shadowpaths, and gather intelligence on the enemies of the mage-council. For unbeknownst to many in the Realms, the researchers of the Soul Library and empowered seers of Umberspire trade in their own form of clairvoyancy, and compile as many prophecies as they can get their hands on. A glimpse into the Great Plan, of sorts.
From the edgekeep Angunfels, staring out into the space outside of Ulgu, Inquisitor Vollastor Voidwalker sails off with his hounds and corpse-armies out into the Realms, sniffing out threats to Umberspire’s desired future, and collecting those invaluable souls pivotal to Council’s plan.
The Story So Far...
These are the exploits of the armies and warbands of the Inquisition of Umberspire.
(From most recent to oldest).
The games that built up to this story took place during Holy Havoc 2022. You can find the other parts of the story within the 'Revenge of Rondhol' campaign here. The Khardirian team made up of the Inquisition of Umberspire Templar strike force and the shock troops...
This story of the Inquisition of Umberspire takes place during a local ‘ Arvard Ardboyz Path to Glory' campaign. In the Realm of Ghur in far Lendu, beyond the shadow of Beastgrave, there lies the volcanic valley of known as the Obsidian Vale. For many generations...
This story of the Inquisition of Umberspire takes place during the 'Revenge of Rondhol' campaign. Check the campaign page for backstory. Act 1 "Hello, sorry to intrude, but this letter doesn't have a distinct address? So I'm giving it to the Council, as it seems...
After heeding the call of the Lord Menthizar of the Cult of the Unseen, Inquisitor Vollastor's messengers explained the Inquisition's interest in the Toothspire as a potential leyline focus, as well as in establishing a relationship with the Cult. The negotiations...
Using the power of the Bloodgullet Mawpath, the Temple-Knights of the Inquisition of Umberspire followed the rumours and finally punched a hole into the vaunted mystery-land that is the Interstice. A quick survey of the area, and potential points of interest, saw...
As the Inquisition's forces mobilize across the island to steal information and relics from the hands of the other explorer armies, a sudden raid catches their spectral forces by surprise. One of the followers of Grolghur Festerhorn's Excremental Herd led his...
These are the heads behind the armies and branches of the Inquisition. They are the protagonists whose actions define the future of the organization.
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Notable Individuals in the Inquisition
This is the cast of characters that follow the Inquisition leaders’ orders, and often are the ones who get all the dirty work done. They do not always get along with their superiors, but can sometimes be found leading strike forces on their own, at their request.
Stalking the leylines in search of captives and arcane secrets, these hunters travel from Realm to Realm leaving little evidence of their passage... More will be revealed in time.
These are the real estate holdings that the military branches of the Inquisition possesses. Some of these are out in the Realms, away from the Dawnland and Ulgu, conquered or gifted during the Inquisition’s many travels.
Umberspire is the new center of civilization in the Dawnlands, after the unbelievable devastation wrecked by the Godbeast Nehnaxiir many decades ago. Reputation of the City Today the city is the undisputed center of civilization in the Dawnland, and a neutral point...
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