Gene Curse - Q&A

[Levitas]

I was thinking about the problems with the wolf gene seed, trying to get my head around the whole picture from a fluff point of view. So any wolf priests out there be ready with your musty tombs of knowledge.

 

Control:

 

What are the barriers preventing a space wolf from degenerating into a cursed wulfen? Is it strength of mind or a random freak event that suddenly begins the process irrelevant of mental resolve. Does this mean that a space wolf is constantly in mental turmoil to keep the beast at bay, much like our vampiric brothers and their anger issues.

 

Wolf Lord Bran Redmaw is a case in point. The fluff tells us that Bran takes on a 'different form' during the hunt. Does this mean that he can access the power of the wulfen at will or is on the road to a full change?

 

Marked:

 

Once a space wolf is marked then has he begun to loose mental and physical control, or has his gene seed begun to corrupt on its own - Who/what is at fault? Is the path of that warrior set, with time the only factor? Or can the warrior pull out of his slide into a cursed monster by sheer will?

 

Cure:

 

Are the Wolf Priests of the chapter trying to solve the wulfen curse, or content to leave it as a trial left by Russ for his sons to beat? Is it getting worse or relatively stable?

 

Age:

 

If strength of will is required to control it then are we to believe that Blood Claws are more susceptible than Long Fangs? Our codex seems content to not give long fangs the mark of the wulfen option, game play aside, was this a fluff decision by Phill Kelly? After all Codex dev marine sergeants can take powerfists, despite the fact they would get the same windows of opportunity a long fang pack leader would get to use them - as in not much.

 

Just some thoughts!

[Requiem of the Wolf]

I was thinking about the problems with the wolf gene seed, trying to get my head around the whole picture from a fluff point of view. So any wolf priests out there be ready with your musty tombs of knowledge.

 

Control:

 

What are the barriers preventing a space wolf from degenerating into a cursed wulfen? Is it strength of mind or a random freak event that suddenly begins the process irrelevant of mental resolve. Does this mean that a space wolf is constantly in mental turmoil to keep the beast at bay, much like our vampiric brothers and their anger issues.

 

Wolf Lord Bran Redmaw is a case in point. The fluff tells us that Bran takes on a 'different form' during the hunt. Does this mean that he can access the power of the wulfen at will or is on the road to a full change?

 

Marked:

 

Once a space wolf is marked then has he begun to loose mental and physical control, or has his gene seed begun to corrupt on its own - Who/what is at fault? Is the path of that warrior set, with time the only factor? Or can the warrior pull out of his slide into a cursed monster by sheer will?

 

Cure:

 

Are the Wolf Priests of the chapter trying to solve the wulfen curse, or content to leave it as a trial left by Russ for his sons to beat? Is it getting worse or relatively stable?

 

Age:

 

If strength of will is required to control it then are we to believe that Blood Claws are more susceptible than Long Fangs? Our codex seems content to not give long fangs the mark of the wulfen option, game play aside, was this a fluff decision by Phill Kelly? After all Codex dev marine sergeants can take powerfists, despite the fact they would get the same windows of opportunity a long fang pack leader would get to use them - as in not much.

 

Just some thoughts!

First and Foremost,the barrier to the curse of the Wulfen is willpower. To use an oft-repeated native american story,everybody has two wolves inside them,the white wolf and the black wolf,the light and the dark...when asked which one wins,the one you feed the most. It is the constant meditation,litanies and force of will that keep the Wolf from taking over. Now...from what I understand...yes...Every Space Wolf walks a fine line of control,some of them better then others. The will of the Space Wolf is what determines how well he deals with the Wulfen inside him. Now...some individuals don't completely recover from the trial. Their gene-seed is slightly corrupted and the Canis Helix doesn't completely equalize. Those are the ones that are represented by the Mark of the Wulfen in the codex. Ones that in times of battle,their gene-seed forces them into a more bestial aspect. They still are not full Wulfen. I think it would also indicate those whose control has slipped,but not completely. Bran for instance,could very well be one of the strongest examples of willpower overcoming the curse and controlling it.And that is a common thread with every example of the Wulfen.

