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Space Wolves

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|Chapter Strength= 12 [[Great Companies]], at least 1440 battle-brothers
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==Homeworld==
[[Fenris]] is the homeworld of the Space Wolves. A planet locked in cold much of each year and wracked by tectonic shifts that change the landscape of the planet greatly each year. The constant shift and harsh conditions shape the people of Fenris into a hardy and strong breed. Tempered for battle in the constant war for survival against the elements, the monsters of the great seas, and competing tribes, and that is the way the Space Wolves like it. Instead of reforming the society of their homeworld as most Legions did, Leman Russ kept Fenris the same, kept the various sea going, island living tribes the same as they had always been, to keep them hardy and strong. As the tribes war the Space Wolves monitor their efforts, and every so often when two tribes wage war against each other, a wolf skull masked priest will appear on a fiery chariot in the sky to watch. Whenever the Wolf Priests of the Emperor’s warriors is watching, the tribes of fenris cease what they were doing and re-form their battle lines. If a tribe had been raiding an enemy in swift and merciless butchery, they will instantly cease and allow their foes to be armed. For only in true battle can the Emperor’s chosen see the warriors of Fenris at their best, and choose those worthy of ascent.
 
The seas of Fenris are home to creatures that seem to be straight from the legends and nightmares of the people of ancient Terra, yet they are very real to the inhabitants of Fenris. Enormous and deadly Krakens, sea Dragons that could swallow armored tanks whole and massive predatory sharks. Once an outsider has seen the fury and power of such creatures, one gains a new respect for the people of Fenris, who challenge such beasts with iron spears and axes, aboard simple longboats called Dragonships, that are much of the time barely a fraction of the size of the mighty sea wyrms that the people of Fenris hunt.
 
