Order of the Ebon Chalice
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The Order of the Ebon Chalice is one of the six major Orders Militant of the Adepta Sororitas.[2a]
Overview
The Order was founded by Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII when he split the Sisters of the Convent Prioris[2b] on Terra, where the Order remains based[1]. Their first leader and most honoured Saint is Alicia Dominica.[4] Their colours are black armour, white cloaks with red linings. Their weapons are a deep red. These were the original colours of the Convent Prioris[2a] and even further to the original uniforms of the Daughters of the Emperor[5] which the Order inherited when the Convent was split, and has been unchanged for four thousand years.[2a]
Though not originally recognized under the current name, the Order of the Ebon Chalice represents the original and oldest Order Militant, the direct continuation of the original founding as the Daughters of the Emperor, with combat and religious doctrine, like their uniforms, unchanged for four thousand years.[5] The Order's symbol, a flaming skull-filled chalice, is a representation of the terrible knowledge imparted to Dominica when she was brought before the Golden Throne.[7] During the early purges and Wars of Faith led by Dominica, she carried the Grail of Ages with her to war.[11a]
While the other Orders battle in the far reaches of the Imperium, the Ebon Chalice dedicates itself to safeguarding Terra and Segmentum Solar. They have become renowned for moving across worlds in the Segmentum, rooting out Mutant conclaves, servants of Chaos, traitors, and Xenos infestations. As they brought more territories under their care, they were able to expose scores of Governors and Imperial Guard officers whose practicies did not conform to the exact letter of the Imperial Creed. Preachers and Confessors were called upon to make examples of these sinners and where their enforcement was met with resistance, the Ebon Chalice launched violent purges. They revere the Holy Trinity of their order, which consists of the Emperor, Ecclesiarch, and Matriarch. It is said that the highest ranked members of the Order learn the truth that Dominica learned before the Golden Throne.[11a]
Since the formation of the Great Rift the Order has been fighting to keep Segmentum Solar secure. This has brought them into combat with several Chaos warbands, most notably the Blades of the Despoiler. They have taken heavy losses in these campaigns, and despite a constant stream of new recruits from the Schola Progenium few prove apt enough to meet the Order's high standards. This has left them numerically lacking, though they continue to fight on.[11a] The Order proved instrumental in the early Indomitus Crusade, fighting alongside Guilliman's forces to save the most strategically vital worlds of Segmentum Solar.[11c]
On the planet Belatis IV the Order have a Preceptory stronghold, where their Priory dominates the Talisa Pass — an important pilgrim route.[8b]
Known Campaigns
- Palatine Rhiannnon was sent with a mission of fifty Sisters to Iocanthos, though the reason for this deployment is not known and considered mysterious given the lack of interest the Convent Prioris typically takes in the sector[3].
- 143-151.M41 — The Magdellan Prime Civil War
- 143-151.M41 — Helping to evacuate Ecclesiarchy officials and sacred relics from the falling Betalis IV
- 876.M41 Van Horne: The Order of the Ebon Chalice attempts to defend the world from the Bloodtide, unleashed by the Bloodthirster Ka'jagga'nath. However some of the sisters are corrupted upon contact with the Bloodtide, and those that endure are slaughtered by the Grey Knights so that their blood could be used to create a purity talisman in order to banish the Daemon and the bloodtide.[6]
- 938.M41: Battle of the Penitent
- 980.M41: The Promethean War
- M42: The War of Beasts on Vigilus
- M42: The attempted reclamation of St. Rezmond's Hope from Ork Warboss Zagstruck[12]}
- 999.M41: The 13th Black Crusade: The Order committed 4 Preceptories.[9]
- ???.M42 - The Road of Martyrs as part of the Indomitus Crusade[10]
- ???.M42 - The Charadon Campaign[14]
- ???.M42 - The Battle of Bastior[16]
Order Elements
Relics
Known Named Vehicles
Known Members
- Alicia Dominica (Deceased)
- Cleopatra — Canoness Superior. Went MIA during the 13th Black Crusade.[15]
- Ximena Sandro — Canoness Preceptor.[14]
- Intolerance — Canoness.[11b]
- Invidia — Canoness.[13]
- Persphone Sheng — Canoness.[10]
- Sarida — Canoness.[12]
- Rhiannnon — Palatine.[3]
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: The Inquisition, pg. 65
- 2: Codex: Sisters of Battle (2nd Edition)
- 3: Dark Heresy: Blood of Martyrs, pg. 78
- 4: Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition), pg. 6
- 5: White Dwarf 382 (US), pg. 101
- 6: Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition), pg. 15
- 7: Codex: Adepta Sororitas (6th Edition), pg. 9
- 8: Imperial Armour Volume Two (First Edition)
- 9: Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pg. 16
- 10: White Dwarf July 2019 - Indomitus Crusade Fleets
- 11: Codex: Adepta Sororitas (8th Edition) pg.48
- 12: White Dwarf 454, pgs. 24-25
- 13: Codex: Adepta Sororitas (9th Edition), pg. 61
- 13a: pg. 64
- 14: War Zone Charadon - Act II: The Book of Fire, pg. 38
- 15: The 13th Black Crusade (Background Book), pg. 90
- 16: Leviathan (Box) Rulebook, pgs. 247-253