 

The full on Wulfen come from two places. One,are those initiates that lose their sense of self during the Long Walk. Without the stability of the rest of the Gene-seed,they become slavering werewolf-like monstrosities,without the will to control themselves or to change back. The second example is those Space Wolves that have been subjected to extreme amounts of chaos energy. Their Gene-seed expresses the Wulfen as a counter-measure to the chaos taint. How it does this exactly,and why it works,aren't very well explained. The real evidence for this is in the stories of the 13th company and them kicking ass in the warp for 10,000 years. Now those that have maintained their willpower are still able to be mostly human,and the stronger the will,the less the Wulfen needs to be expressed to prevent the taint in the first place.

 

As for whether they are trying to cure it? That I do not know. I do know they are trying to control it,to prevent its spread...but likely it is viewed as something that cannot be cured,and must be endured and controlled.

 

I would say that it is mostly a matter of Willpower,with some basis of repetition. As a Blood Claw,you are dealing with all the new things about your body at once.Picture going through Puberty,except this time you can bench press a truck and have the thought processes of a blood thirsty maniac popping into your head at inoppurtune times. Now,by the time you become a Grey Hunter,you have grown used to the changes involved in becoming an Astartes. You have faced down and controlled the Wulfen inside many times. Your willpower has been focused,tested and proven strong time and again. More then anything,the Wulfen has gotten into the habit of being controlled and channeled into the path you want it to.It has also begun the process of integrating it into your psyche,making it more a part of you rather then a force affecting you. Then,after centuries of fighting...you have become a Long Fang. Your willpower has been honed from constant use into something stronger then the ceramite armor you wear. Your wulfen has become a part of your body and soul,and by that time it is no longer a separate peice of your identity....it is part of who you are.

 

This is my take on things at least...I am sure others will have better insights then mine.

[Demonslayer]

Control:

 

What are the barriers preventing a space wolf from degenerating into a cursed wulfen? Is it strength of mind. Does this mean that a space wolf is constantly in mental turmoil to keep the beast at bay, much like our vampiric brothers and their anger issues.

Yes. I'm sure it says somewhere in one of the Codex's about it

 

Wolf Lord Bran Redmaw is a case in point. The fluff tells us that Bran takes on a 'different form' during the hunt. Does this mean that he can access the power of the wulfen at will or is on the road to a full change?

 

Marked:

 

Once a space wolf is marked then has he begun to loose mental and physical control, or has his gene seed begun to corrupt on its own - Who/what is at fault? Is the path of that warrior set, with time the only factor? Or can the warrior pull out of his slide into a cursed monster by sheer will?

A marked Space Wolf is on the thin line between Marine/Wulfen usually because the beast within is getting stronger. As said above. Reasons could be any thing, So don't go knocking his ice cream on the floor he mite just get mad and change

 

Cure:

 

Are the Wolf Priests of the chapter trying to solve the wulfen curse, or content to leave it as a trial left by Russ for his sons to beat? Is it getting worse or relatively stable?

The curse is what makes us Space Wolves, without it why would you think of such a thing. I think its relatively stable but there's always that one thing that happens

 

Age:

 

If strength of will is required to control it then are we to believe that Blood Claws are more susceptible than Long Fangs?

Yes. Long Fangs have lived with the curse for such along time and is a big part of them, while Blood Claws are still getting used to it and just charge off everywhere

 

Just some thoughts!

