Introduction

The Space Wolves organization, doctrines, and history are very different from the majority of Space Marine chapters, this is one of the reasons the Space Wolves are such a unique force among the Adeptus Astartes, and why they can be an enigma for new players, so here is my attempt to give some insight into the history, and organization of the Space Wolves, one of my favorite chapters and a characterful and interesting organization within the forces of the Imperium.

Codex Astartes

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 are one such chapter. In their organization, recruitment, markings, equipment and even many of their tactics, the Space Wolves function very differently from the codes laid down in the Codex Astartes.

The Space Wolves are not organized along the lines of the Codex. Instead the Space Wolves have 13 Companies in their organization, though only 12 Companies have been maintained in the Chapter after the Horus Heresy. The Companies of the Space Wolves are known as Great Companies, and are not structured along the parameters of the Codex. There is no scout company within the Space Wolves. There are no Battle or Reserve Companies, there is not even a Veteran company. Instead the command structure and organization of the Companies is more fluid. Each Company takes the name and iconography of the chosen Wolf Lord, along with the personal styles and tactics of the chosen Wolf Lord. In this way every time a new Lord is chosen the company is re-invented.

The Wolf Lord is also elected to the rank from among the Wolf Lords. The Great Company commanded by the chosen Wolf Lord becomes home to the Chapter specialists, such as the Iron Priests, Wolf Priests and Rune Priests. This means that the Company of the Great Wolf is changing just as much as the individual companies change with each new Wolf Lord that takes command. With the lack of a Scout Company or a Veteran Company that means the recruits and veterans of the Chapter are spread fluidly throughout the Chapter.

The 13th Company during the Great Crusade was made up by those battle brothers who showed a manifestation of the Curse of the Wulfen. A ferocious fighting force the Company saw a great deal of combat during the Crusade and the Heresy. As the heretics fled from their defeat at the 1st Siege of the Emperor’s Palace, Leman Russ dispatched the 13th Company to hunt down the heretics. Since then the 13th Company has been a blank spot in the organization of the Space Wolves, representing all those Companies that have been lost or abandoned their oaths since the Horus Heresy. However the original 13th Company has been discovered to still be at large in the Galaxy, and we will get to that in more detail later.

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.

The Packs of the Space Wolves

   Instead of organizing into the Tactical, Assault and Devastator squads as the Codex Astartes dictates, the Space Wolves form their troops into Packs. Each pack will generally be made up of warriors who have fought together for some time and will work together as a pack of wolves on the hunt. For the Space Wolves their senses of smell and hearing are just as important to them as their keen eyesight. Packs will work together to sniff and sound out their foes, hunting their prey like the wolves of Fenris, identifying the locations of their comrades as much by smell as by any technological means. The Space Wolves have four primary organizations of packs. Blood Claws, Grey Hunters, Long Fangs, and Wolf Guard. There are also Wolf Scouts, which are an oddity among the Adeptus Astartes.

Blood Claws
-Blood Claw packs are the initiates of the Space Wolves, the youngest members of the Chapter fresh from their transformation into Space Marines. Blood Claws have yet to fully contain their lust for battle and so are simply encouraged to let it out, and get over their battle frenzy, allowing that in time, those who survive will temper themselves and become Grey Hunters, blooded and experienced warriors of the Chapter. In battle Blood Claws are armed to fulfill their battle frenzy, given a variety of close combat weapons and armed with bolt pistols the Blood Claw packs are usually at the vanguard of any Space Wolf charge.

Grey Hunters
-The backbone of the chapter are the Grey Hunter packs. Experienced marines who have gotten over their lust for battle and tempered their souls with age and wisdom. Grey Hunters are nevertheless still skilled combatants in close quarters fighting and almost always are armed to do battle both at range and in the teeth of the enemy.

Long Fangs
-Long Fangs are small packs of aged Space Wolves who have lived long enough for their canines to grow exceedingly long, hence their name. Long Fangs are armed with a variety of heavy weapons and led by a veteran pack leader who can carefully and expertly direct their firepower to the best effect.

