Order of the Parthenon

[W.A.Rorie]

"Such base creatures have little capacity for fear, but we shall teach them of it when we can." 

-Canoness Athena I, Order of the Parthenon, addressing her Order facing an Ork Horde.

 

 

 

The Order of the Parthenon is one of the minor Orders Militant of the Adepta Sororitas, or the Sisters of Battle, founded by Athena I and approved by the Ecclesiarch Decius XXIII in the late 41st Millennium as part of their Penitence for their actions during the conflict between Ecclesiarch Decius XXIII and Inquisitor Lord Fydor Karamazov of the Ordo Hereticus over Preacher Icarael, the losses suffered at the Third War for Armageddon, and the failure during a Drukhari raid that resulted in the Capture of the Canoness Commander of the mission and other Sisters. 

 

Since their inception, the Order of the Parthenon has established a number of subsidiary convents throughout the galaxy at sites that are significant to the Ecclesiarchy. Sometimes little more than minor garrisons, but on occasions much Larger Covents, like on Pavonis.  

 

The order is renowned for its unrelenting pursuit of those who defy the Emperor by doing harm to His Imperium and its citizens. Xenos, marauders, Chaos armies and heretical cults are met with burning fury by the Sisters of the Order of the Parthenon as the continue their long Penitent Crusade.

 

The Order of the Parthenon holds sanctuaries on a few Imperial worlds, many of which were established as escorting members of the Missionarus Galaxia.  Some of these sanctuaries operate in relative isolation, existing far beyond the established boundaries of the order's parish, but the majority are located in the Segmentum Ultima.

 

The distribution of the order's preceptories has seen the sisters of the Order of the Parthenon engage in many of the Imperium's enemies in different campaigns when they are not spreading the word of the Imperial Creed and reconsecrating old Monasteries. 

 

As the Great Rift now divides many of the order's sanctuaries, the sisters of the Order of Parthenon have not relented in their quest to Bring the Light of the Emperor to those in darkness. They stand dauntless against the Chaos forces that pour from newly opened Warp Storms, and they march out to annihilate any foe that would prey upon Humanity's beleaguered defenders.

 

The fire of their spirit is a beacon of hope, a sign that even in this time of abounding horror, the Emperor has not abandoned His faithful servants.

 

 

Founding Date                998.M41

Patron Saint          Saint Katherine

Founder                            Athena I

Convent          Convent Sanctorum

Homeworld   Formerly Ophelia VII

Pavonis

Allegiance          Imperium of Man

Colours and Hearldy Markings:   

Black power armour
Black vestments with white trim

red lining

(after Saint Katherine's death)

Black power armour

red vestments

(post-Third War for Armageddon)

Grey Power Armor

Black Corset and Gloves

Tan/ White Vestments

Black Lining

Bolter/ Weapon casings casing- Red

White Ecclesiarchy Icons

Red Fleur de Lis

Gold Rosarius

 

 

Order History:

 

"Let them all die, the blasphemers who did such things."

-Canoness A. Janelle, address her Battle Sisters before they engaged a Chaos Cult

 

Originally part of the Order of Our Martyred Lady, the Order of the Parthenon was founded after a failed mission against a Xenos raid by the Drukhari resulted in the death and/ or capture of the mission’s Canoness and multiple other sisters. The few surviving members of the mission performed valiantly but were stricken with the grief at the loss of so many of their fellow sisters and failure in protecting the Shrine of Sebastian Thor. This was second straight mass causality loss, and after the Incident on Salem Proctor, involving the Ordo Herticus.

 

The acting Canoness Superior of the Order of Our Martyred Lady sought out the Abbess Sanctorum and the Ecclesiarch Decius XXII for approval to form a new Order Minoris. The purpose of the new order was to create a small Commandery of Sisters that are too valuable to become Repentias, in need to way to cope with their grief, and rededicate their Faith to the Emperor. The Abbess granted the Canoness Superior the chance to create an Order Minoris. Canoness Superior selected Canoness Commander Athena to lead this Order. Canoness Commander Athena chose the name the Order of the Parthenon and selected the planet Pavonis in the Eastern Fringe.

 

Canoness Commander Athena I set about selecting various sisters amongst the Order of Our Martyred Lady that fit the Abbess and Canoness Superior's decree. Once the force was assembled, they departed Ophelia VII aboard Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Ares' fleet and informed of their mission. All their previous iconography for the Order of our Martyred Lady was removed and their armor painted grey with tan vestments with black linings, and red Fleur de lis. 

 

Notable Campaigns

 

•  Defense of the Relic (998.M41)- An item referred to as only the “relic” was being stored in the Parthenon after the Ordos arrival. The Adeptus Astartes from the Iron Hands Chapter assisting an Adeptus Mechanicus Detachment laid siege to the Order of the Parthenon’s Church. The siege only ended when Inquisitor Ares intervened forcing a truce between the 2 sides.

