Changes

Known colloquially as '''Daemonhunters''', the members of the Ordo Malleus are individuals of great strength of will, able to face the agents of Chaos without flinching. Due to the highly secretive nature of its mission and the great mental strength required to combat the forces of Chaos, the Ordo Malleus is by far the smallest major Order of the Inquisition.{{Fn|6}} However, the strength of the inquisitors of the Ordo is bolstered by their [[Chamber Militant]], the [[Grey Knights]].{{Cite Marker EndFn|1d}}

The Ordo Malleus is considered one of the oldest and most ancient arms of the Inquisition that was created by the decree of the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]] prior to his internment and ascension to the [[Golden Throne]] of [[Terra]]. It was originally established to police the thoughts and deeds of the [[Imperium]] itself which meant it was charged with the purity of other [[Inquisitor]]s.{{Fn|2b}} In the hours following the defeat of [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]], and understanding the severity of his own wounds, the Emperor believed that others must fill his role guarding [[human]]ity from the [[Warp]], to thwart the designs of the Chaos Gods. {{Cite Marker EndFn|1c}}{{Fn|1d}}

|quote = '''''They shall be My Hammer, the sword in My hand, the gauntlet about My fist, the bane of My foes and woes of the treacherous. When no others may stand beside them, they shall fight. Only the greatest shall enter their ranks, for unto them do I entrust stewardship over the Gates of Hell.'''''{{Cite Marker End}}

The power and authority of the Ordo Malleus extends beyond the nominal boundaries of the [[Inquisition]], a jurisdictional extension known as the '''Malleus Remit'''. In events of grave emergency concerning potential daemonic threats, a Malleus Inquisitor may demand the services and resources of any Imperial servant or organisation, a request which may not be refused on pain of death. Even the [[High Lords of Terra]] and the [[Space Marines|Adeptus Astartes]] are beholden to follow the '''Malleus Remit''' without hesitation{{Cite Marker End}}.

In normal circumstances, the Ordo Malleus focuses its investigations toward two main threats:{{Cite Marker EndFn|1c}}:

* '''The Daemon Without''': [[daemons]] that have physically manifested in the material universe and mortals dedicated to the service of [[Chaos]].{{Fn|1c}}* '''The Daemon Within''': inquisitors declared [[Extremis Diabolus]] for heretical actions.{{Fn|1c}}

Unlike the Imperial Inquisition as a whole, the Ordo Malleus has a more rigid and formalised hierarchical structure. It is controlled by a council of 169 Masters, all of whom have the right to have a direct audience with the Emperor. Their authority even extends to the [[Inquisitorial Representative]] who has been, in the past, tried and executed by the Masters of the Ordo. Below the Masters are the Proctors and Proctors Minor with each being responsible as well as in control of a Chamber of the Ordo. The Chambers themselves are named after their founding Proctor and serve as the basic unit of the Ordo Malleus. Inquisitors Ordinary form the rank and file whilst a parallel organisation is the ''"Chambers Theoretical and Historical"'' that consists of Inquisitors Historical. {{Fn|2b}} Inquisitors Historical are formed from the older ranking members who are unable to continue their service either due to ill-health or because of infirmity. Instead, they are assigned research and collation projects at the [[Administratum]] Libraries. Within the Chambers, the numbers of Inquisitors Ordinary and Historical to only a few in number to hundreds. The Chambers Theoretical and Historical has only a few score members that are engaged in research and disputation whilst the Chambers Practical has hundreds who are responsible for [[sector]] establishments of the Ordo Malleus in the field.{{Fn|2b}}

The armies of the Ordo Malleus are small, as only a select few individuals are trusted by the Inquisition with extensive knowledge of [[Chaos]]. Daemonhunter strike forces usually consist only of a Malleus inquisitor, the inquisitor's personal retinue, and as many Grey Knights as can be spared. {{Cite Marker EndFn|1e}}

In battle, the greatest advantage of any Malleus force lies in the specialised and consecrated weaponry available to it. Utilising techniques and metallurgy lost to the rest of the Imperium, Malleus savants and allied [[Tech-priest]]s produce and maintain immensely powerful arms and armour specifically designed to combat the daemonic. In addition to this equipment, the Malleus Remit allows any Daemonhunter strike force to be bolstered by units from the Adeptus Astartes, the Imperial Guard, and the [[Officio Assassinorum]]. {{Cite Marker EndFn|1e}}

Extensively trained to fight the daemon, the Grey Knights alone bear the full knowledge of the nature of [[Chaos]]. They are the most powerful force the Ordo Malleus can bring to bear, above even [[Exterminatus]], and may only be deployed at the command of a Malleus Grandmaster, as the life of a single Grey Knight is considered to be an infinitely precious resource. {{Cite Marker EndFn|1d}}

Millennia-old aegis armour inscribed with wards protects the bodies and souls of the Grey Knights against physical, psychic, or daemonic assault. The faith of Grey Knights, combined with their innate psychic talents, is so pure that it can cause daemons physical damage and pain and weaken their ties to the material realm. A Grey Knight's standard weapons include thrice-blessed [[Storm bolter]]s and [[Nemesis Force Weapon|Nemesis force weapons]]. {{Cite Marker EndFn|25}}

Inquisitor Ordo Malleus 2b.jpg|Ordo Malleus Inquisitor (Rogue Trader/[[Realm of Chaos]] era){{Cite Marker EndFn|26}}