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The Ashen Marauders are a formerly loyalist Space Marine Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. Their heritage remains unknown, though they claim lineage to the Ultramarines, yet due to a lack of information during the obscure 13the Founding has left it up to speculation. This occasional founding garnered its byname - "Dark" Founding - due to the lack of detailed documents around its establishment, leaving many Chapters within it shrouded in mystery that cast doubt by the Inquisition.
Throughout their bygone days, the Chapter was well-known for flanking and outmaneuvering the battlefield's greatest foes. This specialty assisted the Astra Militarum on Heshidras II in the "Omnis Campaign" conflict and saw the Ashen Marauders supporting Imperial Forces against secessionist worlds in Ultima Segmentum. Following the removal of the Lord General Militant and General Staff during the war at the hands of an ambitious Lord Inquisitor, the Ashen Marauders deposed the Inquisitor after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Hallow Hill left the Imperial Forces reeling from heavy losses, taking charge over what remained they managed to turn the tide of the war in their favor. Following the end of this conflict, the Inquisition cared not for why; they only saw the Ashen Marauders had overthrown an Inquisitor of their Ordo and demanded that they surrender themselves. Upon their refusal, the Chapter was declared Excommunicate Traitoris. The Chapter left with no choice fled into unknown space down the path of renegades.
Chapter History
Founding
The true story of the Ashen Marauders’ founding has been almost entirely obscured by the passage of time and the silencing Inquisitorial hand of censorship. Remaining truths and myths from the long-forgotten past situate the Chapter as part of the almost completely unknown 13th "Dark" Founding. The Chapter was formed from gene-seed of mysterious origins, with no clear knowledge of the parent Chapter from which they descend. Though the Successor Chapter claimed to be from the stock of the great Ultramarines, their claims are met with caution, for their culture vastly differentiates, and past heretical actions leave their assertions uncertain.
Cilicia's Wraith
Early in the Chapter's history, the Ashen Marauders launched their first major campaign on record to the desert planet of Cilicia. Cultists attacked the world, tainting its sacred grounds, prompting the local Ecclesiarchy to send its forces to eliminate the heretics quickly. In the initial clashes, many worshipers of the God-Emperor were killed in targeted strikes designed to cause maximum casualties. Despite this, the cultists were pushed back and nearly wiped out. However, in their final stand, the enemies performed a dark ritual, summoning warp daemons in a desperate act to tear open rifts between the materium and immaterium. The resulting slaughter was overwhelming; even faith could not prevent the onslaught. The daemons, led by a Great Daemon called Acuti the Bloodcaller, turned Cilicia's sands blood-red. In response, a distress signal was sent for aid. When the full strength of the Ashen Marauders arrived, they devised a plan to deliver a swift, devastating blow to the ruinous powers at Pilgrims' Retreat, where the Astartes would make their stand upon the tide of daemons.
Aegis Gate
Pilgrims Retreat stood on an ancient road utilized by followers of the Imperial Cult to reach the holy City of Sancta from Starport Orion. Halfway between the two lies the rugged Mountains of Cupio. The only navigable route was through Aegis Gate, where the Ashen Marauders anticipated the arrival of warp daemons. They fortified their position with trenches lining the entrance and artillery emplacements along the mountain sides. The Chapter had mustered 500 Astartes in its defense, helmed by Chapter Master Valerius Appius himself; however, the first point of contact came not from the daemonic armies but from the fatigued 12th Cilician Mechanized Regiment and accompanying pilgrims. The tired colonel informed Valerius of Starport Orion succumbing to Acuti's relentless horde and how the regiment had narrowly escaped with what Imperial citizens they could grab to reach Santus. Expecting the Chapter Master to nourish the regiment to full health and send them along to Santus to inform the capital, the colonel did not expect Valerius to tell them there would be no retreat for a coward like them but only redemption in standing against chaos, thus the troops and pilgrims were conscripted by Valerius in the defense of Aegis Gate if they liked it or not for the battle that laid ahead.
It didn't take long for the legions of daemons to march on Aegis Gate, where concentrated bolter fire and shells tore through the advancing daemons. Thunderhawks swooped from above, deploying assault squads into combat to eliminate the threats, creating an opening for the Chapter Master and the veteran squads of the 1st Company to charge from their first-line trenches into the battlefield. Valerius personally led the assault deep into the daemon ranks, confronting Acuti face-to-face. Their fierce duel saw Valerius nearly victorious, the energy field of his power sword clashing with Acuti's warp-tainted great sword. However, Valerius was wounded, and Acuti seized the moment to strike back with the daemon's blade, ending Valerius's life. The severe death toll taken for such an attack forced the Astartes into a retreat, as their position became untenable with the daemon tide closing in. They were covered by Imperial forces defending the mountain pass, but as the daemon pursuit intensified, each trench line fell one by one. The Space Marines on the mountain sides launched a final salvo to hold back the ruinous horde, allowing their brothers and allies to retreat past Aegis Gate. When nearly everyone had crossed to the other side, explosives were detonated along the path, trapping any remaining Imperial or Astartes under the debris along with the daemons that followed. In the chaos that ensued, there was no time to mourn their fallen brothers; they quickly evacuated as many survivors as possible aboard Thunderhawks. Those who could not be evacuated retreated to Santus via any remaining vehicles.
