Chapter 14 - Light of the Emperor ================================= 14.1 Introduction =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This chapter is about the history and organisation of the Adeptus Ministorum, the branch of the Adeptus Terra founded on the worship of the Emperor of Mankind. Through its preachers, confessors and missionaries, the Ministorum controls the religion of the masses, focusing it on the worship of the Emperor. The Imperial Creed taught by the Ministorum is the only official religion of the Imperium, anything else is deemed Heretical. The ancient rites and verses can be interpreted in many ways, but any extreme deviance from the holy strictures is severely dealt with. The Adeptus Ministorum is headed by a figure called the Ecclesiarch, who holds a permanent seat with the High Lords of Terra. Indeed, an alternative and common name for the Ministorum is the Ecclesiarchy, named after its influential head. 14.2 History =-=-=-=-=-=-= 14.2.1 The Birth of the Church ------------------------------- Though nearly 10,000 years old now, the roots of the Ecclesiarchy, sealed in the vaults of the Imperial Palace on Holy Terra, can still be traced. The oldest texts, in the Vault of Origins, date back to the Horus Heresy, and many of these texts are so brittle with age that they must be kept in a stasis field to preserve them. Only the highest ranking members of the Ministorum are allowed access to this most sacred of vaults. Even the Inquisition are denied access, the Ecclesiarchy holding enough sway to hold the Inquisition at arms length in this area. The Emperor was a great man when he walked the Earth before the Horus Heresy, and worshipped as a god even before his incarceration in the Golden Throne. The Horus Heresy focussed this general worship of the Imperiums most powerful and psychically gifted man into a laser beam. The fate of Mankind hung in the balance. The Emperor was victorious, but almost mortally wounded both physically and psychically. With his internment into the Golden Throne, the Emperors spirit rose into the Warp. Almost by definition, the Emperor became a god. The Imperium was swept into a surge in adoration and worship of the God Emperor. Cults grew and prospered, some small, some large. As things usually happen, the large ones prospered, the small ones slowly faded away or were assimilated into the larger ones. The most successful of these cults was to be the Temple of the Saviour Emperor. The Temple of the Saviour Emperor was based on Terra. Its original leader is known today as Fastidicus, his true name lost to the eons, Fastidicus meaning 'Prophet' in one of the ancient Terran tongues. Soon, the cult covered the whole of Terra. Missionaries spread the lessons of the cult far and wide, and soon it had an immense following. At the age of 120, Fastidicus died. The cult continued to thrive, smaller sects incorporated or assimilated into it, whether they wanted to be or not. On Terra, the only non-aderants were the Adepts of the Cult Mechanicus and the Space Marines, both of which groups had their own forms of ritual and adoration. In the early 32nd millenium, the Temple of the Saviour Emperor was recognised as the official religion of the Imperium and given the title of the Adeptus Ministorum. Two centuries later the then Ecclesiarch, Veneris II, became a High Lord of Terra. Over the next three hundred years the importance of the Ecclesiarchy became such that the seat of the Ecclesiarch became a permanent one among the High Lords of Terra. The Ecclesiarchy continued to prosper and grow, and the Imperium was divided into areas called Dioceses, each ruled by a Cardinal. As the Ministorum grew, a whole subsection of the establishment was established to attend to the running of the organisation. Deacons answered to Arch-deacons, who in turn answered to their Cardinal. Cardinals in turn were responsible to the Bishops of the Holy Synod, which worked in concert with the Ecclesiarch, the Ministorums head, at least in theory. The Holy Synod was responsible for the implementation of the Ecclesiarchs wishes. 14.2.2 The Confederation of Light =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- For all the Ministorums growth, however, one rival order threated it yet. The Confederation of Light, centred and founded on the planet of Dimmamar, was a penitent faith whose ideas of poverty and humble living directly contradicted the teachings of the Ministorum. Powerful as it was, the Ministorum could do little to challenge the power base of the Confereration of Light. The first War of Faith was declared by a unanimous vote of the High Lords of Terra. The Confederation of Light was declared Heretical, and the war machine of the Imperium was turned on the Confederation of Light. Though the odd cell or shrine escaped, hidden, the Confederation of Light, as a working religion, was decimated. Little known to the Ministorum, it survived, its part not yet played out in the history to come. By the end of the 33rd millenium, with the exception of the planets of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Space Marine worlds, whom had an tense 'agreement' with the Ecclesiarchy not to impose on each others territory, every Imperial world was marked with temples or shrines to the God Emperor. The tithes of the Ministorums countless followers flowed into the coffers, to fund more Wars of Faith to maintain the Ecclesiarchys control. 14.2.3 The Age of Apostacy --------------------------- As the power of the Ecclesiarchy grew, its influence spread to every facet of life, all from the lowliest scribe to the High Lords of Terra found their lives and decisions increasing influenced by the will of the Ministorum. Soon the Ecclesiarchy was directing, indirectly of course, Imperial law and resources. Elements of the Imperium railed against such control. The Fabricator General of the Adeptus Mechanicus opposed the will of the Ecclesiarchy, and the Masters of the Space Marine Chapters increasingly looked upon Imperial orders with a jaundiced eye. Increasingly, the Administratum itself began to fight against the Ecclesiarchal will. The Administratum began to re-establish itself as the binding power at the centre of the Imperium, beginning a feud that has lasted 7000 years right up to the present day. From the late 34th to the early 35th millenium, the Ecclesiarchys power waned. Following a succession of incompetent Ecclesiarchs, the Administratum grew to dictate, behind the scenes, the agenda of the Holy Synod, hall of the most powerful Ecclesiarchal members. Ecclesiarch Benedin IV saw what was happening, and in a bid to escape the control of the Administratum, moved the Holy Synod and power centre of the Ecclesiarchy to Ophelia VII, in the Segmentum Tempestus. Separated from the Administratum, the power of the Ecclesiarchy grew again. It formed its own fleet of spacecraft and armies, the Frateris Templars. Adeptus Ministorum buildings on Earth fell to ruin. In the middle of the 35th millenium, Ecclesiarch Greigor XI's announced sweeping changes, that the Holy Synod and Adeptus Ministorum move back to Earth. Dissenting voices were heard, but he pushed the measure through and the newly rebuilt halls of the Holy Synod on Terra opened once more. Ministorum tithes, already increased uncomfortably high over the years, increased further to pay for the rebuilding. Finally, following the unveiling of several radical innovations, Greigor died of food poisoning, his more radical reforms never carried out. Adeptus Ministorum tithes later increased yet more. Many worlds openly rebelled against the ruinous tithes, even Planetary Governors spoke out. The cries went unheeded, and officials of the rebellious worlds and systems were denounced as Heretical and executed. The high tithes payed for the decoration of the Ecclesiarchal palaces with the rarest metals and gems. The unrest continued abated, each time crushed by the Frateris military. Warp storms increased, soon to cut off entire systems and make long range travel impossible. With the attention of the Ministorum and Administratum both turned inward toward their feud, the Ecclesiarchys bloodthirsty means of controlling Heresy and increased attacks by Chaos and alien forces, the Imperium fragmented into anarchy. 