your ship arrives at the icy planet, your orders are to wait until further notice, around you you only see an immense church belonging to the Sisters of Battle, and on the other side a large city covered in snow, right in front a beautiful woman appears to receive you, it is Sister Maria
With loud echoing steps I walk off the landing ramp and onto the snowy mountain, taking a hood look around me before turning to face Sister Maria. I am an Astartes of the Salamander chapter who are known for their skill with forging and pyro-tactics in battle. I’m clad in green power armor and have many weapons stowed away within the carriage in my hand, my head adorned with a thick helmet with a pair of small red visors of thick ceramite glass over my eyes, giving me quite the appearance. “Greetings. Sister Maria I presume?” I say as I look her over, taking mote of how she stands and what her eyes might reveal about her thoughts.
She bows slightly before speaking to you in a rough voice with an accent similar to Russian "Yes, I am Maria, the leader of this chapter of the sisters. Here you will wait for further orders and become part of my retinue." Her gaze lingers on your armor and weapons for a moment before she continues "I trust that you are loyal to the emperor and ready to fight against anyone who dares defy him?"
“All in all, we are devoted.” I say as I begin to walk towards the large church, my tall stature and almost inhuman strength and agility carrying me over the snowy wasteland with ease and surprising speed.
She nods slightly as you approach her, seemingly impressed by your physical prowess. "Good to hear," she says in a gruff tone. "We will need all the help we can get now that the emperor is... indisposed." Her eyes flicker down for a moment before meeting yours again. "Come inside and I'll show you where you can rest and prepare yourself for battle."
"Follow me," she says curtly, leading the way into the massive church. The interior is dimly lit and filled with rows upon rows of wooden pews, all empty save for a few battle-weary sisters kneeling in silent prayer. At the far end of the nave, towering above everything else, is a gigantic statue of the emperor himself, clothed in Imperial gold and wearing an expression of eternal vigilance.
"I must say, it is unusual to see an Astartes amongst our ranks," Maria remarks as she walks down the center aisle. "Most of our sisters are human, born and raised on this planet." She glances over her shoulder at you, studying your armor once again. "You must have quite the story to tell."
“Mayhaps, however I doubt it would make a difference in your opinion of me if I was to tell you.” I answered with a neutral tone, only making Sister Maria feel even more intrigued. After a bit more walking we arrived at the living quarters were I was given a room and was invited to dinner with the sisters when the evening came.
"Hmph," Maria grunts in acknowledgement. "We'll see." She turns to lead the way down another corridor, flanked by rows of doors on either side. "Your quarters are here. Dinner is served at sundown." With that, she continues on her way, leaving you to your own devices for now.
She nods curtly in acknowledgement before continuing down the hallway, her footsteps echoing through the empty corridor. As you enter your quarters, a sense of quiet solitude washes over you; it's been quite some time since you've been around anyone else who truly understands what it means to be devoted to the emperor. You take a moment to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings, noticing several weapons racks along one wall and a small altar against another.
Seeing nothing else to do I begin unpacking my belongings, putting a small yet complicated mix on a hearth and anvil on the floor beside my bed. I then took the time to inspect the weapons both on my body and on the racks, sharpening or cleaning them to pass the time.
As the day wears on, Maria can be seen patrolling the halls and tending to her duties as leader of the chapter. She pauses occasionally, glancing over at your quarters with curiosity burning in her eyes. The dinner hour approaches, and she takes a moment to steel herself before knocking on your door. "The others have gathered for dinner," she says gruffly. "You're welcome to join us."
“I would be honoured.” I was honestly quite surprised to see how many of the Battle Sisters were attending the dining hall, but as I sat down I couldn’t help but notice how a large number of them seemed curious about me. With a soft click and hiss I removed my helmet, revealing my face for the first time, and I could see the intrigue on their faces as the sisters snook glances at me.
"Good," Maria mutters under her breath, taking a seat across from you at the long wooden table. The room is filled with the scent of roast meat and freshly baked bread, and as servers file in bearing trays laden with food, Sister Maria nods to them in turn. "Eat well," she says curtly before digging into her meal, seemingly lost in thought.
You've never seen so many sisters gathered together like this; they usually prefer their solitude and privacy when not on duty.
Maria continues to eat in silence, her gaze flickering occasionally towards you. She's trying to decide whether she should trust you... whether you truly belong among them. The other sisters around the table watch her intently, waiting for some sign of acceptance or disapproval before they open up more themselves. The tension in the air is palpable as everyone awaits Sister Maria's judgment.
"So," Maria finally says, her voice cold and hard as iron. "You're an Astartes. What brings you to our world, and why do you choose to fight with us instead of your fellow Space Marines?" Her eyes narrow, daring you to lie or even hesitate in your response.
The other sisters lean forward slightly, their interest piqued at the thought that an Astartes might have defected from their elite ranks... or perhaps there's more to it than that.
With a sigh I looked up from my plate, giving Maria a look of understanding and what could only be described as boredom. “I have served my chapter for over one hundred years and fifty years, and I now seek new experiences. The life of a forge-master is long and repetitive, but I been selected by our chaplain to assist in whatever tasks you may provide, and so I will.”
Her eyebrow twitches at your mention of a lackluster life, but Maria doesn't comment further. Instead, she nods curtly and takes another bite of her food. The other sisters around the table seem to relax slightly at your response; it's clear that they don't sense any deceit or malice coming from you.
"Very well," Maria finally says, her tone still gruff but less hostile now. "If you truly believe you belong here, then you are welcome amongst us."