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{{Infobox Sister Order
{{Infobox Sister Order
|Name = Order of the Martyred Heart
|Name = Order of the Blinded Martyr
|Heraldry = [[Image:MartyredHeart.png]]  
|Heraldry = [[Image:Blinded Martyr.png|300px|]]  
'''Battle Cry''' Unknown
|Battle Cry = "Give them nothing! Take from them everything!"
|Founding = Unknown
|Founding = M38
|Daughters of = The Order of the Valorous Heart
|Daughters of = [[Order of the Valorous Heart]]
|Cannoness = Unknown
|Canoness = Unknown
|Homeworld = Tenocit
|Homeworld = Lycia
|Strength = Under-strength
|Strength = Endangered
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Black, Red, and Gold}}
|Colours = Black, Blue, and Silver}}


An order of Aztec-themed sisters who recruit from the local populace of their homeworld instead of the Schola Progenium, putting their aspirants through a grueling contest known as the Dark Path of the Sun. The Dark Path of the Sun is also used by the Blood Jaguars chapter to recruit future Space Marines, so suffice to say these sisters are a bit tougher than most. They also have a stash of volkite weapons.
==Overview==
Following in the footsteps of the martyred Saint Melinoe, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are warriors first and foremost, dedicating themselves fully to perfecting the art of battle. They are very proud, preferring death to dishonoring themselves in retreat. Although this demeanour has brought them countless victories, it has also taken a tremendous toll, bringing them to the brink of extinction. In battle, they endeavor to attack under adverse conditions, preferring to fight in darkness, rain, and fog, forcing their foes to engage them at a disadvantage.


==The World of Tenocit==
==Origins==
Tenocit, homeworld of the sisters of the Martyred Heart, is a hive world unlike virtually any other, for instead of pollution-choked wastelands, the landscape of the planet is verdant primordial jungle. Tendrils of creepers and dense forest reach right up to the very walls around most hives on Tenocit, save for the planetary capital of Technochtitlan, which is situated at the centre of a vast lake. Technochtitlan Hive is separated into four sections; the Spire of the Stars being the primary spaceport, the Spire of the Sun being dedicated to the Ecclesiarchy, the Spire of Offerings houses the planetary governor and Administratum, and the Spire of the Earth is where workers live. The Hives of Tenocit are much more pyramidal than most Imperial Hives, which seems to have its roots in the cultural practices of the native peoples in the Age of Strife.
[[Image:BlindedMartyrSister.png|thumb|right|350px|A [[Celestians|Celestian]] of the Blinded Martyr]]
The warlike sisters of the Blinded Martyr paradoxically hail from Lycia, one of the most peaceful planets in the Imperium. A garden world on the eastern fringe, Lycia is a cultural epicenter, producing a seemingly endless tide of great artists, philosophers, and poets. The planet has been a popular location for Adeptus Ministorum retreats since it was brought into the Imperial fold, and has born witness to some of the greatest religious debates of the past few centuries.


Tenocit’s unusually verdant geography owes its survival to two factors. The first is the high oxygen content of the atmosphere; around 38% as opposed to a more typical 21% on colonised worlds. This would be of little consequence if not for the second factor, which is a unique fungus, Mortem Sacco, that grows around the roots of most trees on Tenocit. This heterotroph looks unremarkable at first, save for the bulbous sack-like growths that characterise it, but it is how it produces these tubers that makes it invaluable. The fungus actively absorbs heavy metals and harmful chemicals from the soil and air, storing them in the growths it produces. When full, the sealed bulbs drop off and, protected by a tough shell, remain safely isolated for decades. The fungus does this for two reasons; the first is simply survival; by removing these harmful substances from the soil, the trees the fungus needs to grow on are more likely to survive and reach new heights. The other is that the storage of these materials is simply a by-product of the fungus taking in nutrients for itself.
However, the lush exterior of Lycia conceals many dark truths. Corruption festers within its magnificent temples and art houses. The openness of Lycian culture frequently leads to the formation of heretical schools of thought, such as freedom of information. Occasionally, this decadent culture even gives rise to deviant cults devoted to the dark gods, as philosophers and artists are seduced by false promises of free thought and liberation from the Imperial yoke.


The Imperium naturally has seen the value of Mortem Sacco and several unsuccessful attempts have been made to transplant the fungus to the many Imperial worlds choked by pollution. Unfortunately, Mortem Sacco requires a high level of atmospheric oxygen to survive, and on all the worlds it has been taken to thus far, it has failed to take hold. For the inhabitants of Tenocit, the fungus is considered a blessing from the Sun Emperor and the bulbs are regularly collected from accessible regions of jungle and brought to the Hives, where they are crushed and the industrial useful substances within them extracted. Collection of the bulbs can be highly profitable; one consortium has risen to the status of the nobility solely through harvesting.
These issues came to a head in M38.481, when a deviant pleasure cult known as the Consummate Mass attempted to seize control the of the planet on the feast of the Emperor's Ascension. Although the philosophers and poets who fought for the cult were not particularly astute fighters, they were led by a fearsome Keeper of Secrets, Bar'zol, which had been blessed with such perfect beauty that any who gazed upon it who had not been blessed with the cults profane rituals went mad. As the cult swept through the capital of Lycia, they found their progress impeded by sisters of the Order of the Valorous Heart, who were present to safeguard a relic that had been brought to the planet for the feast day; the blessed scythe of Saint Thanatos. As the planetary defense forces crumbled around them, the sisters held fast, vigorously defending the cathedral of Saint Erato with bolt and blade.


