Ashen Exiles

Originally called "The Spearheads", the Ashen Exiles are an Ultramarines Successor Chapter from the Cursed Founding. Ashen Exiles are a Chapter that was created by a group of Tech-priests whom decided that the 10% mutation rate of the Ultramarines was still too high for a Chapter of The God Emperor's Finest. When the Spearheads were formed, it seemed that the Tech-priests had gotten what they wanted. They had created a Chapter whose mutation rate was lower than that of the Ultramarines. The Spearheads were considered one of the few successful Cursed Founding results and inherited the planet of Kastarsuz IV as their homeworld. However, this purity came at a cost. Although the Chapter was freed of physical mutations, their minds had become significantly weaker than the minds of other Astartes. The Astartes of the Chapter were more likely to develop mental disorders and were still corruptable by Chaos even when they were under the protection of their Brother Librarians.

History
Founded during the 21st Cursed Founding, the Spearheads were an Ultramarines successor of minor importance until they were sent to partake in the Abyssal Crusade alongside their brother and cousin Chapters.

After the Spearheads spent approximately 5 years in the Warp, a single voice in the Chapter started protesting. That voice was 2nd Captain Ahrulash, Master of The Watch. He complained of the losses the Chapter was suffering, suggesting that they should leave the Eye of Terror and serve the God Emperor of Mankind as renegades rather than die out in a meaningless crusade. When his Chapter Master denied the suggestion however, Ahrulash, in a fit of rage, left the bulk of his Chapter to go crusade on his own.

On one of his many travels, the young Second Captain came in contact with a Word Bearers Warband led by Chaos Lord Venus. Though they were still loyal, Ahrulash's advisers suggested talking with the Word Bearers Warband before talking, as they hadn't opened fire on them even though the Spearheads had made themselves known to them. Leading the meeting group, Ahrulash asked Venus why they hadn't attacked Ahrulash's forces yet. The Word Bearer explained to Ahrulash that he didn't attack the Spearheads not out of foolishness, but out of his desire to fulfill a prophecy.

Venus explained to Ahrulash that a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch had told him that a companionship between the leaders was destiny and that they would achieve great things together, which drove Venus to a pilgrimage within the Eye of Terror to find the young Captain. Ahrulash, though unsure whether the Word Bearer was to be believed or not, agreed to work alongside the Chaos Lord. Venus then gave Ahrulash information on others who would be willing to work with them, these being 4th Captain Shalyk, 6th Captain Abada, 7th Captain Yarbogha and 10th Captain Shurala.

Returning to his Chapter with the excuse that he needs to re-supply, Ahrulash formed a small council with these Captains and began to negotiate with them. Succeeding in convincing them, Ahrulash ordered these Companies to lie in wait until he returned with the Word Bearers.

The War to Break A Chapter
Though the loyalists expected Ahrulash's return, they were shocked to see that Ahrulash brought with him a Word Bearers Warband of 600 Chaos Space Marines. Though the Spearheads started opening fire, anarchy ensued within their ranks when Ahrulash ordered the Companies he had brought to his side to open fire on the loyalists. Pushing through the loyalist forces with relative ease due to an advantage in numbers, Ahrulash then dared his former Chapter Master to glorious melee combat to the death. Being a proud son of Roboute Guilliman, the Chapter Master obliged with the foul Second Captain's offer. The duel went on for uncounted hours before the Chapter Master of the Spearheads, who was also the last loyal member of the Chapter, was brought to his knees by Ahrulash. Tired of the constant fighting, Chaos Lord Venus shot the Chapter Maste with his Plasma Pistol to finish him off. Enraged by this, Ahrulash impaled the Chaos Lord on his own sword in a fit of daemonic-like rage.

Venus did not give up however, as he cast a curse upon the Ashen Exiles in his final breath.

Suddenly, all Ashen Exiles started seeing vivid visions of the sins committed by those they had killed over the years. Realizing that no one was pure of heart in this wretched reality, Ahrulash had the armor of the Marines under his command painted black and re-named the Spearheads into the Ashen Exiles.

With a curse forever hunting him and his brothers and more than the strength of a Chapter under his command, Ahrulash left the Eye of Terror to find sinful lives to eradicate.

Warband Homeworld
Hive World Kastarsuz IV is the homeworld of the Ashen Exiles. There are scattered forests of tall, crimson stalks. There are gentle rolling hills. One of the local animals can imitate the shape and sounds of any creature, even a sentient one. The local creatures spend most of their lives in hibernation, punctuated by rapid bursts of activity when conditions are right. There are sudden, violent rains. The population of Kastarsuz IV, due to the Chaos sorcery which effected the waters of the planet, are bound to never-ending servitude to the Ashen Exiles until the planet is torn asunder by the storms of Chaos.

Fortress-Monastery
As Ashen Exiles do not want their Fortress Monastery to be easily seen from orbit, they have set up their base of operations in the depths of the planet. Though this so-called Fortress-Monastery has multiple massive parts and reaches from one side of the world to another, it is referred to only by the name of "City of Ash" in it's entirety with no other part having an unique name for itself. This is done as both means of having an ambiguous name for the Warband's base of operations and as means of making it so that Imperial spies will have a harder time figuring out what part of the underground networks the Ashen Exiles are talking about.

