Inquisitor - Inquisitor Ranks: The Inquisition tends to be a surprisingly flat organisation once one reaches the rank of a full Inquisitor, as the only check on one Inquisitor's authority tends to be another Inquisitor or a group of them acting in concert as an organisation called a "conclave."However, within the conclaves of the Inquisition, which are usually organised to include the Inquisitors of every ordo operating in a given sector or sub-sector of the Imperium, there is some differentiation based on functional roles and the need for basic forms of administration, though such titles are more often seen by other Inquisitors as designating their bearer more of a "first among equals" rather than an outright superior within a strict hierarchy.This egalitarian attitude does NOT apply, however, to the Acolytes within any given Inquisitor's retinue.Inquisitorial Representative/Inquisitor Lord Terran - The Inquisitorial Representative is the voice of the Inquisition on the Senatorum Imperialis of the High Lords of Terra, the governing body of the Imperium. Although the role does not bring any additional authority above that held by any other Inquisitor Lord, it does put the bearer of the title in a position of unrivalled authority due to the influence they can bring to bear at the highest levels of Imperial power. The Inquisitorial Representative is nominated from amongst the Inquisitor Lords of the conclaves active in the sectors surrounding Terra, and Inquisitors that have previously filled this role for a term of service are thereafter referred to as an "Inquisitor Lord Terran." It is not unusual for several Inquisitor Lords Terran to share the role of Inquisitorial Representative at the same time. The maximum term that an Inquisitor Lord Terran can serve on the Senatorum Imperialis is five standard years, after which they must stand down to make room for a new representative.Grandmaster - The title of "Grandmaster" is sometimes granted to the Inquisitor Lord who leads a sector or sub-sector conclave of the Inquisition; they essentially are viewed by outside Imperial organisations as the Inquisitorial authority for a specific sector or sub-sector of Imperial space.Master - Where one of the Inquisition's ordos has a strong presence in a sector or sub-sector, the senior Inquisitor Lord of each ordo in the sector or sub-sector may be given the title of "Master" in the sector or sub-sector conclave. Their role is to oversee and guide the activities of the members of their ordo active in the region and provide counsel to the conclave's grandmaster. Upon the death of a conclave's grandmaster, a successor is chosen by secret ballot between the three existing ordo masters of the conclave.Inquisitor Lord - Also known as "Lord Inquisitors" or "High Inquisitors," Inquisitor Lords exist to help maintain the integrity of the organisation, and to watch over and guide its members. The title is granted by the Inquisitor Lord's fellows in their conclave as a recognition of an Inquisitor's power, influence and seniority within the organisation rather than an absolute rank, and is more a formalisation of a position enjoyed by the Inquisitor rather than an actual promotion. Promotion to the ranks of the Inquisitor Lords is by invitation only; an Inquisitor must be nominated by an existing Inquisitor Lord and have their nomination approved by two others. It is an honour that is only extended to those that have proven their courage, ability, loyalty and integrity numerous times. Although the title of Inquisitor Lord in itself brings no further temporal authority than that already held by all full Inquisitors, it is likely that such a respected and influential Inquisitor will have some measure of control over resources within the Inquisition or their chosen ordo and their control of those resources will give them some measure of authority over those other Inquisitors who wish to use them. For example, a Lord Inquisitor may oversee the activities of all Inquisitors operating in the area of the Imperium covered by a regional or sectoral conclave; or they may orchestrate and monitor the activities of Inquisitors who are part of an ordo or the smaller group of allied Inquisitors and their retinues known as a "cabal."Inquisitor (Inquisitor Ordinary) - The Inquisitor Ordinary is the official title of the vast majority of all Inquisitors are of this rank and title, with all the nearly unlimited political, investigative and military power it conveys.