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I'm going to have to go with KalashnikovMarine, as much as there is mass indoctrination and rigid standards set on people there is a variation of how well and literal these teachings set upon people depending on personality, personal will, as well as background alongside what type of people taught them these things. In a setting where there are millions of worlds with their own cultural viewpoint of the Emperor it would very easy to see their own streamlined version of the Imperial Creed (indeed it explicitly says that the Ecclesiarchy cares more that the Emperor is worshipped than the fiddly details of what he is seen as beyond as the absolute God of mankind). By extension this means there are countless variations in terms of how a Sister Hospitallier may view her patients and job depending on her own experience as just like in real life there may be a general mindset of a certain job but that doesn't mean there aren't exceptions to the rule.

There's a reason why stereotypes aren't right most of the time and the ones that do fit them doesn't means their behaviour extends to rest of their group; otherwise the racists and sexists would be "right" about their ill-conceived notions of specific types of people. Sisters are people too and there is just the same amount of variation amongst their ranks as any other organization, even if it's less obvious than others.

Grimskul wrote:In a setting where there are millions of worlds with their own cultural viewpoint of the Emperor it would very easy to see their own streamlined version of the Imperial Creed (indeed it explicitly says that the Ecclesiarchy cares more that the Emperor is worshipped than the fiddly details of what he is seen as beyond as the absolute God of mankind). By extension this means there are countless variations in terms of how a Sister Hospitallier may view her patients and job depending on her own experience as just like in real life there may be a general mindset of a certain job but that doesn't mean there aren't exceptions to the rule.

In GW fluff, the Sisterhood is one of the very, very few organisations in the Imperium that does not adhere to this rule of thumb. Every single Order, every single convent, can trace its roots back to a singular place of origin - the San Leor Temple - and they all adhere to one single book of rules. Differences in teachings from one Order to another are non-existent or minor, which is why it is easy for a Sister to transfer between convents without suffering a culture shock like it would happen between, say, different regiments of the Guard or different Space Marine Chapters. Indeed, if Sister Anastasia's story from the Inquisitor RPG is any indication, it is quite normal for a Sororitas to have served in at least two Orders - the Order Famulous training facility where she underwent her novitiate, and then the convent where she was actually posted upon graduating.

Grimskul wrote:Sisters are people too

So are the aforementioned suicide bombers and the shock infantry divisions of the Waffen SS.

Indoctrination and isolation can turn people into ruthless automatons.
There will always be some variance in personality, but I really would not say that the lifestyle in such organisations allows for "the same amount" as in other people. They're extremists, quite literally "single-minded".

 Lynata wrote:

Grimskul wrote:In a setting where there are millions of worlds with their own cultural viewpoint of the Emperor it would very easy to see their own streamlined version of the Imperial Creed (indeed it explicitly says that the Ecclesiarchy cares more that the Emperor is worshipped than the fiddly details of what he is seen as beyond as the absolute God of mankind). By extension this means there are countless variations in terms of how a Sister Hospitallier may view her patients and job depending on her own experience as just like in real life there may be a general mindset of a certain job but that doesn't mean there aren't exceptions to the rule.

In GW fluff, the Sisterhood is one of the very, very few organisations in the Imperium that does not adhere to this rule of thumb. Every single Order, every single convent, can trace its roots back to a singular place of origin - the San Leor Temple - and they all adhere to one single book of rules. Differences in teachings from one Order to another are non-existent or minor, which is why it is easy for a Sister to transfer between convents without suffering a culture shock like it would happen between, say, different regiments of the Guard or different Space Marine Chapters. Indeed, if Sister Anastasia's story from the Inquisitor RPG is any indication, it is quite normal for a Sororitas to have served in at least two Orders - the Order Famulous training facility where she underwent her novitiate, and then the convent where she was actually posted upon graduating.

Grimskul wrote:Sisters are people too

So are the aforementioned suicide bombers and the shock infantry divisions of the Waffen SS.

Indoctrination and isolation can turn people into ruthless automatons.
There will always be some variance in personality, but I really would not say that the lifestyle in such organisations allows for "the same amount" as in other people. They're extremists, quite literally "single-minded".

