Reading through the chapter Rules of War in Battlefleet Koronus I was perplexed to find that while the stats and special rules for gaining access to war machines of the Legio Titanicus and Space Marines were included in sidebars, there was no mention of the stats and special rules for gaining access to the elite members of the Adepta Sororitas. In my opinion, a Rogue Trader would more likely have access to units of the Adepta Sororitas, especially if he's the zealous type who has extremely good connections to the Ecclesiarchy than to units of the Adeptus Astartes and especially War Titans (though it would still be an incredibly rare occurrence and extremely difficult to get). Indeed, Blood of Martyrs does mention that the Calixian Ecclesiarchy is keenly interested in any opportunities to exploit the Koronus Expanse and one of the supplements (I forget which) does mention that one of the worlds in the Expanse has a large Sororitas base on it (guarding something I believe).

So does anybody have any homegrown stats for the Adepta Sororitas and any special rules for acquiring them (because as the most elite of Humanity's warriors behind the Space Marines I find it impossible to believe they can simply be acquired by a simple acquisition roll)? I think I remember reading somewhere that acquiring the services of the Adepta Sororitas was used as an example of something that would be Near Unique to acquire.

As I don't have Battlefleet Koronus yet I cannot offer any stats, though I will be happy to oblige once my bank finally manages to send the renewal CC to the right address, thus enabling me to do online purchases again...

However, I can offer at least some general pointers:

Whilst the Adepta Sororitas as a whole are pretty large, the Orders Militant are not, thus limiting the extent to which they could be acquired and used. Political favors with the Ecclesiarchy might get you a squad of Battle Sisters sticking around for a day or two, but a Rogue Trader planning on employing the Daughters of the Emperor in a military campaign would likely be looking for something larger, which would mean something between a Mission (about 50 Sisters) or a Commandery (about 200) attached to the Rogue Trader for an extended duration (several months, if not a couple years).

The good news is that the major Orders Militant have their own transport fleets, and whilst they still have to rely on the Imperial Navy for large scale deployments they would be able to send a small force to your Rogue Trader's fleet without occupying one of his own vessels. Sororitas transports, however, are traditionally undergunned, sacrificing firepower for speed (and sort-of adhering to the Decree Passive), and thus require protection when entering hostile territory. If one of these ships gets lost, it would undoubtedly sour future relations with the Ecclesiarchy a lot.

That said, the most important aspect about bringing the Battle Sisters into your Rogue Trader's military campaign would have to be a goal that is in harmony with the Ecclesiarchy, making the endeavour a worthwhile engagement for the respective Order Militant. The Sisters are not simply elite warriors, they and their leader have to believe that the battle they fight is in line with their cause, essentially invoking a holy zeal. They simply won't come unless they believe it is the right thing to do. That said, here is a number of options that spring to mind:

• Somehow manage to have this endeavour be declared as a grand scale Imperial Crusade (involving at least the Missionarius Galaxia, the Navy and the Guard, if not the Astartes) to reclaim lost colonies
• Engage an opponent that is a Sworn Enemy of Mankind, such as the Eldar or the Tau
• Garnish the campaign with a religious aspect such as the planet in question housing an important relic or holy site
• If the Rogue Trader is really shrewd he can also offer the Ecclesiarchy/Sororitas a holy relic that already is in his possession, basically as "payment" (such exploitative behavior might also have negative repercussions regarding future interactions, of course)

Grey Knights killed them all.

Here is an example of where stats and special acquisition rules for Sisters of Battle would come in handy.

Here was my plan on muscling in on the Nephium trade on Lucien's Breath. Given what I've read of the place both Chorda and Winterscale have the place locked up tight making it very hard for anyone else to muscle in. So my Rogue Trader needs an advantage that neither of them has. Given the effects of nephium-laced promethium when used in flamers I'd imagine both the Ecclesiarchy and its Sisters of Battle would be keenly interested on getting as much of it as possible for their own uses. Since I don't doubt that both Chorda and Winterscale are selling to the highest bidder (as any profit-minded Rogue Trader would) I figured that in return for support for a move to grab a piece of the nephium pie my Rogue Trader would sell a certain amount of nephium to the Ecclesiarchy at "Preferred Customer" rates. Here is how I was thinking of handling the situation:

1. Getting a Decree signed by at least one Cardinal of the Holy Synod stating that it has granted my Rogue Trader its blessing in seeking to establish nephium mining settlements on Lucien's Breath in the name of the Church of the Holy God-Emperor. While such a Decree isn't worth the paper it was written on once you get beyond the Imperium's borders it would backup any claims made by my Rogue Trader that he is here to set up a few mining settlements with the Ecclesiarchy's approval and not trying a hostile takeover. It might also give the extremely territorial Chorda and Winterscale a moments pause before attempting to shut down my operations. It's most important benefit is shown in #2.

