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The Sisters of Silence are an order of female warriors, all born with the Pariah gene. They have no presence in the warp. Psykers find them deeply unsettling, and their mere presence can disrupt psychic powers and daemons. They take a vow of silence for life and communicate in a battle-sign language.
During the Great Crusade the Sisters rode the Black Ships, enforcing the Great Tithe of psykers sent to Terra. They also served as warrior-witch hunters. Their most famous Knight-Commander, Jenetia Krole, called the "Soulless Queen", led them at the First Battle of Prospero, one of their most successful campaigns.
After the Heresy they were reduced to a much smaller role, mainly guarding the Black Ships. In the late 41st Millennium they returned to war in force, fighting alongside the Custodes in the Indomitus era.
The Silent Sisterhood is made up of 'Blanks' or 'Pariahs', women born without a presence in the warp, whose mere proximity is painful to psykers and daemons. They take a Vow of Silence and communicate through an intricate sign language. Their traditional duty is to hunt rogue psykers and escort them aboard the Black Ships to Terra, where some feed the Astronomican or the Golden Throne. In the Horus Heresy they fought alongside the Custodes. In the modern era they have re-emerged as a fighting force alongside the Custodes.
Appearance & wargear
Sisters of Silence wear golden armour with red cloaks and tall plumed helms, close-fitting bodygloves, and long hair worn in topknots. Their faces are often hidden behind masks. Prosecutors carry boltguns, Vigilators executioner greatblades and Witchseekers flamers.
The Sisters wear golden-bronze and red armour, with tall, plumed helmets or bare faces with hair in topknots. They carry executioner greatblades, bolters, flamers and vratine armour.
Weapons & Vehicles
A master-crafted blade sheathed in a crackling molecular disruption field that parts ceramite, bone and steel with effortless lethality…
The signature .75-calibre rocket-propelled mass-reactive firearm of the Adeptus Astartes, firing self-propelled explosive bolts that de…
A volatile liquid-promethium projector that floods bunkers, trenches and xenos swarms in clinging, self-oxidising gouts of cleansing ch…
Explore all 48 entries in the Weapons & Vehicles armoury.
Battlefield role & tactics
Sisters of Silence hunt and destroy psykers. Prosecutors lay down fire, Vigilators fight in close combat and Witchseekers burn their targets. They are the ideal counter to enemy psykers and daemons and often fight alongside the Custodes.
They counter psykers and daemons. Their anti-psychic presence disrupts witchcraft, and they are deadly to warp creatures. They often act as escorts to Custodes or as independent hunting cadres, but they are lightly armoured compared with Astartes and Custodes.
Notable battles & users
- First Battle of Prospero: Jenetia Krole led the Sisters in the Thousand Sons' destruction.
- Black Ships: the Sisters still guard the ships that bring psykers to Terra.
- War Within the Webway: they fought alongside the Custodes when Magnus' psychic warning broke through the Emperor's wards and allowed daemons into the Imperial Webway.
- First Battle of Prospero: one of their greatest campaigns, fighting alongside the Space Wolves and Custodes against the Thousand Sons.
- Siege of Terra: they defended the Imperial Palace and the subterranean entrance to the Webway.
Related
Characters (4)
The Emperor of Mankind · Master of Mankind, Lord of the Imperium
Constantin Valdor · Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes (Heresy era)
Malcador the Sigillite · Regent of Terra, First Lord of the Council
Trajann Valoris · Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes
