Worldbuilding for the Alabastrine Candle, Part 3
To the west of holy Terra the Segmentum Pacificus reaches out to the very edges of the galaxy. Countless have spent their lives toiling in obscurity. Feeding the Imperial war machine's many crusades. Deep in the Segmentum's wilds, far off the beaten path in a star system named Valria there is a planet. The 9th from its star, it is home to a minor convent and a miracle.
In 843.M39, late in the 39th millennium, the saint Junica Celestane had a prophesy. A living saint would rise on Valria IX. Now, at the dawn of the 42nd millennium, that prophesy is beginning to come true.
Setting the Stage
As I've mentioned, I approach building a crusade army in a very specific way. It doesn't completely align with the Warhammer 40K core rules. I build my crusade armies around a combat patrol force of 500pts, rather than the 100 power level in the core book. I use points for a few reasons. The simplest: it gives me the flexibility to run them against non-crusade armies.
Codex: Adepta Sororitas provides rules for the rise and fall of a living saint; a sister blessed by the God-Emperor of Mankind, a font of miracles and proof of his beneficence. A crusade force of the Sisters doesn't have to be telling this kind of story, but it's the easiest kind of story to tell.
At the start of a crusade one (non-named) Sororitas Character can become a Saint Potentia. She will then have to undertake a series of trials. Success grants powerful boons, but the path of a saint is not without risks. Each time a Saint Potentia or Living Saint fails an Out of Action test, they gain martyr points. Gain enough points, the character dies a martyr. Remove them from the army's Order of Battle. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
This is the story loop I want to build my Adepta Sororitas around. A living saint will rise from Valria IX, or die trying.
The Sisters
I imagined the entire convent of Sisters would be a single combat patrol. A convent needs a leader, so the patrol needs a Cannoness. Welcome Cannoness Ephreline Celestane, Daughter of the Hallowed Candle. Though she shares a last name with the saint Junica Celestane, they aren't related. Perhaps her superiors considered it good fortune when assigning her to the post, perhaps it was fate.
Recently promoted Palatine Serissa Rose leads two units of Battle Sisters. All that remain of the martial force assigned to Valria IX. Pure of faith and with an unmatched zeal, Serissa will soon walk the path of the living saint.
The Alabastrine Candle is a small order, far from reinforcement. Without the care of Hospitaller Decimendra Stone they would not long survive. She provides for both the physical and spiritual needs of her fellow sisters. Trained in a non-militant order she joyously marches into the waiting arms of darkness when called upon to protect and heal.
Finally, Dogmata Josmynn Drake maintains a watchful eye over her sisters. Ever vigilant for signs of impure thought or deed. She is the spiritual backbone of her Order. Ever ready and willing to remand any who do not maintain sufficient purity or zeal to the Repentia.
Next week I'll wrap up the final part of this series by discussing the visual design of the Order. Don't miss out, subscribe below!
Shiny Trash (New Releases)
Games Workshop
The T'au codex leads the charge this Saturday with the usual set of premium add-ons. Dice, cards, a couple refreshed models. A combat patrol launching at the same time for once. The greater good has never looked so fresh.
War zone Nachmund opens its flood gates with Vigilus Alone. New rules for sneak space marines and punchy Adepta Sororitas. The matching crusade mission pack Wars of Faith and a couple new space marine models join the fray.
TTRPGs
I recently discovered Bundle of Holding, a Humble Bundle-alike for RPGs. They're currently offering a couple flavors of Palladium, plus some indies. There's also a non-rotating store of lesser known RPG starter boxes.
Across a Thousand Dead Worlds is another take on horror survival in the near-ish future. It makes some grand promises about GM-less play. Which, we'll see. My experience with systems that claim to work both with and without a GM don't bode well. They're usually clearly designed to be played on way or the other. Horror-themed space exploration is one of the best kinds of space exploration.
Hex-n-Screen: Undying Sands and Bottled Sea are complete settings printed as a bag of hex tiles and a GM screen. Both settings seem delightfully weird, with just enough information for a GM to dive in.
Orrinyaths Guide to Dragons is a small zine with information on dragons! Looking for more options for your chromatics of any age? Look no further. Or do. I'm not the boss of you.