
Article Guidelines
Doctrina Malum articles are observational and research documents belonging to the Emperor’s Holy Inquisition. Field agents and researchers alike will make use of these documents in their missions, so proper procedure is of the utmost importance. Agents can write Articles for any Ordo, regardless of which they have pledged fealty to.
Heretical cults, xenos fauna, Warp-born entities: these and everything in between are all suitable subjects for documentation. The cosmos is vast and uncertain, and the Archivists welcome all manner of subjects into the Athenaeum.
Articles consist of the following:
- Title: Simply give your article the desired title, and the site Archivists will affix the appropriate three-digit designation to it.
- E.g. “OX-002 – Groundskeepers” is the second article within the Ordo Xenos archives. “OH-004 – Wolfpack” is the fourth article in the Ordo Hereticus archives.
- E.g. “OX-002 – Groundskeepers” is the second article within the Ordo Xenos archives. “OH-004 – Wolfpack” is the fourth article in the Ordo Hereticus archives.
- Ordo: The submission form will require you to select an ordo for the article to be filed under. This is necessary for the servitors to properly sort the archives. Descriptions of each ordo and the subjects that fall under their purview can be found in the Ordo tab.
- Threat Level: Similarly to the ordo designation, agents must categorize their articles by threat level. These can be found in the Threat Levels tab.
- Content: The body of an article must remain professional, concise, and objective, as it is to be used by a variety of Inquisitorial agents in their field work or research. Please refer to the Example Article to see how this should look, and to the templates for an easy copy+paste to help get you started.
- At minimum, an Article should include these three sections in its content:
- Subject: a line that states which Ordo the subject fall under, along with its numerical designation.
- Threat Level: a line that states the subjects threat level — Nullus, Minoris, Majoris, or Extremis.
- Description: a straightforward account of what the Inquisition knows about the subject (its appearance, its observed behaviors or phenomena, its significance to various cultures, beings associated with it, etc.)
- Further information may be included, such as audio log transcripts and first-hand accounts. Please refer to the Templates on this page to see how this should be formatted. *Note: these additions must support an Article that already has a subject and Content. (i.e. interviews and audio transcripts cannot be standalone Articles.)
- At minimum, an Article should include these three sections in its content:
The body of any article should be formatted like the following:
Subject: OX-002 – Groundskeepers
Threat Level: Minoris
Description:
OX-002 is comprised of a series of semi-autonomous machines, located on the barren world of +++++, in the +++++ system, Segmentum Pacificus. Appearing as floating chrome spheres, instances of OX-002 can be found in each region of the planet. Adepts estimate that as many as 10,000,000 of these machines may be present on the planet’s surface. The machines appear to be impervious to hostile environmental conditions and small-arms fire, and do not respond to verbal communication.
The spheres move around the planet’s surface, reshaping the terrain. A sample of the reformed terrain revealed that the previously barren soil had become nutrient-rich. Furthermore, atmospheric scans revealed that the planet was rapidly becoming more suitable for habitation. It is believed that OX-002 is in the process of terraforming +++++. However, it is unknown how long OX-002 has been terraforming said planet, or why it is doing so.
Currently, OX-002 and the planet +++++ are not believed to present a threat to the Imperium. However, a research outpost has been established to facilitate continued observation of OX-002.
Entries must state be categorized under one of the ordos:
- Ordo Hereticus: Articles about the Lost and the traitorous individuals, renegade ex-Imperial groups, and other heretical subjects should be filed under the Ordo Hereticus.
- Ordo Hereticus articles should received the prefix “OH-“ before their numerical designation.
- Ordo Hereticus articles should received the prefix “OH-“ before their numerical designation.
- Ordo Malleus: Articles focusing on daemonic entities, Chaos infestations, and other Warp-based phenomena belong under the Ordo Malleus.
- Ordo Malleus articles should received the prefix “OM-“ before their numerical designation.
- Ordo Malleus articles should received the prefix “OM-“ before their numerical designation.
- Ordo Xenos: Articles concerning the artifacts, cultures, and biology of alien species fall under the purview of the Ordo Xenos.
- Ordo Xenos articles should received the prefix “OX-“ before their numerical designation.
Entries must state the subject’s threat level. This is used both for categorization by the Archivists, and to give readers an idea as to the nature of the subject. These threat levels are drawn largely from the Ordo Calixis, and are as follows:
- Nullus: For subjects that have been exterminated, rendered intert, or become dormant.
- Minoris: Threats that are dangerous only in larger numbers, and are generally left as local issues.
- Majoris: Considerable threats that may endanger entire cities, or an entire world if left uncontained.
- Extremis: Threats with the potential to endanger entire worlds, along with affecting the greater Imperium if not contained.