2. Nephium mines need manpower and who better to do that than the Drusian Adherents? Firm believers that it is the Manifest Destiny of the Imperium to colonize the Expanse and more than willing to defend themselves they make the perfect labor force. Using the Decree given by the Ecclesiarchy agents of the Rogue Trader would round up as many Adherents as they can and ship them off in pilgrim ships to Lucien's Breath. Hard workers, the Drusian Adherents can also be relied upon to serve as members of a Frateris Militia defending their homes in case the hired guns of the other two Rogue Traders attempt a land attack and also serving as troops when the inevitable happens and one of the two Rogue Traders attempts to force mine off the planet.

3. Insert priests into the settlements of the hostile RTs and as they perform their religious services to their communities subtly begin to incite unrest amongst the populace, encouraging acts of industrial sabotage, etc. Should be remarkably easy to accomplish as the nephium mines are notorious for industrial accidents and the hideous agonizing deaths of those who suffer nephium poisoning.

4. Obtain the help of a Mission of Battle Sisters to act as elite muscle in ground warfare where the teeming hordes of Drusian Adherent Frateris Militia need help possible boarding actions where their close combat specialties with flamers would prove invaluable, and anything else that such an elite force. By the way there is no way my Rogue Trader would allow them to stay on such a juicy target as a transport and instead would give them their own area aboard his flagship (also prevents anybody from getting any ideas about boarding his vessel).

This is just a rough sketch of a much more detailed plan.

Hmm, I can see steps 1 and 2 working nicely, essentially resulting in a new colony exploiting the faith of its settlers to provide a workforce. I could imagine potential issues on the long run when the miners' zeal dwindles and they begin to ask what exactly they are doing on that rock, but with any luck they would have already begun to found families, and in any event they'll be stranded there for good or for worse. Over the decades, you could see the transformation of a small outpost of fanatics into a large city filled with disillusioned but numerous workers.

Step 3 is where the problems begin. Whilst an "infiltration" of sorts with Missionaries is entirely in the realm of the possible, and might indeed gain you a certain edge if those communities develop a strengthened spirituality which local authorities are either unfit or unwilling to adapt to, in turn leading to potential for unrest. Yet I do not think you could actually exert influence there. The Ministorum itself isn't a political tool (anymore), it is a galaxy-spanning institution that aims to unify all of mankind under its holy guidance. Any unrest caused in the pursuit of this goal is "unfortunate collateral damage" - unless your enemies actually are deemed as heretics and Enemies of the Faith (you might fabricate evidence regarding this, but this is a very dangerous game that could easily turn the blade around).

What you could try alternatively would be to employ contract assassins and mercenaries to do the sabotage part, and/or try to basically fund your own local cell of the Imperial Cult (staffed by some of those Drusian fanatics handpicked by your RT) who might be easier to influence and molded in a way befitting your goals. It would take a long time and much negotiation to have it recognized as a sanctioned minor arm of the actual Ecclesiarchy, but the end results might be worth it due to the increased level of trust and control you would enjoy with members of said cell.

Finally, the Battle Sisters. To be honest, such an endeavour does not seem to be of any interest to the Orders Militant. They exist to wage Wars of Faith, to safeguard the most holy sites and Cardinals of the Ecclesiarchy, and purge the enemies of the God-Emperor of Mankind - they are not a band of mercenaries that would jump on your band wagon solely because they get promised a discount on something they'd be supplied with for free by the Church anyways. Promethium is a valuable resource, but not that rare, and ~30.000 holy warriors don't have that high a consumption that it could not be covered by ecclesiarchal tithes, not even the pyromanic Sisters Militant.

A contract like this would surely bring you favors within the Church, but not enough that could justify sending a Mission of SoB to act as line enforcers for something that doesn't even seem to have anything to do with religion but could best be described as a border conflict between businessmen, especially given that the Adepta Sororitas work fairly autonomous from the normal inner workings of the Ecclesiarchy (given that they are not just there to protect it but also to police it) and thus not as easy to influence even with the backing of one or more Cardinals (the only one who could actually order the Sisters to do anything is the Ecclesiarch himself, everyone else can merely request).

In addition to this, I assume that both Chorda and Winterscale have their own Warrant of Trade and thus enjoy a certain level of immunity from ecclesiarchal intervention as long as they remain in the Expanse, negating any idea of direct support by default.

Due to all that, I would suggest skipping the Sisters of Battle and instead attempt to train and equip parts of your Drusian Militias into a semi-elite fighting force to fill this role, somewhat similar to the Frateris Templar of old. Given that your Rogue Trader is not bound by the Decree Passive, you would be free to exploit people's fanatism and build your own crusading army without meddling of the Imperial forces.

