Little Sisters of Purification

The Sisters are one of several female Chapters of loyalist Space Marines. They can trace their lineage back to the dawn of the Imperium. The whole Order is steeped in ancient ritual, though not to the extent of the Adepta Sororitas; members adopt new names and swear vows of chastity and obedience to the Emperor, but they are primarily not priestesses.

## Iconography

The Order's insignia is a mailed fist holding a short sword, superimposed on the circle and cross of femininity. Armor is black with white insignia. The Order's moto is “Castitas, Humilitas et Honor” (Chastity, Humility and Honor).

## Founding

They were founded to guard the planet Lukaas due to its potential xenos links and, particularly, to guard the Adeptus Mechanicus monastery. Their mandate expanded over time, initially to provide support to the local militia, then to system defense, and now the chapter is called upon to aid in battles even several systems over due to growing xenos influence in the area. Their gene-seed is of Ultramarine stock and they have no known impurities or defects.

The chapter itself was founded by a famous marine, Valeria Cassianus, who herself was a champion of the Ultramarines dating back to the days of the Horus Heresy. They use gene-seed recovered from her for all their sisters. While no founding date is given for the chapter it is an old one, though it has always remained small and dedicated to the defense of Lukaas.

## Disposition

They have always been a small chapter, initially just 20 marines, but now number 2 companies (~200 marines). Their size expended once the nature of the Slanni experiments were discovered on the planet so they have a close relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus. They are obsessed with ritual and tradition, even among the tradition-obsessed space marines. They house many relics, treasures, tapestries depicting prophesied events, and much of their day is spent in reveries or observing specific traditions.

## Homeworld- Lukaas

Lukaas (population 3.2 billion) has an eccentric orbit, but its sun is a slow variable. As the planet approaches, the tar dims; as it moves out again, the star ares up with renewed energy. Seasonal variations are extreme but survivable.

This situation isn't natural. Five thousand years ago the rhythm of pulsation changed, and the climate became much more variable. Tech-Priest astronomers were brought in to advise If the planet should be evacuated; a year later they detected strange force field energies surrounding the star. After a few months the star was back in its old rhythm. These events have recurred four times over the intervening millennia. Archaeologists have found evidence that the Ancient Slanni had a small colony on Lukaas, a scientific outpost conducting an experiment too dangerous for any inhabited systems. It was abandoned when the Slanni withdrew from the galactic scene. Putting these facts together, the Adeptus Mechanicus have guessed that the Slanni were experimenting with control of solar reactions and modified the star in some unknown fashion.

Because of the Slanni’s tampering and the technological experiments, occasionally powerful xenos machines are uncovered by locals. Older than humanity, these xenos tech are greatly decayed and often work more as fatal traps than useful technology. Still, the tech-priests positively salivate over such things and have conducted many excavations. Because of the prevalence of such technology near the town of Speelburg it has grown from a minor equatorial city to a booming techno-hub.

### Abandoned Slanni Station

Within the sun of the system Lukaas orbits is a station believed to have once been inhabited by the Slanni. The installation is a small asteroid, floating in a force field bubble inside the star. It has a breathable atmosphere and temperatures vary between 15 and 20 centigrade on a 32-hour cycle. The field lets in a miniscule proportion of the light, enough to allow observation of the surrounding stellar inferno. Gravity is just over 0.9 G, compared to the 15 G or so that the station should theoretically experience. Sixteen huge field generators maintain attitude, internal gravity, and the force field. Imperial Forces have been able to access this station once during an incident with a group of crashed Jokaero but have thus far been unable to revisit it.

## Notable Little Sisters of Purification

**Sister Captain Flekira:** A sister who has held many positions of leadership in the small order. She is said to have been a street urchin who was taken in by the Schola Progenium. Her prowess at battle almost saw her destined for the Adepta Sororitas but a chance encounter changed the trajectory of her life. A jet car she was traveling in while visiting Lukaas to tend to a small local shrine was shot down by rebels and she was forced to fight her way out of enemy territory. She impressed a marine of the Little Sisters of Purification who invited her to attempt their challenges. She served as a Lieutenant during a battle known as the “Sunstroke Incident” where an ancient Slanni experiment nearly killed the entire planet of Lukaas.

## Real World Background

This article is based on the “Little Sisters of Purification” found in Challenge Magazine by Games Design Workshop. This was a fan magazine from the Rogue Trader days and they were featured in the scenario “Sunstroke”. I have updated the lore for this faction (as it referenced things like the Slann and straight up vampires) and progressed time with the assumption that the Imperial forces win the Sunstroke scenario. I had an artist friend of mine render their logo.