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=== Obligators ===
Obligators are distinguished by their shaved heads and intricate tattoos around their eyes that signify rank and Canton membership.{{book ref|mb1|1}}{{book ref|mb1|27}} They typically wear dark grey robes. An obligator wouldis have to be called inneeded to witness or approve anything significant going on in the Final Empire. Without their approval, agreements and contracts aren't morally or legally binding.{{book ref|mb2|part=ars}} Any legal assassination requires the Ministry's approval, usually through bribery.{{wob ref|5498}} Obligators, in addition to witnessing agreements, also run all public works in the Final Empire. They oversee programs such as sewage and engineering, and most of the head engineers who design city plans are obligators themselves.{{wob ref|3045}} Legal assassination requires the Ministry's approval, usually through bribery.{{wob ref|5498}}
In addition to their bureaucratic functions, the obligators servedserve as the [[Lord Ruler]]'s religious leaders. They would teach the [[Lord Ruler]]'s religion to [[skaa]] and noblemen alike.{{wob ref|5422}} ObligatorsThe obligators determine who the nobility is allowed to marry as part of their religious duties.{{book ref|mb1|23}} Obligators wereare requiredallowed to be married.{{wob ref|1077}} The Lord Ruler requires more devotion from the obligators; they practice religious worship and have to maintain a religious air with devotion that is unnecessary for nobles. PartSome of thosethe religious practices for the Steel requirementsMinistry wereinclude daily prayers and ceremonies to the Lord Ruler.{{wob ref|7695}} Obligators are allowed to be married.{{wob ref|1077}}
{{Image|noorden.jpeg|Noorden, an obligator|side=right|width=255px}}
Obligators are distinguished by their shaved heads and intricate black tattoos around their eyes that signify rank and Canton membership.{{book ref|mb1|1}}{{book ref|mb1|27}} They typically wear dark grey robes.
Each year, new Ministry acolytes are transported from a training facility in the northern part of the Empire to Luthadel. This was also when they would transfer large amounts of funds to Luthadel.{{book ref|mb1|2}}
==== Obligator Ranks ====
== History ==
=== The Final Empire ===
The Steel Ministry developed out of the bureaucratic mercantile system of the [[Hallant]] people. TheyThe Hallant were a people focused on systems of measurements.{{epigraph ref|mb3|27}} The Lord Ruler used the Ministry in many additional, secretive ways, beyond their bureaucratic duties, including discovering new Allomantic metals and their uses as well asand searching for [[Terris]] bloodlines that bred pure.{{book ref|mb3|5}} Aluminum's Allomantic ability was onea secret that the Ministry knew of, but they kept it a secret from others in the Empire.{{book ref|mb2|5}} The Steel Ministry banned political and historical literature that contested or expressed dissidence to the Lord Ruler's reign.{{book ref|mb2|5}} They stocked the [[storage cache]]s beneath various Ministry buildings. There were also assassins in the Steel Ministry who kill any who are outspoken or too successful.{{book ref|mb1|23}} The Ministry had its own soldiers and torturers.{{book ref|mb1|37}} The obligators were even the Lord Ruler's spy network throughout his Empire.{{book ref|mb2|part=ars}}
The Steel Ministry banned political and historical literature that contested or expressed dissidence to the Lord Ruler's reign.{{book ref|mb2|5}} Certain obligators were trusted to stock the [[storage cache]]s beneath various Ministry buildings. There were also assassins in the Steel Ministry who kill any who are outspoken or too successful.{{book ref|mb1|23}} The Ministry had its own soldiers and torturers.{{book ref|mb1|37}} The obligators were even the Lord Ruler's spy network throughout his Empire.{{book ref|mb2|part=ars}}
During the last days of the Final Empire, a skaa crewleader named [[Camon]] tried to scam this Canton. The goal of the scam was to rob a convoy of Ministry funds, which would've had atium hidden inside. During the operation, one of his crewmembers, [[Vin]], unknowingly revealed herself as a Misting, and later a full Mistborn. This was the event that led [[Kelsier]] to recruit Vin to his crew. High Prelan Arriev's discovery of Vin's Allomantic abilities foiled the scam, which kept [[Ruin]] from discovering the atium cache, keeping him at bay for a few more years.{{wob ref|8027}} ▼
▲Each year, new Ministry acolytes were transported from a training facility in the northern part of the Empire to Luthadel. This was also when they would transfer large amounts of funds, including atium, to Luthadel.{{book ref|mb1|2}} During the last days of the Final Empire, a skaa crewleader named [[Camon]] tried to scam this Cantonconvoy. The goal of the scam was to robsteal a convoy ofthe Ministry funds, which would've had atium hidden inside. During the operation, one of his crewmembers, [[Vin]], unknowingly revealed herself as a Misting, and later a full Mistborn. This was the event that led [[Kelsier]] to recruit Vin to his crew. High Prelan Arriev's discovery of Vin's Allomantic abilities foiled the scam, which kept [[Ruin]] from discovering the atium cache, keeping him at bay for a few more years.{{wob ref|8027}} This convoy was also the one Marsh joined to infiltrate the Ministry.
In the year 1022, the Ministry was presided over by Lord Prelan [[Tevidian]]. The Canton of Orthodoxy was then the presiding Canton, but members of the Canton of Inquisition captured [[Vin]] and proved that she was the Lord Prelan's half-breed daughter. The Lord Ruler restructured the Ministry by giving control of the Ministry to the Canton of Inquisition.{{book ref|mb1|36}} ▼
▲In the year 1022, the Ministry was presided over by Lord Prelan [[Tevidian]]. The Canton of Orthodoxy was then the presiding Canton, but members of the Canton of Inquisition captured [[Vin]] and proved that she was the Lord Prelan's half-breed daughter. The Lord Ruler then restructured the Ministry by giving control of the Ministry to the Canton of Inquisition.{{book ref|mb1|36}}
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