Index Astartes: Space Wolves-Lords of Blood and Ice
"My sons I cannot give great speeches like my brothers, but I can tell you this. We are the Emperors Executioners and we shall coat our blades in blood and pile the corpses of those Traitors who dare stand against the Allfather and the Imperium." Leman Russ to his legion before the Terran Campaign.
Origins
"I am the son of wolves and man. Through my veins flows the blood of gods. I am the son of kings and the wild. I am Leman of the Russ and you are my prey." Leman Russ to one of his many tribal enemies before tearing the man in two.
"Axes flash, broadswords swing shining armours piercing ring we'll win the war and pay the toll fight as Fenrisian heart and soul." An ancient Fenrisian war march.
The pod of the sixth Primarch would land upon the death-world of Fenris landing in the heart of a wolf packs territory where he would be found by the wolves hunters, he would be taken into the heart of the pack and raised alongside their newest brood it was here that he would find his three brothers that would stick with him for an eternity Freki, Geri and Skoll. He would be raised by the Alpha wolf until he was a few weeks old when he would take control of the pack and lead it on hunts and strikes against the nearby Human tribes until the tribe of the Russ would kill the majority of his pack until they notice that the Primarch was human. He alongside the three remaining wolves of his pack would be taken to the King of the Russ tribe Thengir the king would adopt and name him Leman of the Russ.
Leman would become the greatest of warriors amongst the Russ slaughtering all who stood against him and making even the greatest of Fenrisian beats flee from him with his blade being forged from the teeth of Kraken. One of the most important events the Leman Russ would go through was the Gate of Morkai an ancient Webway gate that had been corrupted by Chaos Leman would enter it and find a greater daemon of Khorne claiming to be the lord of death. Leman would beat the Bloodthirster to death with his bare hands where he would contact the Pyskic spirit of the planet of Fenris represented in the form of a great wolf warning him of both the powers and dangers of the Wyrd Leman would take this advice to heart respecting Pyskers however treating them wearily.
After many years of warfare in which Leman would slaughter his enemies until a coalition of nearby tribes would decide to launch an assault upon the tribe of the Russ Thengir would fight valiantly against an overwhelming force and slaughtered many foes but would eventually be slain by a backstab by a envious young warrior named Vidkun Quisling who desired control of the tribe and it was then that Russ returned with his men from a raid. He would tear through the enemy slaughtering every man he came across not of the Russ until he would face Quisling whom he would feed to his wolves. As Thengir lay dying a Pysker used the last of his powers to allow him to live a little longer to say goodbye to his son. Following the death of the man who had raised him Russ would swear to bring an end to those who had attacked the Russ and he would succeed until no tribe could stand against the Russ it was then that he would be proclaimed as the Wolf-King of Fenris, Lord of Winter, Herald of Morkai, Jarl of the Russ Etc. during the celebrations the Emperor would arrive in a disguises and demand his sons allegiance. Russ would demand three contests a drinking contest that he won, an eating contest that he one and a duel that he lost in a single blow. Following this he would pledge allegiance to his father and swear loyalty to the Imperium and Mankind an oath he would keep through the worst war mankind would ever face. Thus, Leman Russ the second primary found joined the Great Crusade in a few weeks.
The Great Crusade
"I have at my command three thousand Astartes of the Vlka Fenryka my fleet can block out the stars from your world and turn your cities to ash and dust. Why do you think that you can stand against me and my men?" Jarl Hvarl Red-Blade of the Fourth Great Company to the lords of Éire Nua.
"I am Leman Russ Wolf-King of Fenris, Lord of the Sixth Legion, The Emperors Executioner, slayer of two of my brothers, Lord of Winter and War and the Herald of Morkai. All this means a simple thing I am your death." Leman Russ to the last soldiers of the Union of Sovereign Systems of Gilgamesh.
During the Great Crusade the Space Wolves would often be tasked with the destruction of enemy forces completely and utterly. This would be shown in multiple campaigns where the savagery would often leave no records remaining, alongside their refusal to allow remembrancers to serve with them lead to their exploits often being both unrecorded and forgotten by the Imperium at large. This would not bother the Valka Fenryka as their Rune Priests would remember and repeat the stories of their valour and glory. However, several of their exploits have been recorded examples being the battle of Dulan and the Slaughter of Stàilinn. As the blades of the sixth Legion were coated in the blood of the Emperors Enemies their mistranslated name became all the more accurate and their loyalty did not falter to the Allfather.
