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Neon Knight
2007-07-05, 10:59 PM
I was writing some material for an upcoming game, when I encountered a stumbling block. I had this organization based off the Spanish Inquisition. I had everything sorted out except what I was going to call this organization. I couldn't just call it the Inquisition because my players don't need any more Monty Python related ammunition. But I couldn't find a suitable synonym to replace the word Inquisition.

Has anyone else in the playground ever been unable to name an organization? Do any of you playground goers have any good resources for coming up with organization names?

asqwasqw
2007-07-05, 11:05 PM
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

I suggest changing the name entirely. The League of City Defenders, for instance, or The Church's Forsaken. Things like that. I can't really think up of anything like the spanish inquisition though.

Anxe
2007-07-05, 11:07 PM
Inspection? Internal Espionage? Internal Justice? Organization of Purity? You can modify all of those to something appropriate.

Never have trouble coming up with names myself. It's just easy for me.

psychoticbarber
2007-07-05, 11:07 PM
The problem, I think, is that I think you're looking for something with the same connotations as "Inquisition", and the problem with English is that it's very rare for two words to have exactly the same connotations.

"Inquest" has some similar connotations, but it's a very similar word.

Just a thought.

BRC
2007-07-05, 11:09 PM
Maybe call it the "Hand of [Deity]", that would work

psychoticbarber
2007-07-05, 11:10 PM
Maybe call it the "Hand of [Deity]", that would work

I like that.

de-trick
2007-07-05, 11:10 PM
Some times a random name works too. Like a thiefs guild called DUCK, yes duck

nooblade
2007-07-05, 11:16 PM
Some times a random name works too. Like a thiefs guild called DUCK, yes duck

That's awesome.

I like to make names more sensible than fantasy-sounding. Chances are players are going to mutilate anything sounding like another language or something, so might as well go with basic names. The mercenaries guilds' would always have an animal and a color. Stores would have something to do with farming. Taverns would be lewd. Etc.

BRC
2007-07-05, 11:17 PM
make the orginization name a double entendre

Jannex
2007-07-06, 12:13 AM
"The Vigilant"
"Arbiters of Divine Orthodoxy"
"The Order of [name of founder]"
"The Bastion"

Just a few ideas.

Xuincherguixe
2007-07-06, 12:19 AM
Witch Hunters?

Jothki
2007-07-06, 12:27 AM
Maybe call it the "Hand of [Deity]", that would work

Darn it, I was about to suggest that.

Funkyodor
2007-07-06, 01:38 AM
The neatest guild names that a friend of my used were The Blue Roosters, and the Green Gland Guild (GGG). The GGG was a knock-off the KKK but for Orc supremacy.

On the subject of the Inquisition substitute, I've got some ideas or you could try Inquisition but in another language?

Haikiah
2007-07-06, 03:27 AM
"The league of irritated gentlemen"
"Def-ex"
"Deus Ex's bar of Machina"
"Generic evil corporation"
"Bad guy and co."

Hunter Noventa
2007-07-06, 04:39 AM
http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index.php

For all your random naming needs!

Rad
2007-07-06, 06:41 AM
If they have a strong religious flavor I'd go with Truth Ministry. :smallsmile:

Tormsskull
2007-07-06, 06:55 AM
Seekers of Truth, Seekers.

House of Ethics and Morals, Inspectors

Hall of Moral Conduct, Arbiters

Or you can make up your own words that sound like real words:

Examinators

Truthiness Enforcers

SolkaTruesilver
2007-07-06, 07:34 AM
Holy Templars

JEntropy
2007-07-06, 08:20 AM
The Watch.

In order to keep support behind the inquisition, they have to project an image that their policies are helping the people. Any name that's modeled on the idea of looking after, caretaking, or otherwise attempting to maintain good, clean living will be good.

The Watch is simple. Spruce it up to make it: The Watchers; The Soulwatch; The Soulguard, or something to that effect.

Simple is better, and far more believable. It's much easier to colloquialize something like 'The Watch' than some long, drawn out complex name, that the PC's are likely only to hear referred to in abbreviated or acronym form. A good example would be present day -- Ginnie Mae is the name for an organization because of the acronym GNMA (Government National Mortgage Association).

Shikton
2007-07-06, 08:27 AM
From Dictionary.com:

"Inquisition refers to the ecclesiastical court (Congregation of the Holy Office)"

Congregation of the Holy Office sounds neat. Maybe a bit long though.


"—Synonyms 5. inquest, hearing."

Dunno what you'd get from that...

Piccamo
2007-07-06, 08:32 AM
The Righteous Flame.

MaxKaladin
2007-07-06, 09:42 AM
"Office of Spiritual Purity" (Puritans, for short :smallbiggrin: )

"The Holy Mission"

13_CBS
2007-07-06, 09:49 AM
Going off on what a previous poster said, "The Hammers of [Deity]"?

You could also try something like what the Dominican friars did: "Dominican" came from "Domini" (God) and "canes" (hounds), aka, "The Hounds of God".

Neon Knight
2007-07-06, 03:57 PM
Some dang creative ideas here. Thanks for the replies.

Dragor
2007-07-06, 04:04 PM
The Inquisitors wouldn't see themselves as ruthless, just 'just', so...

Temple of the Enlighted

Attilargh
2007-07-06, 04:21 PM
Being inquisitive usually means being observant, or vigilant. So how about the Vigil? The Eye(s) of ____ might work pretty good. (Nose, ear or other sensory organ perhaps not so well.) Inquisitors also acted as judges, so they could call themselves Judicators. Or perhaps the Sword of Whatever.

Jayabalard
2007-07-06, 04:29 PM
you could use "The ministry of love."

Neon Knight
2007-07-06, 04:30 PM
Ah, 1984. I do love literary references.

Raum
2007-07-06, 06:00 PM
Here's a few ideas -
- Office of Orthodox Morality
- Auditors for Righteous Orthodoxy
- Fist of Divine Truth (or insert deity's weapon)
- Orthodox Commission
- Holy Catechism
- Defenders of Enlightenment
- Unity Tribunal

Rad
2007-07-06, 06:09 PM
you could use "The ministry of love."

thought about that too... but it does not dound as good in a middle age setting

Haikiah
2007-07-06, 11:06 PM
"The ministry of middle-age love" ;)

Inyssius Tor
2007-07-06, 11:18 PM
Just "the Ministry" could work...

Malik
2007-07-06, 11:23 PM
The [Deity of choice] Torturers

Becasue when you get right down to it that was pretty much what the inquisition were.

Inyssius Tor
2007-07-06, 11:25 PM
You know, that would be kind of refreshing...

I don't think that's all Kasrkin's organization does, though.

Neon Knight
2007-07-07, 12:12 AM
Organization can best be described via the following recipe: 1/3 CSI + 1/3 Judge Dredd + 1/3 the Spanish Inquisition.