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This article is about the weapon of Leman Russ; for the Space Marine, see Gungnir (Space Wolf). |
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This article is about the weapon of Leman Russ; for the Space Marine Chapter, see Wolfspear. |
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Emperor’s Spear redirects here. For the Space Marine Chapter, see Emperor's Spears. |
The Spear of Russ, known by the Emperor of Mankind as the Dionysian Spear[6] and sometimes known as the Wolfspear,[7] Emperor's Spear,[5d] Spear of the Emperor,[5c] or its hidden name Gungnir[5b], is a legendary artefact of the Space Wolves Chapter, which was wielded by their Primarch Leman Russ.
History
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Space Wolf (Novel Series) |
The Spear was forged by the Emperor himself during the Age of Strife inside His very first subterranean fortress[6] and contains a portion of His power. Originally known as the Dionysian Spear, it is the sister of the Apollonian Spear. The Dionysian Spear has the ability to "illuminate" those it pierces, revealing to them some aspect of truth.[5]
Great Crusade and Horus Heresy
The weapon was later given to Russ on Seraphina, as a reward for the completion of the Wheel of Fire campaign[6], but he was made uneasy by the spear's presence and never took it with him into battle. He would often "lose" it on battlefields or "forget" it in conference chambers and he carried it only to please the Emperor. Despite his attempts to part with the weapon, it would always ultimately return to his side. While on Fenris, Russ saw a vision of himself that revealed the nature of the Spear and he pierced himself with it, revealing to him the truth regarding the nature of the Primarchs. Afterward, Russ became fonder of the weapon and used it in battle. Later, during the duel between Horus and Leman Russ at the Battle of Trisolian, Russ used the Spear to not only badly wound the Warmaster, but also restore a measure of his sanity and former glory, washing away much of the corruption that had come to plague him on Molech.[5]
Later, on Yarant, the 13th Company seemed amused by the fact that the current Space Wolves view the relic with such awe.[2b] During the Battle of Yarant, during the Heresy, Russ gave the weapon to Bjorn.[3]
Post-Heresy
Later, sometime during the Great Scouring, the spear was snatched up by the Wolf Lord Garm and used to injure Magnus the Red, primarch of the Thousand Sons, when Leman Russ stumbled in battle against him, buying Russ the opportunity to drive off the traitor, albeit at the expense of Garm's own life. The Spear was stored for millennia in the Shrine of Russ on the planet Garm, named for the Wolf Lord who fell there. Prophecies of the Space Wolves state that when Leman Russ returns for the Wolf Time he will return to Garm to reclaim his weapon.[1a] The Spear was lost, however, when elements of the Thousand Sons, including the sorcerer Madox, stole it for use in a ritual to bring their primarch through to the material world from the warp. The Great Company of Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist was able to interrupt the ritual, when (then Blood Claw) Ragnar Blackmane seized up the Spear of Russ and hurled it through the warp portal, stabbing the eye of Magnus. This stopped the ritual and closed the portal, but at the cost of losing the Spear of Russ in the warp.[1]
The spear was later used by Madox in a ritual that would cause all Space Wolves to succumb to the curse of the Wulfen, destroying the chapter and critically weakening the Imperium. Ragnar and several other Space Wolves made their way to the warp duplicate of the planet Charys in the Eye of Terror and, with assistance from elements of the Thirteenth Great Company, stopped the ritual before the damage was irreversible. With the help of Rune Priest Torvald the Reaver and Navigator Gabriella Belisarius, Ragnar and the survivors returned to Charys and the Spear was returned to Garm.[2a]
Later, during the Siege of the Fenris System, the Spear was taken up by Egil Iron Wolf and used once again against Magnus.[4]
According to the mythology of some of Fenris's tribes, as told by their gothi, the Spear of Russ was given to Leman Russ by the Emperor. These tales also claim that, though the primarch did not favour the Spear, it served him well and contained many powers, among them that lightning would appear in Fenris's skies whenever Russ threw it and that its touch taught the truth of a man to himself.[7]
Overview
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Wolfsbane (Novel) |
The spear has a haft as thick as a comms array’s sounding pole terminated in a sculpture of a snarling wolf. From the mouth protruded a sword-long, leaf-headed blade of shining gold. Fine knotwork crawled all over the plated plasteel. Slung under the wolf’s body was the vented box of a disruption field generator, the power transmission cabling and field dispersal studs cunningly hidden by the decoration. There were subtler technologies woven into the blade besides. It was a psy weapon, a thing of the Lord of Mankind, come out of His forges and suffused with His mastery of science and the warp. Even inactive, it gave off a particular feel, a resonant echo of the Emperor’s presence, that bred unease and filled the hearts of men with dark foreboding.[5a]
The spear shines brightly and arcs warp-lightning while engaged in melee. The light shone makes unholy darkness writhe away and where the lightning contacts, warp corruption recoils.[2d] When thrown by Russ, Gungnir can pierce the armour of a Contemptor Dreadnought. Moments after hitting a target, warp-lightning might consume the target and cause it to detonate with significant force.[5c]
Awakening
In preparation for his attempt to kill Horus Lupercal, Leman Russ would enter the Underverse seeking a boon to aid him in the fight. After a series of trials from the Erlking, the false Leman Russ would impart the name of the Emperor's spear to Leman Russ. Then the false-Russ would stab the true Russ with Gugnir through his heart, imparting the knowledge of what the primarchs truly were. This truth would haunt Russ and the knowledge would eventually drive him from his home.[5b]
Powers
Gugnir is an old name borrowed from an old god whose world not so different to Fenris. This is the spear that cannot miss, that drives forever at the truth of things. It is the Wolfsbane. This spear was made bythe Allfather. A portion of His might was beaten into its blade.[5b]
Gungnir’s great gift is wisdom. The Emperor sees much. The spear contains a portion of His sight. Because of that it can show the truth to all men, no matter how great or meek, and no matter how painful the revelation. It is merciless in that regard. It speaks mostly of death. That is why Leman Russ fears it.[5b]
Horus' Wound
When the Emperor's Spear wounded Horus a display of the spear, Horus, and Leman were briefly enveloped in a blinding display of light and lightning emanating from Horus and the spear. This briefly removed the unholy red glow haloing his head and he seems to speak with some clarity and deep regret to Leman for but a moment before his corrupt power rekindled and took hold again.[5d]
Trivia
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- The Spear of Russ, also known as Gungnir, shares a name with the mythical Gungnir, the spear of Odin. Like Gungnir, the Spear of Russ will always return to the hand of its wielder. Also, Odin pierced himself with Gungnir much like Russ did, to reveal a secret.
Sources
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- 1: Grey Hunter (Novel) — The Space Wolf Omnibus
- 1a: Chapter Two, pg. 546
- 2: Wolf's Honour (Novel) — Space Wolf: The Second Omnibus:
- 3: Corax (Anthology) — The Weregeld
- 4: War Zone Fenris: Wrath of Magnus — The Serpent and the Wolf
- 5: Wolfsbane (Novel)
- 6: Two Metaphysical Blades (Short Story)
- 7: The Wolves of Raukos (Short Story)