Warband Beliefs
Ashen Exiles are rare compared to most other Warbands as they fight not for self-gain or the favor of some higher up, but rather for the future of Mankind as a species. The Ashen Exiles believe that humanity will be improved not through constant suffering or through the "blessings" of dark gods, but through the removal of each and every mortal soul that has dared to do wrong to any other mortal soul in the galaxy. This has resulted in the Ashen Exiles crusading against worlds that have a higher chance of containing heretics and sinners, such as Hive Worlds, while paying less attention to those who don't have many heretics and sinners or are too busy to even begin thinking of committing acts of heresy or sinful acts, such as Shrine Worlds and Death Worlds.

Warband Combat Doctrine
"Roses are red, violets are blue, I am stuck on the Eastern Fringe...AND SO ARE GODS-DAMNED YOU!"

- 11th Company Lord Orek, during the Second Tyrannic War The Ashen Exiles generally favours close combat over ranged firefights, and Guillimans' tactic of "changing the approarch based on what the enemy is doing", is still a favoured method of attack. Ashen Exiles commanders seek to apply constant pressure on the enemy in a number of overwhelming generalist strikes. These sharp but limited assaults are meant to disrupt the enemy and secure positions that can be used for fire support. This in turn keeps the pressure on while new attacks are being prepared. The time-lapse between each assault decreases with each advance, and the Ashen Exiles commander will usually wait until the pressure reaches its highest point. When this occurs, the commander will lead the best Astartes amongst his Company, usually Aspiring Champions, in a final, devastating assault; an attack in which teleport-capable Terminators are often featured. Hordes of daemons summoned from the Empyrean by the Ashen Exiles' Chaos Sorcerers are also used for frontal assaults, and to pin the enemy in place while the Warband whittles them down.

Notable Ashen Exiles
Ahrulash The King Slayer - The one and only Chaos Lord of the Ashen Exiles and former 2nd Captain of the Spearheads. Described by his servants as a fair and just leader that lacks emotional control.

"Leviathan" (Deceased) - A naive yet Venerable Dreadnaught of the Ashen Exiles, Leviathan was one of the more posh members of the Ashen Exiles. He was lied to by Ahrulash about the latter's true loyalties and joined his forces thinking that it was his Chapter Master who went traitor. Died during a battle against the Templarii Scientae in the Catachan System, his soul currently resides in Ahrulash's Power Axe.

Chief Sorcerer Basty - The current Chief Sorcerer of the Ashen Exiles. Acting as the iconoclast of the group, Basty is a rather sarcastic and self-loving figure.

Warband Fleet

 * Grand Titan (Executor-class Grand Cruiser) - Flagship of the Ashen Exiles
 * Senseless Slaughter (Legate-class Battle Barge)
 * Guilliman's Blade (Overlord-class Battle Barge)
 * The Glorious 13th (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unbearable Taint (Strike Cruiser)
 * The Unbreakable (Strike Cruiser)
 * Dead Man Walking (Strike Cruiser)
 * Ashen Faith (Strike Cruiser)
 * Scent of Lust (Strike Cruiser)
 * Bloodied Axe (Strike Cruiser)
 * Prince of Pox (Strike Cruiser)
 * Queen of Lies (Strike Cruiser)
 * King of Rats (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unbearable Realities (Strike Cruiser)

Warband Relics
The Templar's Bane: A Power Sword Ahrulash was gifted at his promotion to 2nd Captain. Although left unused for millenia, the Slayer of Kings would finally find a use for this Power Sword after capturing the soul of 1st Captain Stronheim of the Templarii Scientae. Trapping Stronheim's soul within this Power Sword, Ahrulash replaced his trusty Power Spear with it to mock the servants of the False Emperor.

A Leviathan, All Alone: A Power Axe that once belonged to a Khornate Champion, this weapon of unholy war acted as nothing but a trophy until Ahrulash found a use for it. Re-calling the soul of Leviathan from the depths of the Warp, Ahrulash would beg forgiveness from his old friend and convince him to aid him in battle by empowering his Power Axe. Agreeing, Leviathan's soul now resides in this Khornate Power Axe. Ahrualsh replaced his trusty Storm Bolter with this weapon of war to remind the servants of the False Emperor just what they took away from him.

Armor of The Forgotten One: A set of Indomitus Terminator Armor originally belonging to Chapter Master Mortuum Ambulando of the Spearheads, this set of holy Terminator Armor was looted by Ahrulash after he decapitated the original owner. Being the only set of armor the Ashen Exiles inherited from the Spearheads, Ahrulash defiled it with the corrupting iconography of the Dark Gods in order to leave no traces of his Warband's origins.

By the Ashen Exiles
Feel free to add your own!"I will restore the dead galaxy, blanketing it with life, removing all sin. It will be a perfect galaxy."

- Chaos Lord Ahrulash, during the 13th Black Crusade.