The Knights of the Wolf were founded circa 625.M31, originally they were a Great company of the Spaces Wolves Chapter that were separated from the Chapter by a warp storm when they were en route to a Hispanidor subsector of Segmentum Tempestus to reconnect with a forge world and several knight worlds that had lost contact during the Horus heresy and been forgotten about until the sector was rediscovered. The Warp Storm had spit out the Great Company's battle barge and escort fleet in the Cantabria system which had originally been brought into compliance by Leman Russ and the 6th Legion, though due to the scrap code released by the Dark Mechancium during the Horus heresy all records were lost. Upon landing on the Knight word Loborrak and reorganizing the expeditionary force. The Wolf Priests rediscovered that the inhabitants were genetically compatible with the Canis Helix and Space Wolf Geneseed. Thus the then Wolf Lord Bjorn "The Wolf Knight" FrostFang declared that they would found a new successor chapter named the Wolf Knights for the Space Wolves as the Warp Storm that had left them in the system prevented the Company from returning to the wider Imperium. They would take residence in an Ancient Dark Age of Technology fortress known as the Pelagius Fortress that the Knights of the world would use as the base of operations during raids from Xenos. They would go on to bring back into compliance the sector and reestablish contact with a minor forge world of the Mechnicus that had built large stockpiles of Astartes weapons, armor, and vehicles for the loyalists during the Horus Heresy. They would develop several new ranks and troops during their isolation such as Rune (or Runic Knights) Knights who are members of the Rune Priest who hold a natural talent for combat and would be trained and equipped to face the greatest threats to the chapter such as Chaos lords, greater daemons, Ork Warbosses, and et cetera. Due to their isolation they would face almost constant attack, particularly from the traitor legions of the Thousand Sons and Emperor's Children. Though the chapter would be able to drive off the traitors, they would overtime see their casualties mounting. Many dreadnoughts would be born during the first few millennia of isolation, along with an intense hatred of these traitors being reinforced over centuries of war, would see the curse of the Wulfen appear more and more frequently. In order to give these battle brothers and aspirants an honorable death they would be formed in packs and released against the enemies of the chapter as shock troops to break the enemy lines or halt an enemy breakthrough.
Death would be a constant companion for the chapter, as in order to protect the mortals in their domain. With nearly all of their major crusades and battles being pyrrhic victories, the chapter would barely survive only through the skill of its warriors, the leadership of the Wolf Lords and Great Wolf, and the visions of the Rune Priests. The most devastating wars and campaigns for the chapter would be the Vermin Wars or Vermintide. A Xeno species called the Vermyr infiltrated and conquered in a truly horrific manner several outlying worlds and moons of the sector and would wage war with innumerable hordes of verymr and dark abominations of alchemy, science, and sorcery. There have been three of these wars, each bloodier than the last. In each war the combined strength of the mortal soldiers of the Legio Axuliria, Mechanicus legions, the full strength of every knightly house, the full deployment of the chapter, and even the aid of the Craftworld Sam-Han and a small contingent of Ulthwe and Biel-Tan forces under the command of Farseers Eldrad Ulthran and Macha respectively. The first war saw a third of the chapter slain with not a single warrior left unwounded or had a limb replaced with cybernetics or Second war saw a full half of the chapter be slain and nearly saw Bjorn Frostfang's dreadnought be destroyed, though thanks be to Emperor and Russ for timely arrival and sacrifice of Great Wolf Alfonsoz Stonewolf and his Terminator Wolf Guard. The third and final war saw the chapter be nearly wiped out as three quarters of the chapter be slain, all but one of the Runic Knights slain, and most of the geneseed stocks were corrupted by a virus created by the Vermtyr. Had the Great Rift not torn the galaxy asunder and blown out the Warp Storms blocking Warp travel back to the rest of the Imperium, the chapter would have likely died a slow death in coming centuries. With reconnecting with their parent chapter, the Imperium as a whole, and the Indomitus Crusade; the chapter managed to replenish their stock of firstborn Space Wolf geneseed and gain access to the new Primaris marines who now make up the majority of the chapters' strength, though all but four great companies are led by Wolf Lords with the traditional geneseed.