Tenocit has many unusual species of flora and fauna, from the jewelled rotorbird to the mighty Onyaguara. The Onyaguara (Panthera Tenoceta) is a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush predator at the top of the Tenocit food chain, and the Animal most commonly associated with the Blood Jaguars. A compact and well-muscled animal well adapted to Tenocit's Jungles, the Onyaguara is an opportunistic hunter and its diet encompasses at least 87 species, including unfortunate aspirants who happen to be too close to a hungry Onyaguara. An Aspirant who succeeds in escaping one is seen as marked by the Sun Emperor for great things. The Onyaguara has long been a symbol of power and strength to the nobles of Tenocit.  
This changed when Bar'zol joined the fray. Although their faith allowed them a degree of protection from it's unholy presence, the battle sisters were still no match for the daemon, and it cut a bloody swathe through the Sororitas defenses, leaving scores of sisters dead or driven insane in it's wake. Seeing the effect the daemon was having on her fellow sisters, one Sister Superior by the name of Melinoe realized the terrible cost that would be required to fell the unholy creature. Seizing the relic scythe, she gouged her eyes out, relying on the God-Emperor to guide her as she went out to face Bar'zol.


==The Dark Road to the Sun==
With the scythe in hand and a prayer on her lips, Melinoe emerged from the cathedral to face the daemon. Striding through the bodies and wreckage of the Sororitas defense lines, the Keeper of Secrets smirked, pleased with the opportunity to seize and defile the holy relic wielded by the small battle sister who was methodically approaching the daemon. With sickening speed, the daemon lept at Melinoe,
[[File:Sister-of-the-martyred-heart.png|thumb|right|A Battle Sister of the Order of the Martyred Heart.]]
and the duel was joined.
The path to becoming a Sister of the Martyred Heart or a Blood Jaguar is not an easy one. The Jaguars and Sisters will only commence training when an aspirant has completed a long and dangerous task known as the Dark Road to the Sun. It is as much a spiritual journey as it is a physical one, and an aspirant who is deficient in either soul or body will not complete it. It is also a hidden journey, for the Blood Jaguars only reveal the first step. The rest must be uncovered by the aspirant.


Each year in the major hives, a contest known as the Ascent to Heaven is held. The objective seems simple enough; the contestants must start at the base of their Hive and ascend all the way to the very top spire. But three things make this task immeasurably harder. The first is that they cannot use any kind of transport. The second is that captured beasts from the jungle wilds are released into the Hive streets. The final is that the only weapons allowed are obsidian knives. Citizens in the Hive not participating in the contest remain either in their habs, or safely behind barricades. It goes without saying that normal life more or less ceases in the Hives when the festival is held, making the period a time of relaxation and recreation. The progress of the contestants is also eagerly followed, with live footage of their progress broadcast throughout the Hive.
Stabbing at her with pincers and clawed hands, Bar'zol assailed the blinded sister. Relying solely on her hearing and her faith, Melinoe continued to quietly pray the Litany of Saint Lucia as she parried blow after blow from the greater daemon. For hour upon hour, the daemon assaulted the lone battle sister, but no matter what it did, she continued to calmly dodge and parry it's blows. In a snake-like motion, Bar'zol lunged at Melinoe with it's enormous maw, hoping to consume her and end this distraction once and for all.


Typically the finest contestants take around one week to reach the top of their Hive. When they reach the summit, the first ten to arrive find a lone figure waiting for them, clad in power armour. Typically this is the only chance that a citizen will ever see one of the elusive Blood Jaguars, and the competition for this honour is fierce. The giant will say nothing until presented with a feather, skull, or talon from a beast killed during the Ascent. If such a trophy is shown, the Blood Jaguar will speak these words and these words only: “The Dark Road awaits. You must walk it until you reach the Sun. Your first step has been taken. Seek now the Pyramids where blood was once spilled. They will lead you to your goal.”
As she felt the warm moist air of the daemon's breath on her face, Melinoe went on the offensive. Quickly sidestepping the daemon's head, she spun around and brought the scythe down, the holy weapon biting deep into one of the daemon's perfect eyes. Screaming in agony, Bar'zol stumbled back. Filled with righteous fury, Melinoe struck again and again with the holy weapon, lopping off limbs and talons, and covering the daemon's infallible visage with deep scars. Realizing it was beaten, Bar'zol opened a warp gate, and fled through it. Unwilling to allow the daemon to escape so easily, Melinoe followed, leaping through the warp gate as it closed.