14.2.4 Vandires Reign of Blood ------------------------------- Goge Vandire became the 361st High Lord of the Administratum. Always an opponent of the Ecclesiarchys power, he engineered the election of Ecclesiarch Paulis III, an incompetent easily controlled by Vandire. In the past High Lords of the Administratum had covertly manipulated the Ecclesiarchy. Instead, Vandire took the step of a straightforward military coup of the Adeptus Ministorum, taking upon himself the dual role of Ecclesiarch and Master of the Administratum. His opponents within the Ministorum lost in a Warp storm while fleeing to Ophelia VII, Vandire quickly took total control of both the Ecclesiarchy and Administratum. Vandire was insane, a paranoid megalomanic. Over time his twisted mind ordered countless cruel, murderous and unnecessary acts of violence and genocide. It was an era that would become known as the Reign of Blood. A cult founded on San Leor stands out in history. Vandire learned that the cult, composed only of female members, practised devotion to the Emperor through inner purity and the arts of war. It called itself the Daughters of the Emperor. Vandire honoured the otherwise insigificant world with an Ecclesiarchal visit. The Daughters of the Emperor, witnessing an arranged 'feat' that apparently proved he was blessed by the Emperor, all took vows of fealty to him. They became his Ecclesiarchal bodyguard, and renamed the Brides of the Emperor. Hardened fighters, they saved him from attempted assassination by the Holy Synod on at least one occasion. Vandires violent reign lasted for 70 years from his ascension to the Ecclesiarchal throne. Getting old, Vandires body was pumped full of drugs to keep the inevitable diseases and plagues of old age at bay, and with the guns of the Brides of the Emperor at his command, he still commanded with an iron grip. It was with trepidation that a young agent appeared at Vandires palace with news from the north of the Galaxy, from an area around the planet Dimmamar. Long thought destroyed, the Confederation of Light was active once more, and had denounced Vandire as a traitor to the Imperium. Across the Segmentum Obscuras, one name was heard time and time again: Sebastian Thor. Noone knew who this Sebastian Thor was. The High Lords of Terra, puppets of Vandire all, debated for a month what action to take, Vandire himself increasingly self-withdrawn. Within three months 80 more systems had declared loyalty to the Confederation of Light. The Frateris Templars were ordered to raze Dimmamar and every living thing on it. Duly sent, the war fleet was smashed asunder in a Warp storm, and it is said those who pass close by can still hear the screams of those who died in it. It is an area of ill omen now known as the Storm of the Emperors Wrath. The core of the Frateris military smashed, Segmentum Obscuras erupted into rebellion. The name of Sebastian Thor, still, was heard repeatedly. To the High Lords on Terra, this figure seemed intent on smashing the Ecclesiarchy and, possibly, the whole Imperium. They were stunned. Thor was no daemonic entity or alien puppet intent on destroying the Imperium. He was a man, who claimed to have received a vision from the Emperor that disaster was befalling Mankind, taking the pulpit mid-sermon from a local preacher and denouncing the ways of the Ecclesiarchy. Such was his eloquence, the people believed and countless others flocked to hear his sermons. Imperial Commander Gaius Welkonnen placed Dimmamars army at Thors disposal. The army soon grew to over 5 million over the next year, and slowly made its way across the galaxy, towards Terra. Legends grew around Thor, some explainable by his oratory, others not so, such as the utter calmness of the Warp as Thor journeyed from system to system, at a time when Warp storms still gripped the rest of the Galaxy, and had done for many hundreds of years. The Paternova of the Navigators dubbed him Abstracta Preomnis, 'Master of the Warp'. News spread, and Thor was soon hailed as a god-like being. Its armed might destroyed in the Storm of the Emperors Wrath, the Adeptus Ministorum could do little as Thor converted system after system, diocese after diocese, to his words. The tide had turned against Vandire, he had pushed the masses too far, and now they had a leader to unite them. More disturbing news still was to come to Vandires council of High Lords. Up to now, the Adeptus Mechanicus and Space Marine Chapters had participated little in the Age of Apostacy, instead withdrawing to and defending their own sectors as fortresses amidst the sea of anarchy. Now they voiced their support for Sebastian Thor, and the Adeptus Mechanicus issued a summons to the High Lords to answer for their actions and indict Vandire as a traitor. Vandire dissolved the council of High Lords and ordered his remaining forces to attack the now rebellious Adeptus Astartes and Mechanicus. Many officers refused, to be hung and denounced as Heretics, replaced by more tractable commanders. But Vandires treachery was becoming readily apparent. Under order from Gastaph Hedriatix, Fabricator General of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Martian Tech-Guard transported to Earth and, joining with the Space Marine Chapters, attacked the Imperial palace. By now the Brides of the Emperor were some 10,000 strong, and they successfully defended the conclave of Vandire in the palace from outside assault. Yet it was the threat inside that was to prove Vandires undoing. Another organisation had remained apart from the wanton bloodshed of the Reign of Blood, and that was the Adeptus Custodes, the bodyguard of the Emperor himself. To escape the anarchy they had cut themselves off from the outside completely. Only scraps of information filtered through to theirs, the most holy of places, and only when the Adeptus Astartes and Mechanicus moved against Vandire did they realise his treachery. A Centurion of the Companions, with a contingent of Custodians, surfaced not far from Vandires stronghold, to be met by the Brides of the Emperor. For an hour he made a plea to the Brides to revoke their oaths, but they would not listen and he had but one option left. The Centurion led the Brides leader and