Miles Lacey
Archmage
In my work in progress I've created a government agency called the Ministry of Internal Security (MIST) and a section of it called Branch IX that monitors mages and all aspects to do with magic and the Faith. The technology etc is equivalent to that of the 1930s. The regime is a non-hereditary constitutional monarchy with a democratic system (loosely based on that of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933)) which is coming under attack from extremists from all sides because the moderates are seen as too weak or corrupt to address the impact of an economic depression.
What I need help with is fine tuning the secret police with ideas about wardrobes, tactics, functions and the sort of people who would be in leadership roles in such an organisation. As the protagonist is a high ranking member of Branch IX (I haven't decided if he will be running a regional office or the whole Branch yet) I'm keen to make the people who run it as far removed from the cliched Nazi stormtrooper / SS bureaucrat as possible.
I would also be interested in knowing if your novels or works in progress have a secret police or equivalent (such as an Inquisition) and how they operate.
What I need help with is fine tuning the secret police with ideas about wardrobes, tactics, functions and the sort of people who would be in leadership roles in such an organisation. As the protagonist is a high ranking member of Branch IX (I haven't decided if he will be running a regional office or the whole Branch yet) I'm keen to make the people who run it as far removed from the cliched Nazi stormtrooper / SS bureaucrat as possible.
I would also be interested in knowing if your novels or works in progress have a secret police or equivalent (such as an Inquisition) and how they operate.