Fair enough with the first point in terms of cultural variances, I didn't realize the extent to which they were uniform in terms of teachings (though again I think there are at least some differences in terms of doctrine, even the Catholics had their own differences when it came to points of view, heck otherwise the Reformation wouldn't have happened). Also I don't that zealotry would mean all have the same mindset when it comes to dealing with patients, especially Sisters Hospitallier who's experience might have their zealotry express themselves in either a very morbid type of humour in terms of how all death is just another way to glorify the Emperor's will or possibly making them treat wounded victims with a sort of touching benevolence/compassion as healing them is a holy duty given them by the Emperor that allows them to carry out the Emperor's will across the stars. Again just because you're focus minded as gak doesn't mean it couldn't lead a bunch of different variations of general moods for Hospitalliers.

I'd suggest reading Black Edelweiss, the Waffen SS weren't all monominded Aryan murder machines either. Broad strokes like that just don't work in the real world.

Grimskul wrote:Fair enough with the first point in terms of cultural variances, I didn't realize the extent to which they were uniform in terms of teachings (though again I think there are at least some differences in terms of doctrine, even the Catholics had their own differences when it came to points of view, heck otherwise the Reformation wouldn't have happened).

Oh, the church certainly has differences in local interpretation - just the Adepta Sororitas not so much. If we were to look at real life comparisons, we should not look at Catholics but rather, say, two regionally distant commanderies of the Teutonic Order. Although that may be somewhat too limiting, as indeed the various convents do, to a degree, take after their Founding Saint. It could probably be likened to how a commander shapes and influences the environment of his/her base with various decisions and speeches, just that the Canonesses who are in command of a convent feel compelled to take inspiration from the various writings of their patron Saint, in turn passing this on to the Sisters under their care.

From the Liber Sororitas article that once was printed in White Dwarf:
"As the Orders are primarily based together at one of these two sites the Sisterhood as a whole is a far more homogenous organisation than many other institutions of the Imperium, such as the Adeptus Astartes or the Imperial Guard. Though Sisters spend many long hours in solitude or training, they are nonetheless part of a wider organisation than their own Order, and for this reason see themselves as members of the Adepta Sororitas as much as their own Order. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for a Sister to transfer from one Order to another, particularly in the case of a Sister who has become wounded or too old to fight transferring from an Order Militant to one of the non-militant Orders, such as the Orders Famulous or Hospitaller. It has also been known for a senior member of the Adepta Sororitas to leave the organisation entirely for higher office elsewhere, such as within the upper echelons of the Adeptus Terra, or the Inquisition – such an event is unheard of within the Adeptus Astartes, and far from common within the Imperial Guard.
It has been observed that the different Adepta Sororitas Orders do not display any great divergence from one another in terms of combat doctrine or organisation, as do many Space Marine Chapters and Imperial Guard regiments. Such differences arise, in the case of the Astartes, from the strong genetic link with the Chapter's Primarch or in the case of the Imperial Guard, as a result of combat doctrines unique to the culture from which the regiment was raised. The Adepta Sororitas can trace the routes of its doctrines to a single source - the San Leor temple of the Daughters of the Emperor - and their teachings have remained largely unchanged since that time.
Despite the lack of significant divergences between the Orders Militant in terms of organisation and combat doctrine, there is a degree of variance to be found within the teachings of the founders of the Orders, which tends to reflect the outlook of each Founding Saint. For example, the Sisters of the Order of Our Martyred Lady can be said to reflect the vengeful nature of their patron, Saint Katherine, while the Sisters of the Order the Bloody Rose share the brooding, quick to anger nature of Saint Mina."

Grimskul wrote:Also I don't that zealotry would mean all have the same mindset when it comes to dealing with patients, especially Sisters Hospitallier who's experience might have their zealotry express themselves in either a very morbid type of humour in terms of how all death is just another way to glorify the Emperor's will or possibly making them treat wounded victims with a sort of touching benevolence/compassion as healing them is a holy duty given them by the Emperor that allows them to carry out the Emperor's will across the stars. Again just because you're focus minded as gak doesn't mean it couldn't lead a bunch of different variations of general moods for Hospitalliers.

I'm certainly not saying that there would not be differences! See my previous posts - all I'm saying is that they would sport a much more narrow range than average humans. In essence, there is a general template which they all have to conform to, and within this templare there exists some small room for individual personalities to form.