a bodyguard of five sisters to look upon the face of the Emperor himself. What the Brides saw is not known, sworn to secrecy by the Custodians. When they emerged from the darkness of the tunnels, their eyes burned with unparalleled anger and hatred. Led directly back to the audience chamber of Vandire himself, the Brides leader, Alicia Dominica, spoke of the treachery of Vandire and his corruption of the Ecclesiarchy and Imperium, but most of all of the perversion of the Brides order. All this time, Vandire was oblivious of the revolt around him. He blinked in surprise as he saw the assembled warriors around him, the sound of gunfire fading as the message was passed around the Imperial palace. Vandire launched into a bloodthirsty tirade, explaining which systems needed to be crushed, issueing orders to attack Thor and his army. But his scribes were gone now, and Vandire was confronted by the vengeful Brides of the Emperor, who now denounced the name and had become once more the Daughters of the Emperor. Denouncing him, Alicia issued the sentence of death, before Vandires head was removed in one stroke, cleaving his rosarius in two. The Reign of Blood was ended. 14.2.5 The Ecclesiarchy Reborn ------------------------------- The Imperium was left in disarray. In order to rebuild it, Hediatrix, Fabricator General of the Adeptus Mechanicus, set about resurrecting what remained of the High Lords of Terra. Organisations such as the Navigators and Chartist Captains were encouraged to purge their own ranks, Imperial Commanders were promoted from those who had opposed Vandire, while other High Lords were vindicated by their peers and duly kept their seats in the Council. However, there was still no Ecclesiarch. Messages were sent to Sebastian Thor, requesting that he journey immediately to Earth. He refused, saying he had too much to do before he could return to Terra. A fast transport ship was sent to bring Thor back, but again he refused. Exasperated, the High Lords issued a decree declaring Thor a traitor, and that he stand trial on Terra. Standing trial, he was found innocent on all charges. The High Lords met for three days to decide what to do with him. Found innocent on all counts, and with the Imperium in need of spiritual guidance, Thor was offered the position of Ecclesiarch. While his supporters roared their approval, he quietly refused. Chaos erupted in the chamber. Captain-General Excelsor of the Adeptus Custodes took Thor aside and spoke to him. While it is not known what he said, it is believed to have been "You will leave Terra as an Ecclesiarch, or you will not leave Terra at all..." Thor accepted, but on certain conditions. He would have the full backing of the High Lords whenever he needed it. He would make changes to the Ecclesiarchy and they would trust him in his actions. He also wanted to travel the Imperium preaching as he had been. Thor I became the 292nd Ecclesiarch. Thor formed the Synod Ministra on Ophelia VII. The Holy Synod remains active on Terra, while the Synod Ministra acts as a second governing body further from Terra. Second, dioceses were split into smaller areas. In the year 288.M36 the Decree Passive came into force, forbidding the Ecclesiarchy from commanding any 'men under arms'. The Frateris Templars were disbanded. Thor, however, saw some military force would be needed, and kept the one force he was allowed to keep under the Decree Passive. Due to the archaic wording of the law, the Daughters of the Emperor did not break the ban. They became the Orders Militant of the Adeptus Sororitas. After 10 years on Terra, Thor left to preach across the Galaxy once more. At the age of 112 he finally returned, living for another six months before the Emperor claimed his soul. Seventy million pilgrims filed past his tomb within the first year, and the people of the Imperium still travel to Terra to gaze upon the face of the Emperors most faithful servant. 14.2.6 The Plague of Unbelief ------------------------------ Around the time of the Reign of Blood, a few decades after Sebastian Thor had ascended the Ecclesiarchal throne, Cardinal Bucharis was to start the Plague of Unbelief. Cut off by Warp storms, Bucharis and the surrounding region had not yet heard the news of Thors crusade, and Cardinal Bucharis commanded a diocese centred on Galthamor to the Galactic South-West of Earth. Driven by jealousy of his peers achievements, Bucharis built a great temple to the Emperors glory on his Cardinal planet. After enslaving the men and women and expiring the resources of Galthamor, he needed more men and resources. Bucharis conquered the nearby world of Rhanda. With the plentiful supplies and riches of that world, Bucharis' wealth grew. Here he joined forces with renegade Imperial Navy Admiral Sehalla, and a colonel of the Rigellian XXV Regiment called Gasto. With the Navy and Imperial Guardsmen at his disposal, Bucharis carved out a small empire to the Galactic West of Earth and in seven years 50 star systems were under his regime. News of Sebastian Thor had not yet filtered through to the area, and when it finally did, he suppressed it, controlling as he did all interstellar travel and communication in his realm. Bucharis announced the Ecclesiarchy had fallen, corrupted by traitors and Heretics. He declared himself the true mouth piece of the Emperor and head of the Adeptus Ministorum. To those who heard his speeches, Galthamor became the new centre of the Ecclesiarchy. The Plague of Unbelief spread, as did Bucharis' law. On worlds in his Empire, man fought man, the strong sought to weed out the weak. The Mercenary Guard was sent northwards and westwards, extending Bucharis' empire in those directions. To the south he steered clear of the Naval base at Bakka, drew a wide berth around Cadia and the Eye of Terror and the ships of Battlefleet Pacificus on Hydrophur bowed to Bucharis' command. Bucharis was almost ready to take on the might of Terra. Fortunately, he was to make a grave error. The expanding territories of Bucharis took him to the systems surrounding Fenris, home world of the Space Wolves chapter of Space Marines. Encountering the cruiser 'Claws of Russ' as it was preparing to leave, Bucharis dismissed it as pure chance. As soon as he entered the system that contained Fenris, however, the Space Wolves war fleet attacked. Despite 2/3 of his fleet occupied by the Space Wolves attack, he managed to get troops down to the Fenrisian surface, where he managed to eventually surround the Fang, fortress of the Space Wolves chapter. A siege set in, lasting three years. Believing one last surgical assault would end it, he readied his troops for battle. But Fate intervened once more, and Bucharis war fleet met a squadron of Space Wolves battle barges, heading back to their home world. Caught between the hammer and the anvil, his fleet was crushed. Bucharis managed to escape on a shuttle. Leaving Fenris to the Space Wolves, Bucharis pulled back his northern forces and consolidated the remainder of his domain. Meanwhile, while Bucharis was occupied with Fenris, others of his commanders had continued west. One troublesome world was Chiros, which so far had resisted attempts to take it. Eventually, the commander of the invasion force was forced