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The '''Sisters of Silence''', also known as the '''Anathema Pskyana'''{{Fn|13}} or '''Silent Sisterhood''', are an ancient, anti-psychic militant order. They were the militant arm of the [[Adeptus Astra Telepathica]] during the [[Great Crusade]], and were internally referred to as the organization's ''Departmento Investigates''.{{Fn|12}} Together with the [[Adeptus Custodes]] they represented the [[Talons of the Emperor]] being the left hand of the Emperor.{{Fn|14}} Fragmenting after the [[Horus Heresy]], they were brought back under Imperial control by [[Roboute Guilliman]] in [[M41]].{{Fn|12}} Its ranks consist entirely of [[Blank]]s.

The Sisters of Silence have a long history, originally operating from the [[Somnus Citadel]] on [[Luna]]. They were an all female order, in much the same way as the [[Adepta Sororitas]]; the major difference is that the Sisters were all [[Blank]]s. Recruited from ''Untouchable'' stock{{Fn|3a}}, the Sisters were anathema to [[psyker]]s. Their very presence disrupts psychic activity and they are presumed to have been immune to most forms of psychic assault. The main purpose of the Sisters of Silence is therefore to seek out and apprehend psykers. As warrior-investigators they ware involved in all aspects of the capture and transportation of psychic individuals{{Fn|1}} and still are found among the crew of the [[League_of_Blackships|Black Ships]].{{Fn|12}}

The Sisters of Silence participated in some of the major actions of the Horus Heresy, including the defense of the [[Imperial Palace]]. They were perhaps most successful during the [[Battle of Prospero|assault on Prospero]], where a force of Sisters were deployed to provide specialised support for the attacking [[Space Wolves]] [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]]. Due to their Untouchable nature, the Sisters were proof against the psychic attacks of the defending [[Thousand Sons]] Legion and provided a stable bulwark for the assault to be anchored upon. The Sisters of Silence were also vital in preventing [[Terra]] from being overrun by [[Daemon]]s during the [[War Within the Webway]].{{Fn|1}}

After the Warmaster’s rebellion was halted at Terra and the Emperor was interred upon his [[Golden Throne]], the Sisters of Silence found themselves without direction. Many were slain or lost forever, scattered and stranded across a war-ravaged galaxy. Undaunted by the sudden lack of guidance, they went abroad into the wider Imperium to continue their work. There amongst the stars they hunted savants and witches with unstinting fervour; some as part of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, some as lone but loyal agents who eventually settled within the teeming hordes of Humanity. In some rare cases, these hunters learned to suppress their uncanny auras to some degree, and in living alongside others begot their own bloodlines. None of these would-be settlers ever stayed in one place for long, for the Pariah gene is not named idly. Wherever the Sisters of Silence sought out new lives, they were hounded into exile once more by those that hated them for their intrinsic otherness. Still, not all were reviled or burned as witches. The offspring of these few had children of their own, and over the generations, the genetic peculiarity of the Silent Sisterhood found its way further into the vast spread of the human race.{{Cite this}}

At the end of the [[41st Millennium]] a surviving group of Sisters of Silence appeared on [[Luna]] during the last stage of the [[Terran Crusade]]. These Sisters were from their few remaining strongholds across the galaxy, called back to [[Terra]] due to the [[Thirteenth Black Crusade]] at the behest of the desperate [[High Lords]].{{Fn|13}} Alongside [[Custodes]] from Terra these Sisters proved vital in the defeat of [[Magnus]] in the battle.{{Fn|11}} After the return of Roboute Guilliman, he ordered that the remaining strongholds of the Sisters of Silence be gathered and expanded. Since then the Sisters have returned to the frontlines, forming Orders in every Segmentum and often operating in fleet-based forces.{{Fn|12}}

Each Sister swears an oath of silence known as the '''Oath of Tranquility''' upon being nominated for Sisterhood; before this, when they are novices, they are allowed to converse normally. Amongst their other duties novices sometimes act as interpreters between senior Sisters and other agents of the [[Imperium]]. Full Sisters converse in their own sign-language, but there is at least one example of them being conversant in other forms of sign-communication, such as [[Astartes]] battle-signage.{{Fn|2}}

