Sisters of Battle
Sisters of Battle redirects here. For the novel series, see Sisters of Battle (Novel Series). |
The Sisters are the armed wing and Orders Militant of the Adepta Sororitas. The Sisters of Battle serve as the standing army of the Ecclesiarchy.
Contents
History
The Sisters of Battle, like the rest of the Adepta Sororitas, trace their history back to the troubled times of the Age of Apostasy. On a backwater world named San Leor an all-female cult dedicated to the worship of the Emperor, known as the "Daughters of the Emperor", were discovered by members of the Ecclesiarchy. Goge Vandire, the High Lord of the Administratum (and also Ecclesiarch of the Adeptus Ministorum), decided to visit San Leor and recruit the Daughters into his own private army. The Daughters were then renamed the "Brides of the Emperor" and became Lord Vandire's most loyal followers.[Needs Citation]
As the events of the Age of Apostasy progressed the Adeptus Custodes, the praetorians of the Emperor himself, tried to approach the Brides and convince them of Vandire's treachery. In a last ditch effort to convince them, the Custodes took Alicia Dominica, leader of the Brides, and her chosen bodyguards deep into the Imperial Palace where they stood before the Emperor himself. What happened there remains unknown - Dominica and her companions were sworn to secrecy - but it became clear that the Brides, who then reverted to their original title of Daughters of the Emperor, had been awakened to the evil that Vandire represented. Marching into his audience chamber, Dominica paused only to condemn Vandire for his crimes before she beheaded the power-crazed dictator.[Needs Citation]
Following these events the Adeptus Ministorum as a whole was re-organised, including the forces of the Adepta Sororitas. Along with the establishment of the non-militant Orders, the Orders Militant were divided between the two Convents on Terra and Ophelia VII with Alicia Dominica as the the Head of the entire organisation.[Needs Citation]
In 378.M36, Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII divided the Orders Militant of the Convent Sanctorum and Convent Prioris into four Orders:[1]
- Order of the Ebon Chalice
- Order of the Valorous Heart
- Order of the Fiery Heart
- Order of the Argent Shroud
In 878.M38, Ecclesiarch Deacis VI founded two more Orders Militant in honour of the remaining two saints who accompanied Alicia Dominica to the Golden Throne:[1]
- Order of the Bloody Rose in honour of Sister Mina.
- Order of the Sacred Rose in honour of Sister Arabella.
Overview
The Battle Sisters of the Adepta Sororitas are the mainstay of the Adeptus Ministorum's armies. Equipped and trained to the highest Imperial standards, the Sisters of Battle specialize in waging Wars of Faith and purging heresy wherever it may be found.[7] Because of this, its duties often overlap with the Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition and as a result the Sisters of Battle maintain a close alliance with the Witch Hunters.[8] The Sisters of Battle themselves are divided into six Orders, each numbering tens of thousands of Battle Sisters, and many Orders Minoris, each containing thousands of Sisters themselves. These forces are rarely deployed in full-strength, rather being assigned to waging Wars of Faith, aiding the Inquisition, or protecting Ecclesiarchy buildings, property, and relics.[12]
Organisation
See main article Organisation of the Adepta Sororitas
Orders
Major Orders Militant | |
Convent Sanctorum (Ophelia VII) | Convent Prioris (Terra) |
Order of the Bloody Rose | Order of the Sacred Rose |
Order of Our Martyred Lady | Order of the Ebon Chalice |
Order of the Valorous Heart | Order of the Argent Shroud |
Lesser Orders Militant
Since their founding the Major Orders Militant have established a number of subsidiary convents at sites significant to the Ecclesiarchy. Sometimes little more than small Garrisons, these bases have developed identities distinct from their parent Orders over time, eventually becoming separate Orders all together. These smaller Orders are referred to as the Lesser Orders Militant. In theory the leaders of the Lesser Orders are answerable to the leaders of the Major Order that spawned them.[2a]
Named Lesser Orders Militant
Inner Circle
The Inner Circle of the Daughters of the Emperor is a secretive group drawn from the senior members of each Order Militant, tasked, inter alia, with blessing Sororitas forces in the employ of the Ordo Hereticus in the eve of battle. Such blessings magnify the abilities of Sisters to perform Acts of Faith.[17]
Forces
A typical Order of the Sisters of Battle will consist of:[25c]
- Canoness - Commanding officer
- Palatine - Officers serving below the Canoness
- Dogmata - Spiritual enforcers[33]
