Althea Bernadette

"*Laurus Victrix sisters! Today this whip will enslave the Dark Gods and with your bolters and flames, the galaxy shall be cleanse of all darkness of the warp and alien!*"
—Canoness Althea Bernadette, Purification of Albenar III
**Althea Bernadette** is the current Canoness Commander 2nd Perceptor, 5th Commandery of the Order of the Blessed Laurel. She is widely known for her strict yet merciful and charismatic persona. Able to train and rally her Commandery Sororitas with a strict discipline as equivalent to the stern Adeptus Astartes and drive her sisters to an inhuman zealotry. Althea herself is presummed dead but she was infact put into cryostasis pod and awoken at Pontavar where she is trained by the Order of the Blessed Laurel. She is also known to frequently aid the Silver Centurions chapter master Alvertus Victarius in many crusade against xenos and the Forces of Chaos specifically the Emperor's Children.

## History

Originally named Ælthera, she was born to a patrician family to Odda the Younger and Efelwic on Hive City Drematria Prime. Little is known for her early life other than in her 20s where her family wish her to be wed to a 120 year old life extension old nobleman of a house Dubois to secure her family seat and renown on Terra. Against her father's wishes, she escape with two of her maidens and once landed at Wojtyla, she seeks refuge at the central spire of Krakowitz. Within 10 Terran months, she was discovered and to avoid capture, her hand maiden put her into cryostasis pod and was hidden until her maiden could took her to safety. Unknown to Ælthera, her hand maiden had been discovered by the mercenaries from house Dubois and they were executed by the mercenaries.

She is woke up sometime in 976.M41 at Pontavar and beside her is a Sister Hospitaller of the Order of the Blessed Laurel who administer health check and gave Ælthera food. Once she totally recovers, the Hospitaller told her how Wojtyla was besieged by the Red Corsairs and parts of the Hive City were destroyed but luckily her cryostasis pod were found by the Sisters of the Order of the Blessed Laurel and taken to Pontavar. At the evening as Ælthera fell asleep in her quarter, she dream of a vision where she stood in a solitude and from the sky came down an angel who gave her a piece of the laurel and spoke 'thou shall be the Emperor's honored bride. Train, pray, and keep yourself holy from all world desires and you will triumph. Arise my daughter!'. When she woke up she realize that the Order who saved her life is the one that she should join and become. Soon, she decided to join the Sisters of the Order of the Blessed Laurel entering the Schola Progena of the Wreathed Lady at South Pontavar and through years of brutal training and solid indoctrination, Ælthera become a battle sister squad, she took name Althea as a new name through her studies of High Gothic and embrace the Imperial Cult fully through her heart. Through her expertise in operating Multi Melta, she was assigned to a Retributor Squad.

Althea start her duty at planet Herdonia, Segmentum Pacificus where her squad led by the Sister Senior Marsena Kyris tasked to defend the Imperial Forward Base against the rampaging tyranids of Hive Fleet Megatrocus. In this bog and ash rain planet, Althea earned her first trophy kill, a Tyranid Warrior Prime, designated called the Black Devil. She killed the Black Devil with a super heated melta fire that burns the xeno to a crisp. With her chainsword, Althea behead the Tyranid Prime that inflict her many slashing and biting wounds and took it back home as a trophy.

At 992.M41, Althea is forced to replace her mentor and her superior sister Marsena Kyris after the defense of Hive World Korshala IV against the Emperor's Children splinter warband the Warhost of Excess led by Chaos Lord Krovus the Vain in which her sister superior are succumbed to horrific spells casted by the Chaos Sorcerer of Slaanesh. As Althea witness her superior and two of her fellow sisters flee the battlefield, She rally her squad and later on she rallied the entire battle sisters when Canoness Jezebel Hasmeen were slain and flayed by the Chaos Lord Krovus's Power Claw. As Althea rallied she experience a short term vision of St. Jeanice, she told her to lead her sisters and bestow her a bright eminating aura that heals her and her sisters nearby as Althea grab her rosarius and with a single sentences 'Here I am'. Thus with a bright eminating aura, Althea wield her Multi Meltas and with all Sisters of the Order of the Blessed Laurel under her command, she press through the hordes of Emperor's Children Heretic Astartes, slaying their cultists and Heretic Marines as Althea press on to the summit of Hive City of Kosan. There she manage to slay the last remaining Heretic Astartes Terminators and the Chaos Sorcerer who bewitch her superior. As Althea witness the warp gate closed with Chaos Lord Krovus, his retinue and captured humans, she took a vow to rebuild the 5th Commandery and her swore an oath of vengeance to hunt Lord Krovus the Vain and exterminate the Slaaneshi Astartes.