*'''Acolyte''' - — Uninitiated trainees that came in three ranks{{Fn|10b}}* '''Novice-Sister''' - — An aspirant, that has not taken the Vow of Tranquility.{{Fn|3}}* '''Null Maiden''' - — A sister that has taken the Vow of Tranquility. They operated in three types of squads known as [[Witch Seeker|Seeker]], [[Prosecutor]], and [[Vigilator]]{{Fn|10b}}* '''Sister Superior''' - — Squad Leader.{{Fn|8}}*'''[[Pursuer]]''' - — [[Cyber-Mastiff]] and beast handlers{{Fn|10b}}*'''Aquilai Astra''' - — pilots and ship crews{{Fn|10b}}* '''[[Oblivion Knight]]''' - — high ranking Sisters who lead the Witchseekers on their missions.{{Fn|2}} These are blanks that have developed their null-abilities to the point of making any use of psychic powers in their presence hazardous to the user. These warriors are not tasked with overseeing the Black Ships, but rather seek out and destroy powerful Psykers.{{Fn|10b}} *'''Knight-Centura''' - — The most experienced and veteran Oblivion Knights who serve as battlefield commanders for the Silent Sisterhood.{{Fn|10a}}* '''Knight Abyssal''' - — Higher rank. commands multiple squads of sisters.{{Fn|7}}* '''[[Excruciatus]]''' - — The hunters, investigators, and secret police of the Silent Sisterhood. They deal primarily with those who seek to shelter and harbor Psykers. The lower rank of the Excruciatus are known as ''Questora'' while the most senior squad commanders are dubbed ''Silent Judge''.{{Fn|10a}} Excruciatus wear red coats and ruby implants on their eyes and are said to require personally burning 100 witches before attaining this position.{{Fn|2}} * '''Witchseeker Pursuivant''' - — High ranking sister (above that of Oblivion Knight).{{Fn|3e}}*'''Nemesis Praxia''' - — One of the three most senior ranks, overseeing the Sisterhoods acquired lore and training new recruits.{{Fn|10b}}*'''Mistress of the [[League of Black Ships|Black Ships]]''' - — One of the three most senior ranks.{{Fn|10b}}* '''Sister-Commander''' - — One of the three most senior ranks. The general commander of the Sisters of Silence.{{Fn|3e}}{{Fn|10b}}

*[[Jenetia Krole]] - — Knight-Commander{{Fn|1d}}{{Fn|4a}}{{Fn|9}}*[[Varonika Sulath]] - — Mistress of the [[League of Black Ships|Black Fleet]]*[[Ebon Naroda]] - — Nemesis Praxia*[[Celia Harroda]] - — Witchseeker Pursuivant*[[Gresselda Vym]] - — Witchseeker Pursuivant*[[Amendera Kendel]] - — Oblivion Knight, Storm Dagger Cadre*[[Kaeria Casryn]] - — Oblivion Knight, Steel Fox Cadre*[[Melaena Verdath]] - — Silent Judge{{Fn|4b}}*[[Emrilia Herkaaze]] - — Sister-Excruciatus*[[Leilani Mollitas]] - — Sister-in-Waiting

*[[Kaeria Casryn]] - — [[Vigilator]]

*[[Aphone]] - — Sister-Commander*[[Bellas]] - — Sister-Commander*[[Kavalanera Brassanas]] - — Knight Abyssal of Purgatory Squad

==See AlsoRelated Articles==

:{| border<gallery mode="0packed" cellpaddingheights="3150" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse" valign="top"!colspan=9 ||---->| [[Image:Leman_Russ_with_Sisters_of_Silence.jpg|thumb|right|[[Leman Russ (Primarch)|Leman Russ]] flanked by two Sisters of Silence during the [[Burning of Prospero]].{{Fn|6}}]]| [[Image:IronLynxProsecutorSquad.png|thumb|center|200px|Iron Lynx Prosecutor Squad{{Fn|1a}}]]| [[Image:Raven'sClawAssaultSquad.png|thumb|center|200px|Raven's Claw Assault Squad{{Fn|1a}}]]| [[Image:ExcrutiatusExtractionSquad.png|thumb|center|240px|Melaena Verdath with Extraction Squad{{Fn|1b}}]]|}====Miniatures====[[Image:SistersOfSilenceSquad.jpg|thumb|center|A Squad of Sisters of Silence]]</gallery>

*{{Endn|3}}: ''[[The Voice (Short Story)]]'' by [[James Swallow]] - — [[Tales of Heresy (Anthology)]]:

**{{Endn|b}}: SG -- — 3/120*{{Endn|5}}: [[The Serpent Beneath]] by [[Rob Sanders]] - — [[The Primarchs (Anthology)]]: Chapter Two, p. 355

**{{Endn|10b}}: pgspg. 123-131123–131

*{{Endn|12}}: [[Codex: Sisters of Silence (7th Edition)]] pgspg. 1-91–9*{{Endn|13}}: [[Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor's Legion (Novel)]] - — Chapter 10