 

• The Bloody City (998.M41)- The cities inhabitants began to rise up and protest against the Imperium. The protests turned violent and full-scale rioting began. The Adeptus Arbites arrived in force and were slaughtered. The last remaining Arbite was able to send a distress call out before his death. Upon entering the city, Canoness Athena I led the mounted forces only to discover how bad the situation actually was. The City was under the influence of a Cult of Khorne. The cultists soon were eliminated but the threat was far worse than originally thought. So Bezerkers of Khorne were appearing in the streets slaughtering the Sisters. Canoness Athena I had her forces fall back to a more defensible position. Rhinos full of Bezerkers charge toward the sisters position and that is when Canoness opened her vox to the forces in wait. A large mob of Zealots assaulted the Bezerkers as they approached the Sisters position, as the zealots chanted their war hyms of victory a Khorne brass scorpion ran threw them killing the survivors of the melee with the Bezerkers straight into the Sisters defended position. In a hail of bolter and melta fire the sisters were able to down the Daemon engine of Khorne.

 

• The Violent End (998,M41)- After the Blood City Battle a Dark Angel strike force was in system seeking an Alpha Legion, they were chasing. While at the Master of the Dark Angels force discussed with Canoness Athena I, the Alpha Legion and Iron Warriors began their attack. The long range artillery being laid down by the 2 Chaos Forces forced the Dark Angels and Sisters to Seek Refuge behind the Imperial Wall. The Dark Angels rushed to man the walls with their plasma weapons as the Chaos Forces rushed the wall. The Dark Angels Chaplain rushed out to face the hordes of chaos with a squad of marines and Canoness Athena and A few Squads joined them. A series of artillery blasts soon took out the chaplain and his squad. The Iron Warrior Warsmith disembarked his rhino with his chosen and walked past the dying Chaplain, and kicked him in his skull helm, straight towards Canoness Athena and her sisters. A single Alpha Legion artillery round soared thru the air detonating on the Warsmith’s rhino.  The Warsmith pointed towards Canoness Athena and said “You only live past this moment….because I have idiots that need to be killed immediately.” The Warsmith turned around and walked towards the Alpha Legion lines infuriated. Canoness Athena checked on the Chaplain and he was already gone. Laying next him was a Book that had the word “Salvation” on it.  

 

• Talons Luminous (998.M41)- One of the materials refineries on Pavonis emergency beacon activated notifying the Ordo of intruders on site. Canoness Commander Athena I dispatched a small surgical strike team to investigate and repeal attackers. Canoness A. Janelle lead forces set up a perimeter and began the in investigation. The power to the refinery was disabled and large shapes could be seen moving in the distance. The Sisters began paying attention to a multi armed shadow near a small tracked vehicle. The sisters attempted to use their IFF sensors on the shadowy figures to no avail. Canoness A. Janelle informed her forces to prepare to move in to attack position. On Canoness A. Janelle’s command the Sisters began to move into attack positions. Bolter fire erupted from the intruders. “Chaos Marines,” yelled someone on the battlefield. Canoness A. Janelle jump packed to on one of the refinery platforms while Veteran Seraphim Superior Rochelle continued past the area to get behind the enemy lines. The Marines began running up the Platforms stair case to get to Canoness A. Janelle. Canoness A. Janelle engaged Marines on the landing to the stairs to reduce their strength and numbers. As Canoness A. Janelle kept killing the Marines, she could hear them screaming for reinforcements. Veteran Seraphim Superior Rochelle approached the multi limbed figure that was near the tracked vehicle with a large thud the enemy commander landed behind Canoness A. Janelle, his lightning claws glowing in the darkness. Canoness A. Janelle engaged the enemy commander in a fierce fight. Veteran Seraphim Superior Rochelle approached the multi armed enemy placed her bolt pistol to his head and said “I suggest you call your forces off, Techmarine…..You are intruders in an area we are protecting.” The Techmarine tuned to face Veteran Seraphim Superior Rochelle and her squad and voxed aloud “Cease Fire.” The Marine commander kneed Canoness A. Janelle in the face as she ducked his lightning claw swing, sending her sliding in to the railing. The Commander looked at her and said “So Sororitas, we both are on side of the Emperor….I guess we both made mistakes starting this fight, The Talons Luminous and the Adepta Sororitas.” With blood running down her face, Canoness A. Janelle stood up and said, “no, You and your Talons Luminous made the mistakes, You entered a restricted area unannounced, You disabled the power, You attempted to steal from the refinery, You opened fire on us…Given these actions, How else would we engage you and your force. Plus you misidentified us, calling us Chaos Marines. The 15 dead marines and neophytes of the Talons Luminous, I personally killed this day, Have you to thank for their deaths. And the Inquisition will be notified of the Talons Luminous’s actions….” The commander looked over the area they had been fighting and saw all his dead marines. And fell to his knees. 