Wolf Guard
-Wolf Guard are the last variety of Space Wolves packs. The equivalent of veterans in other chapters, Wolf Guard form the bodyguard of their Wolf Lord. Armed to the teeth with all manner of weapons and sometimes even wearing suits of ancient Tactical Dreadnaught Armor. Wolf Guard perform a variety of roles within the Space Wolves chapter. Forming bodyguards for Wolf Lords and other officers and specialists, but also from time to time leading other packs into battle, or sometimes leading smaller operations in place of the Wolf Lord.

Wolf Scouts
-Wolf Scouts are attached to the Great Company of the Great Wolf and follow his orders, dispatched where and when he wills. Not the recruits of other Astartes Chapters, Wolf Scouts are grizzled veterans, who opt to go without their full suits of power armor to better scout out the galaxy for their chapter. Deployed to gather information on battlefields before and during a campaign Wolf Scouts provide vital intelligence to their brethren.

Officers and Specialists

Great Wolf
-The Great Wolf is the Space Wolves equivalent of the Chapter Master, generally considered a steward awaiting the return of Primarch Leman Russ. The Great Wolf leads the chapter in Russ’ absence. Chosen from among the Chapters Wolf Lords, the current Great Wolf is Logan Grimnar, who has lead the Chapter for over eight centuries.

Wolf Lords
-The war leaders of the Great Companies, the Chapter includes 11 Wolf Lords. Much of the time the attrition rate for Wolf Lords is fairly significant because of the Chapters disposition towards close combat, however some Wolf Lords have seen their thousandth year pass. Ragnar Blackmane is one of the Chapters current Wolf Lords and is in fact the youngest Wolf Lord in the Chapters history.

Iron Priests
-The Iron Priests are the chapter’s equivalent of Techmarines. Sent off for training at Mars the Iron Priests maintain the Chapters equipment, and forge replacement wargear. Iron Priests are traditionally attached to the Great Wolf’s Company and re-assigned to other fighting forces on a situational basis. Iron Priests also have a place in the transformation and initiation of new recruits.

Wolf Priests
-Wolf Priests are a unique officer class within the Adeptus Astartes. A mixture of Chaplain and Apothecary the Wolf Priests administer to the physical and mental well being of the Chapter’s warriors and also choose the aspirants to the chapter from among the tribes of Fenris. Ulrik the Slayer is a famous Wolf Priest who mentored many notable members of the Chapter including Logan Grimnar and Ragnar Blackmane.

Rune Priests
-The Space Wolves do not have Librarians as such, instead the Chapter maintains a number of Rune Priests, potent psykers who examine the minds of all aspirants to the Chapter for any sign of taint or treachery. Armed and equipped differently from Librarians, Rune Priests do not wear the psychic hoods of Librarians, and do not always carry force weapons, what the Space Wolves call runic weapons. The Rune Priests however are potent psykers in their own right and fierce warriors as are all men of Fenris.

Venerable Dreadnaughts
-The Dreadnaughts of the Space Wolves are generally ancient and wise warriors, who spend a great deal of time in dreamless sleep beneath the fang, only awakened in times of great need. The Venerable Dreadnaughts of the Space Wolves may sometimes even lead forces of wolves into battle in the absence of another capable war leader, or sometimes in deference to their ancient wisdom.

Notable Chapter Artifacts, Wargear and Vehicles

Frost Blades
-Frost blades usually take the forms of chainswords or chainaxes. Ancient and masterfully artificed weapons made from the teeth of Ice Krakens Frost Blades are potent weapons unique to the Space Wolves, that can carve through the heaviest armor with ease.

Belts of Russ
-Each Great Company has in it’s armory a single Belt of Russ. Powerful girdles incorporating potent forcefields that protect the wearer. Forged by the master Iron Priest Stef Blacksoul after the disappearance of Russ the belts are important relics of the Chapter.

Wolf Helm of Russ
-The Wolf Helm of Russ is an ancient artifact of the Chapter said to have been worn by Russ himself. The Helm is awarded to a great company after a tournament of champions, the last winner was Ragnar Blackmane who then presented the Helm to the Wolf Priest Ranek as a sign of respect.