In opposition to the chaotic change of Fenris’ mighty seas, the massive continent known as Asaheim is home to the Space Wolves themselves. Populated by mighty Ice Trolls and Fenresian Wolves and other monsters the Aspirants and Space Wolves often test their skills against the various beasts populating the glaciers, ice plains, and mountains of the continent.
==History==
===Horus Heresy===
Just prior to the [[The Horus Heresy]]saw the Galaxy drenched in blood and war, as Horus and no less than nine of the Space Wolves came Marine Legions descended into conflict with their brother Space Marines once againtreachery. The Primarch of As the galaxy was thrown into chaos the [[Thousand Sons]] Space Marines, [[Magnus]], had ignored the Emperor's command to Wolves were however not dabble involved in sorcerymany of the terrible fighting at Terra. The Nevertheless the Space Wolves were then ordered by heavily involved in the Emperor to bring Magnus before foundations of the him to answer for this. RussHeresy, however, was convinced by Horus to launch an attack on when they forged their ageless feud with the [[Thousand Sons rather than attempt to negotiateSon's]] Space Marine Legion. The surprise assault upon the Sons' home world of Prospero was furious,  Texts and rather successful; however, many of accounts recovered both from the Sons, including Magnus himself, escaped into the wild region libraries of space known as the [[Eye of TerrorProspero]]. A blood feud still exists between Wolves and the survivors histories of the Thousand Sons, who are now dedicated Space Wolves have been pieced together to the [[Chaos]] God [[Tzeentch]]provide accounts of what followed.
During As the Horus Heresyripened [[Magnus the Red]], Primarch of the Thousand Sons, sent a psychic message to the Emperor warning him of Horus’ betrayal. However in so doing Magnus revealed the extent of his pursuit of sorcery, affirming Russ’ deepest suspicions about the cyclopean Primarch. At Russ’ insistence the Emperor agreed that Magnus must be brought to account for his betrayals. Gathering his entire legion Leman Russ traveled across the stars to bring down the Thousand Sons. His suspicions further affirmed by half-truths and lies spun by Horus, Russ swept down on Prospero with the weight of his entire Legion. Bombarding the planet mercilessly and tearing a bloody swath across the planet to the very citadel of the Thousand Sons. Prospero had been a paradise of a world, ice and ivory towers scraping the sky, vast man made lakes and reflecting pools, and magnificent libraries and places of learning. Nevertheless Russ felt it was simply a veneer of civilization over a tainted heart. The Space Wolves assaulted Prospero without mercy and the fighting against the Thousand Sons was fierce indeed, lasting many days at the cost of thousands of lives.  No matter how wise the Thousand Sons were far from Earth, alongside or how potent their sorcery was, they could not stand against the sheer fury of the Space Wolves on the field of war. At the center of the Space Wolves battlelines was the 13th Great Company lead by Jorin Bloodfang. The 13th Company was comprised of those battle brothers who manifested the curse of the wulfen, transformed into half wolf beasts in the Dark Angelsheat of combat. Against such fury and bestial ferocity the Thousand Sons could not hold, eventually a massive hole was torn in the lines of the Thousand Sons and slowly but surely the warriors of Prospero were unable culled, cut down by the Space Wolves sheer fury.  The loss of every single Space Marine of the Thousand Sons is recorded in Prospero’s Lament, which while certainly suspect, is the only account of Magnus’ terrible bargain. Watching his legion torn apart by the bestial Wolves, Magnus roared to the heavens for salvation and help came. Magnus’ body was warped by insane power, and ten fingered hands shot from the soil of Prospero to assist defend it’s fortresses, the screams of Magnus drove hundreds of Space Wolves insane and still they fought on, their loyalist brethren in fury and willpower alone driving them on.  It was then that Magnus charged forth and laid into the fighting at Space Wolves, his horrific gaze petrifying anything it fell on, turning even the capital worldstoutest Long Fangs to dust, [[Terra]]unstoppable the Giant crashed through the Space Wolves. Knowledge Leman Russ disengaged from the swirling melee and lifted a Thousand Sons marine bodily and threw him into the face of Magnus. Temporarily blinded by the imminent arrival attack Russ smashed into Magnus. Somehow the giant did not fall and instead delivered a crushing blow to Russ’ chest, sending splinters of Ceramite into his heart. Nevertheless Russ grabbed Magnus’ arm as it drew back for another punch and kicked the two Legions, which would tip Primarch in the balance eye. Howling in favour pain Magnus stumbled back and Russ took advantage of his opponent’s weakness to lift Magnus from the ground and break Magnus’ back over his knee. Seeing their Primarch broken the loyalistsThousand Sons turned and fled but as Russ prepared to execute Magnus with Mjalnar, pushed Horus Magnus gasped a word of power and vanished into allowing the Emperor ground.  The reports on how the Thousand Sons escaped Prospero are many and varied. What is certain is that the Thousand Sons were not destroyed, as they continue to plague the Imperium to this day. Magnus himself even managed to survive somehow and even managed to personally attack him in save a gamble great deal of the Thousand Sons learning and knowledge. However the Thousand Sons escaped, the 13th Company, the Wulfen-kind, pursued them. To this day the fate of the 13th Company is not known. However rumors from the [[13th Black Crusade]] and some few eye witness reports indicate that strange half wolf marines bearing the colors and iconography of the Space Wolves have been seen appearing on various battlefields to swiftly end tear into the warforces of chaos before disappearing once more. The two Legions arrived just after  In honor of the lost 13th Company however the Space Wolves keep one stone blank in the Grand Annulus, the circle of stones depicting the battle concludedChapters Great Companies, with Horus dead and the Emperor mortally wounded13th Company has never been replaced.
===Post Heresy===
The Fang was held by only a small force of Space Wolves and their servitor-thralls. For forty days and forty nights the Thousand Sons assaulted the citadel. Bjorn the Fell-handed, most ancient of the Space Wolves dreadnoughts, was woken from his long sleep and took charge of the defence. The assault was held at bay as a force of scouts under '''Haakon Blackwing''' escaped to Gangava to locate Harek. Shamed and furious, Harek Ironhelm returned to meet Magnus in battle on the slopes of the Fang itself. Although Magnus was terribly wounded, Harek, a Marine, couldn't stand against a Primarch exalted to Daemonhood. Harek was slain, but the Thousand Sons were defeated and scattered.
===Notable Battles=Organization==*[[First War for Armageddon]] Logan Grimnar led 300 The Codex Astartes is the holy tome of the Adeptus Astartes. However not all chapters adhere to its tenets completely and there are a few who do not follow it at all. The Space Wolves alongside 100 Grey Knights against Angron are one such chapter. In their organization, recruitment, markings, equipment and a diabolic horde even many of Khornetheir tactics, the Space Wolves function very differently from the codes laid down in the Codex Astartes.*[[Third War for Armageddon]].<sup>5</sup> The Space Wolves fielded 5 Great Companies in are not organized along the defence lines of [[Armageddon]]the Codex.*[[Thirteenth Black Crusade]]Instead the Space Wolves have thirteen companies in their organization, though only twelve companies have been maintained in the Chapter after the Horus Heresy.<sup>6</sup> The Companies of the Space Wolves committed 12 are known as Great Companies against this Black Crusadeand are not structured along the parameters of the Codex.**Note: The There is no scout company within the Space Wolves are 1 and no Battle or Reserve Companies. Indeed, there is not even a Veteran company. Instead, the command structure and organization of only 4 [[Space Marine]] [[Chapters]] to have fought in both the [[Third War for Armageddon]] Companies is more fluid. Each Company takes the name and against iconography of the [[Thirteenth Black Crusade]].<sup>6chosen Wolf Lord,7</sup>*Deployed [[Land Raider Helios]] against orks on [[Centius Prime]].<sup>8</sup>*Saw action against along with the forces personal styles and tactics of the [[Draxian Incursion]] on [[Medes 841]]chosen Wolf Lord.<sup>8</sup>In this way every time a new Lord is chosen the company is re-invented. *Saw action against [[Chaos]] at Hesperida. Forces included elements of [[Ragnar Blackmane]]'s The Great CompanyWolf is also elected to the rank from among the Wolf Lords.*[[Ragnar Blackmane]]'s The Great Company was despatched commanded by the chosen Wolf Lord becomes home to aid the [[Imperial Guard]] forces fighting [[Chaos]] at Corinthus V.*Fielded [[Vindicator]]'s during Chapter specialists, such as the [[Magdelon Confrontation]]Iron Priests, Wolf Priests and Rune Priests.<sup>8</sup>*Fielded all but one company to [[Garm]] to recover This means that the Spear Company of Russthe Great Wolf is changing just as much as the individual companies change with each new Wolf Lord that takes command. After securing With the templelack of a Scout Company or a Veteran Company, they tried to recover that means the [[Spear recruits and veterans of Russ]], but it was lost to the warp in order to close a portal being formed by marines of Chapter are spread fluidly throughout the Thousand SonsChapter.
==Organization==
The Space Wolves are known for their fiercely anti-authoritarian behaviour. They strongly resist the central command structure of the Imperium, and refuse to follow the dictates of the Codex Astartes, which lays the structure and tactics to be used by all Space Marines. Their army has a strong Viking feel to them along with many wolf references, right down to their wolf-like teeth and heightened senses.
===Vehicles===
In honour of [[Leman Russ (primarch)|Leman Russ]] the Space Wolves keep a number of [[Leman Russ Exterminator]]s in their inventory. They use these in battle rarely but to devastating effect, the tanks fearsome array of weaponry enhanced further by the skills of the marines inside.
 