These may seem like vague instructions, but it is not so. Nearby to each major hive is a Pyramid Altar in the jungle, typically overgrown and half consumed by greenery. Once, they were where the beating hearts of criminals were torn out and offered to the gods, but after the Long Night and the Inquisition’s arrival on Tenocit in the aftermath, the practice was deemed heretical and was suppressed. Their location is well known to locals of the Hive, but they are almost never visited, for fear of punishment by the Ecclesiarchy. Unbeknownst to the Inquisition however, the Blood Jaguars have co-opted the Pyramid Altars for their own purposes, inscribing the history of their chapter into the walls of these shrines, as well as the information needed to continue down the Dark Road.
In the aftermath of the battle, Melinoe was declared a saint. The Ecclesiarch also decreed that the surviving battle sisters of the war would form a new order to safeguard Lycia from threats both without and within. The sisters of the newly-christened Order of the Blinded Martyr quickly devoted themselves to following Saint Melinoe's example.


Each altar contains information about how to reach the next Pyramid, but typically the information is only made clear if the aspirant has deciphered previous inscriptions. For example, one Pyramid tells the aspirant to “Seek out the place where rage consumed us”. These directions are useless without the knowledge that it was at the Monastery of the Gods that the Fourth Company succumbed to the Black Rage and were wiped out during the Long Night, and the location of the Monastery, both of which are inscribed on previous Pyramids.
Despite Saint Melinoe officially being regarded as KIA, there are many in the order who believe she lives still. In the centuries since her death, there have been multiple reported sightings of a woman wielding scythe on battlefields where the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are active. Although attempts to verify these sightings have always met with failure, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr regard this figure as saint Melinoe herself, returned to aid the order of her namesake in their darkest hour.


The Dark Road eventually ends at the ruined Hive of Xolotl, deep in the wilderness. At the orders of the Inquisition the location of the Hive has been permanently removed from all records and maps due to the Daemonic incursion that occurred there, and as such it is not an easy place to find. The jungle has consumed the once mighty Hive, and now its appearance resembles that of a great outcrop of rock in the canopy, with trees, vines and creepers riddled through its structure. Inside, predators stalk along roads that once held bustling crowds, and fetid ponds accumulate in ancient cisterns. Here and there, traces of the titanic battle can be seen, but fears of lingering Daemonic forces are unfounded. The truth about what happened at Xolotl may have been suppressed, yet local superstition and folklore are not so easily covered up.
==Training==
[[Image:BlindedMartyrConvent.png|thumb|right|200px|The Fortress-Convent of the Blinded Martyr]]
The sisters of the Blinded Martyr believe that the mission of the Orders Militant is to be holy warriors first and foremost; all other concerns are secondary. From the moment they enter the fortress-convent on the storm-shrouded Mount Skollis, recruits are put through one of the most brutal training regimens in the Adepta Sororitas. Day and night, they are forced to drill and fight in the freezing oxygen-thin heights of the mountain. When they have mastered this environment, they must go through the same process again, in the muddy beaches at the mountains base, in the thick forests on the neighboring islands, even in the cold vacuum of space.


The Road is cyclical in nature. Now that the Aspirant has reached the final stage of their journey, he or she must complete the same step they took at the beginning, only this time, there is no waiting medicae to tend their wounds should they fall, and no easy pathways through the tangled maze of collapsed steel and crushing roots. Now they understand why the Blood Jaguars choose their members in this way. Just as the Jaguar themselves fought their way from the earth towards the sun, against impossible foes, so must the aspirant do the same. If the reach the top, they will emerge from darkness into the light, just as Tenocit did when C’rtez was slain. And waiting for them will be two figures. One they will recognise as a Blood Jaguar, but the other may be a mystery. Clad in power armour of a different kind, the figure is clearly female. She is a member of the Adepta Sororitas, of the Order of the Martyred Heart, and she will take any female who has walked the Dark Road with her instead. The Order considers knowledge of the Blood Jaguar’s history to be vital to understanding Tenocit and why the Order is important, and the process will have weeded out those lacking in faith. But first, aspirants of either sex face questions. Their knowledge of the inscriptions they have read will be tested, and if they are found lacking, they have failed. They may walk the path once more to gain its knowledge and try again.
While this process produces some of the toughest fighters in the Imperium, the arts of war are but one aspect of being a sister of the Blinded Martyr. The other is strength of spirit. As the implacable Saint Melinoe willingly sacrificed her sight to defeat Bar'zol, so too must every battle sister be capable of rising to any challenge required of them. It is this demeanor which has led to widespread ritual scarification among the sisters of the order. By regularly subjecting themselves to intense suffering, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr gird themselves spiritually as well as physically. A battle sister who feels fear in her heart needs only gaze upon the numerous scars to be reminded of the sacrifice expected of each and every sister, and that there are fates far worse than death.