The Sons of Dorn
- "From this day onward, the debt owed to you and your brothers will never be forgotten.
When the time comes, the Shield Bearers will have the support of the Ashen Marauders"- — Marshal Maxian Tarchad to his fellow cousins
Inside the sanctuary of the Church of the Emperor's Faith in Santus, the remaining Space Marine Captains gathered to discuss the vacant Chapter Master's position. Following the death of the 1st Company Captain during the retreat from Aegis Gate, the succession fell to Captain Maxian Tarchad of the 2nd Company. No formal ceremony would be held to appoint him as Chapter Master until Cilicia was freed from daemons. Maxian was delegated authority as Marshal in the interim and led his brothers to defend the city against the warp daemons' onslaught. When Acuti's armies reached Santus, its streets were fortified with barriers, and every able citizen was armed to fight chaos to the death. Battles erupted across the city, but the Chapter, overwhelmed by the tide of daemons, retreated to the Church of the Emperor's Faith, where its halls were bloodstained, and statues of the God-Emperor and saints desecrated. Maxian's defenders fought valiantly until the bitter end, expending their last rounds and being forced into melee. Amidst the chaos, confusion amongst the daemon ranks caused them to turn back from where they came, only to be slaughtered by yellow-armored Astartes with bronze trims—The Shield Bearers had arrived. Chapter Master Oreas Vorn of the Shield Bearers met Maxian and helped to push back Acuti's forces. Together, they fought their way through the city, eventually slaying the greater daemon when they finally reached Acuti and fought as one. In the Chapter's rescue, Maxian assured that the debt to the Shield Bearers would eventually be repaid when they needed help most.
Cousins in Arms
Pendance
Notable Campaigns
- War for Cilicia (043.M36): Among a massive attack orchestrated by the Khorne cultists to summon a Bloodthirster named Acuti the Bloodcaller on the Cardinal World of Cilicia. In response, the Ashen Marauders deployed in near full strength, led by their Chapter Master, Valerius Appius, initially attempting to slay Acuti on Piligrims Retreat, resulting in the death of the Chapter Master and several companies inflicted with severe casualties. Forced into a withdrawal to Sanctus, Cilicia's capital city, and into the sanctity of the God-Emperor temples, where they fought to the last until aided by the arrival of the Shield Bearers, whose Chapter Master, Oreas Vorn, fought alongside Marshal Maxian Tarchad, vanquishing Acuti, and ending the spawn of Chaos from Cilicia. It's here that the Chapteer was indebted to the Shield Bearers.
- Splinter War (Unknown Date M36): Obligated under oath, sworn by former Chapter Master Maxian Tarchad to the Shield Bearers, the Chapter saw itself embroiled in a sub-sector-wide conflict within the Twilight Sub-Sector against an Inquisitoral-backed force. Chapter Master Valerius Bastur personally led the veteran and battle companies alongside their allies till the death of Chapter Master Griffar Casprim of the Shield Bearers, the destruction of the Shield Bearers' homeworld, and the subsequent loss inflicted on the Ashen Maradurs forced Bastur to surrender to the authority of fellow Adeptus Astartes Chapters.
Homeworld
Departmento Cartographicae pict-capture of the former Ashen Marauders homeworld of Asht
Asht is an Imperial Death World that was once the proud Chapter homeworld of the Ashen Marauders; now, it has transformed into a thriving hunting ground for exotic animals. Situated in the more expansive Ultima Segmentum, home to lush expansive jungle forests, the first human colonists who set foot on its vibrant surface established state-of-the-art research facilities to experiment with genetically modifying the planet's unique fauna and flora. However, the turbulent Age of Strife isolated this world from the rest of humanity until the Imperium of Man rediscovered it in the late 30th to early 31st Millennium. Upon reintroduction, many of the planet's inhabitants remained divided into fortified cities, and wealthy families fiercely protected their territories against one another, which they still do in the current millennium. In contrast, those outside their fortified walls regressed into nomadic wanderers, constantly traveling the planet's local fauna and flora that had evolved into dangerous threats. Imperial Compliance has so far been swiftly addressed. Attempts at establishing sustainable habitation by the Adeptus Administratum progressed slowly and faced numerous obstacles until the planet was ultimately granted to the Marauders during the 13th Founding.
Fortress-Monastery
Chapter Organisation
Officer Ranks
Senior Specialist Ranks
Specialist Ranks
Line Ranks
Specialist Units & Formations
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
Chapter Beliefs
Chapter Gene-Seed
Genetic Flaws
Combat Doctrine
Notable Members
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Relics
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
Chapter Badge
Relations
Allies
Enemies
Notable Quotes
By the Ashen Marauders
About the Ashen Marauders
- "Cursed be you, Space Marine! In daring to commit treason against an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, you have condemned yourself and your Chapter to annihilation."
- —Inquisitor Jaeger Von Caidin to Former Chapter Master [Insert Name]
Gallery