Glade Sisters

Earth Mother Beitrix on her throne

**Glade Sisters** is a all-female tribal group inhabitating an abandoned Adeptus Mechanicus biological research station and adjascent hydroponic farms. They are isolationistic, self-protective, and very religious, worshipping the Earth Goddess, venerating nature and life, beauty, and purity. The research site lies within the boundaries of the 235th Precinct.

## History

The Glade Sisters (their current name, previous name unknown) were previously loyal to the House Escher, fighting in their name and defending their interests, but they went rogue after the discovery of the Squall's End bio-research site. The site was discovered possibly by accident and accessed by a cave, vent or a service tunnel, as the main entrance was locked, and secured with Adeptus Mechanicus seal.

The interior of the facility was found to be overgrown by various plants, roots and trees, making access and exploration very difficult, yet it didn't stop the women from exploring and settling in, quickly realizing and utilizing and capitalizing on the richnesses of what was found inside. They began trading the fruits, crops and vegetables, although the fruits, despite being nutritious, were found to have side effects if consumed in large quantities, although for the Glade Sisters it was too late already. Some of the fruits causes hallucinations, psychotic states, and paranoia. This led the Glade Sisters to embrace isolationalism, cutting ties with the outside world for a long period of time of not much is known about, because no written record exist, only hazy memories and legends.

Soon other groups and gangs found out the Glade Sisters are poorly trained and equipped, relying only on basic, old, and poorly maintained equipment, and also not very sane, so they started picking on them, stealing the fruits, crops, and trees, abducting and enslaving the women, be it for forced labor, prostitution, or to cause harm for fun, as they were seen nothing but mad savages. This forced the Glade Sisters to become hostile to all outsiders, shooting anyone who wandered too deep into their territory on sight. Who wentured inside was usually never seen again, as the Sisters kept the invaders who survived captive as slaves, or were sacrificed to their newly found diety called Yllune, also known, or reffered to as the Earth Goddess, Spirit of the Forest, or Lady of the Glade. The appearance of Yllune also cannot be documented, but it is healthy to assume her first appearance can be linked to the requent hallucinations and states of madness of one of the groups leaders, who then became Yllune's first prophet. The newlyfound diety had positive effect to the community, as it brought unity, purpose, and higher meaning of life.

Over years their bodies adapted to the fruits they were eating on pretty much daily basis, easing the side effects, and also their culture changed dramatically. They opened to the world a bit, starting with little bit of trade, still mostly due to necessity, and some basic diplomacy with the neighbouring authorities. Wandering into their lands uninvited and unanounced is still pretty much a suicide, altough they now tolerate unanounced visits by trusted individuals, mostly traders.

## Glade Sisters

### Culture & Religion

The culture is heavily interwoven with their religion, and revolves around the place they live in. They venerate a goddess they call Yllune, which is a goddess of earth, nature, fertility and tranquility, that is said to be residing inside of the sacred Big Tree that grows in the middle of the Glade, a tall and circular dome serving as both a shrine, and everyday gathering place. In the tree top is built a platform with a small hut, connected by a suspended bridge with the catwalks on the dome walls, that is reserved for the Earth Mother, the leader of the Glade Sisters, highest religious figure, and Yllune's prophet.

Upon the initiation of each individual member, which happens in the early childhood, they are sworn to protect the it, and all other trees, plants and everything living inside the research station, giving up their own lives if necessary. They believe every plant is interconnected with other and the Big Tree, and so the goddess feels pain for every twig snapped, or flower picked, and because of that, they perform soothing rituals any time a bush or tree needs trimming or cutting. They also believe the fruits, vegetables and crops are the goddess' gifts for their care of her, and thus every harvest is a great religious ceremony.

Veneration of purity and beauty also has a strong presence in their culture, and so women with higher social status usually wear various trinkets and jewellery, mostly made of colorful pieces of metal, in form of delicate wood carvings, or circles and headbands with imitaion of horns and antlers. Higher social status also affects the availability of armor and clothing for the individual members of the tribe, as better quality armor and clothing is worn by those with higher status. On the contrary, members with low social status often wear incomplete or damaged clothes, which may lead to bodyparts being left uncovered (usually upper body), and so partial nudity is generally accepted. Some individuals with higher socal status, despite the fact partial nudity is linked to lower social status, opt to purposefully show their naked skin, that is usually covered in delicate and detailed tattoos or paintings. Tattoos or paintings usually follow natural themes, with creeping wines or flowers are amongst the most common, or depiction of their life successes or religious motives following.

