Heralds of Ash

The Armorial of the Heralds of Ash.

Heralds of Ash Battle-Brother of the 2nd Company, 4th Battleline Squad.

### **Specialty**

Psychic attack, Predictive Understanding, Religious Purges, Policing Actions, Suppression of Ideological Revolt, Targeted Decimation

### Successor Chapter(s)

None Known

The **Heralds of Ash** are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes created during the 6th Founding, which occurred sometime during the latter years of M33. Suspected of being created from the lineage of the heroic Blood Angels, the Heralds of Ash were one of several Chapter founded in the wake of the notable event known as 'The Year of Ghosts', when the Imperium was beset by extreme Warp activity and daemonic incursions. Only when the honoured dead rose up from their graves to drive back the terrors of the warp that the heart of the Imperium just barely managed to survive. Following this event the High Lords of Terra authorised the raising of a new Founding to help bring about stability and law back to those imperilled worlds that still suffered in the iron-grip of those who followed the Dark Gods.

## Chapter History

In M33, the newfound Heralds of Ash Chapter was ordered to claim their own Chapter planet, after being initially fleet-based. During their search for an unclaimed planet within the Imperium, the charismatic Rogue Trader Charles Septimus Valois convinced the Chapter Master to aid in his search for a long-lost relic on behalf of the Ecclesiarchy in exchange for exclusive rights to trade on a lucrative pilgrimage passage, which the Trader believes is on Accusation. A deal was made; the Rogue Trader received the relic to return to the Ecclesiarchial Cardinal [Redacted], the Astartes would the planet. Upon landing, a large contingent of Drukhari and Chaos cultists were discovered, and the subsequent combat between the Imperial forces, Dark Eldar, and Chaos heretics was ferocious. In the course of the brutal campaign, Charles fell in battle alongside his forces and the Heralds of Ash. To honour him, the Space Marines chose to build their fortress-monastery around the relic's burial site, preserving it for his descendants of his Rogue Trader House to return. The Inquisition, however, suspected the "relic" called a Philosopher's Stone to be tainted, and outright warned them to stay away, leaving the artifact in the Chapter's care. They stand vigil over its corrupting influence to this day.

Around the year 831.M33 (known as the 'Year of Ghosts') the fairly young Chapter was assigned to a campaign against a Word Bearers invasion of a holy shrine world that was created during the War of the Confessor, not many years before, alongside a contingent of Space Wolves, and many others. For a Hundred years the war raged on as not even the dead stayed truly that way. Ghosts and daemons were common sights, but in the end the Heralds of Ash and their allies were victorious but not without great cause. Their Chapter was critically low on personnel and even the Space Wolves were eliminated. When the Inquisition came forth to investigate the war it was decided the best policy was to kill those who were direct witnesses but more so to use the superstitions as a guard against further invasions.

The First Chapter Master should have the First Captain undertake a pilgrimage to Fenris, the Space Wolves' Chapter homeworld, to return the fallen Wolves' gene-seed and relics, and tell of their valor.

During the Plague of Unbelief (Unknown.M36) did the Heralds of Ash send out several companies tracking down and eliminating the many false prophets that appeared throughout the anarchic Age of Apostasy, some little more than madmen leading rebel armies, others spiritual demagogues who commanded worlds and armies.

## Rumors and Investigation Notes

Investigations: Heralds of Ash

Date:...............Multiple

Ref:................LBC//TEC37ORD56

Re:.................Adeptus Astartes - Heralds of Ash

* **Inquisitional Archive**: Noted Artifact coded *Philosopher's Stone* discovered by Heralds of Ash on world now designated Accusation has markings of Xenos and possibly other origins. The artifact seems to be indestructible, pursuant of artifact now deceased. Family of the Charles Septimus Valois warned never to claim artifact under Inquisitional authority. Archivists will be dispatched to study artifact under the care of the Heralds of Ash. Cardinal Pierre Beauvais who dispatched Charles, eliminated and declared ***Damnatio Memoriae***. Sizable compensation that was to be awarded upon retrieval has been forwarded to the family but now they are marked as worthy of observation evermore.