The Space Wolves maintain fifteen ships in their fleet, one for each Great Company and three in reserve. Each of the fifteen ships is unique unto itself, the fleet including many different classes and configurations of vessels. Two of the Chapters ships are massive warships akin to Imperial Navy capitol ships. The Fist of Russ is the ship of Egil Ironwolf which he claimed in combat when his Company’s own ship was badly damaged. Slightly larger the Pride of Fenris is the personal ship of [[Logan Grimnar]].
 
===Recruitment===
The Space Wolves recruit exclusively from Fenris. Those chosen by the Space Wolves may often have been mortally wounded, and are repaired by the Chapters technology. To be reborn and have a chance at becoming something more, a Space Marine, a Space Wolf, a son of Russ. The aspirants are taken to training camps where they will learn and train in the hopes of becoming worthy. Where other chapters simply have aspirants fight until only the strongest stand, the Space Wolves set a more exacting standard. Skill in battle is important, but it is not the only thing that matters in becoming a Wolf. The Aspirants are forced to train as teams, to work together as packs, to succeed or fail together, put up against the odds. To face the harshness of nature, the depredations of the wild monsters of Asaheim, and the exacting expectations of the training Sergeants. Only those who have proven themselves worthy are brought into the Chapter as Blood Claws. Given the implants that transform them into Adeptus Astartes and trained further still in the facilities of the Fang the Aspirants face one final test. To master themselves, and the gene-curse of the Chapter, the Mark of the Wulfen. Aspirants in their final stages of implantation are taken far from the Fang and left in the wilderness with little to aid them. If they can make their way back to the Fang without succumbing to the call of the Wulfen or falling to the predators of the wild then they will become full members of the Chapter, as Blood Claws.
 
Blood Claw packs are not the scouts typical of other Chapters. Fully armored in power armor and implanted with the Black Carapace, the 19th Implant of the transformation process, the Blood Claws are fully Adeptus Astartes. However they have yet to master their skills and their lust for battle. After their initiation they are assigned to a Great Company. Should the Wolves survive to temper their lust for battle they will ascend to the rank of Grey Hunter, and cease their existence as initiates, and become veterans of the Chapter. Because of the ferocious lust for battle held by all Blood Claws, their attrition rate is terrible, and not many survive to become Grey Hunters.
 