Some more fluff from the Liber Sororitas:
"The Orders Hospitaller provide surgeons, physicians and nurses to all arms of the Imperial military (with the exception of the Adeptus Astartes), performing acts of great compassion in the execution of their duties. The soldiers under their care often regard them as saintly figures, and many have been canonised, often posthumously, following some act of great personal bravery in the face of the enemy. Members of the Orders Hospitaller can be found accompanying many branches of the Imperium's military, from Imperial Guard regiments to Rogue Traders' personal armies, and are renowned for their skills throughout the Imperium. They have also been known to work in conjunction with the Orders Famulous, where their skills complement those of a Sister Famulous in researching the details of blood-lines and genealogy."

KalashnikovMarine wrote:I'd suggest reading Black Edelweiss, the Waffen SS weren't all monominded Aryan murder machines either. Broad strokes like that just don't work in the real world.

Not the Waffen SS, but certain divisions of it. I'm aware that they also had stuff like anti-air units that were less fanatical.
Also, see my previous comment regarding the Napola - obviously, cadets hailing from there would be indoctrinated more thoroughly than someone they picked up randomly. Later in the war, recruitment requirements were dropped significantly, so much so that they even started to press non-Aryans and even non-Germans into this uniform.

I believe broad strokes do work. Not always, obviously, or even very often, but to say that it is never the case ... well, we'll just have to disagree on that.

[edit] To expand on that ... let's consider what actually makes people different. I would assume it is in part genetical/biological, but another large part is upbringing and experiences, and the latter two factors are dominated by Schola indoctrination. These girls are raised to be Sororitas from infancy - that's a lot of brainwashing!

Well it all depends on what you mean by the SS. The SS is the actual "Aryan Knights" with racial screening, it's also where the Toten Kopf division (the scum who handled the camps) were along with the real life counter parts to Hans Landa "The Jew Hunter" in Inglorious Bastards were. The Waffen SS was just an elite body of rigorously trained combat troops. They were too busy either killing or being killed by Russians to be robots about anything. In fact that same accusation of being a mindless killing machine is leveled at myself and my fellow Marines TODAY. It's no more true then it was for any one else. It's hard to make individuals pure evil across the board, no matter how long you have to indoctrinate them.

The fluff on the Schola Progenium is extremely varied though, ranging from "from birth" to "school age" to "after your parents die gloriously for the Imperium/you get picked up as a potential recruit on one test or another" you still get characters like Edmund Blacka... err Ciaphas Cain popping out of there, and if he's an extreme example as one outlier, and a SoB or Inquisitorial Stormtrooper with the personality of an extremely violent radish there's still quite the spectrum in between those two goal posts.

I wouldn't compare the SOB to the SS. First and foremost the SOB ain't that evil, secondly you basically presented a view were a Sister Hospitallier was ludicrous in her treatment of a soldier for no good reason, no person with medical knowhow would do that, and you rejected the only way that would make sense, the guy being a mutant.

And even Ciaphas Cain is a religious fanatic, he is a pragmatic individual, maybe smarking a bit much over losses at scrumball, such losses really affect the pride of a guy, and I remember when I played football, I frequently accused the opposing teams of basically flaying cats alive in their lockerroms, so a smarking male ain't to be trusted.

I wouldn't call Ciaphas Cain a religious fanatic, believer? yes, but Cain has more then once made critical comments on those he has deemed "Emperor Botherers" and has almost been executed for heresy/not believing in the Emperor enough at last once.

Also if you think medical professionals can't be crass, sarcastic and otherwise brutal in their behavior to coworkers, patients and literally any one else then I congratulate you on your good health, you haven't been inside of many hospitals. Nurses, especially trauma nurses are some of the most jaded, bitter individuals on earth and are absolutely hilarious if you enjoy black/gallows humor.

I have been in contact with nurses and doctors through two grandmas who are ailing. One is now expired and I expect the second to go any moment, must God bless them both. But yeah I haven't seen anything which would make me call my uncle or cousin lawyer and such. And people in general are polite to strangers, at least I am. And sure they can be crass, but I'm not looking for a Hospitallier House or something like that. Then I rather take Mother Theresa and sic her into space. And it's in established canon that the Sisters Hospitalliers poffer the finest medical aid a normal human can hope to get.

The man that thought Cain doiesn't believe enough in Empy was an idiot and was later discharged from the commissariat for his incompetence.

KalashnikovMarine wrote:The SS is the actual "Aryan Knights" with racial screening, it's also where the Toten Kopf division (the scum who handled the camps) were along with the real life counter parts to Hans Landa "The Jew Hunter" in Inglorious Bastards were. The Waffen SS was just an elite body of rigorously trained combat troops.