Investigation Status: Logged

Ref:................LBC//TEC37ORD56

Re:.................Adeptus Astartes - Heralds of Ash

* **Adpetus Mechanicus Geneseed Archive**: Suspected Blood Angels Sanguinius lineage. Key Genetic markers suspected of sharing similarities to samples from Blood Angels. Results of tests confirm {Corrupted Data} {Error Log 7D98RK5} Testing Sequence Data corrupted, Data lost, No Backups on file....

Archive Status: Logged

## Chapter Homeworld

Accusation's surface is Ashen Wastes full of the graves of the dead and the structures to house them. With nearly every square metre of dirt on Accusation devoted to the dead, even the capital city was considered an extravagance. This world is full of feral tribes who live outside the processing center cities. Mountains full of Cairns and Tombs fill the world while very large cities act as the points of contact with the greater Imperium. Death Cults stalk the living on Accusation with the only Hive being the Capital, all other cities fight shadow wars of faith to become the dominate in the eyes of the Imperium.

The narrow alleys and passages were steep and cobbled, leading up to the crowning monument -- the heart of the main hive city in both a physical and spiritual sense -- the Memorial Mausoleum. Nestled at the heart of the devotional architecture and adorning the metropolis like a crown was the enormous roof-dome of the sacred vault that dominated the city skyline. A colossal archway-barbican decorated the entrance to the memorial mausoleum. The pillars of the stately sepulchre were thick and tall, and the darkness of the threshold beckoned Imperial pilgrim and cleric alike.

The funereal beauty of the mausoleum was astounding: the intricate scrolling on the wall internments; the silver lettering adorning the floor slabs, recording the names of past pontiffs and cardinals of the Ecclesiarchy; loggia supports and fat sculpted pillars reaching up to the exquisite detail of the Mausoleum’s domed ceiling. Candles and incense burned from a thousand suspended sconces, and stern statues of Ecclesiarchs already elevated to sainthood by the Imperial Cult adorned the sepulchre space in a ring around a simple block-crypt of obsidian brick.

A silver-plated elevator was used to transport clerics and Adepta Sororitas guardians deep below the sepulchre to a small complex of condition-controlled crypt chambers residing behind a thick vault door. A circular gallery spiralled about the sepulchre’s exterior, made up of marble steps and landings, providing access to the wall-combs, vaultia and the upper stories of the Mausoleum.

Imperial mortuary lighters brought an unending supply of the Imperium's noble dead from necrofreighters down to the Accusation surface. The prestige of spending just a century in the precious earth drew cadavers from light years around. Senior officers of the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, members of Hive World noble houses, powerful merchant lords, Navigators, other planetary nobility and devoted members of the Ecclesiarchy itself were all buried in Accusation's sacred topsoil. Coffins and sarcophagi are dug up for shipment back to the families following the expiration of their leases in an unending cycle of inhumation and exhumation on a planetary scale. Grave niches in the catacombs are reused. A body may lay there for a set amount of time and any more time the buried or relatives are willing to pay for, thereafter the bones are removed and placed in an ossuary or charnel house.

A Servo-skull Manuifactorum makes up one of the great industries of the world along with a trade in pilgrimages. The tourist and pilgrim industry for people wanting to visit the mausoleums of famous people and saints is booming. Pilgrims have to pay to get to the areas where their mausoleums are, then have to pay to get close to the mausoleum, and then pay extra to go in the mausoleum. Many pilgrims don’t think about how to get back home after having visited the holy sites and stranded pilgrims make up a notable underclass on Accusation. Mausoleums have to be paid for. Those that don’t have any tourists or pilgrims paying for them, nor any funds or relatives paying upkeep are abandoned or reused.

Those who are not rich or important enough to be buried are cremated. The poorest dead are just thrown into gas crematories while those that have paid a bit more get incinerated with wood, and the kind of wood used are considered of importance, the more you pay the finer the wood used. Notable parts of Accusation are plantation forests that are grown only to create good funerary fires. Bones that are still there after cremation are considered blessed and are used to create lesser relics. While the richest get buried they don’t stay in their graves forever, unless they were significant enough to get one of the Imperial Organizations to pay.

