+++Order of Our Martyred Lady+++
Based in the Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII, the Adepta Sororitas Order of Our Martyred Lady has convents throughout the galaxy and is one of the largest of the Orders Militant. Originally entitled the Order of the Fiery Heart, the Sisters changed their name within centuries after they were founded by Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII, in memory of the supreme sacrifice made by their patron, Saint Katherine. The Sisters of Our Martyred Lady have ever since been a common sight throughout the Armageddon Sector, where they defend lone worlds from alien attack and strongly regulate the lives of all who fall under the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiarchy. The seat of their authority lies in the great Sanctorum of St. Katherine built high within the superstructure of Tempestora Hive, a centre of activity for all members of the Ecclesiarchy who dwell on Armageddon. When the Ork submersibles rose out of the polluted waters of the Boiling Sea, the Sisters of Our Martyred Lady were amongst the front line of defence of Tempestora Hive. The sheer surprise of the Ork's cunning strike left many Imperial units floundering in confusion and the aliens were able to dominate a sizeable portion of the underhive within a few short hours of the initial attack. Suffering staggering losses as the Orks assaulted time and again, the Sisters were driven back through the dark, dank tunnels and recesses of Tempestora and then into the heart of the Hive itself. The Imperial command structure began to break down in the face of the rapidly moving Ork hordes, with many of the Hive Militia units being dispatched to reinforce positions that the Orks had already overrun. The defence quickly turned into a running battle for the Sisters and the scattered Militia they had managed to rally. The Orks themselves thrived in the chaotic assault and took full advantage of the Imperium's inability to stop them. It was not to be long before the Sisters of the Order had been pushed back to the immense armoured doors of their Sanctorum. Once on their sacred ground, the Sisters refusal to withdraw any further and the battle intensified as the Order rallied to the defence of their Sanctorum, desperately calling upon all able-bodied members of the Ecclesiarchy within to lay down their lives in an effort to withstand the alien assault. Elsewhere throughout Tempestora Hive, the Orks were unbound, destroying any Imperial resistance piecemeal and proclaiming another victory under the Gork-given leadership of Warlord Ghazghkull. Outside the main doors of the Sanctorum, Sister and Ork died together, locked in mortal combat as, inch by inch, the alienÕs sheer weight of numbers drove the Sisters backward. The Order of Our Martyred Lady fought bravely with bolter and flamer until, at last, a determined charge by Warboss Nargrim and his mega-armoured Nobz broke the back of the Sister's line. What followed was as darker time as the Order has ever recorded. The Sisters, withdrawing as they tried desperately to regroup one last time, were bodily torn apart by the unstoppable green tide that surged through the Sanctorum, eager to destroy the Sisters once and for all after they had dared to stand against the Orks for so long. An hour later, no humans were left alive in the Sanctorum. The Orks were Jubilant, for Tempestora was theirs. After the fall of Tempestora, the Order of Our Martyred Lady could barely field the equivalent of three companies upon the battlefields of Armageddon. The loss of the Sanctorum sent shock waves throughout the entire Order, leading to many Novices questioning their faith in the divine Emperor. Though still reeling from this crushing defeat, the Order recovered quickly and has sworn to repel the Ork invaders and retake Tempestora at all costs. Though many Sisters are spread throughout Armageddon Prime and Secundus, they are united in this vow and have proved to be a great stabilising influence amongst the Imperial Guard regiments who fight alongside them. Their heroism and fanatical devotion to the Emperor has already been pivotal in repulsing several Ork assaults and the Order still remains a valued component in the tight defence of Armageddon.
+++Fraeratis Militia+++
Frateris are the male servants of the Ecclesiarch, either members of the clergy (deacons, priests, friars etc.) or lay followers. In times of great need, the Frateris may take up arms to defend themselves, led by a Preacher or Confessor, becoming Frateris Militia. Frateris Militia, named after the now defunct Frateris Templars who enforced the Ecclesiarchy's will before the Decree Passive outlawed them - though some do claim that some of the Templars refused to disband and are still out there somewhere, accompany many Confessors and Missionaries, acting as self appointed bodyguards for their chosen leader. Although the Adeptus Ministorum is forbidden from having men under arms, these troops are not under the direct control of the Ecclesiarch and are just enthusiastic followers. The military potential of the Frateris has been a subject of long and hard debate in the Imperium. Although unskilled and sometimes as much a danger to themselves as the enemy, when well led by an inspirational figure, Frateris Militia have been known to perform deeds of great courage that would make veteren Imperial Guardsmen blanch with fear.
