The Order of the Watching Eye is an order of Imperial inquisition which exclusively follows the third Emperor, Tobias, as their supreme deity and leader, and they answer to him alone. Their main function is surveillance, which is accomplished using their unique ability to share sight. Members of the Order of the Watching Eye appear in The White Room, Ruby's Fief , Those Enduring and Those Vigilant, To Ask and to Answer, and Pages found in the remains of the Two Thrones Inn.
Shared Sight
The Order's primary ability is their shared sight. As a part the initiation process each member of the Order stares deeply into Tobias's eyes. The initiate's right eye is burned, marking the flesh around the eye with Tobias's mark. This takes many forms, but usually leaves the iris white but functionally unchanged.
After this process the initiate gains the ability to see through every eye that has gone through this. This includes that of inanimate objects, every painting, every sculpture, every odd pattern of brick is a tool for the Order. By shutting off their own sight through the marked eye the individual is able see through any other marked eye.
This is used to perform constant surveillance and to keep informed of the activities of the imperial citizenry and the state of non-imperial worlds.
Roles within the Order
Inquisitor Eldridge, Lord-Emperor Tobias, Inquisitor Carcerri
Within the Order there are three roles. Inquisitors, Watchers, and Wardens, though all initiates must perform duties in each role.
Watchers perform surveillance duties constantly and without rest. They may sit at a desk with parchment and quill recording their observations or they may be footpads, sneaking into store rooms to view artifacts secreted away or to peer into ledgers, relaying all of what they see to the other members of the Order.
Wardens are the only remotely martial members of the Order. While Watchers may carry small arms if the situation demands Wardens use cunning, dexterity, and The Sight to transform their martial arts. Used very sparingly and only in the direst of situations, the Wardens are a cleansing tool.
The Order's Inquisitors are its priests, officers, and sorcerers. They hold authority over other members of the Order and decide when and where to act. They are permitted to touch no arms; they carry no honors, accrue no wealth, and have no permanent possessions. The Inquisitors of the Watching Eye, rather than hunting blindly the enemies of the Empire as those of other orders, attempt to manipulate their enemies indirectly. If this is not an option they will find a way to silently and secretly remove the threat. They ruthlessly protect the secrecy of the Order.