### Fortress-Monastery

The Sanctuary, nestled in the heart of The Unredeemed, stands as a formidable structure, both physically and symbolically. Its towering silhouette dominates the skyline, casting a perpetual shadow over the city's inhabitants. The structure, weathered by the ages, bears the scars of countless conflicts and serves as a silent witness to the grim history of Accusation.

Built from the dark stone native to Accusation, the Sanctuary is a somber testament to the Chapter's austere nature. Its facade is adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of judgment, death, and the eternal struggle against the enemies of the Imperium. Each buttress and pillar tell a silent tale of sacrifice and purgation. Grotesque gargoyles adorn its ramparts, carved in the likeness of death masks, serving as both architectural embellishments and ominous sentinels.

Approaching the Sanctuary requires a pilgrimage through the desolation of The Unredeemed. The ruins and dilapidated structures serve as a haunting reminder of the consequences of perceived sins. Aspirants must navigate treacherous alleys, symbolizing the trials faced in the pursuit of purity. Only the strongest and most devoted individuals dare to traverse the ruined city and approach the Sanctuary. To earn the right to enter, aspirants must pledge sacrifice and loyalty, undertaking grueling trials that test not only their physical prowess but also their unwavering dedication to the Chapter. Those who persevere become the Angels of Death, rising above the downtrodden.

The city of The Unredeemed, developed around the Sanctuary, is a place of perpetual persecution. The lower classes, living in the constant shadow of the tower, endure lives of hardship and suffering. The narrow alleys echo with the sounds of despair, and makeshift tents house those deemed unworthy to enter the sanctuary's hallowed halls. The city's lower class, left to dwell in squalor, bears the weight of both physical and spiritual torment. The Sanctuary's shadow, a perpetual shroud, exacerbates their suffering. Daily, they witness the grim processions of those judged unworthy, adding to the city's somber atmosphere.

The Sanctuary's roof, divided into concentric rings echo with whispered prayers and funeral dirges, serves as a sacred space for the Chapter. The arrangement reflects the hierarchy of the Heralds of Ash, with the bodies of Astartes, serfs, and a mysterious innermost ring. The ossuary pit at the center collects the bleached bones of fallen brethren, a solemn reminder of the inevitable fate that awaits all. The ritual precinct of the Sanctuary is guarded by the Nusessalars, the caretakers of the dead. Only they are granted entry, ensuring the sanctity of the ossuary and the sacred nature of the collected remains. The wind carries their murmured invocations, binding the fallen to the Chapter's eternal cause. The bones, exposed to the elements, undergo a natural process of purification, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, the eternal journey of the soul—ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

The Sanctuary stands not just as a fortress but as a living tapestry woven with the threads of penitence, sacrifice, and purification. Its austere facade conceals the complexity of rituals and trials within, a testament to the ceaseless dedication of the Heralds of Ash to their sacred duty. The city's fate is forever entwined with the sanctuary's grim presence—a somber symphony of ashes and echoes.

The grand mausoleums of the City of the Unredeeemed, each a potential fortress, act as strongholds against invaders. Connected by subterranean passages, these citadels are fortified with reinforced stone, making breaching a monumental task. Each mausoleum is a potential last stand for the city's defenders. The labyrinthine alleys, while treacherous for outsiders, conceal hidden traps known only to the city's defenders. Pitfalls, concealed flamers, and trapdoors are part of the intricate network, making any invasion a journey through a deadly maze.

The Sanctuary's outer defenses are formidable, built from layers of adamantine harvested from Accusation's depths. These ramparts are nigh impervious, a stark contrast to the dilapidated structures surrounding the Unredeemed. A mystic shield, crafted through psychic rites, envelops the Sanctuary. This barrier is a blend of psychic energy and technological augmentation, rendering conventional siege weaponry futile. Only the most potent warp-infused weaponry can hope to breach this ethereal defense. Scattered throughout the Sanctuary are chambers where the Chapter's Librarians conduct protective rituals. These rituals not only fortify the defenses but also enhance the psychic resonance of the entire structure. The air within crackles with latent energy, a deterrent to any malevolent force. Beneath the Sanctuary lie an intricate network of catacomb tunnels. These passages provide clandestine routes for defenders to move swiftly and counter-attack invaders unexpectedly. The tunnels also house chambers for storing essential supplies and relics.

