Grand Inquisitor

The title of Grand Inquisitor is not inherited nor elected—it is chosen through a divine process of trial and elimination.

• The Purging of the Unworthy – Upon the death (or removal) of the Grand Inquisitor, a gathering of the most devout inquisitors is held within the Hall of Embers. Here, potential successors must undergo trials of pain, fire, and unwavering faith. Those who fail are either slain or cast out in disgrace.
• The Trial of Ashes – The final contenders are tested in judgment, where they must prove they can root out deception, condemn the guilty, and pass sentence without hesitation. It is said that Cyrath whispers only to the worthiest, guiding them to the truth.
• The Anointment by Flame – The chosen successor is branded with the Smoldering Sigil, a mark that does not fade. If the flame rejects them, their flesh blackens and peels, and they are declared unworthy. If they survive, they are sworn in as the Grand Inquisitor.

The Grand Inquisitor wields immense power, far beyond that of nobles and warlords. While the Emperor and the Sunfire Council govern the Empire, the Grand Inquisitor governs its soul, ensuring that faith remains unyielding and absolute.

Supreme Authority Over the Inquisition

• Controls the entire Inquisition, from the Silent Judges who oversee trials, to the Pyrewardens who execute heretics, to the Sable Hands, the elite enforcers who silence traitors before they can act.
• Has the power to override local laws, ordering the execution, imprisonment, or exile of anyone suspected of heresy.
• Is feared even by nobles, as their title grants them the right to accuse, interrogate, and sentence anyone, regardless of status.

The Keeper of Cyrath’s Justice

• The final authority on all trials of heresy, with the ability to reverse, reinforce, or dismiss any ruling made by lower inquisitors.
• Oversees the sanctioned tortures and purges carried out by the Inquisition, ensuring that Cyrath’s will is met without hesitation.
• Presides over The Ember Trials, where the accused must prove their faith by enduring fire or pain, with their survival seen as a sign of divine protection.

The Right to Name Enemies of the Faith

• Can declare individuals, sects, or entire regions heretical, ordering their purging by fire and steel.
• Controls the official blacklist of forbidden texts, deciding which knowledge must be erased to protect the faith.
• Has the power to excommunicate nobles, military leaders, and even members of the clergy, casting them out of the Empire’s divine protection.

The Whisperer in the Emperor’s Ear

• Though the Grand Inquisitor is not a ruler, they wield enormous influence over the Emperor and the High Cleric.
• The Sunfire Council fears them, as they can accuse even high-ranking officials of heresy, leading to executions or purges.
• When an Emperor strays from faith, the Grand Inquisitor may "advise" them back onto the righteous path—sometimes through fear, blackmail, or orchestrated calamities.

The Master of the Black Flame

• Some believe that the Grand Inquisitor is blessed by Cyrath himself, able to summon fire that does not burn the faithful but incinerates the wicked.
• Their black sigil, known as The Ember Seal, is placed upon all decrees of execution—once it is stamped, no force in the Empire may overturn it.
• It is said that a heretic’s final moments are haunted by the Grand Inquisitor’s shadow, feeling their presence even before the flames touch them.

Some Grand Inquisitors have become myths in their own right, their deeds spoken of in reverence and fear.

• Grand Inquisitor Malcairn, The Ashen Judge – Orchestrated the Night of Silent Flames, where an entire noble house was erased in a single night, their names struck from Imperial records.
• Grand Inquisitor Eleida Veyne, The Black Flame – Declared that no Lunar warlock could be trusted, resulting in the Red Purges that saw thousands burned.