Aren Cassius

Veteran Arcen Cassius

**Aren Cassius** is a Firstborn Veteran Marine that hails from the heroic Ultramarines. He is currently ungoing the Long Vigil with the Deathwatch, the Chamber Militant of the Inquisition's Ordo Xenos.

## History

### Origins

Aren Cassius was born on a backwater world in Ultramar known as Balathrost. Balathrost was used to mine resources so they could be sent out to other worlds. Fortunately, Aren was saved from a lifetime of servitude due to his family earning a favour with the planetary which freed them from serving in the mines. Though they were unable to leave Balathrost, Cassius' family found themselves a home in one of the cleaner areas in a hive.

Aren was not an exceptional child to look upon. He was a bit taller than average but was rather skinny, he helped out the best he could but often was found doing simple labour tasks. Something that was unique about the boy though was his determination. The child would never give up or back down when he got into fights around the hive often using his environment to his advantage.

When astartes of the Ultramarines appeared on Balathrost, Aren's family took him before the astartes and asked them to take the boy. With a final look at his homeworld, Aren was taken back to Macragge in order to become an astartes. During the trials, many of those overseeing the initiate trials did not see greatness in Aren's skills though they were impressed by the boy's determination to not fail. Aren's willpower managed to carry him through the trials and after it was completed he ascended to becoming an astartes scout.

### Scout Years

During his years as a scout, he quickly gained the role of sergeant. His first test as a sergeant was during a campaign against traitor astartes. In this campaign he managed to successfully outwit and kill a khorne berserker, though some of squad were slain in the encounter. This feat of slaying the berserker allowed Aren's name to be given to the higher ups of the chapter which would soon prove useful.

The second achievement Aren had during his time as a scout was leading a stealth operation to plant an explosive device on a key enemy point. His squad managed to successfully place several bombs in the power grid of an enemy force. The explosions caused by the operatives' bombs managed to disable an enemy fortress' shields allowing for a true siege to begin. This feat allowed Aren to become a true astartes.

### Earning a name for himself

On his first deployment as a true astartes he was deployed alongside astra militarum allies and noted how the appearance of the astartes had on the morale of the guardsman. Upon this mission he fought on the front lines against orks and saw firsthand how brutal they can be when not accounted for. Though the battle was won thousands of their guardsman allies perished due to the commanding force's ignorance of the orks. In the next battle of the campaign, Aren began to make a name for himself. He was known to be skilled in keeping up the morale of guard allies. A trait his squad brothers sometimes laughed at.

### Fighting Style

After roughly 200 years of service, Aren began to develop a custom fighting style as he developed as an astartes. He began to grow fond of using a uniquely round storm shield in combat and ended up modifying it to be lighter. These modifications allowed him to throw the shield and have it return to his hand through use of unknown elements attached onto the shield and the gauntlets on Aren's power armour. This use of a storm shield as an offensive weapon was received with suspicion at first but was soon seen as normal. This fighting style allowed the ultramarine to be both offensive and defensive when in combat making a deadly combo when used with his power sword. He has also been known to fight with a variety of pistols with the fighting style.

### Battle of Hive Valerius

The Battle of Hive Valerius was an event that took place 100 years after Aren's first deployment as a space marine. During this time, Cassius had been promoted to lieutenant and had become known for his unique fighting style and unique weapon. During this battle, the captain of the astartes force was called to defend another location leaving Cassius to lead the force to victory. Amidst the hive's misty fields, Aren spoke in the battle wide vox channel rallying the defending force. During the battle, the astartes fought the attacking commander slaying them by knocking them down into the depths of the hive causing them to land on a piece of metal which has been loosened by the conflict in the hive. The dislodged metal impaled the foe killing them instantly.

### The Rubrum Calvaria

Around the time of M42's dawn, among many of the foes Cassius duelled one stood above the rest. A xenos warlord known as the Rubrum Calvaria began to capture imperial worlds. Aren chose to go after this warlord. He raised an army of imperial forces and went to eliminate the Rubrum Calvaria chasing them away from the conquered imperial worlds. He personally boarded the Rubrum's flagship and fought xenos warlord. With the flagship in low orbit, the two fought on the command deck. Slowly the ship began to fall apart and as the fires began consuming the ship, the Rubrum vanished. Though the xenos warlord did appear soon and began to slowly dismantle the imperial force causing a retreat.

### Deathwatch

After the encounter with the Rubrum Calvaria, Aren requested to join the Deathwatch do that he may hone his skills in field of slaying xenos so that he may finally defeat the Rubrum when he clashes with the xenos warlord once again.

## Personality

Aren Cassius is known to have a unique personality not often seen amongst astartes. One obvious trait Cassius has is his humanity. While not as obvious as those of the Salamanders chapter, Cassius has shown to be more caring for mortal allies than his allies. Though at times he has been known to have to suppress his humanity in order to complete a mission however these situations are few and far between. He has also been known to not value the codex astartes as heavy as other members of the Ultramarines chapter though still believes in most of it's values.

## Wargear and Equipment

* **MK-IV 'Maxiumus Power Armour**

Aren wears relic MK-IV 'Maximus' Power Armour in battle, something he is very proud of, which sports a golden double headed eagle on it's chest. The gauntlets of this armour have been engraved with icons of ultramar and the ultramarine chapter.

* **Bellator Shield**

Aren Cassius' unique storm shield. This weapon acts as both a defensive and offensive item as it can be used a weapon and as a tool to defend with. He has used the shield as a tool to channel his fury and it has claimed the lives of many of his foes while defending the lives of his allies on several occasions.

* **The Impetum Blade**

Aren Cassius' power sword. The Impetum Blade has saved the life of Aren several times. It has never failed the veteran and when combined with Cassius' Bellator Shield it makes a deadly combination of offence and defence. The weapon itself is a magnificent example of artifice and craftsmanship. The blade of the weapon is engraved with patterns and icons which run across the blade from the pommel to the point and many a foe have felt it's embrace.

* **Frag Grenades**
* **Krak Grenades**
* **Combat Knife**

## Skills

* **Bike Training**

Aren has been known to use a bike during operations though he does not own a personal bike

* **Combat Training**

Cassius has undergone several variations and styles during his lifetime as an astartes, though he has been known to prefer close quarters combat. Due to his skills he is proficient with several types of weaponry ranging from long range guns to melee weaponry.

## Relations

### Allies

* **Ultramarines**

Aren Cassius is on good terms with his home chapter and is respected for his decision of joining the Deathwatch

### Enemies

* **The Rubrum Calvaria**

A xenos warlord, the Rubrum Calvaria was a plague on imperial worlds due to it's tactical brilliance and military strength. Though it was bested by Aren in combat, they managed to escape and cause an imperial retreat. The Rubrum is the main reason Cassius joined the Deathwatch.

## Quotes

### By Aren

"*You get hurt, hurt them back. You get killed, walk it off*"
—Aren Cassius during the Battle of Hive Valerius