Runic Staffs
-Runic Staffs are mighty artifacts carried by Rune Priests that are imbued with the most powerful wards the Rune Priests can devise that protect the wielder from the psychic attacks of his enemies.

Leman Russ Exterminator
-Normally Space Marines do not have access to Leman Russ tanks, however in honor of their Primarch the Space Wolves maintain a small number of Leman Russ Exterminators.

The Fang- Fortress of Wolves

The Fang is the Fortress Monastary of the Space Wolves. Each Great Company keeps a headquarters in the Fang, and the Fang is where new recruits are transformed into Blood Claws. The Fang is also home to many of the facilities of the Chapter including the majority of the most sacred places to the Chapter, ancient artifacts and mighty forges. The Fang also happens to be the single tallest mountain in the Imperium, one of the greatest fortresses of mankind. The Fang is so tall that its highest observation room is actually situated above Fenris’ atmosphere. Considered the mightiest bastion of the Imperium outside of Terra there are few enemies indeed who can challenge the Fang.

   The Fang is encased in immensely thick armor, with powerful defense lasers as ancient as the Space Wolves themselves and powered by long lost technology. Void shields superior to that found on even the most magnificent of Imperial warships protects the fang and the mountain is so vast that its upper reaches actually form docks for space craft used by the Chapter. The Fang despite it’s immense power has nearly fallen several times in its history, but despite the desperate hours the Fang has encountered in its long and glorious history the Citadel of Wolves still stands testament to the power of the Space Wolves, the Adeptus Astartes, and the Imperium.

Homeworld- Fenris

   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.

The Chapter Fleet

   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.

Political Relations

   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.

Gene-Seed

   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.

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.

Battle-Cry

The battle cries of the Space Wolves varies from company to company, however a common battle cry is simply a blood curdling howl the Space Wolves let loose when they charge into battle.

Company Markings

   The Space Wolves have no Chapter symbol, instead the markings of each company take on the symbol chosen by each Wolf Lord and as such are constantly changing. The symbols will usually be significant from the sagas of Fenris and usually include some form of wolf iconography. The markings for squads have to do with their type and are also varied from squad to squad and company to company. Some traditional colors however are red and yellow for Blood Claws, red and black for Grey Hunters, white and black for Long Fangs, and black and yellow for Wolf Guard.

Primarch Leman Russ

The sagas relating to Leman Russ are known to the galaxy largely due to the efforts of one Gnauril the Elder, a contemporary of Fenresian King Thengir. The sagas tell how one of the infant Primarchs came to rest on a distant world from Terra known as Fenris. Given the harsh climate it is unlikely that any lesser man would not have survived, but Leman Russ was a Primarch, and no lesser man. According to the Sagas Leman Russ was taken in and raised by a Fenresian she-wolf. Russ’ companion wolves Freki and Geri are believed by many to be his original pack brothers, raised at about the same time as Russ himself. Russ even attested at times to his “lupine parentage,” which can perhaps attest to some of the traditions and unique organizational aspects of the Space Wolves themselves.

   However the real tale of Leman Russ begins with Gnauril’s saga “The Ascension of the Wolf-King” which tells the tale of when Russ first met the nobility of Fenris. The tale tells that one fateful Hellwinter, when the young Primarch went with his pack to raid a nearby human settlement. The young primarch smashed through the village, breaking into the store house to steal great slabs of salted meat and fighting with immense ferocity against the villagers to allow his pack to escape with their spoils. The villagers were astounded by what they had seen and petitioned their king, Thengir of Russ. The King sent a hunting party within the week armed with the best weapons he could muster, razor sharp blades and drake-poison tipped arrows.

   The hunters tracked down and slew many of Russ’ pack, including the venerable she-wolf herself. Russ was found defending the body of his pack Alpha against the hunters, even pin cushioned with poisoned arrows. Despite his insane constitution Russ succumbed to the sheer quantity of potent poison and was subdued and gagged. Bound and gagged Russ was brought before the King. That evening the wolf-man was brought before King Thengir and told to grovel for his life. Instead Russ raised himself to his full height and let out a roar that was so loud and lasted for so long that many had to leave the Kings hall rather than hear any more of it. Then Russ spat a huge gobbet of blood and poison straight at the King, un-cowed and with golden eyes shining with pride.