- Terminus: +//RETRIEVAL ERROR. ACCESS UNAUTHORIZED.//+
Changing threat levels:
- It is possible for subjects to be escalated or deescalated on the Threat Level scale. (I.e. An Extremis-level subject may be terminated and become categorized as Nullus).
- In the case that a shift in Threat Level is necessary, please cross out the former Threat Level (Shift+Alt+D), and add the new designation after it. Do not delete the former designation. (E.g. “
NullusMajoris.”) - Be sure to add to the Article, stating the reason why the subject has had its designation changed.
Simply copy and paste the following:
Subject: [Insert subject designation here – the initials of the ordo it is categorized under followed by it subject number (e.g. OX-002, OH-135).]
Threat Level: [Insert threat level here – Minima, Minoris, Majoris, Extremis.]
Description: [Write a detailed, objective description of the subject – either in first-person or third-person.]
*[Bracket] = Your text
*Note: Interviews are not standalone Articles, but are instead a way to flesh out or give more narrative structure to a pre-existing subject. Before submitting an interview, please ensure that you have a basic Article filled out.
Simply copy and paste the following:
Transcript: [Insert transcript title (e.g. Interrogation of +++, Testimony of +++]:
Interviewer: [Name and description (may be blocked out using “+”.)]
Interviewee: [Name and description.]
Foreword: [Short description of circumstances surrounding interview.]
Begin Log (Optional time and location info)
Interviewer: [insert dialogue]
Interviewee: [insert dialogue]
<[Optional – Insert descriptions of actions – e.g. Interviewer gazes longingly into interviewee’s eyes.]>
[Repeat until finished.]
End Log (Optional time and location info)
Closing Statement: [Short summary of events following the interview.]
*[Brackets] = Your text
Please consider the following when writing an article:
- Keep your descriptions clear. While field recordings and interviews may get messy, the document itself should have no trouble conveying its ideas to the reader.
- Remain professional. While our foes deserve only ruination, biases will only dampen an article’s usefulness. Righteous zeal should be saved for the Imperium’s enemies, not one’s paperwork.
- Consider the reader and adjust accordingly. While a menial may need large amounts of explanation as to the terminology used by the Inquisition (followed by a requisite memory wipe), fellow agents of the Ordos will not require such explanations. Explanations should be saved for more obscure terminology or phenomena. This will save space and allow the entries to flow more smoothly.
- Articles are formatted using the ancient noospheric cant known as “HTML.” Agents well-versed in it use may use the cant to enhance the visual appeal of their articles.
Mission Guidelines
Missions are creative writing contests that allow agents to collaborate and forge an evolving narrative. With each Mission prompt, agents will be able to submit their own stories and vote on a winner. The winner’s story will become the basis of the next Mission, gradually creating a community-driven storyline. Agents can participate in any Mission, regardless of the main Ordo that they serve.
The following are important aspects to consider when writing submitting an entry:
- Ordo: Please ensure that you are on the correct Ordo page for the Mission you’d like to participate in. This allows for the cherubs to deliver submissions to the appropriate Lord Inquisitor.
- Title: Agents may title there submissions however they please. Unlike with Articles, Missions do not need to be given a subject designation.
- Content: Contrary to what the Ecclesiarchy may tell you, get creative! Mission prompts give users the opportunity to write freeform stories, along with furthering an overarching narrative. So long as it follows the prompt, agents may write whatever they please.
Missions are organized by Ordo. Please ensure that you are on the correct Missions page. Agents can participate in any Mission, regardless of the main Ordo that they serve.
Users will be able to collaborate with their fellow Throne Agents in the following ways:
- Voting: Once the submissions period has closed, users will be able to view all entries on the appropriate Ordo page. The entry with the best rating will received the “Favor” of that Ordo, becoming the basis of the next Mission prompt.
- Missions Prompts: Aside from the first prompt in any given set of Missions, all prompts will be based off of the winner of the previous Mission.
Further Reading
The scribe-adepts of the Lexicanum and the 40k Wiki have built formidable databases regarding all manner of topics. While their nigh-omnipotent knowledge raises many suspicions within the Inquisition, their expertise has proven invaluable. It is suggested that agents refer to these sources for their research.
The Doctrina was inspired by an ancient Terran organization known as the “SCP Foundation,” which served a similar role as the Inquisition, safeguarding humanity against a variety of threats. If their records are to be believed, the ancient Terrans contended with entities that could rival even the horrors of Old Night. Their vast archives can still be accessed today via the Noosphere, and display prime examples of the writing style that should be used in archive entries. The SCP Foundation’s Noospheric domain can be found here.
Inquisitor: Doctrina Malum
What secrets have you uncovered?
An agent of the Throne is autonomous by nature, though none can hold the knowledge of the cosmos on their own.