The Council of Faith is a ruling body of Inquisitors. Large cities or regions have a Council of Faith, which performs trials and arbitrates Inquisitor activity. The Supreme Council of Faith is located in Rome.
Overview[]
In every city where the Church has its reach, Cardinal Marzone institutes one or more Councils of Faith. Council members are chosen from the pool of inquisitors with backgrounds as lawyers, theologians, clergy and distinguished laity, and they are entrusted by the Supreme Council to maintain the hierarchy and organization of the Shadow Inquisition.
A Council of Faith comprises five venerable inquisitors. They administer the activities of local inquisitors, ensure timely reports to the Supreme Council in Rome and judge the trials of the Inquisition. They hold together the local inquisitor cells and manage their cooperation through reports and by providing a safe haven in a chapter-house.
Trial System[]
The primary function of the Council of Faith is the trial of crimes and heresies. The Council operates on a "guilty until proven innocent" premise and it takes more than begging for mercy for them to absolve the accused. The trial works in three steps: Capture, arguments, and sentencing.
First, inquisitors bring in the subject for trial. The moment a cell of inquisitors has enough evidence to convict someone of committing necromancy, consorting with demons or whatever the particular may be, they arrest the individual and, if possible, charging the individual for their crimes. (Accused exhibiting demonic powers or who attack inquisitors with such abilities are assumed to be guilty, and no trial is necessary. Likewise, inquisitors are fully permitted to defend themselves if need be.) The Council of Faith maintains elaborate containment facilities within the of its chapter-houses for dangerous prisoners, including cells, equipment, shackles, and a wide range of items for "containing" demons. Technically, the subject of inquiry is not necessary for a trial - the Council may try any individual in absentia.
Next, during the proceedings, the Council hears evidence presented by the Procurator Fiscalis. The Council weighs the evidence against the Catechism of the Church and the Council's extensive knowledge of theology, the law and occult sciences. If they find the subject guilty - and he almost invariably is - the Council retires and deliberates a sentence.
Sentences vary. For mere humans trapped in a conspiracy, by those practicing witchcraft or necromancy, sentences range from an enforced pilgrimage to a holy site to penance, a confession or scourging. For those who actively engage in heresy, practice overt witchcraft, or who have given themselves to darker powers, the sentence is uniformly death. The Council commonly burns the guilty at the stake, but it also uses more esoteric sentences, especially for demons and their ilk.
Once a Council passes a sentence, the accused cannot appeal or argue it. The sentence is absolute. If the sentence is penance or confession, the Council charges a local inquisitor to approach the clergy and see that the poor, deluded soul is set on the path to righteousness or see to it themself. If the sentence is scourging, the inquisitor promptly scourges the guilty in the chapter-house cells and then releases him. If the sentence is death, the Inquisition handles the matter quickly and privately. Inquisitors consult the Council on issues of carrying out the sentence if they are not clear on the best manner to proceed (this typically happens in cases involving monstrous of powerful demonic beings or their servants). The Council directs the inquisitor to those who have the information, whether archivists, other inquisitors or other useful sources.
The Council is aware that their power lies ultimately in the strength and judgment of the inquisitors. With mortal enemies who dabble in the black arts, the Council has the luxury of trials and sentencing. However, the Inquisition has no obligation to save those who are beyond mortal ken. The investigating cell makes a decision, sometimes swiftly, to either pursue a trial or to eliminate the threat before it imperils the souls of the Flock. In these cases, the Council authorizes cells to take the actions needed and fully report to the Council in the aftermath. The Council will weigh the evidence against the cell's actions and determine whether the action was taken necessary. In nearly all cases, the Council sides with the cell - rarely does the evidence of clear and present danger contradict the actions of the Inquisitors
Checks and Balances[]
The Council has a secondary, but no less important function: maintain checks and balances within the Inquisition. Inquisitors spend much of their time apart from their superiors, chasing after all manner of heretics, fiends and devils. Much of it takes a toll on the mind and the soul. Weak inquisitors die or become corrupt and betray their fellows. The Council acts as a supervisory party that may remove an inquisitor at any time.
Simultaneously, the inquisitors keep a careful eye on their Council of Faith. The Council can become infiltrated, tempted, bribed or simply fall into disarray. As the inquisition often works far away from the watchful eye of Rome, the Council is on its own monitor as much as much as the cells it supervises.
The cells and the Council strike a balance of inquiry and judicial review. The Council, seeing all the cases presented before it with the evidence, makes aggregate judgments about the inquisitors as well as the accused. Over time, it becomes obvious if an inquisitor is slipping in their duty to the Church and God. If the inquisitor simply hasn't come up with anything in a very long time, the Council sees plenty of reason to cast suspicion. It can turn an inquisitor into a defendant at any time and may use other cells beholden to it to capture, imprison, question and try the ex-inquisitor.
Likewise, the inquisitors keep a watchful eye on the Council. If a Council repeatedly rejects cases with solid evidence, "misplaces" records, overlooks obvious infiltration by the enemy, or spends of all its time bickering, the inquisitors can open a case against them. Overturning is more difficult than prosecuting an inquisitor, however. A judicial body must be on site and listen to the evidence, even if the accused Council is absent. Another local Council may sit and listen to the evidence, or the inquisitors can take it to the Supreme Council. If the Council is guilty, the same penalties apply to them as to any other accused of the Inquisition. Council's that lose before the Supreme Council are in a very perilous position, as it has its own teams of inquisitors deal with renegades.
The balance of power between the cells and the Council keeps everyone alert. Lies and politics certainly have their place in the Inquisition, but pointing a finger and bearing false witness carry serious consequences for the guilty. The Inquisition considers perjury a crime tantamount with heresy and murder and condemns it with stiff punishment, including time incarcerated, dismally from the Inquisition and excommunication.
Lifecycle[]
When the Inquisition establishes a Council of Faith in a new city, it starts "months of grace." During this period, the cells answering to the new Council enter the community and observe the locals for strange behavior. When the Inquisitions stumble upon interesting evidence of disreputable behavior - suspicious marks in the forests, commerce in unnatural items, disappearance or reappearance of locals - they report the matter. The Council notifies local parish priests that certain members of the congregation require confession and penance. As the inquisitors compile evidence, they turn it over to the Procurator Fiscalis, who compares it to notes of precious inquisition and prepares the cases.
After the months of grace end (and the actual amount of time ranges from a few weeks to several years - indeed some "months of grace" that began in the early stages of the Inquisition still continue), the Inquisition commences. It begins secret trials of true sinners, heretics, and minions of evil. Inquisitors question witnesses, compile evidence and prepare assaults against enemy strongholds. As the trials near completion, the Council orders the inquisitors to carry out the sentences in the most efficient manner while harming the fewest possible innocents. Councils may take years to complete their trials and sweeps of the region. Once a Council of Faith digs in, it is there permanently.
Should a Council of Faith fall, whether to the enemy, more mundane mishaps, or by corruption of its members, the inquisitor cells must build a new one. They quickly elect five among the survivors from the supporting cells to constitute the new Council. One of their member goes to stand before the Supreme Council and receives ratification for the New Council of Faith. If the cells are also wiped out in the assault, Rome will send an entire new set of cells and a Council to the affected area - a major blow for the Inquisition.
Reference[]
DAI: Dark Ages: Inquisitor Rulebook, p. 123-126