 

• Return to the Bloody City (998.M41)- Canoness Athena I was receiving word that the area of know as the Bloody City was becoming unstable again. Canoness Athena I and a few squads proceeded to the area.  Upon entering the city, nothing seemed a miss until the skies darkened. Shadows began to move on their own in the darkness. Veteran Sister Superior Ginger and her squad began clearing a multistory building. Out of the darkness, glimmering shapes began to appear on the stairs below them. Flames jumped at the sister squad from the glimmering shapes. No damage was taken by the sisters and Sister Rebecca turned her Heavy Flamer on the shapes. The shapes withered and died to the sudden blast of promethium. The victory was short lived; Veteran Sister Superior Ginger glanced out at the street below. The forces were in disarray. Daemons were everywhere. Canoness Athena I was attempting to vox the forces but only static came through. Veteran Sister Superior Ginger had her squad proceed back down the stairs to join the rest of the forces. Suddenly a Greater Daemon of Khorne appeared as Veteran Sister Superior Ginger and her squad made it to the ground floor. One of the Forces Exorcists tanks was hurled into the building Veteran Sister Superior Ginger and her squad was in. The Sororitas immediately fell back and out of the city. 

 

• Betrayers to Throne (998.M41)- An Astra Militarum Force soon deployed on Pavonis to set up quarantine around the Bloody city. Canoness Athena I with the Lord Commissar and the Company commander on what they were planning on doing to contain the threat in the City. After the meeting Canoness Athena I discusses with her Senior Sisters about the uneasy feeling she had. All Sisters in attendance agreed something was amiss. Canoness Athena assembled a small recon team to assist her with multiple squads in rhinos as back up. Canoness Athena I informed the vehicles in the convoy to hold back as her Immolator continued forward with the Dominions. The Immolator moved as close as it could to the Astra Militarums HQ. The Dominions and Canoness Athena I disembarked to into a building and began their investigation. Soon they had their answer. A Chaos Dark Apostle was amongst the Guard. Canoness Athena voxed the go codes to the rest of her forces and returned to her Immolator with the dominions. The Rogue Astra Militarum force quickly ran to their positons in response to the inbound rhinos. As the Astra Militarium mounted troops and tanks departed the HQ and Staging area, Canoness Athena once again disembarked her Immolator. The Immolator surged forward at the Lord Commissar and his Conscripts that were running towards the Sisters Rhinos. Sister Bambi opened up the nozzles to full and killed all the conscripts in one blast. The Lord Commissar laughed as he only survivor of the unit, before he was cut down by the storm bolter fire from the Dominions. The Immolator turned and proceeded over the berm to engage the Heavy weapon troops in the HQ area. Canoness Athena I  and the Dominions engaged any infantry they encountered until it was the command squad remaining with the Dark Apostle. Before a word was said the Dark Apostle was lifted through the air blood spurting from a spear through his chest and the Command squad turning to see the unknown Attacker. Storm bolter fire ripped through the command squad. Canoness Athena I made the Sign of the Aquila to her chest and was greeted and by the same gesture back. The giant in Silver Terminator Amour identified himself as a Brother-Captain Raines of the Grey Knights Chapter. Canoness Athena pulled out the map and informed the Brother Captain of the borders to the Bloody City. Canoness Athena I and Brother Captain Raines then departed on their separate ways. 

 

Order Combat Doctrine:

 

"The enemy is close by, and does not surrender. Do they not know the Sisters Militant?"

-Confessor Waddsmith addressing the Order of the Parthenon

 

 

The Order of the Parthenon portrays intellectual, strategic, and disciplined side of warfare, directly contrasting with the chaotic, violent nature of the Adepta Astartes and Astra Militarum. The Order of the Parthenon uses wisdom and war strategy, with tactics focused on, foresight, defense, and the protection of civilization. 

 

• Strategic Planning Over Violence: The Order of Parthenon favor careful planning and only engaged in combat when necessary or for a just cause.

 

• Defense and Protection: Unlike other Imperial Forces who thrived on the destruction of war, Order of the Parthenon as a defender of cities (specifically Shrine Worlds needing Reconsecration), escorting Missionarius Galaxia (The specialized branch, working under the Ecclesiarch to bring enlightenment to lost worlds), and a protector of civilization.

 

• Use of Intelligence and Wit: The Order of the Parthenon makes use of vetted local assets to assess and determine course of action to minimize collateral damage with maximum outcome of the the scope of warfare. 