Ouch, you just found the silver bullet that killed my plans for Adepta Sororitas involvement. I know that the Sisters of Battle are no mercenary force but I thought the chance to get a significant supply of nephium to lace their promethium flasks with (to address a misconception of yours the secret to nephium is that it's not just plain promethium, they have to lace promethium with nephium to achieve those impressive effects which is why given nephium's scarcity Chorda and Winterscale get such a killing off nephium profits) for free and not the "preferred customer" rates might be enough enticement. What you rightly pointed out is that since the Adepta Sororitas is the elite fighting force of the Ecclesiarchy, whatever nephium it does obtain would be flagged for Sororitas use first and even if its not enough to fully supply them (which it isnt) they are perfectly fine with just using regular old promethium flasks. I was banking heavily on that Sororitas support as it would signify how serious my Ecclesiarchy backing is, and while my plan was to use the threat of their usage more than actually using them in combat, both the incredibly aggressive Chorda and Winterscale would have serious doubts about taking on somebody attempting to take some of the nephium profits if they have such an elite force behind them. Without them......well from what I read in Into the Abyss Lord Winterscale has actually orbitally bombarded mining settlements of would-be competitors off the face of the planet and without any Sisters of Battle to put in my boarding torpedoes to stop such a bombardment from taking place it doesn't matter how many raging hordes of zealous Drusian Frateris Militia I have on the surface when they can be annihilated by orbital lance strikes or massive multi-kiloton macrocannon warheads the size of city blocks are raining down on them.

About the infiltrating missionaries, I actually intended them to be independent agitators. I wasn't planning on getting the Church to supply me with missionaries but rather have my agents in the Calixis Sector seek out those preachers who (while rare) go to the disadvantaged masses to minister to their spiritual wellbeing. They'd specifically look for those agitators who can do their work subtly as they can't do their job if they are behind bars or they've gone to meet their Heavenly reward (although if they were particularly successful prior to being picked up such an act might be seen as martyrdom by a disaffected populace and led to a full scale revolt which my forces would be quick to aid as I could add an already established nephium mining settlement to my own all in the name of answering the cries for help from a mistreated populace). I fully understand that I would have no control over them and that any damage would be collaterial damage and in fact that was how I intended it to be. When hostilities between Chorda and/or Winterscale commence my RT will have enough on his hands defending his land settlements and coordinating the Drusian Fraternis Militia during the ground war (note to self: seek out Drusians with former PDF and Guard training to serve as officers and NCOs), maintaining space superiority over his settlements and areas of open warfare on the surface to prevent Lord Winterscale from using orbitally bombardments, and keeping the nephium flowing. The intention behind this infiltration is to disrupt nephium production by the belligerent(s) (and snagging a settlement if something goes spectactularly well and the workers instigate a fullscale revolt) and forcing the rival RTs to divert some of their own forces to keep their settlements under control. This would significantly cut down into the nephium profits of the belligerents and if there is any surefire way to persuade a RT to cease hostilities against another it would be to show its in their best financial interests to do so. With fewer shipments of nephium heading back to the Calixis Sector, some buyers of the rival RT's nephium might cancel their contracts and switch to somebody more reliable (meaning me). In exchange for ceasing hostilities and hammering out an agreement between Chorda, Winterscale and myself (thinking about insisting that the Orders Famulous oversee the drafting of the agreement and giving it their blessing once all three signatories have signed it to further reinforce the fact of my Ecclesiarchal backing) I would identify the agitators for them (my agents recruited them after all so I'd better know who they are) with the added stipulation that the be allowed to go free at which point I'd put them on a ship back to Footfall and make sure my agents charter them on the next pilgrim ship bound for an Imperial colony besides Lucien's Breath (I don't want to seriously hack off the Ecclesiarchy by allowing the other RTs to whack their clergymen and besides my RT is a relatively pious man himself who believes in a fair deal for those who have helped him achieved his goals so that would be unacceptable to him). The best part is all this sabotage wouldn't require any management from me besides getting the priests into their settlements

Actually I thought of a reason to get a Mission of Battle Sisters to accompany me. There is an indigenous xenos population (the Lucinite breed) that Rogue Traders have tamed and trained to work in the nephium mines as slaves. By proclaiming (loudly and with zeal) that Rogue Traders consorting with xenos is unclean and unacceptable in the eyes of the God-Emperor, I could not only whip up my Drusian Frateris militia to fight with greater zeal against those who consort with xenos and the xenos themselves but also wrangle that Mission of Battle Sisters to cleanse the taint of xenos from the planet and fight those who dare use them. While it is generally accepted that the remit of the Trade Warrant gives Imperial approval of Rogue Traders dealing with xenos species (within limits), both the Ecclesiarchy and the Adepta Sororitas are unlikely to take a good view of that and would perhaps be willing to send Sisters to aid my Endeavor.

