Difference between revisions of "Adeptus Arbites"
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The Adeptus Arbites maintains a presence on almost every Imperial world, headquartered in fortified precinct courthouses. The courthouses are equipped to be self-sufficient and to support a complete Arbites army. They consist of armouries, dungeons, barracks, firing ranges, scriptories, archives, warehouses, kitchens, gymnasia and garages. Courthouses are sometimes a world's only connection with the rest of the Imperium. Heading the Adeptus Arbites precincts are the Marshals of Court.<sup>2, 3</sup> | The Adeptus Arbites maintains a presence on almost every Imperial world, headquartered in fortified precinct courthouses. The courthouses are equipped to be self-sufficient and to support a complete Arbites army. They consist of armouries, dungeons, barracks, firing ranges, scriptories, archives, warehouses, kitchens, gymnasia and garages. Courthouses are sometimes a world's only connection with the rest of the Imperium. Heading the Adeptus Arbites precincts are the Marshals of Court.<sup>2, 3</sup> | ||
| − | The leader of the Adeptus Arbites is the ''Grand Provost Marshal'', who represents the | + | The leader of the Adeptus Arbites is the ''Grand Provost Marshal'', who represents the organization on the [[High Lords of Terra|Senatorum Imperialis]].<sup>2</sup> |
The Arbites are internally divided into two subgroups; [[Judge]]s, who deal with legal matters and the application of ten thousand years of case law and its precedents, and [[Arbitrator]]s who perform the work necessary to apprehend and punish those who break the Emperor's laws. | The Arbites are internally divided into two subgroups; [[Judge]]s, who deal with legal matters and the application of ten thousand years of case law and its precedents, and [[Arbitrator]]s who perform the work necessary to apprehend and punish those who break the Emperor's laws. | ||
| − | Senior Arbites | + | Senior Arbites fulfill both roles, with Judges getting their hands dirty, and Arbitrators learning to preside over lengthy court trials. |
There are numerous ranks and roles within each such as Verispex technicians who provide forensic evidence in a crime scene, and Chasteners whose job involves the interrogation of prisoners. | There are numerous ranks and roles within each such as Verispex technicians who provide forensic evidence in a crime scene, and Chasteners whose job involves the interrogation of prisoners. | ||
| − | Arbitrators are divided into many ranks and roles, each trained and equipped accordingly. ''Patrol groups'' prowl the dangerous | + | Arbitrators are divided into many ranks and roles, each trained and equipped accordingly. ''Patrol groups'' prowl the dangerous under-sections of city hives, ''shock troops'' break up vicious queue wars which often develop outside government buildings, ''execution teams'' hound the guilty through barren wastes and labyrinthine tunnels, ''snatch squads'' apprehend targets for interrogation<sup>2</sup>. |
==Equipment== | ==Equipment== | ||
Revision as of 04:00, 23 October 2011
The Adeptus Arbites are a division of the Adeptus Terra, devoted to enforcing Imperial law throughout the entire Imperium.
Contents
Jurisdiction
The Adeptus Arbites enforce the Lex Imperialis, Imperial law, embodied within the great Book of Judgement. Their organisation represents the soldiers and police of the Adeptus Terra.2
Each of the Imperium's worlds have their own government, laws, and their own local police forces to enforce those laws. The Arbites concern themselves only with the enforcement of the Imperial law, the broader laws to which the entire Imperium is subject.
Utterly dedicated and without mercy, the Arbites are feared throughout the galaxy, for they are the agents of a harsh law, where failure and incompetence are crimes, and the only punishment is death. Arbites are empowered to act as judge, jury and executioner - citizens have no rights, only members of the Priesthood of Terra or the Inquisition could claim anything so elaborate as a trial.1
Organisational structure
The Adeptus Arbites maintains a presence on almost every Imperial world, headquartered in fortified precinct courthouses. The courthouses are equipped to be self-sufficient and to support a complete Arbites army. They consist of armouries, dungeons, barracks, firing ranges, scriptories, archives, warehouses, kitchens, gymnasia and garages. Courthouses are sometimes a world's only connection with the rest of the Imperium. Heading the Adeptus Arbites precincts are the Marshals of Court.2, 3
The leader of the Adeptus Arbites is the Grand Provost Marshal, who represents the organization on the Senatorum Imperialis.2
The Arbites are internally divided into two subgroups; Judges, who deal with legal matters and the application of ten thousand years of case law and its precedents, and Arbitrators who perform the work necessary to apprehend and punish those who break the Emperor's laws.
Senior Arbites fulfill both roles, with Judges getting their hands dirty, and Arbitrators learning to preside over lengthy court trials.
There are numerous ranks and roles within each such as Verispex technicians who provide forensic evidence in a crime scene, and Chasteners whose job involves the interrogation of prisoners.
Arbitrators are divided into many ranks and roles, each trained and equipped accordingly. Patrol groups prowl the dangerous under-sections of city hives, shock troops break up vicious queue wars which often develop outside government buildings, execution teams hound the guilty through barren wastes and labyrinthine tunnels, snatch squads apprehend targets for interrogation2.
Equipment
The Adeptus Arbites are equipped to fight a minor war, but their main role is maintaining order. A single precinct courthouse functions as a base for a complete and fully-equipped army, capable of fielding vehicles, including Rhinos, Chimeras and even Leman Russ tanks as required.
In combat Arbitrators wear carapace armour. Heavy gloves and boots protect the hands and feet, while the head is encased within an all-enclosing helmet equipped with a rebreather.
Standard personal weaponry is the Arbites combat shotgun, boltgun, grenade launcher, suppression shield and the power maul. Several types of grenades are used, both lethal and incapacitating.
Adeptus Arbites in Warhammer 40,000
The Adeptus Arbites are one of the original components of the Warhammer 40,000 universe (although undoubtedly inspired by Judge Dredd). In the Ordo Malleus/Grey Knights army list in Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness Arbites squads could be used as an auxiliary force. In the basic Codex army lists included with second edition, taken as allies from the "Imperial Agents" army list, they could be used as part of Space Marine and Imperial Guard armies. In Third Edition the Adeptus Arbites had an official army list (Citadel Journal 29). In Fourth Edition they appear only in Witch Hunter armies, represented by Inquisition Storm Troopers using the option of replacing their Hellguns with shotguns.
Images
Related articles
- Adeptus Arbites Quotes which shows something about their worldview.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (1987)
- 2: Codex Imperialis (1993), pp. 12, 34-35
- 3: Chaos Child, by Ian Watson
