§9.4 - Inquisition and Banishment of Cultic Entities

(a) A cultic entity shall be defined as any spiritual, religious, or extraplanar group, being, or ideology that meets one or more of the following criteria:

(i) Practices or promotes rites prohibited under §8.2, including sacrificial, binding, or corruptive rituals;
(ii) Acts in service to, or under the influence of, hostile extraplanar powers identified under §10.1;
(iii) Seeks to undermine the lawful governance of Rivermarch through magical subversion, spiritual coercion, or ideological extremism;
(iv) Operates outside the bounds of civic, magical, or tribunal oversight.

§9.4.2 – Initiation of Inquisitorial Inquiry

(a) Inquisitorial actions may only be initiated by:

(i) Majority vote of the Council following credible evidence of cultic activity;
(ii) A triad composed of the Magister, Warden, and one rotating Councilor;
(iii) Tribunal ruling in response to public threat or arcane disruption.

(b) The Office of Arcane Stability, the Civic Guard under the Warden, and licensed spiritual authorities shall coordinate the investigation, inspection, and magical assessment of suspected cultic activity.

§9.4.3 – Powers of Inquisition

(a) Authorized inquisitorial agents may:

(i) Enter and search suspected cultic sites with a Writ of Inquisition issued by a Judicial Triad;
(ii) Seize cursed, bound, or enchanted items of hostile spiritual origin;
(iii) Dispel wards, bindings, or illusions placed to conceal cultic operations;
(iv) Detain individuals directly involved in cultic rituals, summoning, or leadership.

(b) All actions must be recorded and reviewed by the Council, with magical interventions verified by the Magister or their appointed proxy.

§9.4.4 – Tribunal Proceedings and Cult Designation

(a) Formal designation of a cultic entity shall require:

(i) Tribunal proceedings with evidence presented by the Warden and Magister;
(ii) Opportunity for the accused group or its representatives to respond, unless magical compulsion or spiritual domination is evident;
(iii) Confirmation by majority vote of a triad that the entity meets criteria defined in §9.4.1.

(b) Once designated, all operations, assets, and sanctified grounds associated with the cult shall be seized and catalogued for tribunal disposition.

§9.4.5 – Banishment and Suppression Measures

(a) Upon tribunal designation, the following actions may be undertaken:

(i) Exile or imprisonment of cult leaders;
(ii) Magical banishment of summoned or bound extraplanar entities;
(iii) Arcane nullification of cursed items, scriptures, or pacts;
(iv) Desanctification and warding of corrupted sacred sites.

(b) In extreme cases, the Council may authorize coordinated arcane and martial strikes to prevent planar breaches, mass enchantment, or existential corruption.

§9.4.6 – Safeguards and Abuse Prevention

(a) No individual or group shall be designated a cult without:

(i) Verified evidence;
(ii) Oversight by a properly constituted tribunal;
(iii) Opportunity for defense or representation unless an active planar or magical threat prohibits it.

(b) False accusations, inquisitorial overreach, or politically motivated designations shall be prosecuted under §4.1.3 as Major Offenses, with full tribunal inquiry.

§9.4.7 – Rehabilitation and Restoration

(a) Individuals previously affiliated with a designated cultic entity may petition for restoration of civic rights upon:

(i) Denunciation of cultic ideology and renunciation of magical pacts;
(ii) Completion of tribunal-approved magical cleansing, mental restoration, or penance;
(iii) Demonstration of peaceful reintegration and oath of allegiance to Rivermarch.

(b) Restoration must be approved by a Judicial Triad and recorded in the Civic Register.