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Most Sororitas power armor is not a centuries-old relic in the same way that Astartes power armor is, I'm not sure the Machine Spirit of their gear is quite so particular. I'm also not sure if the Machine Spirit knows it's going to be Sororitas power armor until the very end, when it gets all the fleur-de-lis bling, gold trim and corset bindings, which is probably done at the Convent rather than at the forge.

Psienesis wrote:Most Sororitas power armor is not a centuries-old relic in the same way that Astartes power armor is

Source?

Well Melissia, the power armour of Vail let her run around nicely in her powered suit despite being of Sororita-design. That Machine-Spirit should as far as I interpret things have gotten the powered fist to pulp her as she sure as hell ain't no Sororita, she just kicked the cam before it came to love-making with Cain.

The Machine Spirits of the powered armour of the SOB should be even more fanatical than the Space Marine's Machine Spirits. Only Grey Knights should be able to safely don those outside them. It's my interpretation, but it stands tall.

Psienesis wrote:Most Sororitas power armor is not a centuries-old relic in the same way that Astartes power armor is, I'm not sure the Machine Spirit of their gear is quite so particular. I'm also not sure if the Machine Spirit knows it's going to be Sororitas power armor until the very end, when it gets all the fleur-de-lis bling, gold trim and corset bindings, which is probably done at the Convent rather than at the forge.

Yeah, given the Sisters' attrition rate most of their gear would be fairly new, though I can certainly see them salvaging what they can (for the Sisters a matter of honour, for the Ecclesiarchy a matter of not having to order as much replacement parts). Still, I don't think the forward convents have the material and personnel required to do anything beyond basic maintenance and adding custom inscriptions, and why would the Ecclesiarchal Forges on Ophelia VII not add the decoration right where it's produced before shipping it off? Any unnecessary assembly by the recipient would only detract the Sisters from their primary tasks, and whilst the Imperium as a whole isn't big on efficiency, I do believe that no Sororitas armoury can compete with the forges of the Space Marine Chapters, in terms of personnel as well as capabilities.

Unfortunately, there's nothing in the studio material about them whatsoever, but in my "head-canon" (I've just learned this new word ) a convent probably has a Mistress of the Armoury and two or three helpers. Like a medieval forge in a castle, or rather a monastery. Few people know that nuns actually worked as blacksmiths back then.

With the machine spirit, are you referring to an AI? Because I don't think power armour has one. The Angel-pattern in particular is a very basic, "stripped down" version of the Space Marine suits, foregoing superior strength enhancemend and advanced life support systems (medical suite, EVA capability, waste recyclers, etc) in favour of combining just its armoured protection with a slimmer profile and a greatly reduced cost in resources.

Oh great point as always Lynata, even though it forges my own take, and expends upon fluff (which is a dangerous venture, which I'm not against, but it's dangerous because of how exclusive that armour is).

Forward convents are vastly different for the continent-spanning convents on Terra and Ophelia VII (which seen to be one big convent). And also that the nuns of course has smiths and armourers with great skill.

The Machine Spirit is a sore-point, the Sororita armour in my mind should be especially out for purity. Anything less, and malfunction.

What, exactly, a Machine-Spirit is is not exactly well-explained in the fluff, whether it's an actual, software-based AI, some mumbo-jumbo belief of the Mechanicus, or something somewhere in between. It is, based on the relatively few times its mentioned in fluff, often some variable of all of these things, sometimes capable of operating the entire machine by itself, other times being as dumb as a brick, and at yet other times preventing a given machine from operating at all (or at least at much reduced effectiveness) if handled by "unworthy" individuals. Or if pissed off.

How one goes about pissing off a non-sentient machine, I'm not really sure, but it's apparently possible.

That's easy, the machine for unknown reasons considers the wielder unworthy, and seriously Sororita-armour should be the worst of the lot because of the amount of faith (of course I'm assuming the SOB are almost supernatural due to their faith.)

Machine-Spirits malfunctions all the time, ehm it's pure and simple, so the semi-sentient machines must feel it somehow.