Notable events and campaigns
Combat Doctrine
The chapter specializes close quarters combat with favoring the use of jump packs, and armored, and direwolf cavalry charges to envelop their foes while the center holding the enemy's attention as the wolves encircle them. The world of Loborrak also possessed direwolves that were of comparable size to Fenrisian thunder wolves, which allowed the chapter to recruit their own version of thunderwolf cavalry .Though unlike the thunder wolves of Fenris, certain direwolves possessed a latent psychic ability which allows for the chapters rune priests and rune knights to use more potent wolves as psychic familiars. These wolves are considered very rare and are considered a good omen when a Rune Priest or Rune Knight bonds with one. Due to Warp Storms increasing the chances of daemonic incursion and traitor war bands, Rune Priests and their more combat oriented brothers, hold a much higher position in the chapter than the Space Wolves. It isn't uncommon for a particularly skilled Rune Priests or Rune Knights to hold positions of command within the chapter including the position of Great Wolf and when a Rune Priest or Runic knight hold the position they become known as the Rune King. The chapter regularly integrates baseline humans in their operations as a part of the Legion Auxiliary (the equivalent to the Imperial Guard), the Knightly houses with their Imperial Knights, and the Mechanicus forces. In order to cover their own weak spots such as numbers, battle tanks, and long range heavy fire support.
Masters, Thanes, and Lords of the Knights of the Wolf
The current Great Wolf is High Rune King Luis "The Last Rune Knight" Firewolf who became Chapter Master after avenging the death of the previous chapter master against a powerful Vermyr sorcerer and defeating a Greater Daemon summoned by the Vermyr. In the aftermath of the third Vermin War, he was unanimously selected as the new Great Wolf for skill in prosecuting the final campaign of the war, avenging the previous Great Wolf, and by being the last remaining Runic he is young (300 years old), he possesses a keen mind for battle, is a skilled knight, and an exemplar of the chapter's ideals of honor, duty, and self-sacrifice. His personal wargear will vary depending on the mission, but his normal wargear includes a powerful Runic Sword known as the Blade of Wulfen which said to be filled with primal fury and vengeance of all the Sons of Russ, the beast within must be tamed with the blade through psychic energy but in return grants its wielder increased strength and unleashes golden flames when it makes contact with those who have been touched by Chaos or malignant warp born sorcery. His normal wargear also includes a master crafted plasma pistol, Runic armor, a runic helm (it combines the physical protection of a helmet and the psychic abilities of a psychic hood), and a jump pack. He has direwolf named Assius that fights alongside him and amplifies his psychic power. During sieges and close quarters he will trade out his plasma pistol, runic armor, and jump pack for a suit of runic terminator armor, a wrist mounted storm bolter, and a storm shield.
One of the few surviving Wolf Lords of the Third Vermyr War, is Ameon DragonWolf, the youngest Wolf Lord in the chapter at 130 years old, he still has much to prove in his capacity as Wolf Lord, but his saga has been one worthy of legend ever since he first was chosen by the Wolf Priests to become a member of the Knights of the Wolf by saving his homeworld from a Daemonic incursion from its northern pole. In the years since his elevation to the ranks of the Knights of the Wolf, he has proved himself a cunning and brave warrior, and possessing a silver tongue that can make even the most stubborn of his brothers, Knight Baron, or Tech Priest see his way on a situation. He rides a Great White Direwolf who he calls Ghost. He arms himself with a Relic blade and a storm shield.
Ivar HelAxe is another survivor of the third Vermin War and the eldest surviving Wolf Lord in the chapter, he has long proved himself an indomitable fighter able to withstand anything the galaxy may throw at him. As the eldest of his fellow Wolf Lord, his Great Company has the greatest amount of veterans, Wolf Scouts, and Long Fangs. His old age has made him the most stubborn of his battle brothers and the most resistant to accepting Primaris marines with only accepting them as the chapter had no other option, thus his Great Company features the fewest primaris with them mainly being those who had undergone the Red Sleep of Morkai. He wields a frost Axe, wrist mounted storm bolter, and storm shield.
