The Tidebound Inquisitors

The Tidebound Inquisitors are a formidable sect of witch-hunters who follow the Rule of St. Chlodomer the Righteous and worship Betshaba, the Goddess of Oceans and Water. They are dedicated to purging heresy and dark magic and are one of the few religious organizations whose central purpose is the eradication of demonic influence on the mortal world. Purity, relentlessness and the cleansing power of water are their guiding principles.

Founded by St. Chlodomer the Righteous, a legendary warrior-priest who received divine visions from Betshaba, the Tidebound Inquisitors trace their origins to a time when coastal regions were plagued by necromancers and sea witches. St. Chlodomer's rule codified doctrines and rituals that harness the sacred power of water to combat malevolent forces.

While the Tidebound Inquisitors are respected for their dedication and power, their methods and strict adherence to their beliefs sometimes bring them into conflict with other orders and local authorities. Their unwavering sense of justice and the fearsome nature of their trials often create a mix of reverence and fear among the populace. Unfortunately, their practices are often misunderstood and sometimes, when a populace is in a panic over suspected witchcræfters, carried out by a panicked populace who don't understand the power of faith behind the Inquisitor's tests and examinations. Almost universally, such panics end in tragedy, with innocent men and women drowned for no greater crime than being outsiders to their community.

Beliefs

1. Purity through Water: Water is a divine element that cleanses and purifies. The Inquisitors believe that all evil can be washed away by Betshaba's blessed waters.
2. Balance and Justice: Just as the tides are balanced and predictable, so too must justice be balanced and measured. The Inquisitors are both judges and executioners, ensuring that their actions are righteous and fair, even when local laws or jurists are not.
3. Devotion to Betshaba: The Wavequeen is their patron, and they seek to honor her through their actions. Rituals involving water are central to their practices.

Practices and Rituals

Baptismal Trials: Suspected witches and heretics undergo a trial by water, where they are submerged in holy waters. The innocent are believed to emerge purified, while the guilty are either drowned or otherwise exposed by divine intervention.

Sea Vigil: Before embarking on a major mission, Inquisitors perform a Sea Vigil, where they fast and meditate by the ocean at high tide, seeking guidance from Betshaba.

Salt Cleansing: Inquisitors carry pouches of blessed salt, which they use to sanctify places and objects tainted by dark magic. Saltwater is also used to consecrate their weapons.

Organization

The Tidebound Inquisitors have a fairly loose hierarchy, often deferring to Priests of Betshaba on secular and religious matters not directly related to their crusade. More important to the Tidebound Inquisitors are roles taken by their members, each with their own duties and responsibilities.

1. Oceansworn Archons: These are priests dedicated to St. Chlodomer who are only tangentially associated with the Tidebound Inquisitors. They are typically bound to a specific dockside monastery (called Tidemarks) or commanding a monastic vessel that gives succor, healing and training to active Tidebound Inquisitors. Those few Inquisitors that survive to an age to retire often retire from active service to become Oceansworn Archons.
2. Tidewardens: Tidewardens are champions dedicated to St. Chlodomer who have extensive experience eradicating demonic-worship and witches. Typically, they provide oversight to regional operations, including regional cells and have the authority to call and lead a formal Inquisition in a region to root out a particularly dangerous coven or group of demon-worshippers. If two Tidewardens happen to become involved in the same region, one will usually defer to the more experienced Tidewarden, temporarily acting as more junior members for the duration of their stay, albeit one that still commands respect among other Inquisitors.
3. Tideforged Keepers: The Tideforged Keepers are Brineborn considered to have enough experience in the field to take on one or more Novices. There is no formal process for achieving this role, though there are more than a few tales of Keepers who have taken on their responsibilities without first consulting a Tidewarden or member of the clergy and that decision leading to disaster. Keepers who have successfully trained Novices but do not currently have trainees under their supervision are known as Tideforged Sentinels until such a time that they again take on a new Novice.
4. Brineborn: These are the main force of the Inquisitors, those wandering hunters who have successfully brought a witch or devil-worshipper to justice. They are roughly analogous to secular journeymen, as they are considered experienced enough to travel and fight Evil on their own, but not yet experienced enough to take on the training of Novices.
5. Seacalled Novice: The Seacalled Novices are trainees of the Tidebound Inquisitors who serve under and are trained by a Tideforged Keeper or, rarely, a Tidewarden. They are expected to undergo rigorous training and assist their Keeper in hunting heresy.

Symbols and Attire

Tidebound Inquisitors typically wear blackened leathers or chestplate with midnight blue or dark oceanic blue-green cloths. Often, they will wear cloaks to conceal their weapons and hunting equipment and a distinctive wide-brimmed, fish-leather hat. While such attire isn't required (particularly if one must conceal oneself in hunting a specific evil-doer), most Inquisitors would rather their presence known, both as an indicator to the innocent that they are there to help and to terrify their prey into making a mistake. They always carry a blessed medallion of St. Chlodomer: a barbed trident pointing upwards entwined with knotted seaweed, typically crafted from driftwood or carved mother-of-pearl chased in brass.