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Known as [[Casters of Runes]] during the [[Horus Heresy]]{{Fn|8}}, Rune Priests are combatant combat [[psyker]]s using their psychic abilities to aid their brothers on the battlefield; off the battlefield, they are the keepers of the [[chapter]]'s [[librarium]] and store of knowledge. The major difference is that Rune Priests do not believe their psychic abilities are derived from the [[Warp]], but rather from the animistic spirits of their [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|homeworld]], [[Fenris]], channeled channelled through totems and runes on their [[Runic Armour|armour]].{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|4}} These traditions are descended from the shamanistic rituals of Fenris's native tribes, and have remained unchanged for countless centuries.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|4}}

In a way, the Rune Priests do not consider themselves to be [[psyker]]s at all; during the [[Great Crusade]], [[Leman Russ (Primarch)|Leman Russ]], the [[primarch]] of the Space Wolves, was among the voices in favour of disbanding the [[Librarius (Fortress-monastery)|Librarius]] in each [[Space Marine Legion]] and prohibiting the use of psykers in any of them.{{Cite This}} Yet after the [[Emperor of Mankind]] issued his Decree at the [[Council of Nikaea]], the Rune Priests continued to serve among the Space Wolves, stubbornly insisting that their powers had nothing to do with psychic ability.{{Fn|7}} Much like the [[White ScarsStormseers]] of the [[StormseersWhite Scars]] , Rune Priests channel their power through the natural powers of Fenris and this serves as a limiting intermediary to protect them from the malign influences of the [[Warp]].{{Fn|1010a}}

Rune Priests preserve their Chapter's entire history not in written form, but memorize it in great [[Saga (Space Wolves)|sagas]].{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|4}} A Rune Priest who begins his training as a [[Skald]] is usually assigned to a single [[Great Company]] where he is taught its tales. With every new Great Year he joins another Company until he has learned the [[Chapter]]'s full history and can be sent to whichever Rune Priest needs an apprentice.{{Fn|3}}

The [[Space Wolves]]' sagas are chanted at their feast days and during the Festival of the Wolf Time which celebrates the Chapter's founding.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}} This festival is held every twelve Great Years and each time great contests of saga-telling and [[psychic]] duelings duels are held to determine if a new [[High Rune Priest]] will be chosen. The High Rune Priest is the leader of the entire Chapter's Rune Priests and adviser to the [[Great Wolf]].{{Fn|3}} The Space Wolves field one Rune Priest per company, according to the novel Grey Hunter

== Abilities and Equipment ==The basic weapons of Rune Priests are their psychically charged [[Runic Weapon|runic weapon]]s. {{Fn|4}}{{Fn|6}}{{Fn|17}} A common power among Rune Priests is the ability to summon storms across the battlefield which can cover the armies advance. Furthermore, they can cast runes which predict the ebb and flow of future events. These runes are usually carved from the bones or teeth of totem animals.{{Fn|4}} {{Fn|6}}

Many Rune Priests are [[psyber familiar|psyber-linked]] to [[psyber-raven|raven]]s which are known as "Choosers of the Slain" to the [[Space Wolves]]. Their link enables them to see through the ravens' eyes and control them, thus allowing their use as scouts and messengers.{{Fn|3}}

{{Mainmain|13th Great Company}}Within the lost 13th Company of the Space Wolves, the Rune Priests must guide their brothers through the perils of the [[Eye of Terror]]. They have learned how to open small, temporary [[Warp]] gates. These allow the Priests to step through them in order to divine the path ahead.{{Fn|5}} The 13th Company has a disproportionately higher number of Rune Priests, as constant exposure to the Warp inside the Eye has endowed many of their battle brothers with psychic ability.{{Cite This}}

*[[Kva]] - Chief Rune Priest during the [[Horus Heresy]]{{Fn|1710b}}

*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Space Wolves (3rd Edition)]], pgs. 6, & 30*{{Endn|3}}: [[White Dwarf 246 (UK)]] - ''Wolves of Fenris''*{{Endn|4}}: [[Index Astartes II]] - ''Space Wolves''*{{Endn|5}}: [[Codex: Eye of Terror(3rd Edition)]] , pg. 35 - ''Space Wolves 13th Company, pg. 35''

*{{Endn|7}}: [[Fear to Tread (Novel)]] by [[James Swallow]], Chapter Three, pgs. 114-115*{{Endn|8}}: [[Liber Astartes(2nd Edition)]], pg. 203*{{Endn|9}}: [[War Zone Fenris: Wrath of Magnus]] - , pg. 71 - ''The Cursed Warriors of Fenris''*{{Endn|10}}: [[Wolfsbane (Novel)]] :**{{Endn|10a}}: Chapter 4**{{Endn|10b}}: Chapter 14*{{Endn|11}}: [[Prospero Burns (Novel)]], ''Dramatis Personae''

*{{Endn|13}}: [[Champions of Fenris - A Codex: Space Wolves Supplement]] — ''Tombs of Midgardia''*{{Endn|14}}: [[White Dwarf 408 (UK)]] (ipad version) — ''Kit Bash: Space Wolves Dreadnought''

*{{Endn|16}}: [ [Codex: Space Wolves (8th Edition)]], pg. 80 — ''Warriors of the Fang''*{{Endn|17}}: [[Wolfsbane Codex: Space Wolves (Novel5th Edition)]] Chapter 14, pgs. 36-37*{{Endn|18}}: [[White Dwarf 301 (UK)]], pgs. 71–79 — ''Divine Retribution: Battle Report''

*{{Endn|22}}: [[Watchers in Death (Novel)]] , Chapters 2–4

*{{Endn|25}}: [[The Wolftime (Novel)]] - ''Dramatis Personae''*{{Endn|26}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20241129051934/https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-us/articles/pzb6o0wj/heresy-thursday-summon-the-winds-of-fenris-to-scour-your-foes-with-the-caster-of-runes/ Warhammer Community: Heresy Thursday – Summon the winds of Fenris to scour your foes with the Caster of Runes (posted 28/11/2024)] saved page, original link: ''(archived from [https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-us/articles/pzb6o0wj/heresy-thursday-summon-the-winds-of-fenris-to-scour-your-foes-with-the-caster-of-runes/ (posted the original] 29/11/November 2024, last accessed 14 June 2025)'' ===Uncited===*[[Grey Hunter (Novel)]] - The Space Wolves field one Rune Priest per company, according to the novel Grey Hunter