Mattin Stormhammer is a great warrior and always been one for being the most aggressive and hot-headed of the Wolf Lords,as before the ascension of Ameon Dragonwolf, he was the youngest of the Wolf Lords. Another survivor of the Third Vermin War, he favors airborne assaults via drop pods, gunships, and jump pack equipped Skyclaws and Wolf Guard. In battle he wields a Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield. He will always be found in the thickest part of battle smashing his way to the enemy's commanders in order to decapitate the head of the beast and throw his foes into disarray. Addendum: Recently slain alongside half of his Great Company in a ferocious battle against the Necrons. Necron overlord, it's command staff, doomsday ark, and most of their forces were destroyed, was successfully interred in a dreadnought hull. Remaining Wolf Guard selected Abarran Helhammer as the next Wolf Lord and Albarran has sworn vengeance for his slain predecessor and vowed to destroy the Necron dynasty that inflicted such death upon his brothers.
Ulrich Morkaison is the eldest Knight of the Wolf not interred in a dreadnought and high Wolf Priest of the chapter. Despite his old age, he is still incredibly vicious in battle and has slain so many beasts, monsters, and other horrors that his brothers say that he is the Son of the DeathWolf Morkai himself, this his epithet, Morkaison. Ulrich is armed and armored with only the most ancient of the chapter's wargear, wearing a suit of ancient Mark III "Iron Armor" that was once utlized by the Deathsworn packs when the Vlyka Fenyrka was still a mighty Legion and the Wolf King fought alongside his Gene-Sons.
Erak Tempestwolf, the Master of the Tempests, the second eldest battle brother after Ulrich and the High Rune Priest of the chapter. Mentor to all remaining rune priests in the chapter and close friend and confidant to the Great Wolf. In battle he wields a great Runic staff known as the Tempest Rod. Recently led a successful campaign along with Thane Alesandro Blackmane and Chief Iron Priest Abilo Ironmonger against the foul forces of the traitor Thousand Sons.
Artos IceFist is the first battle brother to undergo the Red Sleep of Morkai and become a Primaris marine. Once a Wolf Guard Battle Leader for Luis Firewolf, he was given command of the first Great Company of the chapter to be made entirely of Primaris Marines. He is considered the best warrior in chapter in the arts of siegecraft and in battle prefers to form an unbreakable mountain that the enemy can break themselves upon. Before becoming a primaris marine, he had worn a relic suit of Tartaros terminator armor from the days of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy and was armed with the relic powerfist known as the "Helfrost Fist" and a stormbolter. After becoming a Primaris Marine, he wears a suit of Mark X Gravis Armor and his armed with his relic powerfist and a suit mounted helfrost pistol.
Miguel Lightingfang is a mysterious rune priest whose past and records are unclear, but is held in high regard by the Great Wolf, High Rune Priest, and his Wolf Lord Ameon Dragonwolf. The youngest rune priest of the chapter but expected to surpass all including the Lord of Tempests and Great Wolf. His psychic potential is almost unmatched and in order to maintain control must always wear his artificer helm and hood to control his power, even many of his brothers have never seen his face. None in the chapter have faster reflexes or fight with such speed and grace. In combat he prefers wielding an master Runic Axe called the Stormsplitter and a wrist mounted stormbolter, to take advantage of his speed he uses a jump pack. To the bewilderment of all, The Great Wolf has decreed that he is not allowed to fight alongside the forces of the Inquisition or Ecclesiarchy. He was captured by The Queen of Commoragh during his early days in the chapter and was held as a slave gladiator in the great arena of Commoragh.