### Flesh Curse

As it is known, the Eschers carry a hereditory genetic flaw that affects the Y-chromosome. Unfortunately, the side effects of the gene-engineered fruits only strenghtens this flaw, resulting in nearly all male babies born to the Glade Sisters being severely mentally underdeveloped, and usually not live long enough to learn to speak and form simple sentences. For this reason, the Glade Sisters are purely all-female\* group, and rely on 'help' from the outside for continuation of their tribe as they do not posses any stasis technology usually utilized by other Escher gangs.
This 'help' usually comes in form of male captives and abductees (that are seen as worthy) being used as sex slaves by the Sisters, or in form of arranged meetings, opportunistic hook-ups, or sacred mating rituals taking place under the Big Tree. The first is, however, the most prevalent method. In addition, it seems the chemicals and substances contained in some of the fruits significantly increase the chance for a woman to produce a healthy offspring,\*\* resulting in a rather high birth-rate, that can compensate for the deaths of male tribesmen, or loses caused by medical complications, diseases, fatal injuries, or combat.

However, due to the industrially unrefined, bountiful and nutritious diet, the women of the Glade enjoy a good physical health, and malnourishment or lack of food is pretty much unheard of, unless there is a very bad harvest.

\*Almost all-female, some captured men joined the group after being 'claimed' by some higher-ranked Sisters, yet they hold no power in the purely matriarchal hierarchal structure. They are seen as nothing more than servants or status symbols. Even though unjustified abuse and torture is frown upon, any man who is unable or unwilling to serve their purpose are promptly dealth with. Usual way is drugging them, and sacrificing them to Yllune.

\*\*This semi-closed gene-pool combined with the effects of the fruits and chemicals in the environment can sometimes lead to various mutations of the fetus, which usually results in a very difficult birth, which is likely fatal for the mother. If the mutated children are able to develop and survive on their own, and are able to contribute to the tribe as they come to age, they are accepted despite their differences, as the Sisters believe it was Yllune's will, and were made to serve a specific purpose.

### Trade & Income

The Glade Sisters are stern isolationists, yet they are forced to maintain minimal trade with the sorrounding out of necessity. They lack any form of sophisticated industrial production, and so any but the most basic tools, weapons, armor or components have to be either scavenged or brought in from the outside, as they learned the hard way they can't rely on crude and primitive weaponry, like bows, mauls and knives alone, if they want to survive in the Underhive. Luckily for them, there is high demand for the large variety of fruits, vegetables, crops and herbs of all kinds they grow, but also for and wooden trinkets they make and can sell. Due to steady supply of healing herbs, the Glade Sisters are often sought after as healers, especially by the poor citizens, who can't afford the the services of a regular Doc. Some Sisters who dedicated their lives to becoming caretakers offer their services as nurses, nannies or surrogate mothers to the wealthier citizens. All for the appropriate price.

### Defense

Due to their low knowledge of weapon and wargear maintenance, and generally wet environment, their equipment is usually ill-maintained, faded, battered, dirty, rusty, and not very reliable to begin with, and so usage of Stub, Auto or Las weapons is prevalent, as they are generally most durable and least prone to malfunction. For that purpose, melee weapons, and simple ranged weapons like bows are favored, usually in combination with venoms and toxins extracted from the plants. Glade Sisters are also known to field Needle wapons, and Flamers (albeit Flamers are used only outside the research facility). More sophisticated weapons, such as Boltguns, Plasma Guns or Heavy Stubbers are very rare, and only a few pieces are in their possesion.

## Squall's End Bioresearch facility

Squall's End was a site ran by the Adeptus Mechanicus Biologis branch, located within the territory of the 235th Precinct. Precinct authority was aware of the site, although the purpose was kept in secret and never revealed. The Magii were researching and gene-engineering various plants in order to make them more resilient and abe to thrive in the damp, cold and dark environment of the Underhive. Whenever they were successful or not is unknown. Years later they evacuated the site in haste, leaving everything as it was, only sealing the entrances.
The whole site can be divided into several sections.

* **The Glade** - Glade is a large circular dome, with a single massive tree, known as the Big Tree, or Sacred tree, growing in the middle. Grass and flowers cover most of the ground, and bushes and smaller trees are scattered around the place and along the dome walls. The Glade is an everyday gathering place, and place with the highest commotion. Daily sermons are held at the roots of the Big Tree. The Earth Mother sits in her throne that is slightly elevated above the ground level, and she lives in a treetop house, that is considered a personal space that cannot be accessed without invitation or approval.

* **Barracks** - Accessible only through the Glade, it consists of several levels of halls and walkways lined rooms of various sizes, that were transformed into private or shared living quarters, small gardens, eateries, stores, workshops, manufactures, nurseries, schools, or other services.

* **Hydroponics** - Hydroponics are the center of the gang's "economy", as it is here where most of the crops, fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown. It consists out of countless greenhouses and divided sections, each trying to mimic specific biome, be it hot, humid jungles, cold marshlands, or barely hospitable rocky shrublands. Most of the controlled climate sections are, however, barely working, or not working at all, thus having the same temperate amd humid environment like rest of the facility. Several sections were converted into animal husbandries, where various creatures are bred for the fur, leather, eggs, milk and meat.