If they pass the Test of Knowledge, the Test of Faith follows. The aspirant must offer up a bulb of Mortem Sacco which is then cracked open. Inside, most of the putrid chemicals and metals that the fungus has leeched out of the soil are mixed with psychotropic compounds by a Librarian. Each aspirant must then breathe the fumes in deeply. In their minds, they are transported to the past. They see the skies darken, and the screaming mobs tearing their flesh in the streets of the Hives. They see the altars running red with blood, but for each heart that is offered up, the heavens grow darker. They see the forces of the Great Enemy emerging from the jungles and the desperate battles against them. They see the Battle of the Monastery, where the Black Rage cost a Chapter its Master. Finally, they are placed in the Hive of Xolotl, on the day that C’rtez manifested. Male aspirants see themselves clad in the armour of Blood Jaguar, females as Sororitas. They must fight the battle as their forebears did, and this is no mock battle either. If you are slain in the dream, the best you can hope for is to wake up and find you have failed the test. It is not unheard of for aspirants to go insane from what they see and experience.
==Combat Doctrine==
The sisters of the Blinded Martyr frequently venture forth from their homeworld seeking new enemies to test themselves against. Using their extensive training to their advantage, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr always seek to attack under adverse conditions, concealing their advance under cover of rain, thick vegetation, or darkness. Before the foe realizes the terrible danger they're in, Avenger Strike Fighters and Seraphim dive from the heavens, commencing a sudden and devastating aerial assault. As the enemy reels from this sudden attack, the sisters charge from cover, singing hymns of righteous castigation.


When C’rtez is slain and the Long Night ended, the dream ends, and the aspirants must face one final challenge, the Test of Strength. The dregs of poison in the Mortem Sacco pods they carried up the Hive are ingested. This represents the battle against corruption that any Blood Jaguar or Sororitas must face. The industrial sludge and metals will kill the weak, just as corruption will. Some fail at this final step. They will be revived and purged of the toxins, and allowed to walk the path once more. Strength can take time to gain. Perhaps with another journey, such strength can be found.
While the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are among the finest warriors in the Adepta Sororitas, they are also possessed of a stubborn pride which has led to their sustaining heavy losses over the centuries. They believe that there are only two circumstances in which they should return to Lycia; in victory, or in death. While this attitude has led to several seemingly impossible victories, it has also seen them suffer unsustainable losses, bringing the order to the brink of extinction.


With success, the aspirant is deemed worthy. They have walked the Dark Road, and come through darkness; the forest canopy, their ignorance of Tenocit’s true history, the Long Night and the ruined Hive of Xolotl, and they have emerged into the light of the Sun. They have been reborn. Now they will be inducted into the ranks of the Sororitas or the Blood Jaguars, where their training to fight the Sun Emperor’s myriad enemies will begin. They will travel to distant stars to fight unknown foes. But always the Light of the Sun Emperor will be with them. And if they fall in His service, their sacrifice shall not be in vain. For as always, Sacrifice Brings Salvation.  
==Homeworld==
[[Image:Lycia.jpg|thumb|right|The garden world of Lycia]]
The Order is stationed on the temperate garden world of Lycia. The local populace are well-educated folk who place a high priority on philosophy, art, and politics. They are also horrible at fighting and their planet has an issue with corruption, hence why the order was established. The sisters don't really interact with the local government, as in their view, the Sisters Militant are called to the holy arts of war, not politics. The only function of politicians is to ensure they have enough fuel and ammunition to shield the Emperor's people and spread the Emperor's word.


==The Convent==
Culturally, the sisters are similar to Spartans (hence the no retreat, no surrender mentality). When they aren't actively fighting, they're training or engaging in contests to test their physical and mental fitness against one another. Peculiarly, the sisters also regularly engage in a form of ritual scarification meant to help focus their faith. It is whispered that whatever corruption has taken hold on the planet has also affected the sisters in some way. Although no heretics have ever been officially found amongst their number, they seem to be even more wary than usual of sin within their ranks, and have an unusually high rate of lethal training accidents (which also doesn't help their endangered status).
[[File:AstartesSisterFistBump.png|thumb|right|]]
Every year, many youths travel to attempt to climb the pyramid of the gods, to be chosen to become a Blood Jaguar.
Both boys and girls set off, but only boys arrive at the pyramid for the rite of ascension.
Stories and rumour spread from hive to hive, talking about horrific monsters that prey on those who travel in the thick jungle, or of the women being chosen by the Blood Jaguars as their brides.


The truth of the matter is a well kept secret.
==Alliance with the Pointed Word==
The alliance with the [[Order of the Pointed Word]] came about when a WAAAAGH! hit a shrine world. The Imperium had seen the Ork fleet coming months in advance and moved a bunch of sisters from both orders to defend the planet. Initially, there was a lot of tension between the two orders, as the sisters of the Pointed Word tend to be well-educated and focused on politics and administration whereas the sisters of the Blinded Martyr see war as their main duty. Both sides had very different visions for the defense of the world, and it was clear to all parties involved that both sides wanted to get this war over with and split ways as soon as possible.