The battle of Dulan would be the event that destroyed the relations between the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves permanently and many believe it is one of the deciding factors in the first Legions decision to rebel and betray the Imperium. The Space Wolves had been fighting against the local Human empire for a few years and had been engaged in a brutal grinding war against the technologically advanced empire with their amour able to withstand multiple shots from the weapons of the Sixth Legion. However the slow pace of the war displeased many of those on Terra and it was decided to send the Dark Angels out to crush the enemy forces to both deal with the enemy empire and the second reason was to allow the recently disgraced legion to show their might against the enemies of the Imperium. The campaign would be a disaster with the Dark Angels being brutalised by the advanced forces of the Dulanian empire with the agreement that Russ would kill the Tyrant of Dulan being spat upon by El'jonson and the First Primarch teleporting in and killing the Tyrant as Russ tore through the doors Russ would see this and fly into rage starting a fight that would last for two days with each Primarch battering each other into the ground until Russ knocked El'jonson out in a single blow when the Lion killed a nearby Space Wolf by accident. This incident would divide the two legions with both Primarchs swearing vengeance although El'jonson was forced to apologise he would attempt to fulfill his oath.
The Slaughter of Stàilinn was a joint action between the Thousand Sons and the Space Wolves wherein a world that held vital knowledge to the Imperium managed to defeat the first few forces that were sent after them. The Primarchs mistrust would slowly be eroded during the campaign with the warnings of the World Spirit of Fenris being taken to heart and reinforced to be wary but still trust Pyskers. Magnus wold manage to teach Leman Russ the basics of using his Pysker abilities and in return Russ would suggest a joint research program into the Gene-seed of the two legions this suggestion would be taken up after the Heresy in the form of the Reclamation Project. The actual campaign would end swiftly with Russ tearing through the enemy forces and managing to eliminate the higher leadership of the planet.
The Legion would be a crucial factor in the Council of Nikea where they would argue for the creation of controlled Pysker division in the legions alongside Magnus the Red and when an attempt to censure the Thousand Sons and their Primarch Leman Russ would crush it. This would truly reinforce the bonds between the two brothers, bonds that the Horusian Heresy would only strengthen.
The Horusian Heresy
"Right lads we're outnumbered, surrounded and they have far more men then us we'll do fine. For the Allfather!" Leman Russ to his legion when attacking the Ultramarines during the Terran Campaign.
"Kill all those who dare defile Fenris's soil cast the Dark Angels into the sea and break their ships leave not a single one of the bastards alive." Bjorn the Fell-handed to Blood-Claws during the first battle of Fenris
The Space Wolves would be one of the most active legions during the Heresy being involved in the battle of Krieg, the battles of Fenris and the Terran Campaign as major campaigns with many minor campaigns against the traitor legions. The Space Wolves would carve their name into the heart of many of the chaos worshiping Astartes in wounds that are still sore well in into the forty-first millennium.
The battle of Krieg would be a deciding factor in the Night Lords history with the death of their Primarch and the destruction of large parts of their legion they would never be able to return to their full power and the reign of terror over the galaxy would be broken. To the Space Wolves it was just another Legion they had to put down. The battle would begin with the obliteration of the Glorina class battleship Nightfall that served as the flagship of the Eighth legion the damage that would be sustained by the Nightfall was catastrophic with entire compartments opened to the void until on the third salvo the spine of the ship broke and death of the Night Lords began. The landing would tear trough the enemy forces killing thousands of Astartes. While Leman Russ hunted his brother, he would find Konrad Curze terrorising the citizens of a hive already having flayed one tenth of the population. The duel would begin with a blow from behind by Russ slicing across Konrad's back, the duel would end quickly as Leman was the greatest of all of his brothers at fighting and he would kill Konrad and tear the pauldron from his left shoulder as a symbol of his victory.
The battles of Fenris were some of the bloodiest battles in the Imperium's history with only the Terran Campaign and Scouring having more dead. Lion El'jonson had proclaimed that he would tame Fenris, kill its wolves slaughter her people and raise his banner over the broken ramparts of the Fang he would fail. The first battle the Dark Angels would be completely unprepared for the horrific environment of Fenris the steadfastness of the natives and savagery of the Space Wolves, the traitors would be forced to withdraw from the planet after the wounding of their Primarch by a pack of Fenrisian Wolves. The second battle would go better for the Dark Angles but was it still a brutal campaign the Fang itself would be besieged but the joint work of Perturabo, Rogal Dorn, Leman Russ and Fenris stood strong against those who would be foolish enough to attack the Fang. The third battle was the first sight of the winged knights that would become so common in later years amongst the Dark Angels as the mutations of chaos began to set in. The fourth and final battle of Fenris would show the first cracks in the first Legion. These battles would be a defining moment for the Space Wolves
Following the Fourth battle of Fenris Leman Russ would mobilise half of his legion and lead them to Terra. When he got there, he would join forces with the Iron Warriors, Imperial Fists and Blood Angels that were already there. The Wolves would join in the fortification efforts led by Rogal Dorn and Perturabo. Thus, when the traitors arrived the Wolves of Fenris were ready. The Wolves would fight in the wastes of the Uralic league and the lands once known as Scandinavia. In the battle of Franc, the Wolves would defeat a large force of traitor marines that had captured a titan from Mars and transported it to Terra. But despite the savagery with which the wolves fought the traitors reached the Imperial Palace.