 

• Mentorship and Guidance: Order of the Parthenon does not just fight; they will mentor local assets, work as Military Advisors, provide spiritual guidance through prayer, providing the insights needed to win against overwhelming odds. 

 

Order Beliefs:

 

“The Emperor will not help those who do not desire it.”
― Canoness A. Janelle speaking to a unknow tribal leader after they refused the Imperial Creed. Tribe killed by Xenos threat. 

 

 

 

During their founding the Order of the Parthenon have struggled with there failings and guilt for their fallen sisters. All Sororitas are taught that to die serving the Emperor is the purest fate His servants can hope for, but amongst the Sisters of the Order of the Parthenon, this ideal is expressed so fervently that it can appear to the uninitiated as though they are all on the verge of taking the Oath of the Penitent.

 

Isolated battle-sisters stand bravely against onrushing hordes of foes, hymns of defiance and reports of bolter rising to a simultaneous crescendo -- and when the blades of the foe hack into the sisters' flesh, they give their souls willingly up to the God-Emperor. Such noble deaths are met with shouts of praise from the slain sisters' comrades, for it is by such unwavering loyalty and boundless faith that the Emperor's gaze is drawn to the battlefield. In the name of these martyrs, those who remain achieve feats that defy explanation, destroying foes of far greater numbers and transforming inevitable defeats into miraculous victories.

 

As the years have progress the Order of the Parthenon, has changed combat doctrines and their faith has grown even stronger. Spreading the Light of the Emperor, the Imperial Creed, vetting local assets with uses of the Order Sabine, Order Dialogus, and Dogmatas, helping Missionarius Galaxia. 

 

Notable Sisters for the Order of the Parthenon:

 

• Canoness Commander Athena I (KIA)- Hard Nosed Canoness, commonly seen leading the forces on foot in mass. Well Respected and knowledgeable understands her mission and seeks the right Superiors to complete the job.  Carries Combi-melta. Killed in combat fighting Chaos Knights along with her small bodyguard. 

 

• Canoness A. Janelle (KIA)- Aggressive, head strong Canoness prefers close combat and use of jump packs. Once Single handily engaged multiple squads of Terminators and Tactical Marines from the Salamander Space Marine Chapter over what was a considered a rude comment towards her and her sisters during the Battle of Armageddon. Only the intervention by Chaplain Xavier of the Salamanders stopped the fight. Killed in a Campaign against Speed Freak Ork Army, her death helped the rest of the force focus on eliminating the Ork Threat.

 

• Veteran Sister Superior Ginger (KIA)- One of the best Sister Superiors available and first pick to join the Ordo Minoris when created. Has served with Canoness Athena I for many years and has become the Combat instructor for the new Sisters in the order. Levelheaded and strict, she usually leads the base sister squads to evaluate them in combat. Killed by Cultist.

 

• Veteran Seraphim Superior Rochelle (KIA)- Calm and cool compared to Canoness A. Janelle. She is the voice of reason that speaks to Canoness A. Janelle, when she listens. Often leads the Seraphim bodyguard for Canoness A. Janelle in battle. After Canoness A. Janelle death was promoted to Canoness and eventually led her own Commandry. Died of old age. 

 

• Sister Bambi (KIA)- Survivor of the Xenos Raid. Commonly assigned to drive the Mission Commander's Transport. Shot down a raider transport with a squad wytches with her Rhino's Stormbolter after the squad had disembarked to take an area. Resulting crash delayed the Wyches from engaging in close combat for a few brief moments. Died in the Return to the Bloody City, when the Greater Daemon of Khorne, threw the Exorcist into the building, she was driving. 

 

• Sister Alana (KIA)- Survivor of the Xenos Raid. Heavy Bolter weilding Retributor. Commonly referred to one of the best shooters, most aggressive and ruthless members of the retributors. Constantly bumps heads with Veteran Retributor Superior Alma over the targets they are to engage, but usually the one that downs the most amongst the squad. During the Engagment with Dark Eldar, Alana shoot down a raider full of warriors and killed the survivors of the crash, shortly after that. Also successfully eliminated Eldar War Walkers attempting to scout a position. Alana joined Canoness Commander Rochelle, and served with her until her death at the hands of the same Drukhari raiders, she fought and survived as a member of the Order of the Martyred Lady.

 

Order Appearance:

 

Order Colours:

The Order of the Parthenon were formerly of Order of Our Martyred Lady and wore black power armour with black vestments that possessed red linings from the death of Saint Katherine until the end of the Third War for Armageddon in 998.M41.

 

They currently wear Grey Power armour, Black gloves and corsets and tan vestments with the black inner liners.

 

 

Chapter Icon:

The Icon is the standard Ecclesiarchy logo and on operations for the Inquisition the Stylized "I" will be used.