User:Colonel Marksman/New Witch Hunters Page

History of Ecclesiarchy
In the beginning of the Imperium of Mankind, a particular sect of Emperor worshippers grew and was called the Temple of the Savior Emperor that preached the sacrifice of the Emperor to many worlds across the galaxy, converting billions until by M32 (32nd Millinium), two-thirds of the Imperium were devoted to his worship.

The "Temple of the Savior Emperor" was given the title Adeptus Ministorum, or, Ecclesiarchy. Eventually, the Ministorium was given perminant rank over spiritual matters and a seat in the council of the "High Lords of Terra" (those who lead the entire Empire of Man).

During the Age of Apostasy in M36, Goge Vandire boldy took over the entire Ministorium during a conflict between it and the secular bodies of the Imperium. He drove the Imperium into the bloodiest period since the Horus Heresy. While Vandire was leading the Imperium in great chaos, he found a group of all-female warriors on the planet San Leor called the Daughters of the Emperor, which he renamed "Brides of the Emperor". These "brides" became his personal bodyguards.

Leader of another sect (the Confederation of Light), Sebastian Thor, leader of the Confederation of Light organized a revolt over entire systems to overthrow Vandire. Eventually, he mustered enough forces of the Imperium to attack Holy Terra itself, but they were constantly repelled.

Alicia Dominica, leader of the Brides, was urged to turn against Vandire and kill him for traitorous crimes. She met in the Emperor's own chambers, came out, and proclaimed the Brides be named Daughters of the Emperor as they once were, and killed Vandire, ending the Reign of Blood and Age of Apostasy.

The Adepta Sororitas, also known as the Sisterhood or the Daughters of the Emperor, are a vast organisation of nuns devoted to the worship of the Emperor. Although there are many different Orders within the Sisterhood, the most well known are the Orders Militant, forming the military wing of the Ecclesiarchy.

After the Age of Apostasy, the Ecclesiarchy was forbidden from possessing any "men under arms" by the Decree Passive issued by Sebastian Thor. A loophole was found and exploited by refounding the Daughters of the Emperor as warrior-nuns after merging them into the greater Sisterhood. The Sisterhood is an internal regulator, along with being an external army, ordered to ensure that true faith is spread throughout the Imperium and the galaxy.

The Sisters of Battle and the Ordo Hereticus have a common purpose; to protect the Imperium from internal threats, and to regulate the power amassed by the Ecclesiarchy. Recognising this, the two organisations joined together in their efforts, a relationship formalised by the Convocation of Nephilim. Although the Sisters of Battle remained under the day-to-day command of the Ecclesiarchy, they would respond without question when an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus called upon them.

Battle Sister Page
In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Sisters of Battle, also known as the Adepta Sororitas, are the female warriors belonging to the religious arm of the Imperial government, known as the Adeptus Ministorum, or Ecclesiarchy. They have recently become tied to a part of the Imperial Inquisition which is tasked to hunt down and destroy heretics and unsanctioned psychics (commonly known as "rogue psykers"), which obviously has strong ties to the Ecclesiarchy.

Originally, they were just the militant arm of the Ecclesiarchy. During the reign of a despot who managed to use the Ecclesiarchy to subvert the Imperial government, the Sisters of Battle, as well as the male version known as the Frateris Templar, became the personal armies of the despot. Eventually the Sisters were convinced that he was in fact a traitor, and the leader of the Sisters at the time executed him. After this episode, the Ecclesiarchy was forbidden to have any "men under arms" in their service, so the Fraternis Templar were disbanded and the Sisters became their sole military force, obeying the letter of the law, but not the intention.

Though not genetically enhanced like the Space Marines, they do wear similar heavy armor and have the same general unit set-up, although they tend to prefer heat and flame based weapons, for the 'purifying' effect of fire. They also gain powerful faith-based powers to help them combat their foes. They bear a resemblance to the few female knightly orders from Medieval Europe, both in storylines and in the fact that they are the least known of the armies. They are also heavily drawn from the Fish Speakers from Frank Herbert's Dune universe, being an elite army of female zealots, although they lack the superhuman speed and training that the Fish Speakers are known for.

The Sisters of Battle have recently been given a minor facelift, and their army list has been expanded and incorporated into Codex Witch Hunters.