Department of Peculiar Matters of Special Import
The Department of Peculiar Matters of Special Import, known more colloquially as the ‘Special Branch’, is perhaps the most powerful of the Division of Divine Order’s offices. Where for the most part Divine Order deals with offenses of gods in their interactions with each other or with Creation’s mortals, Special Branch is tasked with investigating far more serious crimes involving powers outside of Heaven and Earth, which do not just disrupt the workings of the world but threaten its destruction: dealings with the Underworld, with the Fair Folk, with the Unwanted, and with the Yozis, all of whom seek to infiltrate and subvert the Celestial Bureaucracy.
The crimes Special Branch investigates are of the highest Severity, and the punishment meted out nearly always forging the convicted into Starmetal. Because of this, the Branch is careful and thorough in its work, seeking to ensure a steady body of evidence before bringing their accusations before the Celestial Censors. Because of this, the Branch engages in relatively few prosecutions, instead undertaking counter-espionage activities: if a god is found to be vulnerable to Infernal blackmail, it is easier to intercept its demonic would-be-handlers before they reach it than to bring it to trial, and better yet if it can be convinced to play along the demons might reveal details of their plans to a god they think is now their agent, allowing the Branch to unravel further parts of their conspiracy. Special Branch also oversees security and containment around dangerous artifacts and visitors to the Celestial City.
Special Branch Investigators, mostly Celestial Lions, have a great deal of leeway in terms of how their investigations are conducted, able to select their own suspects and targets, though generally each investigator has become specialized in dealing with specific enemies of Heaven. Beneath the investigators are a body of agents, many of them Lion Dogs, as well as networks of informants and double-agents who pass information to the Branch in order to save themselves.
In an era where other bodies of Heavenly law enforcement are known to be riven with corruption, Special Branch continues to garner much respect. Its work offers less opportunity for bribery and graft than other jobs Celestial Lions might take, which has meant those who seek to rise above corruption tend to look for appointments within it while those seeking to take advantage seek transfers out.
There are some whispers of doubt, however. It was the Division of Infernal Affairs, responsible for diplomacy and monitoring of Hell which launched the case against Anisa-Shoshan, former Shogun of Celestial Concerns, who was found guilty of consorting with the Yozis and rendered to Starmetal. However, the nature of the accusation and the seniority of the accused fell well within the responsibilities of Special Branch, which offered no objection to the accusation nor its sentencing. Those who consider this to have been a corrupt powergrab by Ryzala and the Bronze Faction hold that the Special Branch was either corrupted or outmaneuvered, while those consider the sentence legitimate feel Special Branch silence points to their agreement, attributing their not taking lead on concern over the consequences of accusing their superior and perhaps Heaven’s most powerful god outside the Incarnae of betraying Heaven to the Yozis. Special Branch refuses all comment on the matter to this day.
Special Branch is headed by the Legate of Lions, most senior of the Celestial Lions. This is currently ‘Implacable‘ Shining Barrator.