* **Biolab** - Consisting out of dozens of rooms of all sizes, usually filled with arcane technology. Most of it is long defunct and overgrown with roots and plants, although several labs are still working, refining the grown products and producing all sort of things, from food, through potions, medicine, to drugs and toxins, and a couple of rooms were converted into infirmaries, one of which is for the outsiders.

* **The Vale** - A deep gorge running through the solid bedrock, passing around and bellow the Hydroponics section of the site. At the bottom runs a river. The water is slightly polluted, yet it is pumped up into ancient water purificators and used both for drinking and to water the plants. There is a narrow footpath clinging to the steep cliffs running down to the bottom of the valley, granting access to the river. This is probably the place the predecesors of the Glade Sisters entered their current home for the first time. There is also a rope bridge hanging over the gorge, leading to the other side to a rock plateau, which serves as a vantage point overlooking the valley from above.

* **The Dark Grounds** - A uninhabited zone located between the hydroponics and the main gate of the Squall's End facilty. It is four levels of dark, overgrown, and hard to navigate hallways and derelict rooms. For anybody who didn't memorize the way through it is very easy to get lost, and then be found by patrol, or attacked by a creature. It creates a buffer zone for the Sisters to defend themselves against an invading force. Knowledge of the place grants them significant advantage in mobility, and giving many opportunities for ambushes and placing traps.

### Tribe Ranks & Titles

Glade Sisters place great importance on their deeds and accomplishments, and so they call one another with their respecive titles before their names, or titles alone. Only the most important or valuable, or the currently relevant title is used.

#### Titles

* **Earth Mother** - Leader of the tribe, and the highest religious representative, also knows as Yllune's Prophet, as The Goddess speaks to her followers through her. She decides most of the important tasks and decisions, and also commands all hunting parties.
* **Dreamseeker** - Lower spiritual leader, a priestess, and also a gardener, taking care of all plants in the Glade. She also advices the Earth Mother in her decisions, or deals with organising the day-to-day tasks.
* **Druidess** - Druidessess are the healers of the tribe, using their knowledge of human body, herbs and drugs. Sisters becoming Druidesses are often psykers.
* **Carer** - Carer is an umbrella term for Nurses, Wet nurses, Caretakers, Babysitters and any other similar position.

#### Hunting Party ranks

* **Huntchief** - Huntchief is the leader of a single Hunting Party.
* **Huntmistress** - Higher rank, held by skilled Sisters, with aptitude for leadership and fighting prowess. Each Huntmistress serves as a leader of her own sub-group, and as Huntchiefs' second-in-command.
* **Wardanceuse** - Higher rank, held by exceptionally skilled Sisters, who specialise in hand-to-hand combat.
* **Huntress** - Middle rank, usually held by rank-and-file Sisters
* **Beastmistress** - Held by Sisters who are good with animals. Each Ranger has her own pack of trained animals.
* **Seeker** - Held by Sisters who excell at silent approach, and stalking.
* **Huntie** - Lower rank, usually held by young and inexperienced Sisters in training.

#### Honorable Titles

* **Progenitor** - Honorable title, granting unrestricted access to male captives. Given to women showing exceptional premises for childbearing.
* **Blessed Mother** - Honorable title, granting preferential treatment in almost everything. Given to women who raised 8 or more children, be they adopted or her own.
* **Guardian** - Honorable title, marking one as exceptionally skilled and capable healer.
* **Waywatcher** - Waywatchers are trained Glade Sisters, who are usually not a permanent member of a hunting party. They live normal lives and take-up arms only when they are ordered to by the Huntchief or Huntmistress, serving as reservists.

## Known Hunting Parties

* **Yllune's Claws** - Skilled and prestigious hunting party, usually patrolling, scavenging or raiding outside of their home base. Members mark their armor, clothes or skin with depictions of three diagonal claw marks.
* **Night Cats** - Hunting party specialised in silent approach, scouting, reconnaissance, usage of traps and poisons. They are the least numerous, but most respected. Members mark their armor, clothes or skin with depiction of a feline eyes.
* **Glade Watch** - Consisting mostly of Waywatchers and retired warriors, this hunting party assembles only when the home base is under attack, or when other hunting parties are occupied or unsuitable for the required task. Members mark their armor, skin or clothes with simple depictions of female breasts to show their original nature as nurturers.
* **The Cubs** - Hunting party consisting mostly of juveniles in training, and are led by an experienced mentors. They usually conduct patrols in the Dark Grounds, and in close vicinity of their home base. Members mark their clothes or have tattoos with a depiction of a paw.

It is not uncommon for one hunting party borrowing members from others, depending on the task that needs to be done.
A tradition is to keep old hunting party markings as a mark of pride of valorous deeds done while being a member of said party.

## Notable Personnel

### Commanders

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### Important individuals

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(TBA)