## Chapter Organisation

While the nominal fighting strength of the Chapter is kept at the *Codex Astartes*-approved 1,000 Space Marines, the Heralds of Ash do not appear to use the *Codex*'s prescribed company structure, instead basing its organisation around that of the demi-company rather than the 100-man company. Like most Chapters, the Heralds of Ash possess elite Battle-Brothers that make up a core group of Veteran Space Marines.

### Officer Ranks

* **Magister** - Chapter Master equivalent.
* **Thane** - Captain equivalent.
* **Vigilant**- Lieutenant equivalent.

### Senior Specialist Ranks

* **Mortifex** (Chief Apothecary/Master of the Forge) The Mortifex is the master artisan of death, overseeing the careful crafting and preservation of both biological and mechanical forms in service of the Chapter's somber purpose.
* **Pyrosiphon** (Chief Librarian/Reclusiarch) - These unique individuals are the conduits of both psychic might and spiritual guidance, weaving the threads of the Warp and the Emperor's will together.

### Specialist Ranks

* **Death Singer** - Chaplain and Librarian mixed known to specialize in divinations to grow their knowledge in channeling the Warp in the name of the God-Emperor. The Death Singers make extensive use of the Emperor's Tarot and of Holy Chants to guide their Divinations.

* **Emberscribe** - Masters of the sacred lore and spiritual guides, the Emberscribes lead the Chapter in devotion and ensure the purity of their faith.

* **Nusessalars** - Apothecary and Techmarine Hybrids whose work was to take care of the Dead and Dying. They perform final rites on those of the Chapter and take care of the sacred dying in Dreadnoughts. These Caretakers are experts in both mechanical and medical fields to keep the the dead preserved or to help the process of decay along in a way to hold back the evils of Nurgle.

### Line Ranks

* **Ashenkind** (Standard Battle-Brothers) - The backbone of the Chapter, each Ashenkind is a living ember in the fire of battle, forged and tested in the crucible of war. They are trained in various combat doctrines and serve in different roles within the demi-companies.

### Specialist Formations

* **Thanatogators** - so named for the apex predator of Accusation that has human skull-shaped external bone plates protecting its head. Thriving in the "ash swamps", swampland formed near crematoriums, the only life here are hideous mutants that not only survive, but thrive in waters poisoned with promethean fuels used for cremations leaking from the many crematoriums. Herald of Ash's Terminators and Primaris Aggressor Squads must pass a a rite of entry in which inductees must enter the ash swamps to hunt and kill a Thanatogator.

* **Pyrewalkers** - Inductees walk through funeral pyres as a rite of entry to the Vanguard Veterans of the Heralds of Ash.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

***Chapter Master of the Heralds of Ash***
**Command Squad**
**Chapter Equerries**
**Acolytes of the Ashen Creed** (Advisors to the Magister)
**Requiem Seers** (Counselors and Psykers)
**Death Singers** | **Mortifex**

## Chapter Recruitment

Accusation's society is full of death cults who each practice their own way of sending the enemies of the Emperor's to his judgment and there is a constant shadow war between the cults about whose practice is the true path. Every 10 years all the cults send their best young aspirants to the gates of city of The Unredeemed where they have to first get to the Sanctuary tower. The prospects are told they must enter the catacombs, and fight the undead haunting the tunnels, clearing the way so a Chaplain may conduct an exorcism and banish the traitors' spirits; in truth, they're fighting predators imported from death worlds, as well as aesthetically modified combat servitors, with which the observing Chaplain may see how the prospects fare under stress. Many cult-aspirants die during this time, those that return either do it broken or in honour, those that don't return are either dead or have been found fit to become initiates in the Chapter.