Alaric The Bold: A recent addition to the ranks of the Wolf Guard of Luis Firewolf. During a battle against Dark Eldar forces including those of the Cult of Styfe led by Lelith Hesperax, Alaric would be raised from the ranks of the Skyclaws to that of the Wolf Guard by saving the life of Wolf . Upon learning of Lelith Hesperax's presence on the world of Messia III, Great Luis Firewolf gathered his Great Company to lead a strike against the Cult of Styfe and their leader, as he had sworn vengeance against the Cult of Styfe and Lelith Hesperax as they had captured a number of warriors of the chapter including Miguel Lightingfang. Though the Great Wolf was successful in freeing Miguel Lightingfang thanks to the aid of Farseer Eldrad and Macha, Firewolf would swear eternal vengeance against that particular cult and Lelith Hesperax. The assault on the Cult of Styfe was partially successful as they had made contact with the xenos and opened a path to Lelith Hesperax. Firewolf engaged Hesperax in a vicious duel where he let the power of the Blade of Wulfen overtake him as he let his rage and desire to vengeance cloud his vision. This is exactly what Hesperax wanted and when Firewolf and a small pack of his Wolf Guard engaged Hesperax and her inner circle, Hesperax sprung her trap and isolated them from the rest of the Great Company. One by one Firewolf's Wolf Guard were felled. Until it was Firewolf facing Hesperax and her inner circle alone. Even with all his skill he was not immortal nor invincible and the poisons being used against were specifically tailored by the Hamoculi to weaken a Son of Russ. Firewolf's flagship the Battle Barge, Lupus Rex, via the disappearing signals from the Wof Guard's armor. The mortal Captain of the Lupus Rex, Fernan de Navarrete contacted a pack of Skyclaws aboard a StormWolf gunship and rerouted them in order to save the Great Wolf and buy time for the teleportation chamber to come back online. Which would allow the reserve pack of Wolf Guard to deploy in terminator armor. The StormWolf was soon overhead the trap that Hesperax had sprung. The StormWolf dived towards the fighting. Opening up with its heavy bolters and the dispersed Twin Helfrost canons. The ramp dropped on the gunship and out came a pack of eight Skyclaws who used their jump packs to guide them to heaviest fighting where the Great Wolf was proving himself as a true Son of Russ. The Skyclaws did their best to save their Great Wolf, though one by one the Skyclaws fell until only Alaric, who was not even the pack leader remained. The Great Wolf nearly brought low by a quick flurry of poisoned blade strikes. Alaric rushed to the defense of his King and met Hesperax in battle. Hesperax toyed with him as what threat did a lowly skyclaw pose to the Queen of the arena. That overconfidence eventually got the better of her as Alaric successfully wounded her with a slash of his chainsword. Hesperax replied to the slash tenfold. Nearly slaying Alaric in her fury. Alaric's bravery and near sacrifice bought his liege enough time for their brothers to arrive in a flash of light. Six massive armored figures arrived ready to give their lives in defense of their Jarl. Thane Avar WolfAxe took the lead in the defense of his king. Cutting down the Wytches that tried to intercept him with his frost axe. Then letting loose a punishing hail of stormbolter fire to suppress the Wytches. The rest of the Wolf Guard pack did the same, unleashing their storm bolters upon the wytches and striking with their frost weapons at any that got too close. Arjac Firespitter whirled his assault cannon and let loose a storm of death which eliminated swaths of Wytches. Hesperax now knew her plan was a failure and ordered a retreat. In the aftermath of the battle the Great Wolf came into the medicae chamber housing the sole surviving Skyclaw who has saved his life. Then and there the Great Wolf raised him to his Wolf Guard and granted the epithet the "Bold" for throwing himself into battle against the Queen of Commoragh. He was also granted an ancient Frost Blade that was once wielded by an ancient warrior from the days of the Horus Heresy and wields a combi-melta. Alaric is often seen fighting alongside his new pack brothers among the Wolf Guard defending their liege in battle or leading packs of Skyclaws to ensure that Great Wolf's will is done during a crucial moment in battle.
Avar WolfAxe is the thane of the High King Luis Firewolf and the first among equals among the Great Wolf's Wolf Guard. A mountain of an Astartes, whose fury and skill in battle is almost peerless. Though after a recent feast hosting the Harlequin troupe known as the Masque of the Frozen Stars, he was known to have lost his favorite axe, the legendary two headed Frost Axe known as Winter's Bite. None of his brothers save the greatest masters of the chapter and his own Great Wolf knows the full story behind his missing axe. He now wields a Frost Axe dubbed the Vengeful Bite and a storm bolter.
Dryn Orksbane is one of Ameon DragonWolf's favored Wolf Guard and while still needing some seasoning, he is quickly proving himself to be a fierce warrior who wields a mighty thunder hammer and storm shield while riding a massive Direwolf. Before his elevation to the ranks of the Knights of the Wolf he had served as a page to Ameon DragonWolf in his old life and proved his valor and worthiness fighting against the daemonic incursion.
