Harrowing Sin of Pride

"*By the purity of our blood and the righteousness of our cause, we shall purge the abomination of the Ashen Souls. No trace of their chimeric existence shall be left standing. Their tainted gene-seed ends here!*"
—Captain Aahronus of the 1st Company "*Pride of Aasarikaan*" of the Aasvogels.
The Aasvogels Apothecarions were able to successfully identify the Ashen Souls as a Chimeric Chapter following close collaboration with the Magos Biologis of Horicoln. Under the command of Chapter Master Coragyn Atratus, the Aasvogels tracked the Ashen Souls who were conducting a separate campaign on the planet Harro'sin Prime in the Ultima Segmentum. The Aasvogels launched an attack on the Ashen Souls, besieging their fortified camp within a dormant volcano. Initially, the Aasvogels held the advantage, driven by their determination to purge what they perceived as a chimeric abomination. However, their arrogance led to their undoing.

## History

"*Each warrior in our chapter will be sharpened to perfection, every tactic finely honed. When the clarion call of battle resounds, we stand prepared to eradicate any aberration that dares to defile the sanctity of the Imperium!*"
—Captain Aalan preparing his troops before battle.
### Prologue

The relentless pursuit of the Aasvogels Carrion Hunter Killers led them to discover the concealed remains of an unrecovered Ashen Souls Astartes. Recognizing the significance, they secured these remains for a meticulous study. Teaming up with the Inquisition, the Aasvogels' Apothecarions—experts in assessing gene-seed purity across Adeptus Astartes chapters—launched an exhaustive analysis of the Ashen Souls' genetic materials. In a collaborative effort with the Magos Biologis of Horicoln, they ventured deep into the realm of genetic exploration to uncover the enigmatic origins of the Ashen Souls' gene-seed.

Their comprehensive research dissected genetic markers, intricate DNA sequences, and defining indicators. As the pieces began to fall into place, the evidence overwhelmingly suggested a chimeric lineage. This culmination of meticulous research, enriched by the Magos Biologis' expertise, formally designated the Ashen Souls as a Chimeric Chapter—a declaration was not made lightly but with utmost scientific rigor and thoroughness.

### Campaign

The discovery of the twist lineage set the stage for the Aasvogels' fervent campaign against the Ashen Souls. Motivated by their staunch belief in Astartes gene-seed purity and a relentless drive to purge deviations, the impending clash promised to be a defining chapter in Aasvogels' history. Prior to unleashing their full might, the Aasvogels launched covert operations, deploying elite reconnaissance units to gather crucial intel on the Ashen Souls. These clandestine endeavors provided invaluable insights, enabling the Aasvogels to strategize with unmatched precision.

#### All-Out Assault

Guided by Coragyn Atratus, the Aasvogels tracked down the Ashen Souls, who were entrenched in the midst of their own separate campaign on the distant planet of Harro'sin Prime in the Ultima Segmentum. Upon pinpointing the Ashen Souls' location, a meticulously planned assault was initiated against their fortified camp within a dormant volcano. A masterclass in siege warfare ensued as Coragyn Atratus orchestrated a surround-and-conquer strategy. Despite the initial element of surprise favoring the Aasvogels, the young chapter's overconfidence posed challenges, setting the stage for a gripping confrontation against the Ashen Souls' formidable defenses.

#### Counter-offensive

"*Brothers! Rally to the Emperor's light! Chaos may reign around us, but in unity, we find strength! Stand firm, and our resolve shall shatter the enemy's onslaught!"*"
—Captain Omaari before he was slain in battle.
However, the Ashen Souls were far from defenseless, and the Aasvogels soon encountered resistance. A well-executed counter-offensive initiated by the Ashen Souls included a stealth infiltration that resulted in the sudden death of the Aasvogels' 3rd Captain Aalan. Quickly regaining their composure, the Aasvogels met the challenge head-on, pushing back against the counter-offensive. It was a moment where determination and resolve clashed. This clash of wills underscored a glaring oversight: the Aasvogels' intelligence had significantly underestimated the Ashen Souls' capabilities.

In a surprising turn, the Ashen Souls unleashed their Nephilim Death Company, bloodthirsty warriors charging into the already embattled Aasvogels. The battle cries of the Nephilim reverberated across the battlefield as they laid waste to Astartes, beheading them and sowing chaos in their ranks. The Ashen Souls complemented this assault with precise sniper fire from their "Reaper" Pattern Bolt Rifles, eliminating many Aasvogels in the second wave of the counter-offensive. Chief Apothecary Lucriel fell in combat while valiantly tending to his fallen brothers, succumbing to overwhelming enemy forces as he refused to abandon those in need.

Amid the escalating chaos, the stark consequences of the Aasvogels' initial overconfidence became painfully clear. Although the Aasvogels managed to neutralize the immediate threat posed by the Nephilim Death Company, they found themselves still overwhelmed by the relentless sniper fire unleashed by the Ashen Souls. 8th Captain Omaari, fell in the ensuing battle, the companies disarrayed and severely depleted. With shame weighing on his heart, Coragyn Atratus issued a tactical retreat order for his chapter.

However, a squad of Terminators found themselves pinned down by heavy sniper fire. Unable to make a tactical retreat safely with the rest of the chapter, 1st Captain Aahronus created a window of opportunity for his men and unleashed a devastating suppression fire against the enemy and managed to take down several sharpshooters with the "Reaper" Pattern. Aahronus refused to relent, choosing to fight to the bitter end to ensure the survival of his brethren's retreat, ultimately meeting his heroic demise on the battlefield.

### Aftermath

"*Amalgamating gene-seeds is a slap in the face to the very essence of what it means to be an Astartes. The Ashen Souls may have thought they could fool us with their hybrid blood, but they underestimated the strength of our conviction to purity. We will never rest until every last one of those abominations is eradicated.*"
—Coragyn Atratus, Chapter Master of the Aasvogels following their defeat against the Ashen Souls.
This devastating defeat shattered their once unshakeable pride and arrogance, compelling them to face their own fallibility and the consequences of their overconfidence. Such a costly lesson burdened the Aasvogels with newfound humility, highlighting the steep price of their pride. The repercussions of this setback reverberated deeply within the Aasvogels Chapter, reshaping their collective identity. This calamitous defeat stood as a poignant reminder of the perilous pitfalls of hubris that had obscured their vision during their clash with the Ashen Souls. The Aasvogels, consumed by their faith in their righteousness and purity, had allowed this zeal to cloud their better judgment.

Eventually the humbled Aasvogels embarked on a long and challenging journey of rebuilding. They came to recognize the significance of humility and rekindled the rich cultural traditions of their homeworld, Aasarikaan. They also re-embraced the deep bonds of brotherhood that had fostered profound camaraderie among their ranks. This period was characterized by self-reflection and growth, as they learned to value not only their brotherhood but also the lessons of humility and unity. The Aasvogels reconstituted themselves to face new challenges, their spirits tempered by the harsh lessons of their past defeat.