Two Terran months later, at night in the middle of her sleep before retaking of Agri World Pollux II from the Forces of Chaos, Althea witness a vision of Saint Jeanice gave her the direction deep to the desecrated monastery of St. Herbrugh. She witness her nemesis the Chaos Lord Krovus the Vain sit on the corrupted throne with Daemonettes and Cultists of the Cult of Dawn Excess, worship him as if he is the saviour of Pollux II. Saint Jeanice with her final word challenge Althea to proceed without permission of Canoness Superior Varina as her Test of Faith. Once awaken, she done her armor and gather her squad and leave Pontavar at dawn. Once she arrived at Pollux II, she witness the Chaos invasion seems never ending with the traitor guardsmands, Heretic Astartes and Daemonettes slaughtering the Guardsman and the Skitarii forces from the Forgrworld Tercius. As Althea and her sisters charge and burn every Cultists that stands in her way, she witness the horde of Daemonettes are massing upon her. Within an eye blink, a hail of droppods interrupt the charging the Daemonettes, and the Adeptus Astartes of the Silver Centurions led by Sergeant Alvertus Victarius fire the hailstorm of bolter and plasma to the daemons and the charging cultists. As both forces of Imperium came pass the gates of St. Herbrugh Monastery, Althea with faith in the God Emperor rallied the fleeing guardsman whom in turn charge back at the enemy with extreme zeal and fury. As Althea, Sergeant Alvertus and the Imperial forces pave a way to the main chapel, Althea was given a sudden vision of St Jeanice jump down from the High throne of the sky approaching Pollux II. Althea and Alvertus presses on, charging the hordes of Heretic Astartes and with it She finally attack the Chaos Lord Krovus himself atop the inner sanctum of St Herbrugh Monastery. The battle ended with Chaos Lord Krovus tighted on the Holy Whip of St. Jeanice and his head blasted by Althea's Inferno Pistol. For a while the Imperial Forces enjoy little respite but then one of the guardsman informs them that the massive horde of Daemonettes and Excess Cultists led by a Keeper of Secret known as the Nae'kasha the Sinful.

Outnumbered and surrounded 20 to 1, Althea did not waver and did not tremble and in the midst of bolter and lasguns firing echoed with daemonic screech, Althea read the Grand Hymns of Zealotry. As she continuously chants, her sister witness Althea glow bright and as she finish her chants, a winged entities landed on the monastery of St. Herbrugh. Clad in golden armor, with bright wings and fiery bright eyes and a long gold braided hair. It was Saint Jeanice who answer Althea's prayer. As Althea kneel, Saint Jeanice stroke her head and she said 'This battle will be glorious in the Emperor's holy name himself! Now rise and lead your force, canoness Althea!' Althea surprised but with it she shout in the Emperor's name, rallying the Astra Militarum, the Skitariis, and the Silver Centurion Astartes. As the war rages, so does reinforcements from the Adepta Sororitas of the Order of the Blessed Laurel, the Adeptus Astartes of the Hyenas of Caliban, and the Thousand Blades descent upon Polux II. At the end of the day with the Forces of Chaos defeated and the Keeper of Secrets wounded and escaped the battlefield. Althea is judged by the Confessor Agerlach and Canoness Superior Varina Agivictrix for her reckless action without the Order's approval. As Althea detained, Living Saint Jeanice interfered, creating a shock among the Order's officers. At the end of the argument, under blessings of Saint Jeanice herself and both Confessor Agerlach and Cnoness Superior Varina, Althea is promoted as the Canoness of the Order of the Blessed Laurel, in charge of the 5th Commandery, 2nd Perceptor.

