When do Radicals Cross the Line?

[Chengar Qordath]

One of the things I find fascinating about Radical Inquisitors is the way they violate the Imperium's fundamental rules in order to preserve the Imperium itself. However, the fluff leaves the exact issue of when a Radical goes to far more than a little vague, mostly because the Inquisition tends to be so decentralized, so there is no single definite standard. The only rule I have been able to find is that a Radical has crossed the line when enough of their fellow Inquisitors say so, which does make it more than a little open-ended.

 

So, I submit the question to the forum. In your opinion, how far can a Radical go while still being a loyal member of the Inquisition? When does collaboration with xenos reach the point of treason? How far into the secrets of the Warp can an Inquisitor delve while staying true to the Emperor?

[Myxx]

A Radical Inquisitor can go as far as he wishes..until a more bad-ass Inquisitor comes a-calling...

[KhorneHunter57x]

I think that it is near impossible to draw a line in the sand and say "okay, once you cross it, you have gone too far" as it is usually done on a case-by-case basis.

 

Personally, I think that as soon as any Inquisitor works alongside one of the Emperor's enemies, or if they make even the slightest use of Warp powers, then they have gone too far. Once planted, the seed of treachery is difficult to remove. At first, it may start with gaining information from a Tau trader, or the learning of a new psychic power from an unconsecrated tome, but soon enough the Inquisitor will fall victim to the foul xenos propoganda and work alongside them, or be using unholy weapons that bind the user's soul to Chaos.

[Justicar Valius]

Any daemon asociation. Daemonhosts or daemon weapons/armour.

Xenos asociation beyond killing them or torturing them for information, that's ok :tu:

using non Mars approved xenos technology.

Using anything to with psychic power/the warp without getting blessed and read through by fellow inquisitors.

 

All of the above are good but if a more powerful inquisitor accuses you of exocuminicate traitoris you may as well be dead.

[Grand Master Tyrak]

So, I submit the question to the forum. In your opinion, how far can a Radical go while still being a loyal member of the Inquisition? When does collaboration with xenos reach the point of treason? How far into the secrets of the Warp can an Inquisitor delve while staying true to the Emperor?

 

Until they deal with the devil, IMO. I would say that's the first clear indicator that is likely to be accepted by a majority of Inquisitors - when you deal with the enemy you're supposed to be fighting.

[Grey Mage]

Im inclined to side with Tyrak here... binding a Daemon Host is frown upon, believing a word it says or accepting its guidance is an act that will start you down the road of damnation at an excellerated pace.

[Inquisitor Fox]

My Thorian Inquisitors believe that the true enemy is Chaos, and any dealings with or use of Chaos weapons is treachery and warrents execution. However, they're not so worried about dealing with Xenos. :P In fact, some of them are of the mindset that the Xenos can be potent allies against Chaos, such as the Harlequins (although you do have to watch the sneaky suspicious up to no good Eldar) and the Tau (knowledge of Chaos via the Mont'au but not being influenced by Chaos means they may work as allies against it, not being susceptible to it's corruption). It certainly warrents investigation perhaps.

[Judanas]

My Thorian Inquisitors believe that the true enemy is Chaos, and any dealings with or use of Chaos weapons is treachery and warrents execution. However, they're not so worried about dealing with Xenos. :) In fact, some of them are of the mindset that the Xenos can be potent allies against Chaos, such as the Harlequins (although you do have to watch the sneaky suspicious up to no good Eldar) and the Tau (knowledge of Chaos via the Mont'au but not being influenced by Chaos means they may work as allies against it, not being susceptible to it's corruption). It certainly warrents investigation perhaps.

 

I have a similar opinion but then again I like Thorians.

 

Radical is in the eye of the beholder. Some would concider somone using any xeno weapon going to far others would brain the previous ones with a pulse rifle. Some believe that any change to the imperium is too far, some believe any change didn't go far enough. Some are willing to befriend anything not tied to chaos (Not the Nanoha way either) other believe any action that does not result in the death of the xeno is a bad plan.

 

They really can't get along.

 

My inquisitor for my Sister of Battle army is a Thorian with Recongregationist leanings. Chaos Bad, xenos OK, Imperium Needs Some Change.

[Brother-Captain Sharp]

Do you have access to the Radical Inquisitor's Handbook from the Dark Heresy line? That has a great section covering what it means to be Radical and the methods used by Radicals. Also the Eisenhorn books track the progress of an Inquisitor from Puritan to Radical, which might give you some insight. (The books are really good and I would definitely suggest them).

[KingDeath]

Daemonweapons seem to be still somewhat accepted even among the more radical members of the Inquisition, but once you create a Daemonhost you are usually fair game ( if we go by the Radical's Handbook ).

[Chengar Qordath]

Do you have access to the Radical Inquisitor's Handbook from the Dark Heresy line? That has a great section covering what it means to be Radical and the methods used by Radicals. Also the Eisenhorn books track the progress of an Inquisitor from Puritan to Radical, which might give you some insight. (The books are really good and I would definitely suggest them).

The Radical's Handbook leaves things pretty open-ended about where Radicals cross the line. Within the Inquisition, getting denounced as a traitor seems to be more about politics than any sort of ironclad rule; Inquisitors in one sector might be able to pretty openly collaborate with Xenos, while Inquisitors in another might find themselves denounced as heretics for relatively minor offenses. The same applies to the Eisenhorn books; there is no consistent rule. Eisenhorn gets called a dangerous Radical just for going undercover at one point, but still thinks of himself as being fairly Puritan even after he makes a Daemonhost.

 

Personally, I would have to say that an Inquisitor has not truly crossed the line until they are no longer primarily loyal to the Imperium and humankind. Xeno association seems to be alright within reason; the Imperium generally treats the Eldar and Tau as friendly enemies who can be cooperated with in the face of a greater threat (though still not to be trusted). Going off fluff and Black Library stuff, even Puritans seem willing to temporarily tolerate Tau when there's a hive fleet on the way or work in concert with the Eldar to contain a Black Crusade. It's common sense; the enemy of my enemy is, if not my friend, at least someone I should continue to allow hurting my enemies. The problem comes when an Inquisitor starts dealing with those races as anything more than temporarily useful tools and/or becomes to concerned about Xeno interests rather than those of the Imperium.

 

Chaos tends to be much more dangerous than Xenos, simply because the nature of Chaos tends to make it hard to maintain any sort of safe distance. It seems to be just about impossible to only work with Chaos a little; once you make any accommodation with the Ruinous Powers, you will eventually get dragged down the path of damnation.

[kiwitexansfan]

Perhaps there is no line....

 

Everyone in the Imperium is vulnerable to accusations.. there are none that are safe except those that are strong enough to safeguard themselves.

 

If there is a line, whose to say that the line doesn't need to be crossed to truly be acting in the best interests of the Imperium?

[daboarder]

Simple. Either there all radicals. Or if using the 40k defenition of radical, Its not unitl they have been deemed radical by a body of their peers, Who also happen to have a larger army.