Order of the Sanguine Shroud

[micahwc]

I've decided to start a Sisters of Battle army. My focus on 40k through the years has mostly been on modeling and painting. I started during second edition.

I figured I would use this thread as a place to document my army build, modeling, painting, and fluff writing.

 

First thing I should do is decide on what model bits to use to make my battle sisters, and what color to paint them. This isn't what I actually did though. First I came up with a basic fluff idea. I've always been enamored with the Blood Angels. The 2nd Edition Death Company box set was the first box I purchased after the basic game. I've spent the last few days writing down basic ideas for everything.

 

Edit: And then today I redid a lot of it because originally I had them defending Terra during the Horus Heresy only to find that the Sisters of Battle didn't exist as a fighting force until several millennia later. So Horus Heresy became 7th Black Crusade.

[micahwc]

I wrote out a long detailed fluff piece explaining the origin of the Order of the Sanguine Shroud; but it wont paste into here. So in summary;

 

They were originally part of the Ordos Hospitaller stationed near Cadia. The fighting was so fierce that they had to take up bolters in defense of Cadia, but during the fighting their convent was destroyed. The Blood Angels were impressed with their faith and their medical skills. After the crusade was over they were reorganized into the Ordo Hereticus Militant. They sought permission to establish a convent on near Baal Secundus. This request was granted and the sister's established a convent at Angel's Fall, where Sanguinius first came to  near Baal.

 

The sister's participated in the defense of Baal numerous times since their relocation. They continued in their medical traditions of the past; healing those found worthy by the Emperor, but also trained daily in battle. Sanguinius was venerated as their patron saint. During one particularly fierce defense of Baal Secundus they impressed the Blood Angels with their faith and their fighting prowess that the Blood Angels gifted them with a new name and a holy relic. The Order of the Sanguine Shroud guards the reliquary of the Death Shroud of Sanguinius himself; the shroud wrapped around his body after his death at the hands of the traitor Horus. It contains his Holy blood; and the sight of the shroud inspires the sisters to great acts of faith. Many pilgrims come to see the shroud, some of whom are angels who wish to meditate on the death of Sanguinius.

 

The Sisters of the Sanguine Shroud have fought on numerous occasions with the Blood Angels and their successor chapters. Mutual reverence for Sanguinius assures their continued relationship.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Looks promising so far. Besides a close relationship with the Blood Angels, and possibly bearing the Chapter's colors and incorporating a blood drop in their symbol, what else distinguishes the Order? Did they adopt some of the Blood Angels' ideals, e.g., zero tolerance of incompetent Imperial leaders? (Dante did depose Herman von Strab for the incompetence of the Overlord of Armageddon, during the Second War.) If the Ordo Hereticus decides to purge the Blood Angels, ordering the Sisters to hold Sanguinius' death shroud hostage and prevent the Space Marines from resisting, what will the Sisters do? (I speculated on the Inquisition stationing Orders Militant of the Adepta Sororitas on Chapter planets for this reason, here.)

[micahwc]

As for colors I'm trying to link the sister painter I came up with, but I'm at work and for some reason my work computer doesn't like copy and pasting to forums. Colors are bone (death wing-ish) for the armor, Blood Angels red for the capes, black studs, yellow aquillas, and dusty blue fleur -de-lis.

 

As for their relationship to the Ordo Hereticus, I think they will find the relationship between the sisters and the Blood Angels too great a risk. The sisters watch over one of the most holy sights on Baal Secundus and have a close working relationship with the Blood Angels. The Ordo Hereticus may have granted permission for them to build their Convent on Baal Secundus out of the theory you describe, but the Blood Angels allowed the Convent to be placed there out of reverence for their faith in the Emperor and out of their mutual respect for each other.

 

Also, I'm planning on introducing a Black Rage-esque element in how they operate their Repentia. Meditating on the sacrifice of Sanguinius on behalf of the Emperor before battle; filling with rage, fearing the secret taint of Chaos, and gaining absolution through death; theirs or their enemies.

 

I'd also planned out a short humorous fluff piece regarding the current abbotess of the Order and her unusual relationship with Dante; Both are ancient by their standards and thus both share similar views regarding the galaxy, despite her being 10 times "younger" than he. This piece would involve Dante's "Mourner's Prophecy" and his struggle with ennui as he ages; the care he has for his brothers, and his duty to the Imperium.