The chapter have hidden keeps beneath the deepest/most dangerous catacombs protected by traps, and many passages are too small for full-grown men, those making it so that only the young can get all the way. Once they have come far enough they are captured and given a full mental and physical check, those boys that are show to be physically and mentally fit become initiates, the others are healed, memory scrambled so they don’t remember anything. Chapter took over some disused catacombs for use as training sites. To avoid ruffling feathers with the organizations maintaining graves on Accusation, these organizations and the planet's populace are told the catacombs belong to traitors whose crimes and sins weren't revealed until after death, forcing the Administratum to declare them damnatio memoriae.

## Chapter Beliefs

They deviate significantly from the *Codex Astartes*. Ash is considered sacred by the Chapter, and when Heralds of Ash Battle-Brothers are called to go to a distant war they perform one last act before leave-taking, a ceremony known as 'Shouldering the Burden'. This ash is carried in a flask by every member of the Chapter, to anoint every planet that they step foot on in a ritual ceremony called 'Sharing the Burden'.

Knowledge is power but needs to be seen through the lens of the Emperor. They believe there is no discipline their intellect cannot master, no secret they cannot unlock and be made to serve their purpose. For the Ashen Heralds, knowledge is salvation, the means to controlling the psychic legacy of their Primarch's gene. Every book was sacred, every writing worthy of study, every document a resource to be drained. The Ashen Heralds are publicly dogmatic, swearing oaths of loyalty and singing the Imperial hymns. They fight for the expansion of the Emperor's realm with diligence. To further this Vision Journeys to understand the future and their connections to it as blessed by the God Emperor.

Even with Knowledge being power they know some knowledge needs to be kept secret for that power to be contained and some knowledge is straight up forbidden. It is unknown how much forbidden knowledge has come to be in the Chapter, but for some restricted knowledge, the death of one of a senior officer has their body ritualistically eaten by their successor, ensuring the secret knowledge is passed along. The consumption of fallen captains by their followers is done in order to preserve their hard-won skills and experience.

Heralds make use of fire in many of their rituals and ceremonies and believe that they must be cleansed by the pain of fire before every major undertaking or initiative. The Chapter Cult that governs the beliefs of the Heralds, placing great emphasis on self-reliance, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. They hold a firm belief in isolationism, the tenet that only through spiritual meditation and exploration performed alone and in isolation from others can a person gain a true understanding of both themselves and how they can best serve the will of the Emperor.

Heralds are an extremely devout group whose faith ventured into fanaticism. They are completely dedicated to the Ecclesiarchy and are ardent followers of the God-Emperor. They greatly emphasized religion in everything they do and act with great zeal in their quest to purge the worlds of "heretics". They are portrayed as considerably dangerous zealots and are known and feared around the Imperium. They possess an intense proclivity towards the use of torture to "purify" those they deem heretical and are infamous for using painful and varied forms of execution. They have tried and questioned hundreds using brutal and intense methods of religious interrogation, but only a traumatized few have lived through the treatment.

After battle the Chapter hold a great memorial service for the fallen, they expect any allied Forces to participate, and react hostile to any who don’t. Most Battle-brothers write death poems before important battles. The Heralds, when possible, treat all the dead on the battle field with proper burials/cremation and death rituals. Be they allies or enemies. The Heralds are usually a quiet, sombre, and melancholic Chapter but have great reveling feasts for the death after battle. They try to keep their hunger and rage in check by doing some form of artistic endeavours mainly calligraphy, death poem writing, gravestone carving, death mask making, scrimshawing, coffin making, sculpting of grave statues or mausoleum planning and making. The Chapter’s generally battle-brothers rest in specially prepared grave niches. Battle-brothers always carry around candles they light at any graveyard or lone grave they pass, including the ones they dig themselves.

Dead battle-brother's remains are used to enhance the arms and armor the fallen used to have. By using the reclaimed carbon from his ashes to make auspex-absorbent material with which to coat repaired armor, or press the ashes into a diamond coating for the fallen's sword, in addition of using the bones of the fallen as pieces for the fallen's weapons like Femurs for buttstocks. Techmarines and Chaplains tell a Marine his predecessors' names, when/where/how they died, how their remains were used to improve the relic arms and armor he is about to inherit, and how his own remains will be used to improve his successors' arms and armor, in a grim ceremony as the wargear is issued.

