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The 18th Chapter of the [[Raven Guard]] [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]] were known as the '''Ashen Claws''', taking their names from the [[Xeric]] tribes that supplied their first recruits. Before the Legion was reunited with their [[Primarch]], [[Corvus Corax]], they spent time under the tutelage of [[Horus]], who developed a stratagem he called the "Ashen Claw" whereby a sacrificial unit would draw the enemy out to allow the rest of Horus' force to strike their flank.{{Fn|1}}
Notably, [[Praetor (Rank)|Shade Captain]] [[Nerat Kirine]] of the 18th Chapter developed the strategy employed by the XIXth Legion, accompanied by the [[Luna Wolves]], in the [[Battle of Hell's Anvil]]. Initiating a concussive bombardment on the subterranean fortifications, the Legions allowed the [[Imperial Army]] to suffer the worst of the casualties whilst the 18th Chapter launched hit and run attacks on the Overseers. The battle established the reputation of assignment alongside the XIXth as a death sentence to the Imperial Army{{Fn|2b}} and, combined with their heritage as slaver[[slave]]r-warlords, contributed to the ill-will that Corax bore towards the [[Terra]]n veterans when he took command of the Legion.{{Fn|1}}
===Exile===
The Ashen Claws often decorate their armour with fragments of enemy weapons, including the skulls or teeth of alien beasts, taken as trophies, as well as carved stone charms similar to Terran jade. Although they no longer serve the Emperor, many still bear the [[Raptor Imperialis]] that indicates they were veterans of the Unification Wars.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|3b}}
Initially, the Ashen Claws were deeply influenced by their traditional association with slaver-warlords as well as the [[Sons of Horus]]. As a result, they treated regular humans poorly and as expandable, a trait which contributed to their exile by Corax.{{Fn|1}} Ironically, their exile forced the Ashen Claws to rely to a much greater degree on the regular humans of the Ghoul Stars both as recruits and for support roles, as the Ghoul Stars' low population count meant that human lives were rather valuable. Thus, the Ashen Claws gradually adapted and changed their culture: By M41, they were still vicious raiders and willing to engage in [[slavery]], but they treated the human population of Atargatis Prime as equals, with a human woman even co-ruling the world alongside Chapter Master [[Nehat Nev]].{{Fn|3b}} Furthermore, the tribes of Atargatis outright aligned themselves with various factions within the Ashen Claws, thereby being able to directly influence the Space Marines' politics and operations.{{Fn|3c}}
To replenish their [[gene-seed]] stocks, ammunition, weaponry, and other technologies, the Ashen Claws traded with the Carcharodons over millenia. Despite this, many Ashen Claws disdained the Carcharodons due to their alleged "mongrel" origin, unquestioning submission to the Imperium, and the latter's extremely cruel and inhuman culture.{{Fn|3b}} The Ashen Claws also deeply despise [[Chaos Space Marine]], viewing them as slaves and monsters.{{Fn|3b}}{{Fn|3e}}
