Sister Imperator

The modern world came to know Ghost on March 12, 2010 when songs by the devil’s favored rock band first appeared on MySpace (Everley). The apocalyptic message of their music reached the hearts and minds of many, turning fans into converts. As the years pass by, the impact and the power of the devil worshiping ministry known as Ghost only grows along with their popularity (Hutchcraf). More of the ministry began coming out of the shadows, for wherever there is a throne, there is a power behind it. The most formidable of which was Sister Imperator.

Part 1: Who is Sister Imperator?

Sister first revealed herself on May 20, 2015 in a recording posted to the Ghost YouTube channel. The video shows Sister in a meeting with the nameless ghouls discussing the dismissal of Papa Emeritus II, upcoming changes to the ghoul masks, new music, and most noteworthy, that Papa II would be succeeded by his 3 month younger brother. A decision made by the organization within the church known as The Clergy, of which Sister Imperator seemed to be an influential and important member. (Ghost, “The Summoning”)

In the years following, more videos of Sister would be uploaded to YouTube. Each revealing more of her power and influence within the Ministry, from marshaling the faithful in The Battle for Philadelphia (Ghost, “The Summoning III: The Battle for Philadelphia”), calling forth the nameless ghouls (Ghost, “The Summoning V: The Square And Hammer”), giving sermons to The Clergy (Ghost, “The Summoning VII: Believe This”), and even a direct line to The Old One (Ghost, “Chapter Five: The Call”).

It is currently unknown to those outside The Ministry how long Sister has been a member of The Clergy. What we do know is that it has been since she was a younger woman thanks to the insertion of archival footage from The Ministry. In The Summoning V: “The Square And Hammer”, as Sister describes how ghouls are made, we see footage of a young woman (confirmed later to be Sister in Chapter One: “New Blood”) performing the ceremony. Alone amidst the coffins where the ghouls presumably lay as iron nails fall around her fashionable (but not at all sensible) heels.

This may not be the first footage the Ministry recorded of young Sister^[1], it was the first released footage of a younger Sister. She has also witnessed the transfigurations of three of the Papa Emeritus (Ghost, “The Summoning: Believe This”) and participated in the transfiguration of one. (Ghost, “The Dance Macabre”)

Not only is she deeply entwined in the history and structure of The Ministry, Sister Imperator as a true believer in their mission “to spread their unholy gospels, and furthermore, to trick mankind into believing that the end is ultimately a good thing - have decided to use the ever so popular rock music medium as a way to exploit their means. With sexually pulsating rock music and romantic lyrics that for the most part speaks about the Antichrist coming to life and other sacrilegious themes, the groups' intention is simply to spread hell the most effective way - through entertainment.” (“GHOST on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads”). In her final sermon to The Clergy she speaks with an impassioned tone:

“I too have been moved to tears as I stood before you and the music has reached a thunderousness. This is why I believe.” (Ghost, “The Summoning VII: Believe This”)

In fact, Sister is least patient with those who have little faith, or do not take the mission seriously. Saying to those who wavered after Ghost lost the Battle for Philadelphia:

“Your faithlessness is now dust in my path.” (Ghost, “The Summoning IV: The Arrival”)

To the ghouls in a meeting post-Grammy win, she admonishes them that the trinkets mean nothing in light of the mission:

“I know that behind your masks you are smirking at me, proud of your trivial accomplishment.” (Ghost, “The Summoning V: The Square and Hammer”)

She admonished Papa Emeritus IV (then Cardinal Copia) when he gets too distracted by her changed appearance after an accident:

“You always think of everything except the task at hand.” (Ghost, “Chapter Six: The Visit”)

A fact she is proven correct on when the then Cardinal does not know what is being announced next and also forgets Sister (who is wheelchair bound) when they go to leave the hospital.

Again she can be heard pushing Papa Emeritus IV to take the task seriously when they are recovering from their two-for-one plastic surgery when he starts goofing around on the phone call:

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” (Ghost, “Chapter Nine: Tomb it May Concern”)

In her meetings with the nameless ghouls and later with Papa Emeritus IV she is serious and driven, she does show a kinder (but still stern) side when she speaks to Papa Emeritus IV. Both when he is a Cardinal and after his ascension to Papa. Perhaps that is because Cardinals rank higher than nameless ghouls in The Ministry’s hierarchy, or perhaps it’s because he’s her son.

^[1]Of the current footage released by The Ministry, earlier appearances may be either Sister’s appearance at the Papal ascension ceremony (Ghost, Dance Macabre), the oldest known Ghost ritual (Ghost, Chapter Eight: Kiss the Go-Goat), or both.

Part 2: The Love Affair

Ghost fans and converts alike speculated that Papa Emeritus IV was the son of Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil as early as May of 2018. A theory sparked by the obvious attraction between Sister and Papa Nihil in the posted footage titled “Chapter One: New Blood”. (IAmNotTheshirtIWear)

Some cheeky member of the clergy has either manipulated or spliced in younger versions of both Papa Nihil and Sister during their palpable sexual tension. (Ghost, “Chapter One: New Blood”) An action which points to the hypothesis that 1) this has been going on for a long time and 2) it’s a widely known fact in The Ministry, or at least a well known rumor.