That would still sound more like a job for the Inquisition, though - personally, I'd be really sceptical about bringing the AS into Koronus this way. The only instances I recall the Orders Militant having left Imperial space were Crusades and ... well, when they were requested by an Inquisitor. This would also allow you to circumvent the Warrant of Trade that protects both Winterscale and Chorda, so maybe you can work something out on this angle.

As for nephium, I am now left puzzled as to what it is - because an earlier book by FFG (The Radical's Handbook) described it as a synthesized substanced created from promethium that is also used as a drug ...

Though I do like the ItS-version as well.

Wow, let me say I'm impressed with your preparations and planning, Carnage1138! I hope your GM can keep up with you. Good luck!

Errant said:

Boo! Don't say that! I'm still hoping for a 5th edition Sisters of Battle codex for the 40k tabletop game....

They're anti-Bloodtide wargear!

Cheddah said:

Consider yourself lucky, then. Rumour mill is expecting a late 2011 / early 2012 release - in line with a bunch of new SoB books from Black Library to help promote the release.

I was thinking about stats for SoB in my game since it's perfectly logical to have them tag along, especially if the Rogue Trader has managed to ingratiate himself into some sort of Ecclesiarchy operation.

I think Sisters of Battle, instead of having only 10% of their number count towards the Unit Strength, should have 100% of their number counted towards Unit Strength. Astartes count 5x their number towards Unit Strength, so that would make a Battle Sister equivalent to 1/5 a Space Marine - not unreasonable given their Pure Faith powers.

So Sisters of battle (the plain Jane ones, not the Celestians or Seraphim) would count as the following:

Class: heavy infantry

Quality: veteran

Morale: 100

Power Level: 10

Unit Strength: 100% number of individuals in the unit

Mind you, I haven't tried this out yet, so this may make them grossly overpowered. But it seems fair to me given the rules and the fluff of the 40K universe. They're not quite Astartes-tough, but they can kick Imperial Guard butt all day long.

Just curious, if my campaign has an arc of dealing with the Chaos Reavers and the likes, with a pious dynasty, and in a very good relationship with Ecclesiarchy, is it possible to request and granted a small squad of Battle Sisters to aid the campaign?

It is simpler to just raise an army or enlist adeptus astartes, but I'd like to know the possibilities of adepta sororitas.

Anyways, is it even possible to create a minor order of adepta sororitas?

Thanks for the answers.

Telosse said:

Phew. There'd still be the small issue of the Battle Sisters usually not being active outside the borders of the Imperium - except during an Imperial Crusade/War of Faith or other business of religious importance. On the other hand, the enemy here is Chaos, and a small squad could be justified, given the dynasty's connections.

I'd say go for it - though if you want to provide some more solid backing to the cause, you could throw in some additional incentives ... such as those Reavers having slain a popular Missionary, or supposedly being in the possession of some artefact (either of Chaos or Imperial origin - actually the artefact could well be the Missionary's remains ), or the Reavers having preyed upon pilgrim routes in the past (and as such having made themselves targets for Ministorum retribution).

Telosse said:

Hmm, why shouldn't it? Personally, I am a bit surprised that FFG has not done so already, given that they came up with a new Space Marine Chapter, too. Instead they've opted to use the existing Orders Maioris (most prominently the Ebon Chalice and the Bloody Rose), and whilst this isn't a problem per se it does raise the question as to how or why they are in the Calixis Sector in such relatively large numbers, given that the Imperium is quite big and there are other regions where they'd be active as well (although it should be pointed out that the Ebon Chalice actually is on some kind of secret mission and as such has a justification for being there).

Anyways, sure, feel free to make one up. From numbercrunch calculations, about 8% of the Battle Sisters are made up of Orders Minoris.

@Lynata: Thanks for the explanations you sure seem to know Adepta Sororitas

I've always been a canon nut, regardless of the setting/franchise. I absorb everything there is about whatever is of interest to me - in case of the Adepta Sororitas this is both easy and hard, as whilst there is not much to know (not a lot has been written about them), what little there is has been spread out over a dozen publications, half of which are no longer in production (such as some White Dwarf articles). Buuut that's what modern society has the internet for - in particular, there was a yahoo! group about SoB that has been a tremendous help in finding information as well as sources...

Anyways, in case you ever want to know something specific, just give me a poke.

Lynata is also well versed in Sororitas zero-G maneuvers and procedures.

1-Panic

2-curse

3-Spin out of control

4-fire the grappling hook

5-???

6-Profit!

Yeah, I should definitively go for the Seraphim advance next, right? ;P

Lynata said:

Well, if you're as skillful with that jump pack than in zero-G, morale will be restored as everyone gets a good laugh....Oh, and a helmet would be a ncie thing, jsut in case the landing is..too hard?

Hehehehehe