==Beliefs==
The Space Wolves are brought up believing in mystic legends and sagas of star striding wolves, horrendous monsters and mighty heroes. Mistrustful of technology and sorcery the people of Fenris are a brutal but noble people and this bearing is brought to the Chapter by the recruits. Central to their belief system is Leman Russ and the Emperor, whom they see as the greatest pinnacles of mankind and heroes to inspire valor and honor.
 
The Space Wolves are a curious Chapter when it comes to Imperial politics. Logan Grimnar is completely unafraid to defend his Chapters autonomy and will wage war even against other Imperial institutions if he feels it is just. Most particularly Logan Grimnar has very strained relations with the Inquisition after the 1st war for Armageddon saw the Inquisition round up the planets populace in isolated labor camps at the conclusion of the campaign.
 
The Space Wolves are also notable in that they have a firm alliance with the Navigator House Bellisarius that predates the foundation of the Imperium. House Bellisarius provides the Space Wolves with 24 of their best Navigators in exchange for 24 Space Wolves known as the Wolf Blade, to serve as a bodyguard for House Bellisarius’ leadership. A significant number of Space Wolf heroes have at one time or another been part of the Wolf Blade. Since House Bellisarius is an ancient and powerful Navigator house, they maintain a headquarters on Terra, and thus service in the Wolf Blade provides the Space Wolves with inside experience into the politics of the Imperium. Some of the current heroes of the Chapter that have served in the Wolf Blade include Ragnar Blackmane and Logan Grimnar.
==The Thirteenth Company==
Their reappearance at the beginning of [[Abaddon the Despoiler]]’s [[Thirteenth Black Crusade]] has brought them back into the spotlight. They appear to still be in pursuit of the goal Leman Russ set for them, and it was believed that Leman Russ himself was their leader, although this was never proven.
 
==Geneseed==
The Gene-seed of the Space Wolves contains the flaw known as the '''Curse of the Wulfen'''. This genetic heritage of Leman Russ gives the Space Wolves continuously growing canines, heightened senses of smell and hearing, but also a terrible curse. For those battle brothers that cannot contain the beast within them, they transform into monstrous werewolf creatures, half man, and half wolf. For this reason the gene-seed of the Space Wolves is never used in the creation of new Chapters and no known successor chapters are known. The only chapter suspected to be descended from the Space Wolves, known as the [[Wolf Brothers]], is a mystery to the Imperium. Some theories suggest the Chapter had some sort of genetic mutation due to their distance from Fenris and had to be disbanded and cleansed. Others suggest that the Wolf Brothers may actually be the personal bodyguard of Russ appearing alongside the 13th Company in battle. The truth is still a mystery to the Imperium at large, though there are certainly those among the Inquisition who would dearly love to know the answer, if only to use it against the Space Wolves.
==Notable Space Wolves==
*[[Lukas the Trickster]] - ''The Strifeson, The Laughing One, The Jackelwolf''. Veteran who has never risen from the ranks of the [[Blood Claws]]<sup>10</sup>
*[[Canis Wolfborn]] - [[Thunderwolf]] riding [[Wolf Guard]] to [[Harald Deathwolf]] <sup>10</sup>
 
===Notable Battles===
*[[First War for Armageddon]] Logan Grimnar led 300 Space Wolves alongside 100 Grey Knights against Angron and a diabolic horde of Khorne.
*[[Third War for Armageddon]].<sup>5</sup> The Space Wolves fielded 5 Great Companies in the defence of [[Armageddon]].
*[[Thirteenth Black Crusade]].<sup>6</sup> The Space Wolves committed 12 Great Companies against this Black Crusade.
**Note: The Space Wolves are 1 of only 4 [[Space Marine]] [[Chapters]] to have fought in both the [[Third War for Armageddon]] and against the [[Thirteenth Black Crusade]].<sup>6,7</sup>
*Deployed [[Land Raider Helios]] against orks on [[Centius Prime]].<sup>8</sup>
*Saw action against the forces of the [[Draxian Incursion]] on [[Medes 841]].<sup>8</sup>
*Saw action against [[Chaos]] at Hesperida. Forces included elements of [[Ragnar Blackmane]]'s Great Company.
*[[Ragnar Blackmane]]'s Great Company was despatched to aid the [[Imperial Guard]] forces fighting [[Chaos]] at Corinthus V.
*Fielded [[Vindicator]]'s during the [[Magdelon Confrontation]].<sup>8</sup>
*Fielded all but one company to [[Garm]] to recover the Spear of Russ. After securing the temple, they tried to recover the [[Spear of Russ]], but it was lost to the warp in order to close a portal being formed by marines of the Thousand Sons.
==Iconography==
Salubri
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