to surrender to the Chirosians. Soon after, the mining planet of Guryan managed to successfully rebel against Bucharis' hold. After Guryan came Dolsia, then Vaust. The rebellions were cutting a path across his empire, straight towards Galthamor. On Colcha Bucharis laid an ambush. When the fleet came out of the Warp the trap was sprung and the fleet almost entirely destroyed. Save for one sole shuttle, which escaped to the planets surface. Wary of the single shuttle that escaped, the commander kept his forces on alert and set in to play the waiting game. A year passed, uneventfully. Then, suddenly, the quiet farmers of Colcha went berserk. They burnt the crop fields, stormed the barracks and overwhelmed the enemy. Pushed from Colcha, and then Lima Rogan Troudor, and a score of other worlds, Bucharis started to run out of money. Many of his soldiers deserted, dissension set in, and the revolts continued, an arrow pointing at the heart of the apostate Cardinal. Finally, Methalor, the closest system to Galthamor fell. Bucharis doubled the cordon on his home system. Every incoming vessel was to be stopped and searched. Soon, a messenger arrived at the palace of Bucharis. The message was from Confessor Dolan Chirosius, and demanded the immediate surrender of Bucharis. The messenger was duly fed to the crows. Confessor Dolan would be coming to Galthamor soon, and soon enough Dolan was found and taken into custody. Dolan was driven through the street, chained and whipped with flails. Over an ordeal lasting over six months, he was constantly tortured, deprived of sleep, and had only a handful of water a day to live on. Yet all the while he remained defiant. Bucharis ordered a public trial of the upstart, charging him with blasphemy and Heresy, along with treachery, sedition and rebellion for good measure. He wanted Dolan dead, but didn't want to provide the people with a martyr to rally behind. He had to shame Dolan, who would then be killed, painfully and over a long period of time. The trial was broadcast across all of Bucharis' domain. After five months, the prosecution had completed its case, and Dolan was allowed to present his defence - the trial had to appear fair after all. For days Dolan spoke, how he whipped up countless planets into rebellion of Bucharis, explaining Bucharis' tyranny and encouraging worlds to rise up in arms. At the end, Bucharis spoke. He said Dolans own testimony had condemned him. Dolan was taken away to the dungeons. After eight months, Dolan had still not given in the would-be Ecclesiarchs torturers. When he finally died, his body was maimed beyond recognotion, and left for the wolves and vultures. The carrion never had their banquet: the Confessors body disappeared soon after and was never found. Bucharis' plan to shame Dolan backfired. In allowing the Confessor to speak, he allowed his message to spread further across the stars than it would ever have done otherwise. On the proclaimation of Dolans death, Bucharis' empire erupted into revolt. Almost as one, the tyrants grip on world after world was quashed. The palace itself was stormed, and traitors in his household opened the gates to let them in. Bucharis made his way to the spaceport, where he had a transport ready to evacuate should the need arise. He never made it off planet. 14.3 The Organisation of the Ecclesiarchy =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 14.3.1 The Priesthood ---------------------- The Ministorum is, approximately, organised as follows: Ecclesiarch-----------------------------\ | | Bishops (sit on the Synods) Adeptus Sororitas | Cardinals (oversee Dioceses) } | } Arch-deacons } | } Deacons } | }-Frateris clergy Deans } | } Pontifexes } | } Missionaries, Preachers, Confessors } At the centre of the Ecclesiarchy are the two Synods, the Holy Synod on Earth and the Synod Ministra based on Ophelia VII. Once there was only the Holy Synod, but the Synod Ministra was established by Sebastian Thor following the Reign of Blood. It was decided the Ecclesiarchy could never again be allowed to be controlled by the Adeptus organisations of Earth (such as the Administratum), thus the Synod Ministra was founded on Ophelia VII, far enough from the Earth not to be influenced by anyone other than the Ecclesiarch. The Synods are each composed of Bishops, who sit and debate the way the Ministorum is run and make the decisions. They are influenced, to an extent, by the Ecclesiarch on Terra (the Holy Synod especially, for obvious reasons), but his main role is to represent the Ecclesiarchy on the Council of High Lords. Occasionally, the Ecclesiarch will make a proclamation, which the Synods of Terra and Ophelia VII are expected to respect and implement. Most Bishops are promoted from the ranks of Cardinals. The Ministorum divides the galaxy into areas called Dioceses, each given pastoral care by a Cardinal Astral, or simply Cardinal. To aid him in that task are Arch-deacons, who are aided by Deacons. Deacons oversee the Pontifexes (regional leaders), Missionaries, Preachers, Confessors and Arch-confessors. A preacher or confessor is approximately the equivalent of a local priest in Real Life (TM), looking after one or more shrines or temples, each of which serves the religious needs of a small community. Many worlds have many thousands of shrines and almost as many preachers. Only the Ecclesiarch can declare a War of Faith. The difference between a Crusade and War of Faith is its orgins and participants. A Crusade is ordered by the authority of all the High Lords of Terra and involves all the major Imperial forces including the Space Marines, Adeptus Mechanicus, Imperial Guard Imperial Navy and Adeptus Ministorum. A War of Faith is made by command of the Ecclesiarch alone and primarily involves only the Adeptus Ministorum and the followers of the Imperial Creed. Otherwise, the two overlap to an extent. The Ecclesiarch can declare a Crusade also a War of Faith, but not all Wars of Faith are Crusades. When not part of a Crusade, Wars of Faith are funded solely by the Ecclesiarchy, and, furthermore, the War of Faith must still be approved by the other members of the Council of High Lords. 14.4.2 The Adeptus Sororitas ----------------------------- When Sebastian Thor became Ecclesiarch after the Age of Apostacy, there were 4000 warriors remaining who formed the Daughters of the Emperor. The cult was, arbeit with difficulty, incorporated into the Imperial Creed and made the military might of the Ecclesiarchy, the Adeptus Sororitas. Composed all of women, the Sisters are collectively known as the Sisters of Battle, or Sisterhood. Just as there were two Synods founded under Thor, then the Battle Sisters were split into two Convents: the Convent Prioris on Terra and the Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII. Convent Sanctorum--+--Orders Militant-----+--Order of the Bloody Rose | +--Order of our Martyred Lady (based on | +--Order of our Valourous Heart Ophelia VII) | +--Orders Hospitaller--+--Order of the Eternal Candle | +--Order of Serenity | +--Orders Famulous-----+--Order of the Key | +--Order of the Gate | +--Orders Dialogous----+--Order of the Holy Word | +--Order of the Quill | +--Minor Orders Convent Prioris----+--Orders Militant-----+--Order of the Sacred Rose | +--Order of the Ebon Chalice (based on Terra) | +--Order of the Argent Shroud | +--Orders Hospitaller--+--Order of the Cleansing Water | +--Order of the Torch | +--Orders Famulous-----+--Order of the Holy Seal | +--Order of the Sacred Coin | +--Orders Dialogous----+--Order of the Sacred Oath | +--Order of the Lexicon | +--Minor Orders There is an organisation run by the Ecclesiarchy called the Schola Progenium, whose job it is to take care of those children who are orphans of Imperial servants, bringing them up according to the Imperial Creed. A number of these, the most able, are inducted into the Sisterhood, so that the ranks of the Adeptus Sororitas soon numbered over 10,000 warriors. Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII split the Orders Militant of the two Convents each into two, founding the Orders of the Ebon Chalice, Valorous Heart, Martyred Lady and Argent Shroud. 2500 years later, Deacis VI founded two more Orders: the Bloody Rose and Sacred Rose. The Orders Militant of the Sisterhood still closely follow the way of life of the original Daughters of the Emperor. They are the most visible face of the Sisterhood, the armed might of the Ecclesiarchy, enforcing its will across the galaxy and fighting alien incursions alongside the other Imperial fighting forces. While the Orders Militant and the Space Marine chapters have never seen eye to eye, they respect each others martial prowess and often a combined effort of these two forces has seen off an incursion of Mankinds enemies. The most able of these Battle Sisters are trained given special training as the elite Seraphim. While the standard armament of the sisters is, like the Space Marines, the boltgun, a number of sisters are also trained to use heavy weapons such as heavy flamers and missile launchers. There are some who say the High Lords of Terra and the Inquisition were not pleased with the Ecclesiarchy flouting the spirit, if not the letter, of the Decree Passive in keeping the Adeptus Sororitas as a fighting force of the Ecclesiarchy. Certainly, soon after their incorporation into the Ecclesiarchy, the Adeptus Sororitas signed a document that bound them to the Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition. The Ordo Hereticus was also newly formed following the Age of Apostasy, and the document was the Convocation of Nephilim. It bound the Adeptus Sororitas as the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Hereticus. Some believe the knowledge shared with the Sisters before the Golden Throne before beheading Vandire may be connected to the organisations joining forces, knowledge dire enough for them to wish to formally bind the Adeptus Sororitas and Ordo Hereticus together in opposition of whatever Heresy may await in the future. Others simply think the Convocation was intended to curb the power of the Ecclesiarchy, exploiting the Sororitas as a loyal and zealous fighting force that could be used to enforce the agenda of the newly formed Ordo and turning a blind eye to the flouting of the spirit of the Decree Passive. Whatever the truth, only the highest ranking members of either organisation know it. The Adeptus Sororitas functions as the fighting arm of both the Ecclesiarchy and the Ordo Hereticus. Only rarely have the the two organisations whom the Sisterhood serves come into opposition, and in each case either the Orders Dialogous have negotiated an end to the trouble or the instigating members of the Ecclesiarchy have been found guilty of Heresy. The non-militant orders tend to have varying roles between the two convents. The Orders Hospitaller form the caring branch of the Sisterhood. They provide doctors, nurses, medical aid and help the poor and needy that they come across, genuinely kind. The Orders Dialogous know all about languages and arbitration. While the Imperium has experts who study long-dead languages, the sisters of the Orders Dialogous put this to practical use. While the Imperium theoretically has a universal language, Imperial Gothic, there are many, many dialects across the galaxy, some bearing almost no relation to 'standard Gothic' to the untrained ear. The Sisters Dialogous act as translators and are skilled negotiators. The fourth major class of Orders are the Orders Famulous. These sisters are dedicated to the organisation of households, especially the rich and powerful of the Imperium. They serve the nobles and Imperial Commanders of the Imperium as advisors and chatelaines. They run the families affairs and direct their businesses. Thus, the Ecclesiarchy keeps a tight control over the most powerful individuals in the Imperium, also doing what they can to curb the excesses of those they are assigned to. They arrange marriages and agreements between noble families (in this they are aided by the Orders Dialogous) to quel fueds and settle matters that threaten the stability of the area or Imperium. Between them, the four major classes of Order keep a close eye on the pulse of Imperial life. The Orders Famulous keep tabs on the noble houses, the Orders Dialogous keep their superiors abreast of actions on the front line of fighting and negotiations as they translate orders of Imperial commanders to the common soldiers and peace terms between otherwise hostile parties, while the Orders Hospitaller are in a good position to see the other side of life, the face of day to day Imperial life that is hidden from the lofty heights of the nobility, military and diplomatic. All this makes the Adepta Sororitas a useful political as well as social tool, and with the armed might of the Orders Militant, the Sisterhood has the protection and power it needs to operate successfully. Other minor classes of the non-militant orders include the Orders Sabine and Orders Pronatus. The Orders Sabine are little known amongst the peoples of the Imperium as they operate at the very edges of human space, sometimes only returning to Terra or Ophelia VII once in a Sister Sabines lifetime. The Sisters Sabine accompiany the Missionarius Galaxia on missions to newly discovered human worlds, and they specialise in infiltrating those often regressed and primitive societies that it it believed would oppose the arrival of the Imperium. Sisters Sabine often set themselves up as prophets of the Emperor, preaching the Imperial Cult in secret or formenting revolt against the religious leaders of a world. When the Missionarius Galaxia arrives and announces its presence to the worlds peoples the Sisters Sabine will have prophesised such an event and will lead those natives sympathetic to the Imperial Creed in a sudden and deadly coup against their leaders. Through their work the Sisters Sabine are often cut off from the Imperium for years at a time and many have the appearance of "going native", adopting the clothing, language and manners of the culture they are infiltrating. The Orders Pronatus specialise in retrieving, guarding, studying and repairing artefacts of value to the Ecclesiarchy. This includes the uncounted thousands of holy relics revered by the people of the Imperium, but also relates to items captured by Imperial forces which are too powerful or significant to be allowed to fall into enemy hands. They also have the responsibility of maintaining