[micahwc]

As far as modeling goes, it will probably be a while before I start. I have a lot of planning that I have done, and will have to make some final decisions. Easiest would be some Valkir Heavy Troopers with some female heads; and this is certainly a possibility.

 

I've also given a lot of thought to using torsos from Anvil Industries Exo Lords line. The easiest to modify would be the out-of-stock renaissance torso. Cut out the neck armor into a V shape and round over the outer bottom chest and the shape is much more womanly while still looking armored. The Praetorian and Medieval torsos would be a little more difficult, but they are in stock. I don't particularly like any of the legs from the Exo Lords line for Sisters as they don't look like a woman's leg, they are too straight and not round enough at the thigh. There is a bits seller online that has Eldar guardian leg sprues for less than $2 a sprue currently, so I may try to combine those with the torso pieces. Dark Eldar wytche legs are even better, but they are a lot more expensive.

 

I've never fielded a sisters army, and I don't have a codex yet, so I need to figure out what I'm going to do for a model and how many of them I need. I am thinking about 40 battle sisters, divided between bolter, flamer, melta and multi melta. I'll probably try to do some magnetization with these (a first for me) to minimize my purchases.

 

As far as vehicles are concerned, the main thing I want to do is have a more traditional missile launcher on my exorcists. This isn't hard to justify as in the fluff there are two varieties, the older ones which have become sacred relics for their proximity to Terra, and the newer ones. Since this order was originally part of the Hospitaller and not the Hereticus, they don't have combat vehicles dating that far back. All of their vehicles are from the 37th millennia forward.

 

I have found a lot of nice Repentia-esque models online and I will probably pick some of those eventually.

[Servant of Dante]

As far as I'm concerned, the Sisters don't need the Ordo Hereticus's permission to do anything. Sure, the Adepta Sororitas are used by the Ordo Hereticus from time to time (hence the Chamber Militant designation), but first and foremost the Sisters are a branch of the Ecclesiarchy, beholden only to the Ecclesiarch himself. An Ordo Hospitaller becoming an Order Militant . . . quite a stretch. They would have had to gotten permission from their Canoness Superior (depending, see below) and the appropriate Prioress at the least. I do love my Blood Angels. Seems like a stretch (imo) for them to let a bunch of Sisters build a convent, but I suppose they can always use help keeping the locals from dying from rad poisoning .

Since this order was originally part of the Hospitaller and not the Hereticus . . .

again, the Sisters aren't part of the Ordo Hereticus really. Do you mean Orders Militant?

As for an Order switching from an Order Hospitaller to an Order Militant, I have a couple comments/questions:

First, have you decided which Order Hospitaller these Sisters were a part of? It could easily have been a homebrew one that only had the one convent near Cadia. That would certainly make things easier than if they were, say, Order of the Eternal Candle. In that case they would have to get permission form the Order of the Eternal Candle's Canoness Superior on Ophelia VII

Second, this kind of switch is highly highly irregular. It looks like you might have the makings of a good story about it though! It's not something I personally would necessarily go for, but that's not really relevant. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Adepta Sororitas's organization, but each of the Orders would be more or less tied to either the Convent Prioris on Holly Terra, or the Convent Sanctorum on Ophelia VII. Seeing as Cadia is closer to Terra than Ophelia VII, the Convent Prioris might be a slightly more likely choice, but it's entirely up to you. Both of these Convents is headed by a Prioress (they would normally report to the Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas, who is also one of the High Lords of Terra, but she's been MIA for who knows how long), for example, the current Prioress of the Convent Sanctorum is Helena the Virtuous (we don't have a name for the other Prioress), who was from the Order of the Key, one of the Orders Famulous. The Prioress is in charge of all the Sisters based out of her convent, Militant or Otherwise. Your order would certainly need the Prioress's permission to just suddenly become an Order Militant.

I'd also planned out a short humorous fluff piece regarding the current abbotess of the Order and her unusual relationship with Dante; Both are ancient by their standards and thus both share similar views regarding the galaxy, despite her being 10 times "younger" than he. This piece would involve Dante's "Mourner's Prophecy" and his struggle with ennui as he ages; the care he has for his brothers, and his duty to the Imperium.