Sister would later slip and confirm that she is the mother of Papa Emeritus IV (Ghost, “Chapter Nine: Tomb It May Concern”), and at some point it would be revealed to Papa Emeritus IV that Papa Nihil was his father. A fact Papa Emeritus IV began sharing during rituals when songs originally performed by Papa Nihil were part of the set. (Stephany Klug)

The Clergy would begin sharing more on how Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil got together with the music video for “Dance Macabre”. Clearly taken from archival footage of Papa Nihil’s ascension to Papa, it is easy to follow the two lovebirds. Even surrounded by an orgy, a cannibalistic human sacrifice, and the arrival of The Old One (or perhaps a member of the clergy playing the part for the ceremony), they only have eyes for each other. Indeed, with the change into white costume for the ceremony and intimacy of Sister applying Papa Nihil’s facepaint for the first time, an outside observer might be forgiven for mistaking it for a black wedding ceremony. (Ghost, “Dance Macabre”)

Perhaps more exciting to fans of the music, The Clergy would again share the early days of Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil’s relationship as well as a ritual and music performed by Papa Nihil at Whisky a Go Go in 1969, a full forty years earlier than the previously known to be first Ghost Ritual at Hammer of Doom IV in 2010 (Mills). In between shots of the stage where Papa Nihil is performing the song “Kiss the Go-Goat”, are shots of Sister Imperator looking down proudly at him. She touches her stomach as if pregnant, and refuses to allow people to smoke around her. We are also given some insight as to why Sister and Papa Nihil are no longer together as at the end of the song, Papa Nihil kisses two women in the audience as Sister Imperator storms off. (Ghost, “Chapter Eight: Kiss the Go-Goat”)

How the romantic relationship between Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil began, we may never know. How it ended, and why Sister Imperator remained chilly towards Papa Nihil is clear. What also is clear is how little interest in rekindling the relationship she has. In footage taken in Papa Nihil’s modern day office when she says to him:

“Don’t even try to question why I left you. You should be happy that I’m here now. And believe me, I know what I’m doing.” (Ghost, “Chapter Eight: Kiss the Go-Goat”)

Certainly there was no hope for these two in this lifetime. Perhaps now that Sister and Papa Nihil have shed their mortal coil and exist in the ectoplasmic, there’s a chance. She certainly displayed warmer tendencies towards him after he passed on. She can be seen feeding him with chopsticks (Ghost, “Chapter Eleven: Family Dinner”), sitting cuddly close with him in the backseat of a car (Ghost, “Chapter 14: Road Trip”), and encouraging him to bond with his son (Forge et al., “Rite Here Rite Now”).

Part 3: Kingmaker

Papa Emeritus II had been leading the Ghost project when they received their first certified gold record. Although she praised the music and the merchandise, Sister did not see this as a success. She wanted churches opened, world leaders converted to the cause, and governments toppled. Believing Papa Emeritus II to be too old and too bitter to lead to the kind of success she was looking for, she announced his replacement by his “fool three months younger brother” seeming to have either sway with The Clergy or final say in the matter (Ghost, “The Summoning”)

She would again wield the power to choose the next Papa when Papa Emeritus III would prove no more successful than his brother at toppling governments or converting world leaders (although he did win a Grammy). Papa Nihil, announcing himself as Papa Emeritus 0, had his son snatched off the stage mid-ritual, announcing to the crowd that party time was over. (Yami Sixx)

Six months later, The Clergy would release a recording of Sister Imperator breaking the news to Papa Nihil that Cardinal Copia had been chosen to ascend. Despite breaking with both tradition and Papa Nihil’s wishes, it is Sister who had the last say. (Ghost, “Chapter One: New Blood”)(Ghost, “Chapter Two: The Cardinal”)

Sister Imperator had a lot on her plate with keeping Papa Emeritus IV on track while he was still a Cardinal and continuously pushing Papa Nihil to mentor to the best of the old man’s ability. She would often be seen in videos during this time handling Papa Nihil’s need to be in the spotlight. Through all of this, Sister kept the big picture in view and worked tirelessly for the success of the Ghost project. Letting neither her past affairs or family ties distract her from the ultimate goal.

Finally, after two years, the Cardinal would prove himself worthy to ascend and become Papa Emeritus IV. (Edgardo Cuen) Sister would be proven right in her choice to put her own son forth for grooming and ascension to Papa. The release of his first album as Papa Emeritus IV would hint at the conversion of at least two world leaders both through their lyrics and the album art for each song. (Forge et al., Twenties) (Forge et al., Griftwood) Papa Emeritus IV would take Ghost from theaters and nightclubs to amphitheaters and stadiums. Practically a new church opened every night Ghost played a ritual with tens of thousands of faithful making the pilgrimage to each one.

Sister guided it all from backstage. Finally, with the empire built, Sister passed on from this life. Even in her death, she made one last choice of who would wield the power. Her son’s turn as Papa was coming to an end, so what better position for the most successful Papa to date than the role of Imperator? Who better to follow Sister in her role after she was gone? In her final act, Sister Imperator named her son Frater Imperator. (Forge et al., “Rite Here Rite Now”)

Conclusion

A new era of Ghost is approaching. The Clergy have already begun releasing ministry footage on the YouTube channel, and a new tour has been announced. It will be Ghost’s first foray into the world without the guiding hands of Sister Imperator. Her vision for Ghost is as finished and complete as her life. Her role at The Ministry, at its end.

There is a proverb that goes “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” The first generation builds a business, the second generation spends it all away, and the third generation starts over again. Will Frater Imperator be able to continue to build on the vision of his mother? Did Sister Imperator prepare him as well for his role as Frater as she prepared him for his role as Papa? Time will soon tell as the stage is being set for the next era.

But for her own tale, Sister’s mark on The Ministry and the Ghost project will go down in history as a success. Thanks to her, they have an empire, if they can keep it.