Ameon Battleborn, a prodigy of a warrior who despite his youth is one of Dragonwolf"s favored Wolf Guard and was named the Champion of the Great Company in the aftermath of the Third Verymir War. A master with all manner of melee weapons who was said to have been raised and trained by the Dragonwolf himself said before and during his early life as an Astarte. It is said that Ameon Battleborn is the nephew of the Dragonwolf. It is also said that Battleborn's own birth father was a warrior even greater than the Dragonwolf prior to his elevation.
Alessandro Blackmane: One of Luis Firewolf's closest Thanes and the only one of the Knights of the Wolf to have served in the Deathwatch per the tithe to the Deathwatch and to provide intel about the Xenos threats near their sector and gain more intelligence on new Xenos threats. While many of his brothers now view him with suspicion as they do not trust outsiders of their chapter, their sector, and their lineage. Alessandro has not betrayed the most sacred secrets of his chapter to the Deathwatch and Inquisition. He last led a pack of Wolf Guard in Terminator armor against the Cult of time of the Thousand Sons. He typically wields a thunder hammer and storm shield while clad in his terminator war plate.
Abilo Ironmonger: The Chief Iron Priest of the chapter. He is a master of repairing and maintaining the Chapter's equipment and vehicles along with being an expert in being able to modify and squeeze every ounce of service from the wargear and war machines in his chapter's armory. He wields a Tempest Hammer and Helfrost pistol.
Relics
Blade of Wulfen, is a runic sword that was forged by Luid Firewolf after his original Runic was destroyed in battle against the forces of the Thousand Sons traitor legion. STR +4, AP -4, damage 3,
Thunderfist, one of three master crafted artificer power fists created by the legendary Iron Priest Rurik Ironfang. Instead of a traditional energy field surrounding the fist, the fist is engulfed in a massive surge of lighting giving the powerfist superior penetration compared to a standard power fist. STR x2, AP-4, damage D3, when it strikes vehicle 02rolle D6 and on a 6, target takes an additional wound.
Inferno Fist, The second legendary powerfist created by Rurik Ironfang like it's kin the thunderfist, it has superior penetration compared to a standard power fist, with this relic being engulfed in a searing hot field of plasma. STR x2, AP-4, damage 3
Helfrost Fist, The magnum opus of Rurik, it is a power fist that utilizes helfrost technology in a similar manner to a tempest hammer and other helfrost weaponry, meaning that it has both superior penetration and damage compared to other powerfists. STR x3, AP -4, damage D6 a roll of 1 or 2 counts as three, if any model suffers any unsaved wound from this weapon and is not slain, roll a D6; on a 6, the target suffers a mortal wound. Currently wielded by Artos Icefist.
Chapter relations:
The Chapter has an excellent relationship with their primogeniture chapter and their fellow Space Wolf Successor chapters like the Wolfspear. The Knights of the Wolf have fought alongside their fellow Sons of Russ on many a battlefield across Semgtum Solar and Temptus
with many friendships being forged between the Sons of Russ. Logan Grimnar himself has praised the Knights of the Wolf in their dedication to protecting the common people of the Imperium.
The chapter has poor relations with the various Ordos of the Inquisition especially the Ordo Malleus and Hereticus with only the chapter's heroic valor and loyalty to the Emperor and the chapter's strong ties to their fellow Sons of Russ and the strong allies they have forged with the world they have saved from the Enemies of the Imperium.
Despite worshipping the Emperor as a god, they have very poor relations with the Ecclesiarchy due to the Ecclesiarchy believing them to be heretics and issues about the chapter believing that Russ shall return with the True Bride of the Emperor. The Knights of the Wolf and the Sisters of Battle have in fact almost come into open conflict with each other and only the threat of a large force of traitor legionnaires forcing them into an uneasy peace.
Due to the chapter's willingness to come to the aid of Imperial Guard forces, they have earned a fierce loyalty and adoration from the Guard regiments they have aided in battle.
While each Knight house and world is unique, overall the chapter has good relations with most knightly houses as they share the knight worlds and houses' strong emphasis on honor and chivalry. With the Knight Houses of Loborrak, the Chapter has an excellent relationship and many Knights of the world possess honors and totems gifted to them by the chapter for fighting well alongside the chapter.