This sounds fun! Dante is my favorite (him and Corbulo). Just look at my username

To get a picture on the B&C you just need to right click the picture and select "copy image URL" then go into a post and hit the Image button (it's just below the text color and emoticon buttons on the toolbar at the top of the reply box). then paste the url into the line and hit ok

I (and many other members around here) will be happy to answer any questions you have about actually playing Sisters I hope none of my post comes off too harsh, it's just that I'm kinda a stickler for Sisters fluff. If you want to go a different direction with it that's fine, I just want to make sure you are aware of how your stuff fits with the official material.

Oh, and welcome to the Sisters forum! Here's your flamer and 3 barrels of the Emperor's Holy Proethium!

Edit: I should mention I've been playing Sisters for all of a year and a half (and 40K for all of 3 and a half years). It's just that I've gotten a bit into the Sisters fluff . . .

[Bjorn Firewalker]

As for their relationship to the Ordo Hereticus, I think they will find the relationship between the sisters and the Blood Angels too great a risk. The sisters watch over one of the most holy sights on Baal Secundus and have a close working relationship with the Blood Angels. The Ordo Hereticus may have granted permission for them to build their Convent on Baal Secundus out of the theory you describe, but the Blood Angels allowed the Convent to be placed there out of reverence for their faith in the Emperor and out of their mutual respect for each other.

Well said.

[Shifte]

My suggestions (and just my own lore view):

 

1) Don't put them on Baal or a specifically Blood Angels world. Put them near Baal, instead. This gives ample reason to have fought alongside the Blood Angels in the past without assuming that the BAs would agree to having the Eccliesiarchy's military wing on one of their few worlds.

 

2) The idea that the Blood Angels  'gifted them with a new name and a holy relic' is a little off, to me. The Sororitas are a proud organisation, and far more numerous, important and influential than the Blood Angels alone are. They respect the Emperor's Angels, but they don't defer to them. In your lore, the Sororitas should act with the confidence and pride that befits them. They're independent, they don't see Astartes Chapters as their betters and Astartes Chapters are unlikely to presume to command them either.

 

I'd instead suggest that the Order may have actually been made in Saint Sanguinius name, anyway. The loyalist Primarchs are all considered Saints, after all, and it would be the easiest way to explain the name. Moreover, the armour colour could either be in honour of Sanguinius or, perhaps, in honour of some event or battle in which the Blood Angels intervened and saved the day. It could explain why they have a good relationship now.

 

3) Lastly, the Ordo Hereticus aren't in charge of the Sisters. They've just got a strong working relationship and a broad agreement that the Hereticus can call upon them when required.

 

Look forward to seeing your colour scheme! Order of the Bloody Rose might suit you.

[Servant of Dante]

these might be useful (taken from the 2E codex)

[micahwc]

Having read the replies, I will consider some edits. I'm getting most of my information from online, not actually  reading a book anywhere. So I apologize. I am a bit more familiar with Blood Angels fluff, having owned just about every Codex from 2nd to 6th edition. As far as relocating, putting them close to Baal is fine. Order's Hospitaller I was thinking of something home brew so I don't have to worry about stepping on fluffy toes.

 

 

Now, about that Dante story, I hope this is okay. It's not canon, just an idea of a possibility.

 

The Angel and the Crone

 

Aurelia poured tea into two simple cups as the Crone finished her Vesper prayer to the Emperor of mankind. She had often wondered how old the Crone was. The Crone had undergone no extensive life sustaining treatment that anyone knew of; yet she had to be hundreds of years old. She wasn't impressive to look upon, and certainly no one would mistake her for a warrior. Her most distinguishing feature, other than her great age, was the tattered greying habit she wore. Disfigured hands moved slowly over a worn Rosarius, each bead representing another prayer.

 

Aurelia knew to leave without being dismissed. The Crone only asked for two cups when she would have guests. How the Crone knew she would have guests was just as much a mystery as her age. Aurelia knew never to question the Crone about this; and thus far the Crone was right every time. Who would she be meeting with tonight? Aurelia returned the tray she had carried the tea on and waited out of sight; hoping to overhear the Crone's guest. She didn't have to wait long.

 

She knew at once he was an Angel. Aside from his armor his height gave him away, but even for an Angel he was tall. Candle light reflected off his armor, not the typical blood red but instead a regal gold. Despite his size and ornate armor he entered in complete silence and waited for the Crone to finish her prayers.