On the far side of the planet from the Blood Jaguars' fortress monestary lies the small convent of the Order of the Martyred Heart, located on an island in the middle of a colossal river.
Unfortunately, the ork warboss was particularly kunnin' and after a few skirmishes, figured out the Blinded Martyr's M.O. and lured them into a trap which saw almost all of their forces wiped out. Following this, there just weren't enough sisters of the Pointed Word to hold the orks back and most of them got BTFO'd as well, only leaving about 100 sisters from both orders remaining. They were ordered to retreat and evacuate, but rather than doing this, the two remaining commanders from each order, both sister superiors, resolved to set aside their differences for the moment and stop the orks from looting any priceless relics.
The Sisters track down each girl attempting to do what none have before done, and seize them, taking them back to their convent, where they are raised and trained in the lessons of the Martyred Heart.


The Martyred Heart and Blood Jaguars are close allies, and frequently deploy alongside one another in combat, with the sisters providing fire support as the Blood Jaguars close to melee.
What followed was an extensive guerilla campaign. The sisters of the Blinded Martyr would scout targets of opportunity for the Pointed Word to come in and launch devastating hit-and-run attacks. As the months wore on, the sisters from each order learned to appreciate each other's perspectives, learning that perhaps their methods were not as incompatible as their erstwhile superiors had thought. Eventually, they discovered the warboss's base of operations and launched a daring raid which saw him and most of his subordinates slain, throwing the WAAAAGH! into chaos and infighting, making them easy pickings.


The Martyred Heart are also unique in having a small stockpile of the incredibly rare [[Volkite_Weaponry|Volkite Weapons]], dating back to the Great Crusade itself. These Weapons are seens as symbols of the Sun-Emperor's divine judgement, and are both weapon and holy relic to the Sisters.
After the campaign, the two sides parted amicably, the sisters superior planting the seeds for a future alliance between the two orders. The sister superior of the Blinded Martyr went on to become the order's Canoness Superior who launched a daring raid on an Eldar craftworld.
 
==Tabletop Rules==
[[Image:SaintMelinoe.jpg|thumb|right|Saint Melinoe as she appears in the present]]
[[Homebrew]] rules for your gaming pleasure, courtesy of [[/tg/ Codex Supplement - Faith Militant]].
 
===Order Conviction: Warriors Supreme===
''Following in the footsteps of their beloved Saint Melinoe, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are proud warriors, fighting to the bitter end.''
 
Roll a D6 each time a model with this conviction is slain or flees. On a 5+, that model refuses to yield. Either the wound that slew it is ignored, or the model does not flee. However, {{Template:W40kKeyword|ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR}} units with this conviction cannot fall back unless there is a friendly {{Template:W40kKeyword|ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR CHARACTER}} on the battlefield.
 
===Stratagem: Not One Step Back===
''For the sisters of the Blinded Martyr, failure is not an option, no matter the circumstance.''
 
This Stratagem costs 2 Command Points. Use this Stratagem at the end of any of your turns. Select an {{Template:W40kKeyword|ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR INFANTRY}} unit from your army that is within 3" of an objective marker. Until the start of your next turn you can add 1 to all saving throws made for that unit and increase the Attacks characteristic of all models in that unit by 1.  
 
===Warlord Trait: Monster Slayer===
''Just as Saint Melinoe fought the daemon Bar'zol, so too does this leader hunt the monstrous creatures of their foes.''
 
Add 1 to wound rolls made by your Warlord against {{Template:W40kKeyword|MONSTERS}} and {{Template:W40kKeyword|VEHICLES}}.
 
===Relic: The Scythe of Saint Thanatos===
''This scythe was originally wielded by the legendary missionary saint Thanatos, who found it to be the perfect symbol for his work of harvesting good souls for the Emperor's service. Centuries after Thanatos' death, the scythe was taken by Saint Melinoe, who used it to vanquish the Keeper of Secrets Bar'zol. For years, the scythe was thought lost in the warp after the saint chased the wounded daemon into the warp, but there have been multiple reported sightings of a woman wielding the scythe on battlefields where the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are active. Although attempts to verify these sightings have always met with failure, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr regard this figure as saint Melinoe herself, returned to aid the order of her namesake in their darkest hour.''
 
This relic can only be used with the rules found in [[/tg/ Codex Supplement - Faith Militant]]. {{Template:W40kKeyword|ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR LIVING SAINT}} with blessed blade only. The Scythe of Saint Thanatos replaces the bearer's blessed blade. When attacking with this weapon, choose one of the profiles below:
 
{| class=wikitable
! '''Weapon''' || Range || Type || S || AP || D || Abilities
|-
| The Scythe of Saint Thanatos (Slashing Strikes) || Melee || Melee || +1 || -1 || 1 || When the bearer attacks with this profile, they make 3 additional attacks with this weapon.
|-
| The Scythe of Saint Thanatos (Thunderous Blows) || Melee || Melee || x2 || -3 || 2 || -
|}
 
==Original Rolls==
[[Image:Blinded Martyr Colors.png|thumb|right|200px|The Order's colors]]
Created using the [[Sisters of Battle Order Creation Tables]].
 
'''Order Originator:''' Daughters of the Order of the Valorous Heart
 
'''Purpose of Founding:''' Standing Force, founded to provide protection and spiritual guidance to the world of Lycia.
 