Ah, there it comes down to interpretation again. In my opinion, the whole so-called "machine spirit" stuff is 99% superstition that has its base in the actual pseudo-AI* that is included in some very rare and advanced hardware such as the Landraider - which does actually have computer made up of a human brain, if you look at the older cross-sections. Anywhere you do not have this device, the machine spirit is mumbo-jumbo that the AdMech propagates in its cause to religionize technology. No, your lasgun will not stop working just because you didn't say "amen" before pressing the "sacred ON rune". As every so often with 40k, GW just took contemporary habits (people yelling at their display when their OS crashed) and dialed them up to eleven.

*: I have no idea what to call it, actually - it's a natural human brain, yet attached to a computer. Maybe "HI", hybrid intelligence, would be a better term?

Interpretation, interpretation, interpretation. Did I say interpretation?

HI, is what you say to a friend not a semi-independent computer AI. At least as far as I interpret it. (I really must learn to mention interpretation)

Your lasgun, hahaha, unfortunately it's enough to think it will work, and you can shoot it. To be more serious (this is really hard), I kind of think that every weapon from the lowliest laspistol to the Babttlebarge is a sort of alive, they must be handled with care, of course I have chosen to interpret it in the most ludicrous way possible as if that happened IRL, then your car would suddenly jump off a brigde with you inside because you slammed the door too hard, or your stove would set you on fire for not using it often enough.

This is actually the hardest reply I have written as basically I so keeled over with laugh.

Beaviz81 wrote:Well Melissia, the power armour of Vail let her run around nicely in her powered suit despite being of Sororita-design. That Machine-Spirit should as far as I interpret things have gotten the powered fist to pulp her as she sure as hell ain't no Sororita, she just kicked the cam before it came to love-making with Cain.

I did not know that Amberleys power armour was of Adepta Sororitas make?

I had thought it was more likely that it was a Artificer suit (given its description and armament) made specially for her by one of her contacts in the Mechanicum, or she inherited and had it altered for her - apart from it being mentioned as being smaller than Astartes battle plate there is not much to say its Sororitas?

It's actually both Morden. It actually say that it is of Sororita-design. Then again I interpret the Machine Spirit in a way that should get me convicted to an asylum for the criminally insane.

Beaviz81 wrote:It's actually both Morden. It actually say that it is of Sororita-design. Then again I interpret the Machine Spirit in a way that should get me convicted to an asylum for the criminally insane.

Just looking through the book - it describes "intricate filigree, which in turn twisted around well-known scenes from the life of Him on Earth. ..." but does not actually say Sororitas make as I can't see it. Cain mentions that the Armourer (in his opinion) of the Reclaimers would have been very impressed with its workmanship which suggest artifcer make to me.

It was mentioned Sororita-design somewhere in one of the books. I can't for the love of God remember where, but sure as hell Cain thought it was that. I think that was in a later book, but then again I mention that my interpretation of the Machine Spirit is ludicrous.

Hmm ok - Can't see it but might have missed it - I would have thought Cain would have made some snide comments about its origins?

I'm almost certain I have read it, I just can't remember where, and if memory serves yep he did.

I have scoured over my books after the description, but success have eluded me.

Beaviz81 wrote:Well Melissia, the power armour of Vail let her run around nicely in her powered suit despite being of Sororita-design. That Machine-Spirit should as far as I interpret things have gotten the powered fist to pulp her as she sure as hell ain't no Sororita

And that matters?

She was an Inquisitor. If the machine spirit had an ego, that certainly would by itself have satisfied it. There's no indication that it was a Sororitas pattern power armor. More than likely it was simply a custom-built power armor, or if it was a standard pattern, an Ignatus pattern power armor (which is usually reserved for the Inquisition and its direct servants).

Indeed - Amberley has ALOT of custom made stuff - from powered armour to grav cars - she does quite like her toys...................

It depends on how moody you think the Machine Spirits are Melissia. My own interpretation about them borders on just for fun.

Yeah Amberley have quite lots of toys. But she is an Inquisitor so she will just say: "Nice toy, myses!"