+++Order of the Amethyst Rose+++
Origins
In the latter part of M39, an Ork war fleet drove deep into a southern sector of the Imperium, rampaging across countless worlds before the lumbering Imperial war machine could muster any organised resistance. One of the worlds under the shadow of invasion was Arran VI, a large industrialised world whose general devotion to the Imperial Cult was noted within the Priesthood. As well as having raised several Imperial Guard regiments, Arran VI was also home to a small abbey of the Order of the Bloody Rose. Ork ships jumped into the system and quickly overran the orbital defences in one massive full frontal attack. Within a matter of weeks the majority of the human defenders had been destroyed by the invading Orks. The few survivors later spoke of a green tide that seemed to engulf any resistance in a brutal and efficient manner. Eventually only one hive city remained intact; Jerradong, the planet’s capital. The Orks had the advantage of overwhelming numbers and gradually the Sisters of Battle and remaining Imperial Guard units were forced back from the walls, exacting an awful toll in blood as they went. Countless numbers of Orks died, but for every one that fell five more seemed to carry the battle to the beleaguered defenders. The final stand was made in the Amethyst Hall, a massive vaulted chamber within the Governor’s own palace, the adamantine walls studded with thousands of the precious gems. Barely two companies of Imperial Guard now remained, led by a dozen under-strength squads from the Order of the Bloody Rose. Certain of impending victory, the Orks charged, but were bravely driven back. Again and again the Orks charged towards the defenders and each time the Imperial line held against the onslaught. In time, the defenders numbered so few that they knew the next alien assault would be the last. Before the Orks could charge the Sisters knelt in prayer to the Emperor, commending their souls to him before the final battle. As the Ork horde mustered to attack once more, there was a massive roar as huge plasma missiles smashed into the palace from orbiting Imperial ships, throwing human and alien alike into confusion as the ancient building shuddered and collapsed into dust around them. When Naval Landing Parties entered the ruins days later only the Sisters of Battle were found alive. No one could discover how they had survived the destruction of the palace but not one of the Sisters could doubt that it was the Emperor himself who had reached out to them in their hour of need. The Sisters were to later learn that whilst the ground war had raged on Arran VI, the Imperial Navy had engaged the Ork ships above the embattled world. Long-ranged torpedo fire had crippled the Ork flag Kroozer at the very onset of the battle and the ship had finally been destroyed during a lightning flank action by a dozen fire ships. As the Kroozer broke apart all semblance of discipline failed within the Ork fleet and the remaining ships scattered and fled. The Navy’s sensorium readings of the planet’s surface revealed Orks almost blanketing the world. The Fleet Admiral, Voltimand Polonius, decided to launch a massive barrage of plasma missiles at the main concentrations of Ork troops. Although they had survived, the Sisters firmly believed that they had failed in their duty to protect Arran VI and so in order to atone they immediately swore to undertake a thousand year crusade, fighting the enemies of the Emperor wherever they were found. After much debate the Ecclesiarchy granted this request and the Imperial Navy agreed to transport the Sisters on one of their older Cruisers, the Pontis Praeter. To differentiate the crusaders from the main body of the Order of the Bloody Rose, the Ecclesiarchy decreed that they would be remade anew. It was decided to name the Order after the final defence of the Governor’s palace, and so the Order of the Amethyst Rose was born. The Pontis Praeter now transports the Order throughout Imperial space on their crusade of atonement. New recruits to the Order are few and far between, coming when they do from the Schola Prognenium. On arrival they are fully trained and indoctrinated before being made part of the crusading Order of Sisters. Homeworld The Pontis Praeter is the only home the Order of the Amethyst Rose have known since undertaking their crusade. Part of the Imperial Navy, this ancient vessel transports the Order through the southern sectors of the Imperium. The Sisters of the Amethyst Rose use the Pontis Praeter to patrol the frontier of space wherever they are needed and bring death to the enemies of Mankind wherever they pass. Occasionally, a very small garrison will be left behind where danger is likely to surface again and any Sister chosen for this task knows that it may be many years before they see their ship again, if at all. The Pontis Praeter is a completely self-contained vessel, and her Captain has been ordered to accommodate the Sisters during their Crusade, whether it ends in vindication or destruction of the small Order.
Beliefs
As with all Sisters of Battle the Order of the Amethyst Rose firmly support the Ecclesiarchy and are zealous in their drive to crush the enemies of the Emperor wherever they may be found. This crusading Order is used to travelling to the more backward and forgotten planets and as such they are a little more tolerant than usual of humans who have not yet embraced the worship of the divine Emperor. In many cases the Order are the first off-worlders seen by the inhabitants of some planets. In these circumstances, one of the few Missionaries attached to the Order is left behind to spread the Pax Imperium. The Order of the Amethyst Rose have a fanatical hatred of aliens, especially Orks. If forced to fight alongside any alien then it is only a matter of time before they turn on these despicable allies and destroy them.
Combat Doctrine
The Order of the Amethyst Rose set great store in the humble rhino, and wherever possible field squads in these APCs. Heavily armed Retributor squads are often seen in any force that deploys for battle, though every squad has a heavy weapon of some. This combination allows the Sisters to take the fight to the enemy, and provides the ability to position the Retributor squads where they can do the most damage. Should the Sisters require augmenting by Militia then these are temporarily drafted from the Lay Followers of the planet that the Order is called to fight for. Warcry / Motto ‘The path to righteousness is paved with the bones of heretics.’
Colours
As befits their name the Order are garbed in dark purple armour. Their cloaks are black with dark red linings whilst the casings on their weapons are also dark red in colour. In a show of contempt for their enemies all of the sisters have flesh coloured upper leg armour. Squad markings are very subtle, and a squad is generally defined by the shade of its armour. The darkest shade of purple is reserved for the Canoness herself and her Celestian bodyguard, the next deepest colours being those of the Retributor squads. The lightest shade is that of the Seraphim.
Canoness Ophelia
Ophelia has been the Canoness of the Order for only a short time, after the previous Canoness, Emilia, died in battle against Eldar raiders. She is a very headstrong leader, and can always be found leading an attack with her Celestian bodyguard in her hand crafted Rhino. Ophelia’s prized possession is her Blade of Admonition, presented to her by the previous Canoness as she lay dying on the blazing deserts of Tor Ammon.
Veteran Sister Superior Desdemona
Desdemona acts as Ophelia’s second-in-command, and in battle can be seen leading the single squad of Seraphim possessed by the Order and wields the mighty Axe of Retribution, which she used in the final assault on Arran VI. Desdemona’s squad is called the Blossoming Stars, and in battle they can be found raining death from the skies upon the enemies of Mankind.
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