Inquisitor Grey Knight?

[Montuhotep]

Okay, this more of a fluff question, but does anyone think that a Grey Knight could become an Inquisitor and thus independant of the Chapter?

 

Reason I ask is that this is one of the possible fates that could be offered to Justicar Alaric in Ben Counter's series of GK books; Inquisitor Nyxos pondering to himself that whilst Alaric may not get promotion within the Knights due to his questioning nature and potential willingness to be unconventional, there were other roles that could be well suited to such a combination of brawn and brains...

 

Sound realistic or am I being daft again?

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Personally, I don't seeing it happening that way.

 

Perhaps as an agent or a facsimilie of an Interrogator but not as a fully-fledged Inquisitor, it just doesn't sit well within my mind.

[RedemptionNL]

Fluffwise, no, I don't think so, for mostly the same reasons you don't see any Space Marine Inquisitors of other chapters. Both organisations take recruits at a very young age and indoctrinate them to their creed. Creeds that can conflict with each other.

 

Inquisitors actively sniff out heretic and xenos activity, which often requires stealth and cunning. A giant genetically enhanced Battle-Brother is a little obvious, even without his power armour. Plus it would probably be considered a waste of precious resources to send a Space Marine/Grey Knight on wild goose chases.

[Gentlemanloser]

The old DH codex stated that a GKGM also held position of Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Malleus.

[Azekai]

Fluffwise, no, I don't think so, for mostly the same reasons you don't see any Space Marine Inquisitors of other chapters. Both organisations take recruits at a very young age and indoctrinate them to their creed. Creeds that can conflict with each other.

 

Actually, the Inquisition does make use of plenty of agents that are not the product of the Schola Progenium; to become an inquisitor you must be accepted as an acolyte into a retinue and then undergo an apprenticeship to a full inquisitor. Theoretically any acolyte could be groomed by their superior to become an inquisitor, but there are many reasons why otherwise capable agents are not suitable for this process. Assassins or GKs might serve the inquisition, but their primary purpose is to kill the Imperium's foes rather than ferret them out.

 

This trainer/trainee relationship would seem really weird though between a GK and a normal human.

[thade]

You know, the first thing that sprung to mind when I saw this thread was Hyperion from The Emperor's Gift.

Where he ended up seems to be a "last stop" for a GK, but stranger things have happened.

 

 

This trainer/trainee relationship would seem really weird though between a GK and a normal human.

This may not be that big of a blocker; a full-fledged, experienced Inquisitor Lord is hardly a "normal human". They are, in many cases, just as modified and cybered out as a marine, and even more steeped in Imperium lore and doctrine, which they simultaneously ascribe to, support, and understand critically. They are powerful and very influential. It'd take an Inquisitor of considerable prestige and influence to do it, but we have at least some evidence that it's happened before (the aforementioned reference to the 4th Ed GKGM-turned-Inq.).

 

ADDENDUM: I didn't include this, but was thinking it: the Inquisitor wouldn't only have to carry tons of power and influence...but he or she would also have to be a psyker of considerable power as well.

[Azekai]

This may not be that big of a blocker; a full-fledged, experienced Inquisitor Lord is hardly a "normal human". They are, in many cases, just as modified and cybered out as a marine, and even more steeped in Imperium lore and doctrine, which they simultaneously ascribe to, support, and understand critically. They are powerful and very influential. It'd take an Inquisitor of considerable prestige and influence to do it, but we have at least some evidence that it's happened before (the aforementioned reference to the 4th Ed GKGM-turned-Inq.).

 

True; I seem to recall a thread several months back where I was arguing with the Jeske over whether a commissar could be an inquisitor (it seemed inconceivable to him, for some reason). I think the only real limitation on who can become an inquisitor is the judgement of the inquisitor doing the training.

[thade]

I think the only real limitation on who can become an inquisitor is the judgement of the inquisitor doing the training.

That is true of basically everything within the Inquisition. :huh: Once you become an Inquisitor, you gain tremendous influence and resources (which translate to power) which can only be matched (and questioned) by 1. other Inquisitors, 2. the Emperor himself, 3. anybody powerful and informed enough to oppose them.

 

Not many entities fit category 3 which are not in one of the other two categories. <3

[Inquisitor Fox]

I think the biggest stumbling blocks for a Space Marine, setting aside the limited numbers of Space Marines argument, are actually mental as opposed to physical. 40K is a game/setting of dogma and religion, of blind faith in what you are told to believe. It is a society of one state religion that has existed for millennia. If you view religion (utter faith in something that cannot be proven) as the contrast to science (faith in only that which can be proven) upon the same "line" of thought, they're pretty much diametrically opposites. In this setting, the vast majority of humanity is on the religion side of the line. Inquisitors are some of the only humans left who really question, use rational thought, and put more 'faith' in deduction and reason than in blind faith. Any Inquisitor can get around physical limitations. One who is a cripple can still be a functioning Inquisitor (case in point: Ravenor), so logically one that has issues blending in and sneaking can still be a functioning Inquisitor (I would expect a Space Marine to lean towards the more puritan schools of thought and use their rosette as a bludgeon and shield rather than cloak and dagger style).

 

The real problem is finding a Space Marine with the correct mindset of rational thought and deduction. Of suspicion and always asking questions, then trying to ferret out the answers. They have been trained in a military, pseudo-religious mindset for centuries. Following orders and not asking questions (as a general rule). This is the same problem as most Commissars becoming Inquisitors. Some are perfectly capable of doing such, so it's possible, it's just very difficult.

 

This problem is compounded by other difficulties for a Space Marine (loyalty to their Chapter, limited numbers of Space Marines in the galaxy, being a living weapon more than a questioning Inquisitor, etc) which make it possible, but realistically not going to happen. Alaric is a special case being tied to the Chapter that's tied to the Inquisition in the first place. I don't want to say it's utterly impossible for him, but the books do sort of leave you hanging and wondering about it.