That's true for the later stages for the war, but not at its inception - at least from the books that I have read. And it makes more sense to me that way, too, given that the Waffen SS was an official sub-department of the SS (and a recipient of the aforementioned Napola cadets, too).

KalashnikovMarine wrote:The fluff on the Schola Progenium is extremely varied though, ranging from "from birth" to "school age" to "after your parents die gloriously for the Imperium/you get picked up as a potential recruit on one test or another" you still get characters like Edmund Blacka... err Ciaphas Cain popping out of there, and if he's an extreme example as one outlier, and a SoB or Inquisitorial Stormtrooper with the personality of an extremely violent radish there's still quite the spectrum in between those two goal posts.

It's varied because this is 40k, where there is no absolute truth and the various sources may conflict wildly with one another. This is especially true with the Cain novels. This character, and thus indeed the entire novel series, just does not work if you go by GW fluff. Hence, this would be a case of incompatible interpretations.

Beaviz81 wrote:I wouldn't compare the SOB to the SS. First and foremost the SOB ain't that evil, secondly you basically presented a view were a Sister Hospitallier was ludicrous in her treatment of a soldier for no good reason, no person with medical knowhow would do that, and you rejected the only way that would make sense, the guy being a mutant.

Hmmh, I'm not sure if the SoB could not be called "evil" by a contemporary definition. If you don't happen to fit into their narrow definition of "Good Imperial Subject", you're bound to have a crappy day when encountering them. If you're lucky, you'll just get a bolt between the eyes. More likely you'll end up on the business end of a promethium-fueled flamethrower, or disappear into the bowels of Ophelia VII's vast dungeons to "repent for your sins" before being allowed to die with a cleansed soul.

"With a single word, a bombastic Confessor can preach the doom of an excommunicated world, and when such an undertaking is called for, it is the fanatically loyal Sisters of Battle who lead the way, slaying the Emperor's enemies with no compassion, heedless of the blasphemous protestations of innocence that assail their ears."

And let's not forget the purity control tests where, with the help of the Adeptus Arbites, they round up citizens and labourers for genetic screening, sorting out those who are deemed defective. "Mutant pogroms" is a thing in the Imperium, and yes, that's the term they actually used in the Codex.
Of course we tend to not perceive this to be much of an issue since 40k is "just a wargame", and the IoM is presented as the protagonist. Yet when we analyse this behaviour deeper, how is this different from the SS hunting down jews, or the medieval crusaders butchering entire villages of "heathens"? I'm not advocating shunning the Imperium because of its fascist and inhuman behaviour or the many atrocities committed in its name, mind you, as this is just a game and the grimdark dystopia is what keeps many of us interested. I'm just pointing out that it's not exactly a nice place to live in by modern standards, and how I feel such lifestyles would affect the mood of the people. It irritates me to no end that the Cain novels are so popular because, in the words of their own fans, "they're funny and not so bleak". I'm tempted to ask how those people ended up with 40k in the first place, but as I've come to understand, this franchise is supposed to have space for any interpretation of the setting.

Andy Hoare once said this in the designer's notes for the WH Codex:
"By the standards of the 21st century, these girls are fanatical zealots, but in the context of the 41st millennium, they're paragons of virtue whose every action is a manifestation of the divine will of the God-Emperor of Mankind."

It is all a matter of perspective, and the victor writes the history.


As for the real life experiences with nurses and doctors, I assume this depends mostly upon where exactly you're looking... Healthcare has become a profit institution with budget cuts and double shifts ruining the staff's temper, yet there are still hospitals where the climate may be different. The environment and how the staff is treated by their employer surely reflects strongly upon individual behaviour, same as with what kind of nurse or doctor is allowed to work there in the first place and how the hospital deals with complaints etc.

Considering what the enemies are, pogroms are a necessity nothing else, lest the world would be onverrun by mutants, Genestealers and their ilk, the only answer is violence.

And Cain ain't opposed to violence, he just hates taking risks as he is shown to be happy organizing firing squads and shooting at unharmed rioters. He is not a nice person because even him is a religious fanatic, which is the only way to survive in the bleak galaxy.

Beaviz81 wrote:Considering what the enemies are, pogroms are a necessity nothing else, lest the world would be onverrun by mutants, Genestealers and their ilk, the only answer is violence.

I think similar languages have been used in the past to justify violence against minorities.

