Order of the Shrouded Pillar

Macharian Crusade
The Sisters of the Veiled Pillar were originally a contingent of the Order of the Sacred Vessel, which had been tasked with gathering, verifying and safeguarding the countless alleged 'relics' that appeared shortly after the death of Lord Solar Macharius. Many of these were nothing but frauds, ill-made and able to fool only those willing to believe. With the dawn of the Macharian Heresy in 400.M41, the Order spread out over the many worlds to be reconquered and as the communication between the single Commanderies and Missions became difficult to maintain, many of these detachments were reformed into smaller Orders of their own.

Macharian Heresy
The Order of the Veiled Pillar was formed in 405.M41 from those Sisters dispatched towards the Eressa Sector, many of them in turn veterans of the Order of the White Rose who had been transferred for a variety of reasons. Formerly a Sister Palatine, Rienelle Dyo was proclaimed Canoness and would shape the Order into its current image. The name was derived from the most sacred artifact the Sisters had been able to secure, a pillar of blue marble that would bring unimaginable pain to anyone but the most faithful and subsequently had to be obscured.

Under the command of Canoness Rienelle, the Sisters of the Veiled Pillar were responsible for recovering several important relics during the Heresy, such as the Gilded Shell of Sennach, the Left Hand of Immoriel Gharne and the Staff of Galene. However, as the Heresy continued and the flames of war consumed ever more of Eressa, the Sisters had to abandon our outright destroy other artifacts as well, lest they would fall into the hands traitors, rebels and heretics. The tradition of wearing veils began around 431.M41, after the Sisters had begun to retreat from active battles and instead focused on the protection of the Ecclesiarchy's sacred vaults.

For the following years, they were content to shield the many relics from the fires of war and their number dwindled until only a mere dozen Sisters inhabited the Convent on Tirithond. This changed with the end of the Heresy, as many Battle Sisters that had fought in the war were transferred to the Veiled Pillar, an event which coincided with a renewed interest of the Ecclesiarchy to strengthen faith among the sector's populace. by the end of the 470s, their ranks swollen to over 400 Sisters, a development that is said to have brought a smile to Canoness Rienelle's lips before she eventually succumbed to her age 2 years later.

Her title was inherited by Sister Aspiah Lamb, who continued to solidify the Orders importance and influence in the Sector Synod, leading to their reputation as trustworthy and unaffected by the inner machinations of the Ministorum. The Order resisted attempts to be brought into one of the sub-factions and sects in the following decades, as well as the efforts of certain layers of society to bribe or force their way into their vaults.

Structure & Organization
The Order usually between 250 and 300 Sisters, of which one third permanently resides in the Convent on Tirithond. Others are either attached to missionary fleets, follow invitations of planetary governors or cardinals, or investigate rumors and claims about holy artifacts.

The Order is overseen by a Canoness, who in turn depends on several Palatines and Sister Superiors. However, their duties are mostly of administrative nature, as the Order's duty rarely require them to enter battles. In the case it should happen nevertheless, a Sister will usually call upon the aid of the Arbites, PDF or, with the help of a formal request made by the Ecclesiarchy, even a Militarum regiment. Despite that, one should not assume that a Sister of the Order is defenseless, as many were formerly attached to an Order Militant and everyone has completed combat training comparable to that of the Imperial Guard.

Culture
First and foremost scholars, each Sister will have spent countless hours in the convent's library to study not only the history of the sector but also a variety of methods to verify the validity of a relic presented to her. Many can read, write and speak High Gothic and know methods to separate between a truly blessed artifact and vile xeno sorcery. As such, they stand far above the common imperial citizen, a fact not all of them make an effort to hide. However, their superior knowledge is without doubt and any insulted feelings are surely caused by one's own insecurities.

In public, a Sister will always conceal her face behind a veil, occasionally complimented by a broad-trimmed hat. Obscuring their faces is as much a way of hiding their identity as it as a form of subtle intimidation towards their foes. In the same manner, a Sister will give up her name once she fully enters the ranks of the Order and adapt a new one. The Canoness is the only one privy to a Sister's original name and responsible for re-baptizing Sisters, a practice not exclusively limited to novitiates.

As the guardians of valuable treasures and relics, the Order of the Veiled Pillar is, rightfully, distrustful of outsiders. The majority of their Convent is off limits for any visitor and those who tread into forbidden corridors by accident, or claim so at least, are usually added to the Sisters corps of faithful servitors.

Notable Members
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 * Rienelle Dyo - ...
 * Aspiah Lamb - ...