Corpora
The majority of the Daughters of Verity fight in units called corpora (sing. corpus, lit. "bodies") equivalent to squads in another military organization. Corpora are led by a Princeps Autem Corpus (roughly equivalent to a sergeant or squad leader) and are formed, disbanded, altered and reformed at the whim of the commanding Palatine or Canoness. Each professed or novice Sister is trained in the use of all the Order's weapons (although some are more familiar or skilled with particular weapons than others) and can function in any battlefield role. Commanders will also deploy the elite Celestians either in their own corpora or dispersed among others to inspire and mentor the less-experienced Sisters. The members of a corpus can be equipped with a majority of heavy weapons, special weapons, or for a more generalized battlefield role.
The Corpora Doctrine
Corpora is more than the name given to a squad; it is a central combat and theological doctrine of the Daughters of Verity. The uniformity of habit and battleplate speaks to a central principle of this doctrine; that each Sister is a member of the Order first and foremost, and an individual second (if at all). Ideally, each Sister - novice or professed - can fight with any of the Order's weapons and in any military role or position. While this may seem an impossible ideal, it must be remembered a Sister has two years of battlefield experience as a postulant before she ever becomes a novice. The Order's organization - and re-organization - of individual corpora continues her training and experience - one battle, a Sister might be assigned as a riflewoman in a battleline squad, the next wielding a storm-bolter in close assault, the one after that armed with a multimelta and hunting tanks. She might even be appointed a princeps autem corpus and assigned a squad of her own to lead. This constant reorganization does more than cross-train the Sisters and create tactical responsiveness and flexibility; it teaches them they are interchangeable and valuable to the Emperor only when used as instruments of His will rather than according to their own desires. On a practical level, the modification and reformation of individual corpora works against complacency, particular friendships, unhealthy rivalries and promotes cohesion at the Order level, rather than merely within a squad.Composition
Manpower
Corpora are generally ten women strong, although they may be deployed in units of five or six (in order to utilize the Immolator troop transport).
Weaponry
Sororitas battleplate, bolter, flamer and melta weaponry. Some Principes Autem Corpus carry crystal melee weapons as a badge of rank.
Vehicles
RH1N0 & Immolator troop carriers
Structure
Each corpus is led by a Princeps Autem Corpus.
Tactics
Medium-range firefight. CQB.
Type
Infantry
Overall training Level
Elite
Used by
Ranks & Titles
