Inquisition

First Appearance and Context

The Inquisition is invoked by avout during openings when weighing whether practices—such as carrying forbidden plants intramuros—strain the Discipline. Early in the current opening, two visitors who had toured incognito were recognized as Inquisitors during rites; later, following an aut of Voco, they departed the concent.

Authority and Structure

• Reports and appeals: The Inquisition receives appeals in serious penance cases and, in defined circumstances, can depose the Primate.
• Branch offices: The Warden Regulant and her officers form a branch of the Inquisition, maintaining an inward-facing watch over conduct inside a math.
• Uniformity across maths: By roving inspection and guidance, it works to keep standards aligned so that settlements affirmed after the Reconstitution remain in force.
• Scope and limits: At Orithena, a self-described lineage (pre-Cartas scholarly community) is described as not submitting to any Inquisition; this suggests the Inquisition's dictates are not universally accepted outside the Discipline.

Roles and Practices

• Enforcement and oversight: Avout treat the Inquisition as the authority that investigates and penalizes departures from the Discipline, including remedies ranging from probationary measures to full clean-outs when warranted.
• Inspections and inquiry: Inquisitors travel between concents, may arrive incognito among visitors, and conduct formal interviews and document reviews when initiating an inquiry.
• Deterrent in speech: Avout sometimes invoke the prospect of the Inquisition's attention as a warning to peers when activities seem to skirt the Discipline.
• Appeals of Book penalties: Doyns can discipline servitors by assigning readings in the Book; such penalties are appealable to the Inquisition, and an Inquisitor has hinted that disproportionate assignments would be overturned.
• Awareness of penances: Inquisitors are shown to be aware of an avout’s current standing in the Book and may signal readiness to review cases.

Observed Presence at Saunt Edhar

• Earlier in the opening, visiting Inquisitors were present at formal rites and later departed by aerocraft after a calling.
• In a subsequent aut of Voco, the Primate officiated without any Inquisitors present, indicating that attendance is situational rather than constant.
• Within the Mynster, avout colloquially refer to acting "under the nose of the Inquisition" near the Warden Regulant's court, reflecting its association with inward enforcement.

Observed Presence at Tredegarh

• During the Convox at Tredegarh, an Inquisitor (identified as Varax) is present, monitoring conduct and engaging with avout. His remarks implied the Inquisition’s willingness to scrutinize and, on appeal, set aside excessive Book assignments imposed by a doyn.

Descriptions and Characteristics

• Dress and insignia: Visiting Inquisitors have been seen in purple robes with distinctive hats during services, though they may tour incognito among visitors beforehand.
• Reputation and process: Described by avout as routinized and bureaucratic rather than lurid; officers may be familiar presences even absent an active case.

Current Status

Active during the present opening. Inquisitors are present at Tredegarh for the Convox, monitoring conduct and signaling openness to appeals. At Saunt Edhar, visiting Inquisitors had departed; inward oversight continues under the Warden Regulant, and rites may proceed without Inquisitors present.