   After that night Russ was taken into the personal care of the king and was taught to fight and fish, and very quickly to speak. Russ showed a great aptitude with weaponry and indeed anything he did. Before long Russ even bested the Kings champion in a contest of battle axes. It was then that the King deemed Russ worthy to receive a name, and so Leman Russ was born.

   The next years of Leman Russ’ life are mostly hearsay and legends, some of the legends tell of Russ tearing up Oaks with his bare hands, others of wrestling a Fenresian Mammoth single handed and roasting it whole, and of sending armies of King Thengir’s enemies fleeing without sustaining a scratch. Whatever is really true, the fact is that Russ’ fame spread far and wide and when Thengir died, there was no question as to the succession. King Leman Russ took the throne.

   The remainder of the saga has never been written, but kept alive through oral tradition within the Space Wolves and every member of the chapter knows the tale by heart. On every Allwinters eve the Rune Priests tell the tale of Russ. It was during one such feast that Inquisitor Chalfont snuck a vox-recorder to the feast and at the table of Great Wolf Cormack Wolftongue, a record of the tale was made.

In short time Russ was hailed as King of Fenris, his armies unbeatable and his wisdom unquestionable none could best the Wolf-King. Within Russ’ kingdom men and wolf lived in truce and his court was attended by both the fiercest warlords and the fairest maidens. With his deeds spreading to legends it was not too long before Terra came to call on the King of Fenris. So it was shortly after Russ became King that the Emperor came to Fenris. Cloaked in disguise, both physical and psychic the Emperor came to Russ as a cowled and bent wanderer, appearing in the great hall of Leman Russ his aura of power shrouded. The great wolves slunk away at the Emperor’s approach however and he walked up to the throne where Russ slouched leisurely, feasting on the roast leg of a boar and with a flagon of fine mead in hand. Freki and Geri lounging at his feet and a pool of blood around his throne. Having recently returned from a hunt Russ was not pleased to have his feast interrupted and the feast hall silenced at his growl. Freki stood at his master’s sound but Geri did not, noticing that the stranger met their master’s gaze unflinchingly.

   It was then that the stranger gave Russ his challenge. Russ would decide the contest, and if the stranger won he would sit at the right hand of Russ during the feast. Russ proclaimed that if he won, the stranger had to serve him for a year. Grimly the stranger agreed. The first competition Russ decided would be an eating one. With great quantities of roast meet brought forth on brass shields Russ and the stranger set to eating. The Stranger ate a great deal indeed, consuming more than any of Russ’ warriors, but when the stranger looked at Russ he saw that the Primarch was finished with his third Auroch already, not a scrap of meet left on the scattered bones. Bowing his head to Russ the stranger accepted defeat. But Russ was enjoying his sport. So Russ called for a drinking match, but before the contest could be concluded the entire feast had been drunk dry. It was then that the wanderer had a gleam of anger come to his eyes. Calling Russ a drunkard and glutton, at which the entire court went silent. Russ drew his great sword and stepped onto the feast table with a growl to issue the consequences of his last challenge.

   At the challenge the wanderer threw off his disguise to reveal his golden form, clad in baroque armor the Emperor drew forth a shimmering blade. Russ roared and charged, clashing with the wanderer in a titanic clash of arms. The Emperor’s golden armor reflected the glow of a thousand torches, and Russ’ skin glistened with sweat and blood, his matted hair flying wild as he charged with fury and passion. Russ fought with speed and precision, countered by the liquid grace of the wanderer. The tempered fury and skill of Russ, learned from a lifetime of living by his skill and wits proved without a doubt to be one of the Emperor’s lost sons, displaying a martial skill beyond that of any mortal. Finally convinced the Emperor brought his Power Fist in a glittering ark to connect squarely with Russ’ face, sending the Primarch straight into unconsciousness. Nevertheless within the hour Russ was back on his feet, his head cleared. Bloody and with broken fang, Russ smiled and swore fealty to the Emperor.