'''Order Flaw:''' An Eye For An Eye
 
'''Order Demeanour:''' See, But Don't Be Seen
 
'''Figure of Legend:''' A Canoness Superior who led a daring raid on the Eldar Craftworld Imak.
 
'''Order Homeworld:''' Lycia, a temperate garden world led by philosopher-kings.
 
'''Influence Over Homeworld:''' None, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are wholly devoted to practicing the art of war and have no time for politics.
 
'''Order Organization:''' Standard Organization
 
'''Order Strategy:''' Close Air Support; the Order makes extensive use of Seraphim and Avenger Strike Fighters.
 
'''Order Method of Worship:''' Honor Those Gone Before; the Order places a high priority on rank and experience, its sisters looking to the wisest among them for guidance in these dark times.
 
'''Order Size:''' Endangered; the Order is constantly on the verge of being wiped out, numbering only a few hundred Battle Sisters.
 
'''Order Allies:''' The sisters of the Blinded Martyr share a close bond with the Order of the Pointed Word.
 
'''Order Enemies:''' The Order are steadfast opponents of the Orks.
 
==Links==
* [https://archive.4plebs.org/tg/thread/57923689/ The thread that created this order]


[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Sisters of Battle]]
[[Category:Sisters of Battle]]
[[Category:Warhammer_40,000/homebrew]]
[[Category:Warhammer Homebrew]]

Latest revision as of 14:06, 22 June 2023

Order of the Blinded Martyr
Battle Cry "Give them nothing! Take from them everything!"
Founding M38
Daughters of Order of the Valorous Heart
Homeworld Lycia
Strength Endangered
Allegiance Imperium
Colours Black, Blue, and Silver


Overview[edit | edit source]

Following in the footsteps of the martyred Saint Melinoe, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are warriors first and foremost, dedicating themselves fully to perfecting the art of battle. They are very proud, preferring death to dishonoring themselves in retreat. Although this demeanour has brought them countless victories, it has also taken a tremendous toll, bringing them to the brink of extinction. In battle, they endeavor to attack under adverse conditions, preferring to fight in darkness, rain, and fog, forcing their foes to engage them at a disadvantage.

Origins[edit | edit source]

A Celestian of the Blinded Martyr

The warlike sisters of the Blinded Martyr paradoxically hail from Lycia, one of the most peaceful planets in the Imperium. A garden world on the eastern fringe, Lycia is a cultural epicenter, producing a seemingly endless tide of great artists, philosophers, and poets. The planet has been a popular location for Adeptus Ministorum retreats since it was brought into the Imperial fold, and has born witness to some of the greatest religious debates of the past few centuries.

However, the lush exterior of Lycia conceals many dark truths. Corruption festers within its magnificent temples and art houses. The openness of Lycian culture frequently leads to the formation of heretical schools of thought, such as freedom of information. Occasionally, this decadent culture even gives rise to deviant cults devoted to the dark gods, as philosophers and artists are seduced by false promises of free thought and liberation from the Imperial yoke.

These issues came to a head in M38.481, when a deviant pleasure cult known as the Consummate Mass attempted to seize control the of the planet on the feast of the Emperor's Ascension. Although the philosophers and poets who fought for the cult were not particularly astute fighters, they were led by a fearsome Keeper of Secrets, Bar'zol, which had been blessed with such perfect beauty that any who gazed upon it who had not been blessed with the cults profane rituals went mad. As the cult swept through the capital of Lycia, they found their progress impeded by sisters of the Order of the Valorous Heart, who were present to safeguard a relic that had been brought to the planet for the feast day; the blessed scythe of Saint Thanatos. As the planetary defense forces crumbled around them, the sisters held fast, vigorously defending the cathedral of Saint Erato with bolt and blade.

This changed when Bar'zol joined the fray. Although their faith allowed them a degree of protection from it's unholy presence, the battle sisters were still no match for the daemon, and it cut a bloody swathe through the Sororitas defenses, leaving scores of sisters dead or driven insane in it's wake. Seeing the effect the daemon was having on her fellow sisters, one Sister Superior by the name of Melinoe realized the terrible cost that would be required to fell the unholy creature. Seizing the relic scythe, she gouged her eyes out, relying on the God-Emperor to guide her as she went out to face Bar'zol.

With the scythe in hand and a prayer on her lips, Melinoe emerged from the cathedral to face the daemon. Striding through the bodies and wreckage of the Sororitas defense lines, the Keeper of Secrets smirked, pleased with the opportunity to seize and defile the holy relic wielded by the small battle sister who was methodically approaching the daemon. With sickening speed, the daemon lept at Melinoe, and the duel was joined.

Stabbing at her with pincers and clawed hands, Bar'zol assailed the blinded sister. Relying solely on her hearing and her faith, Melinoe continued to quietly pray the Litany of Saint Lucia as she parried blow after blow from the greater daemon. For hour upon hour, the daemon assaulted the lone battle sister, but no matter what it did, she continued to calmly dodge and parry it's blows. In a snake-like motion, Bar'zol lunged at Melinoe with it's enormous maw, hoping to consume her and end this distraction once and for all.

