Adeptus Arbites - History: Throughout the million worlds of the Imperium of Man, crime is rife. Not just the petty crimes of individuals for personal gain, but organised crime on a scale never even considered in Humanity's past.Entire sub-sectors and planets have been in the thrall of illegal cartels and criminal organisations. There are even wayward planetary governors who shun the Imperium and treat their dominion as their own paltry fiefdom, claiming the planet's natural resources, labour and riches for their own.In these dire situations it falls to the Adeptus Arbites to defend the Imperium's rights and prevent whole sub-sectors going rogue for generations, or even permanently. The Adeptus Arbites is not a galactic police force; it has little interest in petty crimes such as theft, murder or tax evasion, for these fall under the responsibility of the local planetary enforcement cadres. The Adeptus Arbites is there to keep order on a far greater scale, to root out corruption, maintain the Imperial Tithe and to guard against witchery.From the Adeptus Arbites come the fearsome Arbitrators. Also sometimes incorrectly known as "Judges" amongst the general populace of the Imperium (this term actually refers to a specific Arbites rank), these men and women are stoic in their duty and unquestionably loyal to the Imperium. Inquisitors often go to the Adeptus Arbites when in need of a trustworthy Acolyte who is trained to think on their feet, combat-hardened and beyond reproach in their faith in the God-Emperor.Arbitrators are infamous for their prodigious stamina and zeal, and their ability to survive all manner of wounds and punishment in the quest to catch their quarry. Arbitrators are resolute and fearless. They demand utter obedience from the citizens they come into contact with.Where civil unrest and crime threaten the stability of a world, the Arbitrators are in the field: unflinching, ordering the local Enforcers, and hunting down the rabble-rousers to restore law and order.The Judges' methods are varied, not unlike the way Inquisitors go about their work. The means used can be different depending on their mentors, what Schola Progenium the individual attended and other such factors. However, unlike Inquisitors who have their own private agendas, all members of the Adeptus Arbites have the same goal and responsibility -- to uphold the Emperor's justice.Some Arbitrators openly investigate and make no secret who their quarry is, even if they are of noble birth or high rank. This can often lead to overt hostility between the Judge and his subject, although there is no question who off-world forces of the Imperium would side with should they be requested to attend.This is by no means the only mode of investigation; other officers of the Adeptus Arbites are quite methodical in their approach, meticulously sourcing evidence and questioning contacts and witnesses.The relationship between the Inquisition and the Adeptus Arbites is often one of the more cordial within the Adeptus Terra. Arbitrators often see working with Inquisitors as a way of further enforcing justice.However, such arrangements have not always worked so well. It has been known for Judges to turn on the Inquisitors they have been seconded to serve if they perceive the Inquisitor to have broken sacrosanct Imperial laws. This means Inquisitors of the more Radical factions must be wary when recruiting members of the Adeptus Arbites to become their Acolytes.