 

"Holy Emperor, guide us by thy light, bestow upon us thy blessing and the blessing of thy Sanguine son." Her prayers completed she rose and turned to face the Angel.

 

"Come in Cervan. I've prepared tea. I know you won't take your mask off to drink it but I had some made for you anyway, it would be rude not to offer it."

 

Aurelia made the sign of the Emperor in an attempt to stifle her shock at hearing the name of the Angel spoken aloud. Few angels would dare call him by his first name, and fewer still normal humans would dare to do so. The Crone was too old for stiff formality, and in her old age she had learned to abandon it.

 

"Loella, Emperor's blessing be upon you."

 

"And also upon you Dante. I'd invite you to sit, but I know you won't. Well? Have you come only to give me the blessing of the Emperor? Or is there some other purpose for your visit?"

 

Lord Commander Dante stood silent; the Death Mask of Sanguinius he wore betrayed no emotion. The silence continued for what would have been an awkward amount of time for two regular people. Indeed, Aurelia made the sign of the Emperor several times to keep from breaking the silence herself. Finally he spoke a single word.

 

"Cadia".

 

The Crone took a sip of tea before looking back to the Angel. "I see".

 

"You see? I've spoken only a word".

 

"Your mask doesn't hide as much as you think Cervan. I see many things. Though my eyes are failing I am blessed by Emperor. I see what he wills me to see. I hear what he wills me to hear. I see Cadia; though it's been many years since I have been there. I know it well. I know the preparations for it's defense and I know the threat that waits just outside it's gate. I know why you have come. Your concern for your brothers is evident in everything you do, but they are not your brothers anymore. No, they are your sons; and you are their father; just as much as Sanguinius, just as much as the Emperor himself. You fear sending them into that which you secretly want for yourself. The prophecy gives you guidance, but your sons give you purpose; just as my daughters give me mine."

 

The Crone paused to take another sip of tea.

 

Aurelia listened as they talked and the night continued on. Dante speaking few words, the Crone dispensing wisdom. As the night went on Aurelia found herself fighting sleep. A sound brought her back into focus. The sound of the Crone's chair moving, and her joints creaking as she stood.

 

"You really should try the tea"

 

"Next time".

 

"Next time? Next time. Hah. You know very well that for those whom the Emperor has blessed with lives as long as ours "next time" is never guaranteed. I will have it made every time you visit. I know you wont drink it but it would be rude not to offer. Now, please excuse your humble servant. I have morning prayers to complete, and a foolish sister to admonish for eavesdropping on our conversation."

 

More certain in his purpose the Angel turned to leave. Lord Commander Dante's autosenses had detected the woman immediately, but he had learned over time to leave discipline to the Crone. She would be far harsher than he. As the Crone berated Aurelia loudly and repeatedly, Lord Commander Cervan Dante, Chapter Master of the Blood Angels did something he rarely did anymore. Behind his mask, he smiled.

[micahwc]

As far as modeling is concerned I think I may kitbash some death company. Since they venerate Sanguinius as a saint some BA iconography is okay. The weapons that come in the death company box are pretty appropriate for sisters of battle. I'm thinking assembling the marine like normal sans the shoulder plates and head. Add a female head and a more slender shoulder plate to give the impression of thinner shoulders.

[Servant of Dante]

To be clear, every order of Sisters answers to one of the Prioresses.

 

I haven't read the story yet (sorry) I'll let you know when I do :)

[micahwc]

So I accidentally ordered a bunch of bits this evening. Clicked a button to look at my cart and then read I had agreed to purchase everything. Oops.

 

So it looks like I will be using 40 dark eldar scourge torsos, 30 of which are obviously female. (The other 10 will likely get jump packs or heavy weapons to obscure their chest areas)

 

These torsos will be mounted on Eldar guardian legs.

 

Arms and backpacks are from tactical squads. Bolters are from death company.

 

I still need to order heads and figure out what to do for shoulder pads and robes. Also need to order bases.

 

Total this was about $50 in bits but it will make 30-40 sisters.