As she felt the warm moist air of the daemon's breath on her face, Melinoe went on the offensive. Quickly sidestepping the daemon's head, she spun around and brought the scythe down, the holy weapon biting deep into one of the daemon's perfect eyes. Screaming in agony, Bar'zol stumbled back. Filled with righteous fury, Melinoe struck again and again with the holy weapon, lopping off limbs and talons, and covering the daemon's infallible visage with deep scars. Realizing it was beaten, Bar'zol opened a warp gate, and fled through it. Unwilling to allow the daemon to escape so easily, Melinoe followed, leaping through the warp gate as it closed.

In the aftermath of the battle, Melinoe was declared a saint. The Ecclesiarch also decreed that the surviving battle sisters of the war would form a new order to safeguard Lycia from threats both without and within. The sisters of the newly-christened Order of the Blinded Martyr quickly devoted themselves to following Saint Melinoe's example.

Despite Saint Melinoe officially being regarded as KIA, there are many in the order who believe she lives still. In the centuries since her death, there have been multiple reported sightings of a woman wielding scythe on battlefields where the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are active. Although attempts to verify these sightings have always met with failure, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr regard this figure as saint Melinoe herself, returned to aid the order of her namesake in their darkest hour.

Training[edit | edit source]

The Fortress-Convent of the Blinded Martyr

The sisters of the Blinded Martyr believe that the mission of the Orders Militant is to be holy warriors first and foremost; all other concerns are secondary. From the moment they enter the fortress-convent on the storm-shrouded Mount Skollis, recruits are put through one of the most brutal training regimens in the Adepta Sororitas. Day and night, they are forced to drill and fight in the freezing oxygen-thin heights of the mountain. When they have mastered this environment, they must go through the same process again, in the muddy beaches at the mountains base, in the thick forests on the neighboring islands, even in the cold vacuum of space.

While this process produces some of the toughest fighters in the Imperium, the arts of war are but one aspect of being a sister of the Blinded Martyr. The other is strength of spirit. As the implacable Saint Melinoe willingly sacrificed her sight to defeat Bar'zol, so too must every battle sister be capable of rising to any challenge required of them. It is this demeanor which has led to widespread ritual scarification among the sisters of the order. By regularly subjecting themselves to intense suffering, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr gird themselves spiritually as well as physically. A battle sister who feels fear in her heart needs only gaze upon the numerous scars to be reminded of the sacrifice expected of each and every sister, and that there are fates far worse than death.

Combat Doctrine[edit | edit source]

The sisters of the Blinded Martyr frequently venture forth from their homeworld seeking new enemies to test themselves against. Using their extensive training to their advantage, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr always seek to attack under adverse conditions, concealing their advance under cover of rain, thick vegetation, or darkness. Before the foe realizes the terrible danger they're in, Avenger Strike Fighters and Seraphim dive from the heavens, commencing a sudden and devastating aerial assault. As the enemy reels from this sudden attack, the sisters charge from cover, singing hymns of righteous castigation.

While the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are among the finest warriors in the Adepta Sororitas, they are also possessed of a stubborn pride which has led to their sustaining heavy losses over the centuries. They believe that there are only two circumstances in which they should return to Lycia; in victory, or in death. While this attitude has led to several seemingly impossible victories, it has also seen them suffer unsustainable losses, bringing the order to the brink of extinction.

Homeworld[edit | edit source]

The garden world of Lycia

The Order is stationed on the temperate garden world of Lycia. The local populace are well-educated folk who place a high priority on philosophy, art, and politics. They are also horrible at fighting and their planet has an issue with corruption, hence why the order was established. The sisters don't really interact with the local government, as in their view, the Sisters Militant are called to the holy arts of war, not politics. The only function of politicians is to ensure they have enough fuel and ammunition to shield the Emperor's people and spread the Emperor's word.

Culturally, the sisters are similar to Spartans (hence the no retreat, no surrender mentality). When they aren't actively fighting, they're training or engaging in contests to test their physical and mental fitness against one another. Peculiarly, the sisters also regularly engage in a form of ritual scarification meant to help focus their faith. It is whispered that whatever corruption has taken hold on the planet has also affected the sisters in some way. Although no heretics have ever been officially found amongst their number, they seem to be even more wary than usual of sin within their ranks, and have an unusually high rate of lethal training accidents (which also doesn't help their endangered status).

Alliance with the Pointed Word[edit | edit source]

The alliance with the Order of the Pointed Word came about when a WAAAAGH! hit a shrine world. The Imperium had seen the Ork fleet coming months in advance and moved a bunch of sisters from both orders to defend the planet. Initially, there was a lot of tension between the two orders, as the sisters of the Pointed Word tend to be well-educated and focused on politics and administration whereas the sisters of the Blinded Martyr see war as their main duty. Both sides had very different visions for the defense of the world, and it was clear to all parties involved that both sides wanted to get this war over with and split ways as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the ork warboss was particularly kunnin' and after a few skirmishes, figured out the Blinded Martyr's M.O. and lured them into a trap which saw almost all of their forces wiped out. Following this, there just weren't enough sisters of the Pointed Word to hold the orks back and most of them got BTFO'd as well, only leaving about 100 sisters from both orders remaining. They were ordered to retreat and evacuate, but rather than doing this, the two remaining commanders from each order, both sister superiors, resolved to set aside their differences for the moment and stop the orks from looting any priceless relics.