 

Those are my thoughts, so if you don't like it or its wrong go and have an ice cream ^_^

 

 

Where did that post above come from, I need to learn to type faster :sweat:

[captain fabian]

First and Foremost,the barrier to the curse of the Wulfen is willpower. To use an oft-repeated native american story,everybody has two wolves inside them,the white wolf and the black wolf,the light and the dark...when asked which one wins,the one you feed the most. It is the constant meditation,litanies and force of will that keep the Wolf from taking over. Now...from what I understand...yes...Every Space Wolf walks a fine line of control,some of them better then others. The will of the Space Wolf is what determines how well he deals with the Wulfen inside him. Now...some individuals don't completely recover from the trial. Their gene-seed is slightly corrupted and the Canis Helix doesn't completely equalize. Those are the ones that are represented by the Mark of the Wulfen in the codex. Ones that in times of battle,their gene-seed forces them into a more bestial aspect. They still are not full Wulfen. I think it would also indicate those whose control has slipped,but not completely. Bran for instance,could very well be one of the strongest examples of willpower overcoming the curse and controlling it.And that is a common thread with every example of the Wulfen.

 

The full on Wulfen come from two places. One,are those initiates that lose their sense of self during the Long Walk. Without the stability of the rest of the Gene-seed,they become slavering werewolf-like monstrosities,without the will to control themselves or to change back. The second example is those Space Wolves that have been subjected to extreme amounts of chaos energy. Their Gene-seed expresses the Wulfen as a counter-measure to the chaos taint. How it does this exactly,and why it works,aren't very well explained. The real evidence for this is in the stories of the 13th company and them kicking ass in the warp for 10,000 years. Now those that have maintained their willpower are still able to be mostly human,and the stronger the will,the less the Wulfen needs to be expressed to prevent the taint in the first place.

 

As for whether they are trying to cure it? That I do not know. I do know they are trying to control it,to prevent its spread...but likely it is viewed as something that cannot be cured,and must be endured and controlled.

 

I would say that it is mostly a matter of Willpower,with some basis of repetition. As a Blood Claw,you are dealing with all the new things about your body at once.Picture going through Puberty,except this time you can bench press a truck and have the thought processes of a blood thirsty maniac popping into your head at inoppurtune times. Now,by the time you become a Grey Hunter,you have grown used to the changes involved in becoming an Astartes. You have faced down and controlled the Wulfen inside many times. Your willpower has been focused,tested and proven strong time and again. More then anything,the Wulfen has gotten into the habit of being controlled and channeled into the path you want it to.It has also begun the process of integrating it into your psyche,making it more a part of you rather then a force affecting you. Then,after centuries of fighting...you have become a Long Fang. Your willpower has been honed from constant use into something stronger then the ceramite armor you wear. Your wulfen has become a part of your body and soul,and by that time it is no longer a separate peice of your identity....it is part of who you are.

 

This is my take on things at least...I am sure others will have better insights then mine.

 

 

 

JUST EPIC. EPIC. I totally agree with you.

[Levitas]

Great answers gentleman, and totally epic Requiem i agree. Thanks for taking the time to pen such a detailed answer, you must be an actual wolf priest - i salute you.

 

I'm looking forward to Prospero Burns to see if they mention it at all then. I was listening to Thunder from Fenris as they chase their wulfen brother, and wondered what had triggered his change. Hardly the most quality of audio books but still found the wulfen aspect intriguing.

[Requiem of the Wolf]

You are quite welcome brother,but I am no Wolf Priest...just a simple Skald and Son of Russ. Most of my knowledge comes from listening to the Gray Mage,and the rest from the stories and tales of Russ and my fellow Wolves.

[TiguriusX]

You are quite welcome brother,but I am no Wolf Priest...just a simple Skald and Son of Russ. Most of my knowledge comes from listening to the Gray Mage,and the rest from the stories and tales of Russ and my fellow Wolves.

 

One must hear the saga before he can pass the saga on

 

You will make a good Wolf Priest brother Requiem

[postal105]

So any wolf priests out there be ready with your musty tombs of knowledge. sorry we don't have any we consult the runes.

[Beef]

Its all been said but just to add nowhere does it say that the wolf priests are trying to find a cure for the curse, its part of Russ's legascy bestowed on his children.

 

While Blood claws are more succeptable to the curse due to being younger and untempered in battle the curse can manifest in any Sw despite age. Obviously the older they get the more they manage to control the beast whithen. the older wolves are just better at dealing with the curse