## Combat Doctrine

The Heralds of Ash have a preference for close-ranged fire fights and use many Melta and Flamer weapons to burn whole swathes of infantry troops and to smash armoured foes. Their coming was nothing less than apocalyptic judgement delivered upon the guilty from on high, as descending from the skies on wings of fire. Against the xenos, no such quarter was given, and the wrath of the Chapter was made manifest as a tide of unrelenting carnage that only gave way once complete extermination had been achieved. The Chapter's tactical doctrines are heavily focused on the use of powerful shock assaults to shatter an enemy's resistance in a single, devastating blow. However, they cannot be counted upon to hold a position in the same disciplined way as the Ultramarines or Dark Angels, as any Marine in the midst of battle could suddenly him to charge forward in an attempt to tear the enemy limb from limb. This often has the benefit of creating victories in the unlikeliest of situations through sheer aggression.

Before battle, the Heralds of Ash gather in ritual prayer, chanting hymns and doctrines to affirm their faith in the power of the Emperor burning great effigies of the enemy and invoking blood rights to engage their primal instincts. Once done groups of Heralds charge forth in Berserk fury as remainder pick up the standards and chant holy prayers for guidance and victory to a steady drumming of war. The relentless advance of the Heralds is a terrifying sight, as the monotonous chant and beat of drums can break even the strongest will. The night before battle, the enemy can hear mutterings emanating from all around, echoed in the pounding drums, stretching the nerve and instilling every man with fear. The unshakable belief of the Heralds of Ash, that they alone can save the galaxy. Any victory won over the Heralds of Ash is only won at a terrible cost, as their fanatical attacks will only ever end when all are dead.

Groups of Heralds are charged beyond the battlefield with hunting down works of false doctrine and those who purveyed it, consigning both to destruction and eradicating flame. On the battlefield, they are tasked with seeking out those things which gave the foe the heart and courage to fight: charismatic leaders, priests, battle flags and champions. Once singled out, they are destroyed with brutal fervour, often far in advance of their own lines in order to do so, with no thought as to their own survival. Carrion eaters are somehow drawn to the Chapter’s presence and follow them, partially due to the Chaplains and Judiciars bearing censers burning incense whose scent attracts the beasts. Though none say why this is for it has not been proven the correlation.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

A high percentage of Heralds of Ash manifesting some level of psychic ability. A small, but significant percentage are prone to physical mutation. The rate of fatalities among aspirants is frighteningly high. There are also those who argued that the mental scars suffered by those who survived the change were just as deep, instilling a sense of cause and purpose that manifested as unflinching, unreasoning fanaticism bordering on madness, a certainty which could in mere moments turn to insane fury when that purpose was challenged.

A tendency for skin pigmentation to permanently darken and appear Ashen often adopting an unnatural granite-like or ash quality. The Heralds of Ash have a grim determination to do their duty. This is not so much a desire to die as it is an acceptance that death is the only end to the path a Space Marine treads, and everything he does is another step along that path and one closer to his eventual demise. As this condition increases, the Battle-Brother can become more and more fatalistic about his chances. These black moods will not affect his willingness to do his duty nor makes him turn from his brothers, but it can press in upon his squadmates all the same.

### Primarch's Curse: Holy Path of Destruction

#### The Craving for Battle

Deep within the psyche of every Herald of Ash is a destructive yearning, a battle fury and hunger that must be held in abeyance in every waking moment. Few Battle-Brothers can hold this in check unceasingly -- it is far from unknown for Heralds of Ash to temporarily succumb to its lure at the height of battle. This craving is the Heralds of Ash darkest secret and greatest curse, but it is also their greatest salvation, for it brings with it a humility and understanding of their own failings which make them understand their connection to the Emperor as humanity's warriors.