and blessing the many banners and symbols of Orders Militant, as well as being called upon to reconsecrate the livery of other Imperial bodies (such as the Chapter banner of the Lamenters Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes after its involvement in the Badab Uprising, the banner now called the Banner of Tears). Some Orders Pronatus are known to have given all in the defence of the artefacts they guard or study, and the fate of the Order of Blessed Enquiry is a salutory lesson in the risks involved with the evil of the Ruinous Powers, even if the intent is to safeguard Humanity from their corrupting influence. The command structure within the Orders Militant is approximately as follows: Ecclesiarch & Bishops | Prioress [of the Convent] | Canonesses [of the Order] | Sisters Superior | Sisters [& Seraphim] The Prioresses of the Convents on Earth and Ophelia VII answer to noone but the Ecclesiarch and the Synods. Each Order of the Sisterhood is run by a Canoness, who directs her Sisters Superior. Famous matriarchs of the Sisterhood include: - Saint Dominica, Patron saint of the Sisterhood, Founder of the Order of the Ebon Chalice, Bearer of the Grail of Ages. Renowned throughout the Imperium as the Sster who ended the Reign of Blood by beheading the High Lord Vandire. In the aftermath she formally founded the Sisterhood according to the instructions of Sebastian Thor and established the Order of the Ebon Chalice as her own Order. Dominica led many crusades, oversaw the early years of Adeptus Sororitas for several centuries and finally fell in battle at the Scourging of Fridewide's World. The symbol of Dominica, and her Order, is the skull-filled and flaming Ebon Chalice, a representation of the terrible knowledge imparted to Dominica when she was brought before the Golden Throne. Few are aware of the significance of this symbol in Sororitas art. - Saint Katherine, Founder of the Order of the Fiery Heart, The Shield Bearer. Katherine is said to have been the bearer of Dominica's Praesidium Protectiva, and was known for her determination and avenging spirit, always to be found at the forefront of any conflict. She was regarded as Dominica's second in command and led many successful campaigns. Her Order was originally named the Order of the Fiery Heart, in reference to her fierce persona, but the name was changed to the Order of Our Martyred Lady after her death at the hands of the Witch-cult of Mnestteus. Katherine appears in Sororitas art as an avenging angel stood upon a cloud and surrounded by a halo. She often bears a sword and banner in reference to her symbolic role as bearer of Dominica's arms, as as well as a shield, representing Dominica's Praesidium Protectiva. - Saint Silvana, Founder of the Argent Shroud. Like the other founding Saints of the Sororitas, Silvana was a member of Dominica's bodyguard when she was taken before the Golden Throne. She is noted for the many selfless acts of self-sacrifice she performed throughout her life and Sisters who have survived a battle despite terrible odds often invoke her name in thanks for deliverance from the forces of evil. She is said to have died after being poisoned by a Death-cult Assassin, and legend states that her body mysteriously vanished after having laid in state for a week within the Inner Sanctum of the Convent Prioris. A silvery image of her bones was left imprinted on her death shroud, which is revered as one of the Sisterhoods most holy relics, and that gives the Order its title. - Saint Lucia, founder of the Order of the Valorous Heart. The youngest of Dominica's companions, Lucia was martyred after being captured by Recidivists, who gouged out her eyes and forced her to endure the screams of 1000 innocents as they were tortured to death before her. Unknown to Lucia, a group of her own Sisters were amongst those put to death, but it is said that not one of them uttered a sound as they endured their tortures, so as not to cause Lucia any more pain than she had already suffered. Lucia is represented in Sororitas art by a woman with eyes shrouded and a drop of blood running down one cheek. She may also carry a sword, held upright to symbolise her martial role within the Orders Militant. She may also hold a skull in her left hand, which represents the severed head of Lord Vandire, which she is said to have recovered after Dominica put him to death, flensed, polished, carved with the Litanies and placed within the ancient archive of the Vault of Origins. - Saint Mina, Founder of the Order of the Bloody Rose. Mina was a dark and brooding Sister, quick to anger and deadly in combat. The Order of the Bloody Rose was not formally created until two and a half millenia after the founding of the first four orders, and by this time Mina was long dead. Her Order had existed as a small group of Sisters who provided a bodyguard for the Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas, and it was from this group that the new Order was formed. She is said to have been martyred at the hands of a sanguinary cult, the agents of which are said to have ambushed her at prayer in a small shrine on Hydrophur. None of her Sisters were present, but it is said that when they came upon her body the entire shrine was covered in the blood of her assailants, a score of which lay dead around her blood-drained form. Her symbol is a red rose, with prominent thorns. Behind the rose are crossed two knife blades dripping in blood, symbolic of the circumstances of her martyrdom. - Saint Arabella, Founder of the Order of the Sacred Rose, The Liberator. Like the Order of the Bloody Rose, the Order of the Sacred Rose was not formally created until the reign of the Ecclesiarch Deacis VI. Arabella was known as a particularly serene, even-tempered Sister, renowned for her calm nature in the face of adversity. She is said to have been instrumental in the negotiations that led to Dominica accepting the plan of the Adeptus Custodes taking the sisters before the Golden Throne and has earned the honorific 'Liberator' because many Sisters pray to her for liberation from doubt and rash action at times when a cool head is required. It is not known whether Arabella was martyred, died of old age, or if some other fate took her, and any inquiry into the subject with the Sisters of her Order is met with a stony silence. Her symbol is a white rose, held aloft in a mailed gauntlet. - Sister Sabrina, Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas In the centuries that followed the Age of Apostasy, Saint Dominica led the Adepta Sororitas as founder and overall patron. Her martyrdom left a great void in the organisation, which experienced a temporary crisis as no leader felt that they were able to adequately follow in Dominica's footsteps. Eventually the Ecclesiarch Equitius XI intervened and ordered the leaders of each Orrder to elect one of their number to lead. After weeks of debate, the leaders agreed that Sister Palmiro of the Order of the Holy Word was most suited to the rank of Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas. Sister Palmiro, however, was an exceptionally humble woman and declined to lead,stating her intention to depart on a pilgrimage to San Leor, and that she had no desire for rank and privilege. After debate it was decided that Palmiro should complete her pilgrimage but that she should take the rank of Abbess upon her return, and regard it as a welcome penance. Palmiro accepted those terms, and after barely a century the tradition of electing the candidate who least desired the rank of Abbess to the post became commonplace, that she should regard it not as a privilege but as a penance, and that she should take up the position only after a pilgrimage to San Leor. This tradition was maintained for most of four millenia, until the election of Sister Sabrina of the Order of the Ermine Mantle. Sabrina disappeared whilst on her pilgrimage, and never returned to Terra. The last sightings was on the ocean world of Habren IV, though it is not known what fate became her, the Sisters of the Ermine Mantle have embarked upon at least a dozen missions to locate her. Until she is found or her fate determined, Ecclesiastical law dictates that the post of Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas must remain vacant. 