Wow, you guys have been busy! There have been some really cool suggestions! I do agree with Draken in that we probably shouldn't have too many rankings for the inquisition, beyond like, two or three "tiers". I'm also not certain if there's a real world analogue to how inquisitors are trained, like is there a military with a decade long training curriculum for their officers? That complicates things and doesn't really make it simple to translate our inquisitor rankings to the real world.

I will also mention that I picture the inquisition as being less regimented than the military. Ranks could be more ceremonial and less tied to general ability. There is a sense of seniority, but I don't feel like it should be all that pronounced. For example, I see Elisheva and the rest of us as having the same rank, even though she graduated two years before us. The advanced ranks should probably be left for people like our teachers, who've served for a long time and have achieved great things. 

Also, I don't feel like most inquisitors would really give a shit about advancing in rank, since the Seminary has trained them through rod and steel to just be content and to strive to serve and fight in battle-- in contrast with the Clerical Branch, which I picture as nest of vipers.  

So yeah, the inquisition are warriors by definition. We all fight on the frontlines while the clerical branch act more as the generals and decision makers. That being the case, I don't think most inquisitors would rise above a real world military rank that would take them out of battle, so, that would probably make the inquisition's hierarchy a lot smaller than a real military.

I also don't really want to use the word "knight" for the Varyan inquisition. I feel like the medieval aesthetic should best be left to Lanostre, with their goddess being known as a Queen and such. 

So, taking into account what everyone posted, here's what I came up with:

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[b]Acolyte:[/b] A title given to young children who are brought to the Red Seminary to undergo training to become inquisitors in the Varyan church. At this beginning stage, they are put through six months of brutal training. Those who cannot keep up with the regiment are either transferred to the Holy Academy (where they will study and train to join the clerical branch of the church) or are judged to be unfit to join the clergy and are removed from the Seminary. After six months, the children must pass the First Milestone, a test of extreme physical duress. Not many survive the First Milestone unscathed, but those who pass are given the title of "Brother" or "Sister" and are then recruited to join different Warbands, battle groups which they will remain in for the rest of the Red Seminary's curriculum and beyond.

[b]War Priest[/b]: Five years into training, and after surviving through two more Milestones, acolytes are officially ordained as war priests of the Varyan Church and are given the title of "Father" or "Mother". At this point, they start training and competing against other Warbands.

[b]Inquisitor[/b]: After twelve years of training and the completion of the final Sixth Milestone, warpriests achieve Culmination and are ordained as inquisitors of the Varyan Church. 

[b]Warleader:[/b] The squadron leader of an inquisitorial Warband. This individual is elected by the warband itself, and is in charge of commanding the group. Their authority is not without its limits, and a Warleader can be replaced if the warband deems them unfit for duty.

[i]*GM's Note* I think shy came up with this idea and I sort of love it? It'd make sense for warbands to have a defacto leader. Now, how to decide who will be the leader of Warband Phoenix? Should we vote? Maybe we can have it be anonymously? This could be fun! Let me know what you guys think![/i]

[b]Master Inquisitor[/b]: Inquisitors generally serve within their Warbands until they are granted the rank of Master Inquisitor, at which point they are then given command of entire companies comprised of different warbands and SA platoons. (Mother Indira and Father Antonin are of this rank)

[b]High Inquisitor[/b]: The highest rank most inquisitors can reach, only given to those who've proven their valor and strength countless times over through many years. They command entire divisions comprised of soldiers and warbands. It is said that High Inquisitors are chosen by Lord Varya himself.  (Father Creid and Father Gregoroth are of this rank)

[b]Bishop[/b]: A legendary title that has been bestowed to only a scant few inquisitors throughout the empire's history. Bishops are known as "Varya's champions" and wield power and authority over not just the inquisitorial branch, but over the clerical branch as well. The ordination of a Bishop by Lord Varya is a tremendous thing indeed, as it disrupts the divine hierarchy of the Church itself, and throughout history, the rise of an inquisitorial Bishop has caused much chaos within the clerical branch. It is believed that Varya chooses His champions in order for them to play a very specific part in His designs, as they are gifted with eternal youth and other mysterious powers. Curiously, all of Varya's previous Bishops have met with mysterious ends. The Bishop of the current age, Aleksandre, currently clashes with the clerical branch, and it is rumored that his powers are diminishing.


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So yeah, I kind of shrunk things down a bit from what you guys were suggesting, as I don't want the hierarchy to be too complicated. Let me know what you think!