Through her lifetime as a Canoness of the 5th Commandery, Althea is known for her ultra strict discipline yet merciful to her sisters of the Order even to a commoners of the Imperium. And frequently she over aid to the Captain and later on Chapter Master of the Silver Centurions, Alvertus Victarius. Both the Space Marine Chapter Master and the Canoness known for their strong bonds and ability to understand tactical movement amongst each other and execute it with extreme precision with an astonishing synergy.

In one of her famous deeds, she slew a Herald of Slaanesh Xol'Pakar in a combat and her sisters witness how the daemonettes stabs and strike her claw upon Althea but the young Canoness kept fighting as if she is invulnerable to it. Her power armor was broken but her body and spirits keep fighting and as the Canoness bind her neural whip 'Graceful Repentant' choke the Herald of Slaanesh, she pull out her melta pistol and melt down the Herald's face.

## Personality

Althea is well known for her ultra strict discipline in educating her fellow sisters of the Order, she believe that a true discipline could conquer the fleshy sins of a human thus creating a bold, pure, and imbued with faith and strength. At the same time the canoness is known for her merciful thought. Refusing to condemn her sisters to took the Repentia oath or condemn them to serve at the Mortifier Engine. She is also known for her strong faith and devotion to the Emperor through frequent prayers, casting litanies and even known as an ardent evangelist who took mission upon many Civilized and Hive Worlds to preach mankind the might and holiness of the Emperor of Mankind and his Imperium.

## Appearance

Althea is a fair maiden and native Drematrian with reddish brown hair and small freckles across her cheek and nose. She stood 1.7 metre tall. As a Retributor sister, she possess long uncut and unbraided wavy hair Canoness of the Order of the Blessed Laurel she wore Sororitas Power Armor equipped with Magenta Cloak. She begin to wore Veil after the end of Crusade at Pollux II. Following her first victory as a Canoness at Khoran V against the Necron incursion, she was given a Light Veil of St. Jeanice. This relic is known for eminating a very strong gravitic Conversion field around her. She always carried her Inferno Pistol and the Holy Whip of Saint Jeanice, the Graceful Repentant. Althea always kept her Power Knife behind her back as a susbtitue weapon when fighting both Chaos Forces or Xenos alike.

## Combat Skill

Althea is known for her mastery in Melta weaponry from Inferno Pistol to Multi-Melta. She could dismantle, upgrade, and even improvised Melta guns and Multi-Melta with ease. Like her fellow Sororitas, Althea is a talented Swordswoman but favor the Whip as her weapon of choice due to its versatility and longer reach. Canoness Althea speciality lies on her strict discipline and meticulous behaviour. Able to recheck and rescreen as well as maintain her forces in maximum condition even in the harsh condition.

## Wargear

* ***Graceful Repentant -*** The Holy Whip of Saint Jeanice. The relic Neural Whip is used to purge and slay the enemies of Mankind both xenos or daemons alike. The whip was given to Canoness Althea by Confessor Agerlach due to her reward of slaying the Chaos Lord Krovus the Vain. The shard of Katranite Crystal is planted as a thorn along the whip and at its end.
* **Sororitas Power Armour** - Standard issue Adepta Sororitas Power Armour, mastercrafted and donned with Order's medal and mantle. It provides a great protection and its more durable,versatile and slightly lighter than most Sororitas Power Armor.
* **Light Veil of St. Jeanice** - The holy Sororitas veil, said to be worn by Saint Jeanice herself before the establishment of the Order of the Blessed Laurel. The Veil emits a very strong gravitic Conversion Field around its wearer, which makes her power armour even harder to pierce with enemy weapons especially Flaming weaponries.
* **Inferno Pistol** - Canoness Althea favored such compact melta pistol. She often use it when fighting combat walkers and jetbikes. Her Inferno Pistol is mastercrafted and engraved with prayer of St. Jeanice before her martyrdom.
* **Null Rod -** She seldom used it unless during fighting with Thousand Sons or Aeldari.
* **Power Knife** - A Power Shortsword, she use it as her secondary weapon and to execute her foe.