14.4.3 The Frateris Militia ---------------------------- While the Sisters of Battle are the only official army the Ecclesiarchy is allowed under the Decree Passive, there are also the Frateris Militia. Frateris Militia have no formal connection to the Ministorum save being followers of the Imperial Creed, thus not breaking the Decree Passive. Some of these militias are permanent platoons, others zealots protecting a preacher, confessor or missionary from harm, still others mobs aroused by a preacher to attack a group of Heretics. Frateris Militia quickly form when a War of Faith is declared. While their faith is to be applauded, they can be hard to control, many innocents being slain when for example they the militia storms a rebel citadel or Heretic cult. If the official armies of the War of Faith are defeated or scattered, the militia often loses its focus and breaks into roving bands, looting, pillaging and slaughtering locals. Needless to say, the Frateris clergy is extremely wary of raising a Frateris Militia, only doing so in times of great need. 14.4.4 The Schola Progenium ---------------------------- There is an organisation run by the Ecclesiarchy called the Schola Progenium, whose job it is to take care of those children who are orphans of Imperial servants, bringing them up according to the Imperial Creed. A number of these, the most able, are inducted into various Adeptus organisations, such as the Sisterhood, Imperial Guard, Officio Assassinorum, etc. Headed by an Abbot, the preachers of the area teach the children the skills they will need, as well as overseeing their religious education. By adolescence, most show an aptitude in a certain direction or directions, and their education to the age of 16 focuses on the skills leaning towards the aptitude, honing the pupil to a career in one of the Imperial organisations. Most will end up being scribes, clerks or low level functionaries in the Adeptus Terra, others may join the Imperial Guard as soldiers, officers or Commissars, may become petty officers in the Imperial Fleet, enter the priesthood itself as a preacher or Dean, or be inducted into the ranks of the Inquisition. Whatever a childs talents, there is usually at least one Imperial organisation to suit. If not, theres always the Adeptus Terra... 14.5 The Ordo Hereticus =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The lessons of the Age of Apostacy did not go unheeded. The Ecclesiarchy is monitored closely, both internally (primarily by the Adeptus Sororitas) and externally, by a secret unit of the Inquisition set up specially to monitor the Ministorum following the Age of Apostacy. This branch of the Inquisition is called the Ordo Hereticus and closely watchs those in power in the Ecclesiarchy, seeing they do not amass personal power beyond their station, as well as other measures. The Ordo Hereticus has full Imperial authority to take action to curb anything they judge improper or inappropriate, making sure those in power do not abuse their position to threaten the stability of the Imperium again. The Ordo Hereticus monitors Wars of Faith closely, ensuring the objectives laid down by the Ecclesiarch are justified and are not exceeded by those fighting. They oversee the Frateris Militia to curb the worst of their over-zealousness and safeguard the spirit of the Decree Passive (if not the letter of it), ensuring its prohibitions stay enforced. They regulate the money claimed by individuals in the Ecclesiarchy and halt attempts by Cardinals to amass more personal power than the Ordo Hereticus (or the individual Inquisitor) deems appropriate. The Ordo Hereticus also has another function, however: to defend Humanity against the myriad dangers posed by the witch, the heretic, and the mutant. To this end the Inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus are a sinister breed, cut from a very different than their brethren in the Ordo Malleus and Ordo Xenos. Often their work involves the persecution of fellow Inquisitors for trafficking with the daemon or alien. On its foundation, the Ordo Hereticus also signed a historic document, the Convocation of Nephilim. This binds the Adeptus Sororitas as the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Hereticus. The Ordo makes extensive use of the Adeptus Sororitas, both as a zealous fighting force and in their less militant uses. Such uses include the Sisters Dialogous as translators, the Sisters Famulous as credible informants on many details of high ranking noble houses, and the Sisters Hospitaller for medical aid both in the field and in administering physical persuasion (torture) to the enemies of the Ordo. 14.6 The Imperial Creed =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The beliefs and teachings of the Ministorum are variously termed the Cult Imperialis, Imperial Cult or Imperial Creed. The Creed embodies the ideals of its founder, Fastidicus, with definite elements of Sebastian Thors beliefs following his reconstruction of the Church following the Age of Apostacy. The main body of the Imperial Creed deals with the veneration of the Emperor, but it deals also with the rightful expansion of the Imperium as the Emperors domain. Additionally, it is the duty of every Imperial citizen to protect the Imperium from outside forces and fight alien subversion. The Imperium must be kept pure from the inside also, Heresy, unsanctioned cults, mutation and unsanctioned psykers must all be controlled if order is to be kept in the Imperium. The Imperial Creed teaches that all citizens, whether high or low born, have a place in the Imperial hierarchy, to which role they must perform to the best of their ability. A respect for authority and their elders and betters, the ultimate authority being the Emperor himself, is the basis for this hierarchy. Like all belief systems, the Creed is open to interpretation, and people disagree on minor points of faith, but generally it works and everyone stays more or less pointed in the same direction. The Calendites, in the western reaches of the galaxy, believe that the Emperor has always been a god, while the Phanacian cult believes he only truly acheived deification when he struck down Horus. Matters that