In the Imperium, having an extra ear marks you as an outcast - slave labour that may be slain by "pureblooded" Imperials any day - it just takes a zealous Preacher to whip your neighbours into a frenzy, then you end up beaten to death. And your young children as well. Whilst the authorities stand on the roadside to wait until your house is burned down.

In the Imperium, Reichskristallnacht is just another tuesday.

Problem is that unlike IRL Lynata that's actually needed, not just merely an excuse like in IRL. That makes it hard to draw the parallels because the war-crimes are something you must do to survive or your whole race would be mutated or genestealed away, which you can't claim jews or any other religions would do.

Pogrom is officially the word of the day.

Beaviz81 wrote:Problem is that unlike IRL Lynata that's actually needed, not just merely an excuse like in IRL. That makes it hard to draw the parallels because the war-crimes are something you must do to survive or your whole race would be mutated or genestealed away, which you can't claim jews or any other religions would do.

Oh - I get that, but that doesn't make it any nicer for us and the cozy ideals we have been allowed to develop thanks to our modern lifestyle. In an ideal world, the Imperium would have the scientific knowledge to research cures or protection, implement environmental laws to prevent industry waste and radiation from polluting habitats, and perhaps "just" sterilize affected populations instead of burning everyone on stakes.

But 40k isn't an ideal world, that's why (I think) we like it. As I said, I just think it takes a special kind of person (by modern standards) to pull the trigger on unarmed civilians, not to mention the torture that's almost kind of a national pastime in the IoM.

And @ KM

Wasn't there an SoB that led a pogrom? Pretty sure I read that somewhere in their lore.

They lead them all the time, the aforementioned "purity tests" and the many Wars of Faith the Sisters lead the way in, just to name two examples. Though the latter tend to be lead by Sisters Militant, rather than Hospitaller.

 Troike wrote:
Wasn't there an SoB that led a pogrom? Pretty sure I read that somewhere in their lore.

Is there a Sister of Battle that hasn't led a pogrom? I'm fairly sure that's all they actually do in the fluff.


As far as the Sisters Hospitaller, I like to believe it's like the Sisters of Castle Anthrax. Eight score of blondes and brunettes all between the ages of16 and 19-and-a-half cut off in a convent, with a steady schedule of bathing, dressing, undressing and knitting exciting underwear.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:

 Troike wrote:
Wasn't there an SoB that led a pogrom? Pretty sure I read that somewhere in their lore.

Is there a Sister of Battle that hasn't led a pogrom? I'm fairly sure that's all they actually do in the fluff.


As far as the Sisters Hospitaller, I like to believe it's like the Sisters of Castle Anthrax. Eight score of blondes and brunettes all between the ages of16 and 19-and-a-half cut off in a convent, with a steady schedule of bathing, dressing, undressing and knitting exciting underwear.

I was thinking of a specific account I read. One got famous doing one.

Must've been one hell of a pogrom if all the Sisters are doing them.

Vet, there is so much wrong with that.

 Psienesis wrote:
They lead them all the time, the aforementioned "purity tests" and the many Wars of Faith the Sisters lead the way in, just to name two examples. Though the latter tend to be lead by Sisters Militant, rather than Hospitaller.

Yes, usually it's the Sisters militant. But all Sisters went through the same Schola Progenium training and raising, and all of them are fanatically devoted to the cause.

Ah, this is the one I thinking of.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chrisima#.UbIjL5z4RvA

 Melissia wrote:
Vet, there is so much wrong with that.

Somebody missed the reference.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:
As far as the Sisters Hospitaller, I like to believe it's like the Sisters of Castle Anthrax. Eight score of blondes and brunettes all between the ages of16 and 19-and-a-half cut off in a convent, with a steady schedule of bathing, dressing, undressing and knitting exciting underwear.

lol'd

Exalted.

I find it funny that people are comparing the Waffen-SS to the Sisters of Battle. They are very different.

The Waffen-SS was a politicized military organization with fancy camouflage uniforms. Some people think of the W-SS as Germany's elite but this was only true in the case of some divisions (Such as 1st SS). Most W-SS divisions were at least on par with their heer counterparts. They were also equipped somewhat less well than the regular army. Furthermore, they -weren't- racially pure. Not by a long shot. The W-SS had a bunch of foreign volunteers and in fact several divisions were completely comprised of them. The only divisions that were really "Aryan" were those formed in the early years of the war and the Hitler Youth division (12th SS).

