Inquisition

"Into darkness, unafraid."

- Old Inquisition motto

The first Inquisition was a group of people who, following the First Blight, rose up to defend Thedas from the supposed "dangers" of magic and heretics. The Inquisition later allied with the Chantry, abandoning its original name and splitting itself into the Seekers of Truth and the Templar Order.

In 9:41 Dragon, the Inquisition is rebuilt to address a cataclysmic event called The Breach.

The Inquisition of Old
In the years before the founding of the Chantry and the start of the Divine Age, Thedas was plunged into chaos. The First Blight had ended, the Imperium had broken apart following Andraste's March, and despite the spread of the Maker's teachings, blood mages and Old Gods cults were widespread. The Inquisition was formed around -100 Ancient with the goal of protecting the people from the "tyranny of magic" in whatever form it might take; blood mages, abominations, cultists or heretics. A loose association of Andrastian hard-liners, the group combed the land in search of these "threats" and some say theirs was a reign of terror. Others say they were cast in a negative light by history because their investigations and even application of justice, protecting both mages and common people impartially, crossed too many powerful groups. In these accounts it is suggested that the group was already known as the Seekers of Truth and that the "Inquisition" moniker was perhaps pejorative.

In 1:20 Divine, the newly founded Chantry found common cause with the Inquisition and they signed the Nevarran Accord. As part of the agreement, the Inquisition became the new martial arm of the Chantry, the Templar Order, and its senior members became known as the Seekers of Truth. Another result was the creation of the Circle of Magi, with the Templars serving as wardens for the Circle prisons.

The Modern Inquisition
"As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn. We will close the Breach, we will restore order, with or without your approval."

- Cassandra Pentaghast

Some time after the Revolt at the White Spire in 9:40 Dragon, the Inquisition is reformed. Like its ancient predecessor, the new Inquisition is an independent body, beholden to none. The reformed organization's mission is to track down and suppress the agents of chaos threatening Thedas, close the Breach, and restore order. The Inquisition's sovereignty however is derived from the allies who validate it and as the Inquisition's influence spreads, many will begin to look to it as a beacon of law that must bring justice upon criminal parties. What form that justice takes however is dependent on how the Inquisitor applies it to each situation. Sometimes the Inquisition's allies will request the Inquisition's expertise on other matters, such as counsel or protection.

The modern Inquisition, in a fledgling state, begins with the interrogation of Varric Tethras by Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast. The Inquisition's reconstruction is, in fact, a back-up plan by Divine Justinia V in case of a calamity within the Chantry or if her attempt to restore peace between mages and templars failed. Justinia hoped that with enough support, the Inquisition could challenge the very tenets of the Chantry to enforce rights for mages. The Divine's servants searched for a worthy candidate to lead the Inquisition, such as the Warden or Hawke, but they both had disappeared.

Following the massive explosion that killed the Divine and the Conclave, Thedas falls into chaos as the Breach threatens to consume the world. The late Divine's writ was invoked by her Hands, Cassandra Pentaghast and Leliana, declaring the Inquisition reborn and independent of Chantry authority. However, the Chantry has denounced the Inquisition, calling them heretics for harbouring the Inquisitor, who had been labeled the Herald of Andraste by witnesses from the failed conclave at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Leadership

 * The Inquisitor — The leader of the modern Inquisition and the player-controlled protagonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition.
 * Cullen Rutherford — Former Templar  and commander of the Inquisition's Forces.
 * Josephine Montilyet — Ambassador in charge of maintaining the Inquisition's Connections.
 * Leliana — Former bard and spymaster in charge of collecting the Inquisition's Secrets, in addition to being co-founder of the Inquisition, officially addressed as a seneschal. Also formerly the Left Hand of the Divine.

Notable members

 * Argent, an agent
 * Belinda Darrow, an agent
 * Cassandra Pentaghast, a companion and co-founder of the Inquisition (also formerly the Right Hand of the Divine)
 * Cillian, an agent
 * Dagna, Arcanist of the Inquisition
 * Hall, an agent
 * Helisma Derington, a tranquil mage scholar
 * Katari, an agent
 * Korbin, an agent
 * Lace Harding, lead scout and lieutenant
 * Luka, an agent
 * Minaeve, a mage scholar and creatures researcher
 * Neria, an agent
 * Rion, an agent
 * Rylen, a former Templar and Cullen's second-in-command
 * Sidony, an agent
 * Solas, a companion and elven apostate
 * Tamar, an agent
 * Thornton, an agent
 * Varric Tethras, a companion and a deshyr of the Dwarven Merchants' Guild

Recruitable members

 * Blackwall, a companion and a Grey Warden
 * Cole, a companion and (before coming to Thedas) a Spirit of Compassion
 * Dorian, a companion and Altus mage of the Tevinter Imperium
 * Iron Bull, a companion and company head of the Bull's Chargers
 * Sera, a companion and a ranking member of the Friends of Red Jenny
 * Vivienne, a companion and First Enchanter of Montsimmard

Heraldry

 * After the establishment of the Nevarra Accord the Inquisition divided into the Templar Order & the Seekers of Truth. This is reflected in their heraldries, as the Inquisition's sigil was split in two: the Blade of Mercy became the Templars' icon, while the all-seeing eye became the crest of the Seekers of Truth.

Trivia

 * In The Sims 3 University Life there are various mobile phone skins, one called "Age of Dragon" which has an Inquisition theme.