Beaviz81 wrote:It depends on how moody you think the Machine Spirits are Melissia.

We're not talking abou the Alpha Computer here.

Even a flimsy lasgun has a Machine Spirit. That's well established even in the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer.

It would all come down to how you see the Machine Spirit. If offended for me, the machine just stops and malfunctions for unknown reasons, but with hilarious results.

Beaviz81 wrote:Even a flimsy lasgun has a Machine Spirit. That's well established even in the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer.

It would all come down to how you see the Machine Spirit. If offended for me, the machine just stops and malfunctions for unknown reasons, but with hilarious results.

LasGuns also get thrown around in the dirt and mud, and work perfectly fine. Obviously "machine-spirits" have differing levels of personality.

Of course, and as I wrote. Don't take my take unless you want a laugh.

Beaviz81 wrote:Even a flimsy lasgun has a Machine Spirit. That's well established even in the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer.

In case you didn't notice, the Uplifting Primer is full of blatant lies.

Ultimately, I don't think the Sororitas power armor has quite the same "personality" as Astartes power armor simply because, in most cases, we're not given quite the detailed history of a suit of power armor worn by a given Battle-Sister in the same way we are for the Space Marines. While this may just be a matter of there being more SM fluff than there is SOB fluff... well, still doesn't change the fact that this situation isn't mentioned in what SOB fluff there is.

AlexHolker wrote:

Beaviz81 wrote:Even a flimsy lasgun has a Machine Spirit. That's well established even in the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer.

In case you didn't notice, the Uplifting Primer is full of blatant lies.

Try reading my other comments as well.

Yeah Psienies that was my point. Just invert your, but it's down to interpretation.

TermiesInARaider wrote:I'd go to say that the only place this issue could really come into question is in the service of an Inquisitor. Otherwise, yeah, faith overrides all. But with the Inquisitor, you have a conundrum. Hold by your vow of chastity, or submit to the will of someone who, essentially, is the Imperium incarnate. Hence, why Caphias Cain has totally already gone there.

Going back a LONG way, I totally forgot Cain was a Commissar, not an Inquisitor. Derp.

Ehm Inquisitors know to thread with care around a Sororita, and rapists and scum would quickly get weeded out from the Inquisition as I have yet to hear about such storylines.

Plus it was actually discussed in the celibacy-thread. Though there it was a Priest.

Sisters of Battle, alongside Astartes, are one of the few groups who can kill an Inquisitor and get away with it (so long as they had good reason to do so), as they are THAT respected within the Imperium. Sisters in general (especially the non-militant ones, whom the population sees most often) are deeply respected and oftentimes loved by the population, and this also includes the authorities within the Imperium as well. Some more secular members of the Imperium are troubled by the Sisters, but people overestimate how many of those there are in the first place. An Inquisitor is more likely to be a fanatical puritan than a world-weary radical, for example, and the members of the Imperial Guard must at least show lip service to their faith in order to not be executed by the commissariat-- and the commissariat itself is almost as religious and fanatical as the Sisterhood.

Cain is the exception, not the rule. Ibram Gaunt, by contrast, was deeply religious and had a great deal of reverence and respect for the Sisters given what few times that they are mentioned in his lore. This is why guardsmen are inspired whenever they see Sisters fighting near them, for example-- they have a very similar effect to Space Marines in that regard.

Agreed - and Cain is careful about how he talks to others about the Sisterhood knowing how respected they are - its only really in his secret memoirs that he says how he really feels about them.

It is not their Faith that he has problems with - he is in his own way a believer - he expreses the view that the Emperor helps those who help themselves and on occassion even he quotes from the Precepts of Saint Emelia.

I'm on the verge of dismissing Cain's POV due to the fact he is smarking over old sport-results, which should have been an irrelevant point, hadn't I myself smarked so much about it myself. But yeah Cain was damn scared about the Sororitas.

As for Gaunt, well I haven't read their passages yet, and except the worrying fact that Milo is his illegitimate son and bedded a Saint who before had bedded Gaunt I guess I should be fine with it.