- Sisters Superior - Squad Commanders
- Imagifier - Standard Bearers
- Celestians - Elites
- Battle Sisters - Standard Infantry
- Dominions - Close combat Infantry
- Retributors - Heavy weapons Infantry
- Zephyrim - Melee Jump Pack Infantry
- Seraphim - Jump Pack Infantry
- Sisters Repentia - Melee combat infantry, led by a Repentia Superior
- Specialists from other Sororitas orders such as the Orders Dialogus, Hospitaller, and Famulous
- Troops Ecclesiarchy forces such as Missionaries, Priests, Crusaders, Death Cult Assassins, Arco-Flagellants, and Zealots
- Mortifier and Penitent Engines
- Rhino, Repressor, Exorcist, and Immolator vehicles
- Aircraft including Thunderhawks[30] and Lightning Strike Fighters[18]. Requisitioned aircraft can include Avenger Strike Fighters.[31]
Armoury
Every piece of wargear supplied to the Adepta Sororitas is first taken to either the Convent Prioris on Terra or the Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII. There they are blessed by choirs of novitiates in rites that can last for days or even weeks. Weapons are daubed in sacred oils and polished by cloths that have been touched by saints. Every bolt and chainsword tooth is inscribed with verses from the Fede Imperialis - the Battle Hymn of the Adepta Sororitas. Specialty wargear destined to be wielded by a Canoness are sometimes sprinkled with a blood of martyrs, before being placed amongst the crypts of fallen saints to lie in repose until it is taken up by its bearer. A Sister will usually make a pilgrimage to the Convent of her Order to have her wargear bestowed upon her.[25a]
Wherever possible the Sisters of Battle use the holy trinity of weapons, that of the bolter, flamer, and melta[5c]. There are few exceptions to this rule, the most notable being melee weapons, plasma pistols sometimes used by Sister Superiors[6], and the missiles of the Exorcist[5c]. The rank and file are primarily equipped with a Godwyn-De'az pattern boltgun[7] and bolt pistol[5a]. All Sisters, with the exception of the Sisters Repentia, are equipped with a suit of Adepta Sororitas Power Armour[5a]. The Sisters of Battle possess limited armoured support: the Rhino and Immolator as personnel carriers[5d], and the Exorcist to provide fire support[5b].
Fleet
The Sisters of Battle utilize their own warships of at least Cruiser class, apparently the same types operated by the Imperial Navy.[23]
Notable Members
- Founding Saints
- Post-Founding
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Codex: Sisters of Battle (2nd Edition), pg. 35
- 2: Dawn of War: Ascension by C.S. Goto
- 2a: [Needs Citation], pg. 6
- 2b: [Needs Citation], pg. 332
- 3: Duty Calls (Novel) — Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus) by Sandy Mitchell: Chapter 5, page 295, Endn. 1
- 4: Cain's Last Stand (Novel) — Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus) by Sandy Mitchell: Chapter 5, pg. 558
- 5: White Dwarf 379 (US)
- 6: Red and Black (Audio Book), Cover illustration by Slawomir Maniak
- 7: Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition), pg. 19
- 7a: pg. 31
- 8: Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook pg. 180
- 9: The Inquisition (Background Book)
- 10: Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pg. 16
- 11: White Dwarf 293 (UK), pg. 57
- 12: Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook, pg. 195
- 13: Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem, pgs. 76–77
- 14: Yarrick: The Pyres of Armageddon (Novel) by David Annandale, Chapter One
- 15: The Red Path (Novel), Chapter Four
- 16: The 13th Black Crusade (Background Book), pg. 90
- 17: Citadel Journal 49, pg. 20
- 18: Dawn of War: Soulstorm
- 19: Cult of the Warmason (Novel), Chapter I
- 20: Apocalypse (Novel) - Chapter 2
- 21: Battle Sister Bulletin – Part 15: Artwork (Posted 2/9/2019) (Last Accessed 3 September 2019)
- 22: Warhammer Community: Sisters of Battle: Beyond the Box (Posted 13 November 2019) (Last accessed 11/14/2019)
- 23: Mark of Faith (Novel) Book 1 Chapter 1
- 24: Warhammer Community: Shades of Faith (Posted on 08/01/2020) (Last accessed on 9 January 2020)
- 25: Codex: Adepta Sororitas (8th Edition) pg.30-32
- 26: Psychic Awakening: Ritual of the Damned pg.9
- 27: White Dwarf February 2020, pg. 58
- 28: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pgs. 42-43
- 29: White Dwarf 457, pg. 54
- 30: Heart & Soul (Short Story)
- 31: Forge World Avenger Strike Fighter (last accessed 15 August 2015)
- 32: White Dwarf 459, pgs. 52-53
- 33: Warhammer Community: Introducing the Judge, Jury, and Executioner of the Adepta Sororitas (Posted on 29/03/2021) (Last accessed on 29 March 2021)
- 34: Our Martyred Lady (Audio Drama)
- 35: Fire and Faith (Novel), Chapter 1
- 36: Piety and Pain Rulebook, pg. 5
Uncited