The Scouring
"I will return my sons. When the Allfather needs me. When the Imperium burns and mankind falls. I will return then for the Wolftime." Leman Russ upon his departure from Fenris at the end of the scouring
"For Fenris! For Russ! For the Allfather! Death to the traitors!" Battlecry of the Space Wolves legion during the scouring.
Following the interment of the Emperor the Space Wolves would lead the charge against the fleeing traitors with the rage of Fenris in their hearts. They would fight in the battles of Chorgis and Cthonia. Following the remaining traitors fleeing the Imperium Leman Russ would hold a mighty feast with all of his sons there where he would declare Bjorn the Fell-Handed as Great Wolf and regent of Fenris until he returned for the Wolftime.
The Forty-First Millennium
"I remember Russ and the Emperor I fought I the Heresy and the Scouring, I have fought in every war the this legion have coated our blades in blood in. Those Orks are just another enemy I must kill. For the Allfather! For Russ!" Great Wolf and regent of Fenris Bjorn the Fell-handed the oldest Astartes not in a dreadnought before leading the charge of the Space Wolves during the battle of Hive Hades.
"We are the sons of Fenris, we are the Wolves of the stars, we are the Emperors Executioners, slayer of Legions and the wrath of the Imperium has come for you." Ragnar Blackmane before killing the last Farseer of Craftworld Aschen.
The Space Wolves are one of the most active legions in the millennium of Darkness but even they cannot hold of the mighty hosts of those who attack the Imperium, yet still they stand against the rising darkness and carve their names into its heart. While the Thirteenth Black Crusade seems to be coming from the Black Legions dominions within the Eye of Terror, The Ultramarines are gathering for a great plague war and the Zaherialn Crusade is gathering in the Kingdom of New Caliban despite this the Space Wolves are gathering together preparing to fight for the Imperium and Fenris.
Organization
"Right so you lot have had three Legion leaders in your history including your Primarch?" Warsmith Honshu to Logan Grimnar High Wolf of the Space Wolves legion and heir of Bjorn the Fell-Handed
"There are no Wolves on Fenris." A popular saying during the Great Crusade on the native wildlife of the Planet.
The legion is divided into twelve Great Companies officially there is thirteen, but the thirteenth vanished alongside Leman Russ and have not been seen since. The training is heavily focused around close quarters combat as their specialised Mark XIV 'Morkai' pattern power amour is designed to take more damage and give a lot of damage out.
Primarch
"When the skies darken from a winter storm and the wolves howl that's a symbol that he comes. When your walls fall, and your warriors freeze to death that means that he has brought death to your world." An ancient warning on Leman Russ traditionally told by the Rune Priests towards Blood-claws.
"My brother was a man with a hard shell but once you break through you can see the intelligence he hides behind the front of a superstitious savage but his loyalty is unquestionable, however if his stance on pyskers was harsher he may have fallen to chaos." The opening line of the Chapter on Leman Russ in the Historical work The Primarchs: Heirs of the Emperor by Magnus the Red.
Leman Russ was a unique Primarch even by the standards of that godlike brotherhood he would have some of the most powerful Pyskic powers out of his brothers and using them the least. However, his physical abilities would not be doubted with only Angron able to fight on an equal level and even then, it would be a close victory for Leman. Following his departure, it is unknown how much more powerful he has become. No matter what though his loyalty to the Emperor will not falter.
Homeworld
"Oh, sweet Fenris, land of harsh beauty and endless slaughter. I love it so bloody much." Ragnar Blackmane on Fenris.
"Why do People live here?" Azheck Ahriman on Fenris.
Fenris is the harshest world in the Imperium and one of if not the most hostile world in the galaxy with a near constant pattern of change across the world wildlife that can kill fully armoured Astartes if they are lucky. The only permeant part of the planet is the Fortress-Monastery of the Legion the Fang. The people that live there are perfect recruiting stock for Astartes with the average age of death being two and half years old meaning that if they have reached the age where Gene-seed implantation is possible they are incredibly strong and the gene-seed will have no problems.
Gene-Seed
"Major flaws including possible mutation into brutal wolf creatures that your own Primarch caused." Azheck Ahriman ranting about the Space Wolves Gene-seed
"So that's what happens when Wulfen fight Orks." Warsmith Honshu at the Fourth battle of Rorke.
The Gene-seed of the Space Wolves has the most mutation out of any of the loyalist legions this has been personified in the form of the Wulfen a rabid mix of man and wolf that can form from Astartes if they are unlucky. The legion has no successor legions as even following the Reclamation Project that would purify most of the flaws in the Gene-seed however they have not chosen to create successors and instead have focused on having a large number with current estimates reaching 125'000 Astartes.