can cause debates to rage for weeks in the Synods can be, and often are, trivial or incomprehensible to the lay member. Like the Frateris clergy, different cults of the Imperial Creed have slighty differing interpretations of the official Creed, or choose different aspects of the Creed as a basis of the cults doctrine. Here are just three examples of sects and denunciations within the Imperium. The Hive World of Necromunda is perhaps the centre of the Redemptionist school of thought. Necromunda is seen by much of the Ecclesiarchy as a world of lost souls. The doctrine goes along the lines that mankind has fallen from the path of righteousness decreed by the Emperor, and that the sins of Man will drown the race in filth and depravity. As long as Man is unable to control his sinful urges, he will not be able to unite and rule the stars as the Emperor truly wishes him to. One of the more militant cults, the doctrine says sin must be purged by whatever means, fire, blood, faith or death. Especially by fire.... Sin comes, naturally, in many forms: drinking, gambling, lying, cheating, profanity, lechery, fornication (especially thinking about fornication) and interfering with the good work of the Redemptionists. Worst of all are mutants and witches, the spawn of evil, and second worst are those Heretics who tolerate sin, shield mutants and witches, or refuse to heed the word of Redemption... Noone is innocent or exempt from Redemptionist 'teaching'. Another cult is that of Imperialism, popular in the frontier regions of the Galaxy. It codifies the pioneering spirit that brings the Light of the Emperor to everybody. Many of the Missionarus Galaxia (a branch of the Ministorum whose members travel and teach the word of the Emperor to those worlds who have yet to hear of his Salvation) were once Imperialists. Especially common on the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy, the Imperialists trade goods and spiritual aid in return for travel upon the huge exporation ships that travel the galaxy and Warp in search of new worlds. Most die and never see a virgin world, but some find their prayers answered coming across a new world. If the world is populated the Imperialists feel it their duty to teach the inhabitants the true word of the Emperor. If not colonised but fit for human life the Imperialists will found a new colony on the world. This has led to clashes with the Eldar, many of whose Maiden Worlds (worlds intentionally seeded with life many eons ago and left to come to fruition in due time) have been claimed by Imperialists... Inspired by an Inquisitorial purge of their world, some inhabitants of the world of Desedna took it upon themselves to root out the Heretical and unclean from society. The burgeoning sect now operates around their home world in the Segmentum Obscuras. They took the name of the Brethren of the Light, seeing themselves as delving into the dark recesses of the Imperium and bringing the Light of the Emperor with them. Seeing themselves as an extension of the Inquisition, they are seen by the administration variously as eccentrics, interfering amateurs or troublemakers. The Brethren have been the focus of many a scandal where the privacy of an Imperial noble has been broken, innocent citizens persecuted or just generally putting their nose in where is not wanted. On the other hand, on more than one occasion they have been responsible for rooting out a secret Chaos cult or Genestealer infestation, and many a planetary governor has found himself the subject of Inquisitorial attention following some digging done by the Brethren. The Brethren prefer to work secretly, covertly, and the order is cloaked in mystery, new recruits carefully vetted for past misdeeds or deviance. It is suspected, but not proven, that the Inquisition has some of its members planted in the sect, using it to mask some of their own shadowy activities. The only Imperial citizens who follow a different creed to the official one taught by the Ecclesiarchy are the members of the Adepta Astartes and Mechanicus. Space Marine cults do not venerate the Emperor simply because he is a god, but emphasise the military virtues of honour, comradeship and strength as one would expect from these battle brothers. The rituals and traditions vary from Chapter to Chapter, and are maintained by the Chaplains of the various Chapters. All Chapters venerate the Emporer as the greatest warrior ever to live (after all, he killed Horus) and their Primarch as the founding father of their Chapter. The Adeptus Mechanicus follows the Cult of the Machine God: a creed which, similarly, does not venerate the Emperor out of simple deification. Instead, to them, *knowledge* is the supreme manifestation of divinity and all creatures and artifacts which embody knowledge are holy because of it. The Emperor is the supreme object of worship because he comprehends so much. Machines which preserve knowledge from ancient times are also holy, as is research which creates new knowledge. Machine intellignce is respected no less than human or other organic intelligence. To the Adeptus Mechanicus a mans worth is only the sum of his knowledge. His body is simply an organic machine preserving intellect. Life itself is of no instrinsic value to the Tech-Priests. This is most clearly seen in their use of humans as raw material from which they create the special cyborg machine-creatures called Servitors. Servitors are supplied to the various governmental and military organisations throughout the Imperium including the Administratum, Space Marines, and other parts of the Adeptus Terra. Typical Servitors are Technomats who operate and service machines, Holomats who act as holographic recordists, Lexomats who are like human computers with tremendous calculating powers, and Drones which are living robots - stupid and essentially mindless slaves ideal for menial work and little else. Some beliefs, however, cross the fine line between healthy, enlightened debate and Heresy. Minor offences such as making the wrong response to a Hymnal can be repaid in a number of ways, from attending a shrine to joining a Frateris Militia or informing on the sins of others. The greater the act of penitence, the more forgiveness afforded by the Ecclesiarchy. Then there are the more heineous acts, those that mark out the Heretic. Most of those declared Heretics are not agents of the Chaos gods, are not pawns of a Genestealer cult, but simply have views that differ markedly from those of the Ecclesiarchy or Inquisition, or perhaps merely threaten the established order of the Imperium. Justified or not, there can be no punishment for Heretics other than death. Only the Emperor can judge the Heretic and find him guilty or not guilty, and only in death can the Heretic face judgement by the Emperor. Depending on the severity of the Heresy, the death may be a drawn out affair of pain and agony, or it may be quick and relatively painless. Only in death can the Emperor judge the accused, and only by such vigiliance and extreme action can the Imperium survive. To think otherwise would court anarchy and the destruction of Mankind. --------------- Sources: Sisters of Battle Codex (1997) Witch Hunters Codex (2004) Codex Imperialis (1993) (pp. 38-40)