The Sisters of Battle on the other hand are made up of the best of the best, subjected to rigorous training and, most importantly, are a religious organization. They are far better equipped than their regular army equivalents. The are the best a normal human being can aspire to. The only real similarities between the two organizations is that they carry out atrocities but W-SS divisions weren't specifically trained to carry out such actions. I guess you could compare 12th SS (The Hitler Youth division) to the Sisters of Battle and they do share some similarities (Stubborn, loyal, fights hard and took a beating once coming into enemy contact) but not the organization as a whole.

As for the docs I'd imagine they would be as dour and uncompromising as any other sister. I don't see why they wouldn't be given that the same organization trains them. Maybe because some people want a "Hello Nurse" in the GrimDark future?

 TheCustomLime wrote:
As for the docs I'd imagine they would be as dour and uncompromising as any other sister

Not necessarily. Sister Verity in the James Swallow books isn't really like this.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:

 Melissia wrote:
Vet, there is so much wrong with that.

Somebody missed the reference.

At least you're not referencing Camelot, but that song was at least amusing to listen to, unlike the Castle Anthrax scene

Anyway, I'm fairly certain that "the average Sororitas" is not unnecessarily stern towards those who show the proper level of piety.

 Troike wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
As for the docs I'd imagine they would be as dour and uncompromising as any other sister

Not necessarily. Sister Verity in the James Swallow books isn't really like this.

Of course, but that's the exception rather than the rule. I'm sure there are Sisters of Battle that are general amiable towards loyal servants of the Emperor somewhere.

 TheCustomLime wrote:

 Troike wrote:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
As for the docs I'd imagine they would be as dour and uncompromising as any other sister

Not necessarily. Sister Verity in the James Swallow books isn't really like this.

Of course, but that's the exception rather than the rule. I'm sure there are Sisters of Battle that are general amiable towards loyal servants of the Emperor somewhere.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that she wasn't an exception. They do have a reputation for torture, after all.

And in regards to your post about Battle Sisters, Argent Shroud might somewhat fit what you said.

http://imageshack.us/a/img443/3324/ordersmilitant.jpg

If they're not busy purging suspected heretics, that is.

Troike wrote:Not necessarily. Sister Verity in the James Swallow books isn't really like this.

Of course it's hard to say how well this author's interpretation of the Hospitaller synchs with GW's original material. The analysis of whether two sources fit to each other is something that each of us must make for themselves - as well as deciding which one to prefer, if they do conflict.

The degree of variance between the various products is what makes such discussions so difficult. We've all read different stuff and allowed our perceptions to be shaped by it.

TheCustomLime wrote:The Waffen-SS was a politicized military organization with fancy camouflage uniforms. Some people think of the W-SS as Germany's elite but this was only true in the case of some divisions (Such as 1st SS). Most W-SS divisions were at least on par with their heer counterparts. They were also equipped somewhat less well than the regular army. Furthermore, they -weren't- racially pure. Not by a long shot. The W-SS had a bunch of foreign volunteers and in fact several divisions were completely comprised of them. The only divisions that were really "Aryan" were those formed in the early years of the war and the Hitler Youth division (12th SS).

And as mentioned in an earlier post I was talking specifically about those racially pure and indoctrinated divisions.
Their equipment does not matter much when we're just discussing behaviour.

Although I suppose it was still a bad comparison, as I imagine these Waffen-SS troops to be less disciplined than the Sororitas, their fanatism largely limited to believing in their cause and racial superiority, as well as their rigid code of loyalty. The Sisters' list of "virtues" seems to be longer still and even more limiting, ranging from the isolation and self-inflicted suffering to fasting and continuous praying.

TheCustomLime wrote:As for the docs I'd imagine they would be as dour and uncompromising as any other sister. I don't see why they wouldn't be given that the same organization trains them. Maybe because some people want a "Hello Nurse" in the GrimDark future?

Well, if the popularity of the Cain novels is any indication...

 Lynata wrote:

Troike wrote:Not necessarily. Sister Verity in the James Swallow books isn't really like this.

Of course it's hard to say how well this author's interpretation of the Hospitaller synchs with GW's original material. The analysis of whether two sources fit to each other is something that each of us must make for themselves - as well as deciding which one to prefer, if they do conflict.

The degree of variance between the various products is what makes such discussions so difficult. We've all read different stuff and allowed our perceptions to be shaped by it.

She syncs allright, I'd say. Keep in mind, she's an exception even within the books. The Hospitalliers she arrives with in the first book act all intimidating towards the pilot, and generally come across as no-nonsense sorts.