   Within weeks Russ had learned all he needed too and was proclaimed fit to lead his legion in the Great Crusade across the stars. The Emperor introduced Russ to his legion and quickly Russ settled into the role of leading the Space Wolves. Soon the Legion’s marines became as sons to Russ.

   Leman Russ was gifted a magnificent suit of armor thrice blessed by the Emperor, and his sword was replaced by the magnificent Frost Blade Mjalnar, forged from the teeth of the mighty Ice Kraken Gormenjarl. The blade was said to be able to split the mountains of Fenris in twain.

   Russ joined the Great Crusade enthusiastically, throwing himself and his legion into the forefront of every battle, striding at the fore of his warriors slaying all before him and his presence heralded by the howling of his pack.

   Not all was well with the Great Crusade however. Tension between the Legions was ever present, sometimes resulting in more than a little hostility. One such conflict occurred between the Space Wolves and the Dark Angels, but particularly between Leman Russ and Lion El’Johnson.

   On the world of Dulan, a traitor commander named Durath insulted Leman Russ, calling him the Emperor’s lap dog. Enraged Russ vowed to take the head of Durath for his insult to the Space Wolves honor. Russ demanded that the Dark Angels who were also participating in the engagement stand down and allow the Space Wolves to destroy the traitor. However Lion El’Johnson had reconnoitered the fortress of the traitor extensively and had already formed a complex and precise attack plan. Loath to let Russ spoil his plans Johnson attacked at dawn and slew the traitor Durath in full view of the Space Wolves embattled below the fortress battlements. Furious Russ confronted Johnson after the battle and punched him, beginning a wrestling match that lasted several days, before Russ realized how ironic and foolish the fighting was and stopped to let out a raucous laugh. Not amused Johnson sucker punched Russ, knocking him unconscious and swept away. By the time Russ awoke the Dark Angels were long gone. Since then the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves have fought duels of honor over the long standing feud.

   Another event of rivalry between the Space Wolves and the Dark Angels occurred while both legions were on their way to Terra after hearing the news of the Horus Heresy the Space Wolf and Dark Angels fleets encountered the world of Kalidus Secundus. The traitors had captured the orbital defense station and had proceeded bombarding the loyalists on the planet below. Russ wanted to assault the orbital while Johnson argued they should proceed to Terra. Arguing and fighting over the subject after interrogating a fleeing survivor named Tarus, they only ceased their combat when a marine named Hrothgar blew off Tarus’ head and revealed him to be a daemon.

Horus Heresy

The Horus Heresy saw the Galaxy drenched in blood and war, as Horus and no less than nine of the Space Marine Legions descended into treachery. As the galaxy was thrown into chaos the Space Wolves were however not involved in many of the terrible fighting at Terra. Nevertheless the Space Wolves were heavily involved in the foundations of the Heresy, when they forged their ageless feud with the Thousand Sons Space Marine Legion.

   Texts and accounts recovered both from the libraries of Prospero and the histories of the Space Wolves have been pieced together to provide accounts of what followed.

    As the Horus Heresy ripened 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, 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 heat 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 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 defend it’s fortresses, the screams of Magnus drove hundreds of Space Wolves insane and still they fought on, their fury and willpower alone driving them on.

   It was then that Magnus charged forth and laid into the Space Wolves, his horrific gaze petrifying anything it fell on, turning even the stoutest Long Fangs to dust, unstoppable the Giant crashed through the Space Wolves. 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 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 Primarch in the eye. Howling in 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 Thousand Sons turned and fled but as Russ prepared to execute Magnus with Mjalnar, Magnus gasped a word of power and vanished into the 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 save a 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 tear into the forces of chaos before disappearing once more.

   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 Chapters Great Companies, and the 13th Company has never been replaced.

