Adeptus Ministorum - Inquisition and the Adeptus Ministorum: The current form of the Ecclesiarchy is a relatively new institution of the Imperium, having been formed out of the disastrous events of the Age of Apostasy. Before that time, the Imperial Creed was entirely fragmented into multitudinous denominations, each vying for supremacy and often accusing the others of all manner of heresies.After the reformation that followed the Age of Apostasy, the Ecclesiarchy in its present administrative state was formed, with a centralised power structure intended to ensure that no repeat of the preceding events was possible. While the Imperial Creed still exists in as many forms as it ever did, there is at least a power structure in place to which the billions of priests are answerable.Relations between the Inquisition and the Adeptus Ministorum can vary enormously. The Ecclesiarchy is jealous of its roles as shepherd of Mankind's soul and temporal representative of the deified Emperor. The Inquisition, of course, regards itself as the ultimate arbiter and judge, and also answerable only to the Emperor.Needless to say, there exists great potential for the two institutions to come to blows. A great deal of mutual distrust often exists between Inquisitors and the officials of the Ecclesiarchy, a state made worse when the Inquisitor holds anything other than an overtly Puritan outlook. It is perhaps unsurprising that it is the more Puritan of Inquisitors who maintain links with Adeptus Ministorum, particularly those of the Ordo Hereticus.As previously mentioned, the Inquisition often has need of the battle-sisters of the Adepta Sororitas, but there are other allies that are often of use to the Inquisitor, provided they can demonstrate a suitably Puritan mindset.Arco-Flagellants are a case in point. Arco-Flagellation is a punishment reserved for the most vile of blasphemers. The condemned is surgically altered in the manner of a servitor, and his mind and spirit are subjected to a ritual cleansing that entirely destroys the personality and reduces the subject to a raving maniac, desiring only to atone for his sins in the uncontrolled frenzy of battle against the Ecclesiarchy's foes.An even more potent example of the same process is to be found in the Penitent Engine, a Purity Seal-adorned monstrosity as large as a Space Marine Dreadnought, powered by the raving guilt of a condemned sinner.The Ecclesiarchy creates such constructs by way of punishment of the guilty, setting them loose against their foes. The Inquisition values such machines too, for they are incapable of feeling fear and are entirely expendable.Those Inquisitors with a particularly positive relationship with the Adeptus Ministorum may be fortunate enough to find an ally, in the form of a Hierophant. These pious and experienced officers of the Imperial Creed often walk their own path, following the call of their faith wherever it may take them.Frequently, it takes them into the service of the Inquisition, where they are able to combat the enemies of the faith at the very front line of the war for the soul of Humanity.However, while Puritan Inquisitors often find common cause with the Ecclesiarchy, the more Radical of the Holy Ordos are commonly regarded as Heretics, deserving only a quick death. Even moderately Puritan Inquisitors can fall victim to this mentality, due to their use of psychic powers and operatives.A notable example of this is the conflict between Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn and Ecclesiarchy Witchfinder Tantalid, which ended with Tantalid's death by Eisenhorn's blade.