Inquisitorial Rosette
Inquisitorial Rosettes or simply Rosettes are the badges of office of Inquisitors.[1][3]
Description
Rosette badges take many different forms, varying from Inquisitor to Inquisitor.[3] Examples include literal wax seals (often protected in suspensor fields), hololiths generated from archeotech projectors, and amulets made of theldrite and adamantine.[4] Ordinarily Rosette badges consist of a crimson sigil that may be further inscribed with the mark of the holder's Ordo. Inscribed with verification technology and coded encryption to prevent forgeries, Inquisitorial Rosettes are usually personally stylized and designed.[1]
The Rosettes give the holder immense power, allowing them to conscript any Imperial citizen, force, or asset for their own personal needs[1][3][5], open any door or read any archive[4], gain access to items with vermilion-level clearance or higher[3], and even hold the power of life and death of worlds in their hands through the power of Exterminatus.[1]
History
The title 'Rosette' stems from the hunt of Severian of the Luna Wolves through the streets of Terra during the Horus Heresy. Nagasena, a samurai of Terra tracked the loyal Luna Wolf through the streets of the Petitioner's City. Nagasena happened upon a young woman, Ecarter, who had seen the Space Marine ambush a squad of Arbitrators. Visibly shaken, the young woman was reluctant to give any information away but eventually told Nagasena what direction she saw the Luna Wolf head in. Thanking her, Nagasena gave her a jewel encrusted amulet and told her to go to his estate and stay there as an honoured guest. Grateful of the chance to get out of the Petitioner's City, Ecarter gave Nagasena the carnation from her dress, pinning it to his breast-plate and calling it a 'Rosette for luck'. Nagasena would later be recruited by Malcador as one of the first Inquisitors.[2]
Sources
- 1: The Inquisition (Background Book), pg. 75
- 2: Wolf Hunt (Audio Book)
- 3: Codex: Imperial Agents (10th Edition), pg. 15
- 4: White Dwarf November 2019, pg. 22 - Index Imperialis: Inquisition
- 5: Wyrm Hunt (Short Story)