Post-Heresy

   Following the Horus Heresy the Imperium set out to quell the uprisings and restore itself. The Space Wolves continued to wage the Emperor’s Wars. But at one particular “Feast of the Emperor’s Ascension” in honor of the day the Emperor defeated Horus and ascended to the Golden Throne, Leman Russ quieted the great hall to speak, but then froze. In horror the Space Wolves watched as their lord fell to his knees and called his closest companions and advisors to him, all save the youngest, Bjorn. Giving his closest companions his instructions Russ turned and left the hall with his bodyguard in tow, leaving only Bjorn behind. For seven years the Space Wolves waited for their lord to return, but when he finally did not, Bjorn was elected Great Wolf and led the Chapter on the first Great Hunt. The Great Companies dispersed among the stars searching for their lord and Bjorn took his search to the Eye of Terror itself. There Bjorn was mortally wounded and entombed in a Dreadnaught as the Space Wolves returned. Over the various Great Hunts many glorious victories have been won, each hunt beginning when Russ speaks into the mind of a Rune Priest, granting his sons his wisdom from time to time and sending them on new Great Hunts. None have succeeded in their final goal, but Russ has assured his sons with his final words that he will return to them for the final battle, for the wolf time.

The Great Hunts
-While not battles in their own right, the Great Hunts are a significant part of the Space Wolves history and each has accomplished some great good. Occasionally the Great Wolf or Rune Priests will see a vision of the lost Primarch, and declare a new Great Hunt. While none of the Great Hunts have resulted in the discovery of Russ each has accomplished some significant feat. The 2nd Great Hunt saw the recovery of Russ’ armor from the Temple of Horus on the world of Rudra situated near the dreaded Eye of Terror. The 4th Great Hunt lead to the uncovering of the Corellian Conspiracy, which had been close to taking over the Administratum in a bloody coup for power, while the 9th Great Hunt saw the destruction of the Genestealer infestations in the Gehenna systems. Every time a Great Hunt is called it seems that the lost primarch has a task in mind for his sons.

1st Battle for the Fang
-In the 32nd Millennium, Magnus the Red and the Thousand Sons launched a series of devastating raids in the regions around Fenris. Great Wolf Harek Ironhelm rallied the Space Wolves in retaliation to hunt down the raiders. Yet Ironhelm met with no success as he chased the elusive raiders, until he became obsessed. Taunted in visions by Magnus himself Harek began to search worlds around the Eye of Terror until he found the planet of Gangava, what he believed to be the Thousand Sons secret base. Launching a full scale attack Harek committed his entire force. This however was a ruse, for while Gangava was held by allied chaos forces, the Thousand Sons fleet took orbit over Fenris itself and launched an all out attack. With the Fang held by a skeleton force of thralls and marines, the hour was desperate indeed. Awakening Bjorn the Fell-Handed from his slumber to take charge of the defense, Bjorn instructed the Scout Sergeant Haakon Blackwing to take a squad and get word to Lord Harek. Succeeding in their task while Bjorn lead the Space Wolves into the innermost fortifications of the fang, Haakon rushed to Gangava to bring the Great Wolf news of the attack, and for forty days and forty nights the Space Wolves held against the Thousand Sons, despite all odds. Overcome with rage at his own folly, Harek rushed back to Fenris and met Magnus in battle on the slopes of the Fang. While harek was a magnificent warrior, he was no match for Magnus and fell in battle, but not before delivering punishing wounds to the Primarch. Forced to withdraw before the frenzy of the Space Wolves the Thousand Sons fled the field. It is said that Bjorn carried Harek to the upper slopes of the Fang for burial personally, and his tomb is a pilgrimage spot for Rune Priests undergoing their initiation. Where they learn from Harek himself the dangers of trusting chaos granted visions.

1st War for Armageddon
-The Space Wolves fought in the 1st War for Armageddon through to it’s conclusion. However it was following the war when the Inquisition rounded up the surviving population of the planet into labor camps to keep them from spreading tales of the horrors they had seen that Logan Grimnar took offence to. Having fought so hard to defend the people of Armageddon Grimnar was enraged at the actions of the Inquisition. Since then the Space Wolves have had little but hostility to show to the Inquisition and few indeed are the Inquisitors allowed into the Fang in recent times.