The relationship with Verena

There are two views held in the hearts of Verenas Estalian followers. One holds that Verena doesn't view the Inquisition as her true priests, just impostors. They are nothing more than people who are corrupting her cult and strictures, although they think they behave in a righteous manner. In this case, Verena would send visions to the true followers to try to cleanse the cult.

The other opinion is that Verena adopted a hard attitude in the Estalian kingdoms, appearing as an aspect of her concerns for fighting against liars instead of upholding justice or fighting against oppression. In this aspect, Verena would prefer the lesser evil of tyranny rather letting liars go without punishment.

The practical difference between the two options is the use of Divine Magic. In the first case, they can't and in the later, they can. Usually only spells focused on interrogation and investigation are used.

La Hermandad

Unbeknownst to most people, this secret organization is one of the real Estalian powers. The few people who know something about it, usually just its name, mostly think that they are just the secret arm of the Inquisition. Although it is not really true, nobody would say it is false. La Hermandad usually acts as the secret arm of the Inquisition, compiling information, infiltrating in strategic positions of power, blackmailing, murdering, etc. They do the dirty work of the Inquisition but they are not part of the Inquisition. The majority of members are layman and some are Verenan priests or Inquisitors. If one scratch's the surface, it is plain to see that their relation is not as clear as one might think. This started long time ago when Fray Tomás de Ojeda created it.

Creation of the organization

As said earlier, Ojeda was the creator of La Hermandad. He did it during the Reform of the Inquisition (a.k.a. El Plan Ojeda) when the Inquisition, as we know it today, was born. As any Estalian scholar could tell you, Ojeda's first propositions were rejected after a fierce debate inside the cult of Verena. Since the Cult was, in his eyes, full of soft people with nearly heretical attitudes in their opposition to his propositions, Ojeda plotted a new course of action. Although he was a fanatic and wanted to punish them publicly for their sins, he was also a pragmatic man. In fact Ojeda's character is an example of the contradictions that affect the Estalian people attitude, a blend of passion and pragmatism. So, for some years, he stayed quiet but not inactive.

The first thing he did was the creation of the La Hermandad and writing three books, not two as most scholars and inquisitors would say. "La Senda de la Iluminación" was the secret book. It stated the objectives, role and organization of La Hermandad. Probably all the copies of this book are in the hands of members of the organization. If a copy fell into the wrong hands, it could become the most important evidence of the existence of the organization. Neither the Inquisition (the members aware of its existence) nor the Fraternitas would like this to come about and they would do anything to avoid the revelation.

Hierarchy of the organization

As opposed to the Inquisition, La Hermandad has a non-bureaucratic and more flexible structure. It was thought of as a web, an interconnected, complex and effective organization. Every group of Familiares (note they use the inquisitorial term), is connected with three Hermanos (contacts who supply them with orders and resources) and every Hermano is connected with three groups of Familiares.

Above that level are the Consejos, one for every kingdom or province, depending of the importance and degree of control of the zone. The number of people who form a Consejo varies depending on the extension of the local web. Usually there is one Consejero for every five or ten Hermanos, so they are mostly small groups.

The Consejos are coordinated by the Fraternitas, the brain of the organization. This group is formed by one person per kingdom and they decide a general course of action for every Consejo, depending on the politics and their objectives. Within La Hermandad rumours exist that there is a person, el Gran Hermano, who is behind the Fraternitas, pulling the strings. Only the members of the Fraternitas would know if it is true. Some even dare to connect the Gran Hermano with some legends about what happened to fray Tomás de Ojeda after his death and his posterior sanctification.

Objectives of La Hermandad and its relations with the Inquisition

Although fray Tomás de Ojeda created it to fight unbelievers and those who protect them, he realized that his fight wouldn't be effective until all the Estalian kingdoms made an united front. So this was and is the main objective of La Hermandad. The secondary, though no less important, objectives are the fight against all kind of magic and supernatural manifestations, such as monsters, magicians, witches, chaos rituals and the like. This fight involves not only destroying the physical manifestation, but also any existing knowledge about it --including legends. They never use magic, even when they fight against magicians or the undead.
Since its creation La Hermandad and the Inquisition have followed parallel paths because the Inquisition have always been the main candidate to rule Estalia. If a better candidate appeared, the Fraternitas would change its support. This is the greatest fear of the Grand Inquisitor because without the aid of the organization, Los Fieles could dissolve or purge the Inquisition. So the role of La Hermandad within the Inquisition is essential for its continued existence, because the Verenan Cult is basically controlled by its members infiltrated within the Cult's ranks. He would do anything to retain the organization on his side. So the mighty and feared Inquisition is a giant with feet made of mud.

Lately the Grand Inquisitor is worried about the new and unknown covert campaign in Bilbali. He and the Suprema have not ordered it so he suspects La Hermandad is behind it. He is definitely unsure about the reasons they might have for doing it.

Appendix:

Tribunales Provinciales

One the most notable facts about the Inquisition is its complex bureaucratic organization. As said earlier there are local courts, which are set where an heresy case appears, but there also exist permanent provincial courts. The only difference between them is that the local courts are temporary and usually don't have all the staff that a provincial court has. So we can say that the local courts are petty and handy versions of the provincial courts.
Below you'll find the hierarchy of the organization of a Tribunal Provincial:

1. Inquisidores & Fiscal.
2. Calificadores, Consultores & Ordinario.
3. Secretarios de secuestros, Secretarios del secreto, Alguacil Mayor, Receptor, Contador, Abogado del Fisco, Juez de bienes confiscados, Escribano del juzgado de bienes & Procurador del Fisco.
4. Nuncio, Portero, Alcaide, Comisario, Despensero de los presos, Médico & Barbero.
5. Personas honestas, Familiares & Notarios

Inquisidores

The provincial courts are led by inquisitors, who have under their jurisdiction a determined circumscription and the staff working for their court. They are nominated by the Inquisidor General and the Consejo, depending of the power of the former. Each court there should be at least two inquisitors: a theologist and a jurist; or two jurist, in this case they will have the aid of theologists.

Fiscal

His duty is promoting the accusation and performing the pursuit of a case until a definitive sentence is given. He presents the accusations against the suspects in general terms, in particular, for the specific crimes and sins each of them committed. Due to his importance, it's the position just behind the inquisitor's one. Amongst his varied duties, he keeps one of the keys of the Cámara del Secreto, a place were the documentation about cases are kept.

Calificadores

They are theological advisors who pass judgement on a culprits' propositions, declarations or writings. They are designed amongst the clergy and, usually, with influence within the cult. Their judgements dictate if propositions are heretic or close to it and if the authors are heretics or suspected as such. In the latter case the strength of the suspicion is also stated. One of the requisites for being a calificador is being a theology professor. The calificadores have a high social standing.

Consultores

They have the right to vote on the arrest of a suspect, their torture and sentence. If the inquisitors and the Ordinario agree, but the Consultores disagree the decision of the inquisitors is applied (even if the Consultores have majority).

Their designation depends on the kind of judicial organs, royal and ecclesiastic, which are present in the city where the court belongs. They can be laymen or members of the Church but always with high social standing and superior studies (clerics, lawyers, mayors...). The proportion of religious people depends of the importance of the place and its spiritual chieftain.