Audun (Battle Leader)
Audun[1d] is a Wolf Guard Battle Leader of the Space Wolves Chapter.[1a]
History
He was to be among the Space Wolves sent to fight[1a] the Black Legion[1h] on Ceretan, when the Chapter received a plea for aid from Lya'Bru. As it seemed certain the Space Wolves would be victorious against the Traitor Legion, Audun was instead assigned a strike force to aid the Imperial world, from a raid by the Orks' Goffs Tribe.[1a] The veteran Space Wolf Laarsbruk[1d] served as his second-in-command,[1a] but when they arrived at Lya'Bru, Audun discovered the Xenos had launched a full-scale invasion and his strike force was outnumbered.[1b] The Battle Leader still led his forces against the Goffs, but he also attempted to warn the Space Wolves on Ceretan about the invasion. However, Audun discovered that his communications were being blocked.[1c]
The situation worsened, when the Battle Leader learned that the Black Legion was fighting beside the invading the Goffs.[1d] This led Audun to suspect a larger plot was at hand, as the Black Legion were also fighting the Space Wolves on Ceretan, which he could still not make contact with. Though at Laarsbruk's urging, the Battle leader focused on saving Lya'Bru from the Orks.[1e] Even with a string of victories, however, the Goffs' numbers seemed to be increasing.[1f] In order to reassess their campaign against the Orks, Audun ordered his scattered forces to regroup at a fortress. During their meeting though, a Webway Portal suddenly opened within the fortress and Asuryani from the Craftworld Ulthwé appeared.[1g]
Though Laarsbruk advised Audun to attack them, the Battle Leader refused and instead spoke with the Farseer leading the Ulthwé. The Asuryani leader warned that the Black Legion sought to destroy both their forces and that the Traitor Legion was using the Goffs as puppets in their invasion of Lya'Bru. The Farseer then offered to enter an alliance with Audun, so that they could defeat both the Black Legion and the Orks. While Laarsbruk warned Audun, that he could not trust the Asuryani, the Battle Leader still agreed to the Xenos leader's alliance. He then informed Laarsbruk that it was the Emperor's will that they defeat the invaders and that Ulthwé's forces would serve Him in that task.[1g] But when Audun asked why the Ulthwé sought the alliance, the Farseer stated it was because of visions the Xenos leader had received.[1h]
These showed him that the death of the Space Wolves on Lya'Bru would effectively breed Chaos. As it did, the Farseer informed Audun, when the Chapter's forces on Ceretan were killed, by the Black Legion. This occurred, after the Space Wolves were tricked into falling into a trap set by the Black Legion's Chaos Lord[1h] Lupus.[1m] The Traitor Legion was then able to slaughter them and by doing so, Lupus brought glory to the Chaos Gods. The Farseer, though, promised to lead Audun to Lupus,[1h] who had also been responsible for blocking the Battle Leader's communications,[1n][1o] so he could avenge their deaths. The Battle Leader agreed, but would do so only after he had saved Lya'Bru by defeating the Orks. To that end, the two forces then launched an attack that destroyed the Goffs' weapon and ammo storage areas.[1h] This not only permanently crippled the Orks' offensive, but also caused the Goffs to turn upon themselves and the Black Legion as well.[1i]
Laarsbruk then informed Audun, that an Ultramarines relief force would soon arrive on Lya'Bru. The veteran then stated that their alliance with the Ulthwé Farseer was now no longer needed, but Audun refused to listen. The Battle Leader claimed, that he would use whatever weapon he could to seek revenge for their dead on Ceretan. With the Goffs now dealt with, Audun led an attack on the Black Legion's ships on Lya'Bru, so they could not escape the Orks' wrath.[1i] After doing so, the Farseer stated he would now lead them to Lupus' Daemon World,[1j] Eradinos,[1k], but they had to leave quickly or the Chaos Lord would elude them. Before they could depart, however, the Commander of the Ultramarines relief force confronted Audun and asked why he was working with the Ulthwé. This was after the Ultramarines had just been ambushed, and the Commander refused to accept that Audun was using the Xenos to avenge his slain Battle Brothers. The Commander then ordered the relief force to attack the Space Wolves, when Audun would not stop defending the Ulthwé. Though the Ultramarines tried to kill both of their forces, the Battle Leader and the Farseer's alliance emerged victorious against the relief force.[1j]
With Lya'Bru now saved, the Space Wolves and Ulthwé invaded Lupus' Daemon World, Eradinos.[1k] They were unaware however, that the Ultramarines pursued them and arrived at the Daemon World as well. But when their Commander saw Audun's alliance fighting the Black Legion, he realized that the Battle Leader's cause was just. This led the Commander to order the Ultramarines to join the alliance's battle against the Traitor Legion as well.[1l] The three forces then succeeded in defeating Lupus' Chaos Space Marine and Daemon hordes. When the battle was over,[1m] Audun tracked down the Chaos Lord and personally killed Lupus in a duel. Laarsbruk then congratulated Audun for completing their mission, avenging their slain Battle Brothers and for bringing honour to the Space Wolves. And because of the Battle Leader's accomplishments, Laarsbruk was sure that Audun would soon become one of their Chapter's Wolf Lords.[1m]