What followed was an extensive guerilla campaign. The sisters of the Blinded Martyr would scout targets of opportunity for the Pointed Word to come in and launch devastating hit-and-run attacks. As the months wore on, the sisters from each order learned to appreciate each other's perspectives, learning that perhaps their methods were not as incompatible as their erstwhile superiors had thought. Eventually, they discovered the warboss's base of operations and launched a daring raid which saw him and most of his subordinates slain, throwing the WAAAAGH! into chaos and infighting, making them easy pickings.

After the campaign, the two sides parted amicably, the sisters superior planting the seeds for a future alliance between the two orders. The sister superior of the Blinded Martyr went on to become the order's Canoness Superior who launched a daring raid on an Eldar craftworld.

Tabletop Rules[edit | edit source]

Saint Melinoe as she appears in the present

Homebrew rules for your gaming pleasure, courtesy of /tg/ Codex Supplement - Faith Militant.

Order Conviction: Warriors Supreme[edit | edit source]

Following in the footsteps of their beloved Saint Melinoe, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are proud warriors, fighting to the bitter end.

Roll a D6 each time a model with this conviction is slain or flees. On a 5+, that model refuses to yield. Either the wound that slew it is ignored, or the model does not flee. However, ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR units with this conviction cannot fall back unless there is a friendly ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR CHARACTER on the battlefield.

Stratagem: Not One Step Back[edit | edit source]

For the sisters of the Blinded Martyr, failure is not an option, no matter the circumstance.

This Stratagem costs 2 Command Points. Use this Stratagem at the end of any of your turns. Select an ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR INFANTRY unit from your army that is within 3" of an objective marker. Until the start of your next turn you can add 1 to all saving throws made for that unit and increase the Attacks characteristic of all models in that unit by 1.

Warlord Trait: Monster Slayer[edit | edit source]

Just as Saint Melinoe fought the daemon Bar'zol, so too does this leader hunt the monstrous creatures of their foes.

Add 1 to wound rolls made by your Warlord against MONSTERS and VEHICLES.

Relic: The Scythe of Saint Thanatos[edit | edit source]

This scythe was originally wielded by the legendary missionary saint Thanatos, who found it to be the perfect symbol for his work of harvesting good souls for the Emperor's service. Centuries after Thanatos' death, the scythe was taken by Saint Melinoe, who used it to vanquish the Keeper of Secrets Bar'zol. For years, the scythe was thought lost in the warp after the saint chased the wounded daemon into the warp, but there have been multiple reported sightings of a woman wielding the scythe on battlefields where the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are active. Although attempts to verify these sightings have always met with failure, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr regard this figure as saint Melinoe herself, returned to aid the order of her namesake in their darkest hour.

This relic can only be used with the rules found in /tg/ Codex Supplement - Faith Militant. ORDER OF THE BLINDED MARTYR LIVING SAINT with blessed blade only. The Scythe of Saint Thanatos replaces the bearer's blessed blade. When attacking with this weapon, choose one of the profiles below:

Weapon Range Type S AP D Abilities
The Scythe of Saint Thanatos (Slashing Strikes) Melee Melee +1 -1 1 When the bearer attacks with this profile, they make 3 additional attacks with this weapon.
The Scythe of Saint Thanatos (Thunderous Blows) Melee Melee x2 -3 2 -

Original Rolls[edit | edit source]

The Order's colors

Created using the Sisters of Battle Order Creation Tables.

Order Originator: Daughters of the Order of the Valorous Heart

Purpose of Founding: Standing Force, founded to provide protection and spiritual guidance to the world of Lycia.

Order Flaw: An Eye For An Eye

Order Demeanour: See, But Don't Be Seen

Figure of Legend: A Canoness Superior who led a daring raid on the Eldar Craftworld Imak.

Order Homeworld: Lycia, a temperate garden world led by philosopher-kings.

Influence Over Homeworld: None, the sisters of the Blinded Martyr are wholly devoted to practicing the art of war and have no time for politics.

Order Organization: Standard Organization

Order Strategy: Close Air Support; the Order makes extensive use of Seraphim and Avenger Strike Fighters.

Order Method of Worship: Honor Those Gone Before; the Order places a high priority on rank and experience, its sisters looking to the wisest among them for guidance in these dark times.

Order Size: Endangered; the Order is constantly on the verge of being wiped out, numbering only a few hundred Battle Sisters.

Order Allies: The sisters of the Blinded Martyr share a close bond with the Order of the Pointed Word.

Order Enemies: The Order are steadfast opponents of the Orks.

Links[edit | edit source]

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