Order of the Ebon Chalice - Order History: The Order of the Ebon Chalice is the oldest of the Orders Militant, founded at the birth of the Adepta Sororitas by Saint Alicia Dominica.The order was created at the decree of Ecclesiarch Alexis XXII -- the long-lived successor of the great reformer, Sebastian Thor -- in the 38th Millennium when the Convent Prioris was split between the convents on Ophelia VII and Terra into two separate Orders Militant.Both of these convents are massive fortresses housing tens of thousands of sisters of many different orders. The Convent Prioris was divided between the Order of the Ebon Chalice, whose founder was Dominica, and the Order of the Argent Shroud, led by Silvana.The Convent Sanctorum was separated into the Order of the Fiery Heart, led by Katherine, and the Order of the Valorous Heart, led by Lucia. Though all these orders of battle-sisters could trace their origins back to the original teachings of the Daughters of the Emperor, a small degree of variance in terms of organisation and combat doctrine began to manifest as the outlook and persona of the founding Matriarchs asserted itself.By the late 36th Millennium, the Adepta Sororitas had become synonymous with the power of the Ecclesiarchy, implementing its religious dogma and prosecuting its wars across the galaxy.The Orders Militant spread, establishing subsidiary convents on key worlds across the Imperium. Dominica, Katherine, Silvana and Lucia, all of whom had been declared Living Saints in their own lifetimes, performed legendary acts and led their orders in countless, bloody victories.Under the guidance of their Matriarch, the Ebon Chalice quickly established itself as the exemplar against which all other orders would be measured. Dominica herself served as the military and spiritual head of the Adepta Sororitas. The sisters of the order displayed spiritual and martial discipline that was second to none, with their fortitude in battle matched only by the depth of their faith.In their training and on the field of war they cleaved unerringly to the doctrines laid out by the Daughters of the Emperor, with the only adaptations being those that incorporated the use of modern Imperial weaponry and armour.A desire to emulate the perfection of Alicia Dominica burned in the heart of every sister of the Ebon Chalice. Dominica repeatedly showed herself to be the God-Emperor's most worthy champion, displaying her strength, constancy and tactical acumen across myriad war zones.While other orders battled the faithless in the distant reaches of the Imperium, the sisters of the Ebon Chalice dedicated themselves to safeguarding the sanctity of Terra and the Segmentum Solar. Planet by planet, system by system, the order expanded their parish, rooting out cults buried deep in the bowels of Hive Worlds and eradicating mutant conclaves that were infesting barren moons and isolated outposts.Shrine Worlds that had long ago fallen to xenos invasions were besieged by waves of chanting warriors. Wherever the servants of Chaos were found they were met with damning oaths and cleansing flames. As they brought more territories under their care, the sisters of the Ebon Chalice were able to expose scores of planetary governors and Astra Militarum officers whose practices did not conform to the exact letter of the Imperial Creed.Preachers and Confessors were called upon to make examples of the unrighteous, and where such efforts to enforce true faith were met with resistance, the sisters of the Ebon Chalice marched forth to purge the impure. No sinner was safe under the exacting gaze of Dominica's order.After several centuries of faithful service to the Emperor and her order, Alicia Dominica was martyred, falling in combat during the Scouring of Frideswide's World. Not since the passing of Sebastian Thor had the bell tower of the Ecclesiarchal Palace tolled so dolefully.Her martyrdom left a gaping void in the organisation of the Adepta Sororitas, for none amongst the ranks considered themselves worthy to follow in her hallowed footsteps. Eventually, Sister Palmiro -- a Dialogus of the Order of the Holy Word -- was chosen by her peers as the most suitable to take over from the fallen Matriarch and become Abbess of the Adepta Sororitas.Palmiro accepted, but not before solemnly expressing that she could never hope to equal her predecessor's faith, vision or fortitude.It was this humility that made Palmiro the obvious choice, for to serve the Sororitas, the Ecclesiarchy and the Emperor in Dominica's stead was regarded not as a mark of honour, but as the undertaking of a grave and thankless responsibility.