[micahwc]

Here is the color scheme:

 

http://bolterandchainsword.com/ss.php?bpe=DEDEAD&bpj=DEDEAD&bp=DEDEAD&bpc=DEDEAD&hdt=DEDEAD&hdm=DEDEAD&hdl=DEDEAD&ey=Eded00&er=DEDEAD&pi=DEDEAD&reb=DEDEAD&nk=DEDEAD&ch=DEDEAD&abs=DEDEAD&bt=Eded00&is=EDED0C&sk=F2184B&ull=DEDEAD&lk=DEDEAD&lll=DEDEAD&lft=DEDEAD&url=DEDEAD&rk=DEDEAD&flk=98cee1&lrl=DEDEAD&rft=DEDEAD&slt=DEDEAD&sli=DEDEAD&fs=98CEEB&srt=DEDEAD&sri=DEDEAD&iss=EDED09&slv=F2184e&ula=DEDEAD&lla=DEDEAD&lh=DEDEAD&ura=DEDEAD&rla=DEDEAD&rh=DEDEAD&ri=0D0101&tr=FFFFFF&gr=FFFFFF&rb=FFFFFF&bg=FFFFFF&

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The color scheme looks good. I like the dialogue between Dante and the Crone, but why does he refuse to drink tea? Does he simply dislike the taste of tea? If he said, "I prefer [insert beverage of choice here]," will the Crone offer that beverage, or will she stubbornly insist on serving tea, the way a waitress insisted on serving spam in that infamous 'Monty Python' sketch?

[micahwc]

Dante never takes his death mask off when he is outside the blood angels monastery, thus it it is difficult for him to drink tea.

[Servant of Dante]

Dante never takes his death mask off when he is outside the blood angels monastery, thus it it is difficult for him to drink tea.

Dangit. Making me want to go re-read my Blood Angels codex :D 

[micahwc]

My intent was that Dante says next time but they both know there won't be a next time; assuming Dante fulfills the Mourners Prophecy after the fall of Cadia.

[Servant of Dante]

Here is the color scheme:

http://bolterandchainsword.com/ss.php?bpe=DEDEAD&bpj=DEDEAD&bp=DEDEAD&bpc=DEDEAD&hdt=DEDEAD&hdm=DEDEAD&hdl=DEDEAD&ey=Eded00&er=DEDEAD&pi=DEDEAD&reb=DEDEAD&nk=DEDEAD&ch=DEDEAD&abs=DEDEAD&bt=Eded00&is=EDED0C&sk=F2184B&ull=DEDEAD&lk=DEDEAD&lll=DEDEAD&lft=DEDEAD&url=DEDEAD&rk=DEDEAD&flk=98cee1&lrl=DEDEAD&rft=DEDEAD&slt=DEDEAD&sli=DEDEAD&fs=98CEEB&srt=DEDEAD&sri=DEDEAD&iss=EDED09&slv=F2184e&ula=DEDEAD&lla=DEDEAD&lh=DEDEAD&ura=DEDEAD&rla=DEDEAD&rh=DEDEAD&ri=0D0101&tr=FFFFFF&gr=FFFFFF&rb=FFFFFF&bg=FFFFFF&

very similar to the colors used in the example in WD293 (also, those are some really neat Praesidium Protectiva conversions he did there).

[micahwc]

I figured it will look nice with the death company I will eventually get.

 

Question for y'all.

 

Which book has their latest rules? I need to get them.

[Shifte]

Codex: Imperial Agents is the best place to get the army rules. It includes other armies too, but also a unique Sisters Detachment. Saint Celestine, who is almost essential if you want to play competitively, has rules in Gathering Storm: Fall of Cadia. Her rules are also in the box that you can buy her in.

[Servant of Dante]

But Celestine's rules from the box don't include her saintly blessings (or whatever they're called)

[micahwc]

So, do I understand correctly that you can use anything in the Imperial Agents Codex in an Army? For example, sisters with aeronautica Valkyries or death watch?

[Servant of Dante]

So, do I understand correctly that you can use anything in the Imperial Agents Codex in an Army? For example, sisters with aeronautica Valkyries or death watch?

They are separate factions. As always, your army can be made up of any number of detachments, and IA has a bunch of Detachments for the Factions it includes that don't require many units, so it's pretty easy to run the different factions together.

 

But no, you can't put units from multiple factions in the same detachment (so you can't have a CAD led by a Canoness that includes GK Termis and Deathwatch Veterans, but you could have a Sisters CAD, a Deathwatch Kill Team Detachment, and . . . one of whatever the GK Detachment from IA is called.

[micahwc]

Got it. So I could run a detachment of sisters, and then run another detachment to augment with some ranged fire power.