War for Varentis II
The War for Varentis II began in M42, when a series of seemingly unconnected insurrections on Varentis II, became a massive Chaos Cult uprising.[1]
History
When these insurrections began Varentis II's equatorial city-states, the Capital World's Adeptus Arbites and reserve defense militia brutally crushed them. However after one was put down, three more would spring up in other cities. In response to this, the ruling Heptarchy members of Varentis II, dispatched its PDF to put down the riots, which threatened the Capital World's export of minerals. Even as these insurrections raged, however, the Heptarchy also fought their rival members using hired guns and personal troops. It was Varentis II's Ecclesiarchy that first noticed the insurrections' Heretical leanings and their connection to the northern settlements. It was these nomadic clan mining settlements that extracted the minerals and then brought them to Varentis' city-states. The Ecclesiarchy became aware, though, that unknown clan miners were appearing beside each shipment of minerals, before disappearing into the cities' underbellies. The Heptarchy's grip on Varentis II had degenerated so much, though, that the Ecclesiarchy decided they could no longer handle what was obviously becoming a Chaos Cult uprising.[1]
In the capital city-state Varent-har, the Ecclesiarchy's senior Bishops met within the Cathedrum Mirabilis to ask the Order of Our Martyred Lady for aid. As the Cathedrum was the seat of the Ubarig Sub-sector's Bishopric, and its foundation was laid down in honor of the Order's fallen Saint Carnelline, the Martyred Lady's closest sanctuary acted quickly. Soon a fleet under the command of Canoness Preceptor Moirelle, was sent to restore the Imperium's rule of Varentis II. However, the tides of the Warp worked against the fleet and by the time they reached Varentis, an entire year had passed. What greeted them was a world fully in the grip of Chaos Cults and Canoness Moirelle ordered an orbital blockade of Varentis II's city-states in response. She then lead 4 of the Martyred Lady's Commanderies to battle the Cults and enacted a strategy to break the Heretics' morale. As her drop-ships entered the atmosphere, blessed Aqua-seeders caused holy rain to fall and Clarion-craft began to broadcast hymnals of praise. Allied Mars Tech-Priests that accompanied the fleet, overrode Varentis' Cult-held civilian Vox network, so that it emitted rapturous choirs. Converted Aquila Landers also doused the city-states in sacred oils that ignited with the air. All this was done to show the Heretics, the supreme majesty of the God-Emperor's power and to incite any loyal Imperial survivors to righteous hatred.[1]
The second phase of Moirelle's strategy began, after the Commanderies were ready to be deployed. She had them sent to different city-states and her second in command, Canoness Yves-Io, was sent to Forstadt. Palatine Theria was sent to Gebarran and discovered the Ecclesiarchy had been right about their suspicions of the northern mining settlements. Her forces were soon fighting corrupted clan miners and destroying the hidden caches they had hidden within the city-state. Meanwhile, Moirelle herself led the attack on the capital city-state Varent-har and the Cathedrum Mirabilis was her main target. This was because it was no longer a shining beacon of the Imperial Faith and had instead been turned into a fane for the Chaos Gods. The desecrated Cathedrum was now infested with Heretics and its Priests were impaled upon its battlements. Seeking vengeance for this sacrilege, Canoness Preceptor Moirelle led most of her forces to cleanse the Cathedrum. There, they did battle with the Heretics and met fierce resistance, as many had become possessed by Daemons or horribly mutated by Chaos. The tide turned, however, when unexpected aid arrived from the Cathedrum's crypts in the form of a civilian militia led by Bishop-Praetor Inigo Ravellon. They had been conducting a guerrilla war beneath the city for months, when Ravellon led the militia to the surface, after hearing Moirelle's forces battle psalms. Though many die at the Heretics hands, the militia surprise appearance gives the Canoness Preceptor's Commanderies time to recover and together they cleansed the Cathedrum. Afterwards, Moirelle made the reconsecrated Cathedrum Mirabilis her headquarters and from there, her forces reclaimed Varentis II's city-states.[1]
Once the world was back in the Imperium's control, the ruling members of the Heptarchy suffered greatly at Moirelle's hands. For failing to defend Varentis II, the bodies of each of Heptarchy's dynasties were taken and made to line the major transit ways of the city-states in Stasis-sealed moments of agony. Purges also continued on the Capital World for more than a year, under the oversight of Bishop-Praetor Ravellon. Finally by Ecclesiarchal decree, and approved by the High Lords, Ravellon brought Varentis II under the direct rule of the Ecclesiarchy. The Capital World was then rededicated as a Shrine World, in the name of those who had fallen in its defense.[1]
Sources
- 1: Codex: Adepta Sororitas (9th Edition), pgs. 20-21 - War Zone: Varentia