#### Holy Rage

The Heralds of Ash suffer from a psychic imprint left upon them they don't understand. This can cause them to go insane prior to or during battle and feel a terrible rage that is almost all consuming. Rather than let them face a slow, insane death, Heralds of Ash will form those who have newly succumbed to the Rage into a special unit known as Breakers. Breakers who has fallen to the Holy Rage are kept awake and not sedated but bound when not in combat. Their ravings and screams are faithfully recorded, since it is believed that there are prophesies and holy insights hidden in them. Wounds appear on the raving and restrained Marines despite there being no sign of the hand that inflicted the wounds, due to the sheer psychic trauma inflicted upon them. Sometimes meditative rituals during which the battle-brother is buried alive and has to claw themselves out when finished are used to try to bring a brother back from the brink of becoming a Breaker.

## Chapter Fleet

**2 Battle Barges**

* **Purifier of Heresy**: One of the Chapter's Battle Barges, known for its formidable armaments and role in leading the charge against heretical forces.
* **Ashen Judgment**: The second Battle Barge, specializing in close-range firefights and delivering apocalyptic judgment upon the enemies of the Imperium.

**10 Strike Cruisers**

* **Emperor's Vigilance**: The Strike Cruiser tasked with maintaining a vigilant presence in the outer regions of the Heralds of Ash's assigned sectors, ready to respond rapidly to threats.
* **Cleansing Pyre**: Known for its role in purging worlds of heretical influence, this Strike Cruiser carries the Heralds of Ash into the heart of the enemy's territory.
* **Divine Retribution**: A Strike Cruiser with advanced psychic detection capabilities, aiding the Chapter in rooting out hidden enemies.

**10 Rapid Strike vessels**

* **Swift Reckoning (I-X)'**: A fleet of Rapid Strike vessels, each named Swift Reckoning followed by a numerical designation. These vessels are used for swift, surgical strikes, targeting key enemy positions and providing support to ground forces.
* **Inferno's Descent**: A specially modified Rapid Strike vessel equipped with incendiary weaponry, used to create fiery chaos among the enemies during planetary assaults.

## Chapter Relics

* **Philosopher's Stone**: A possibly Xenos Artifact locked away in the Vaults of the Heralds. This particular artifact falls under Inquisitional scrutiny as well as being of interest to certain sects of the Imperial Cult. With a vast network of interested parties all wanting control of a possibly dangerous artifact, the Heralds of Ash maintain a vigil to keep the artifact from all those that would try to use it.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colors

The Heralds of Ash sport subdued colors that reflect their somber and ash-themed aesthetic:

* **Subdued Purple**: Represents the sacred and mystical aspects of ash, acknowledging its connection to death and the divine.
* **Grey**: Symbolizes the ash and dust that covers their homeworld, Accusation, as well as the stoic nature of the Chapter.
* **Gold**: Represents the sacred and imperial aspects of their duty, as well as the purification through fire.

### Chapter Badge

The Chapter Badge of the Heralds of Ash is a symbolic representation of their beliefs and mission:

* **A central, stylized flame**: Represents the purifying nature of fire, which the Chapter sees as a cleansing force.
* **Scrollwork and script**: Depict sacred texts and knowledge, showcasing the Chapter's reverence for information and the Emperor's wisdom.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Chapter

*Feel free to add your own*
"*The path to salvation is paved with the ashes of the unfaithful.*"
—Anonymous
## Gallery

Heralds of Ash Concept Using Space Marine Game
## Acknowledgements

* Thanks to Gamiel, Bjorn Firewalker, and Minigiant of Bolter and Chainsword Forums for deep discussions and myriad of ideas that have been incorporated into this chapter. Minigiant went above and beyond as well with deep analysis and editing, still working on taking in all he did.
* Thanks to Phrosz and Mia Pallas for the review and help straightening out this Chapter.
* Thanks to Algrim Whitefang for the Art

## Links Elsewhere posted

Bolter and Chainsword Forum Index Mechanicum: **Bolter & Chainsword Forums - IA: Heralds of Ash**

 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Iron Hands Successors
 Ultramarines Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Unknown Lineage

[Source]