Space wolf lifespan?

[Serunox]

And as allways, Dreadnoughts don't count, people living in the Warp don't count, and peope in stasis don't count.

 

We don't read about how Space Marines die of old age because that is not a particularly impressive subject.

 

I thought the warp might have something to do but hey, im just a pup lol.Reading these threads are great to learn about our chapter since we dont actually have knowledge machines to pump in the knowledge lol.

 

Well for a space wolve to die of old age is basically a big shame i would think.The wolves charge head first into battle lol.So its like the spartans, a glorius death is all they want.and of course alot of ale lol :D

[Token]

Serunox, you should put a spoiler alert on that post. Im not sure how you do it though..

[Serunox]

Serunox, you should put a spoiler alert on that post. Im not sure how you do it though..

haha sorry about that.Didnt think of it when i made that first post.Ill try and have a look how to do it.

[Token]

Not sure how many have read the books, but id guess most of Fang.. hangers..? has. Sorry for going off topic, but what are people who hang at the Fang called?

[Max_Dammit]

and since Wolf Priests are only selected from Long Fangs, he would be at least 800 years old (if not quite a bit more).

 

As you dont read black library stuff

 

The last SW book contradicts this claim

[LPetersson]

But according to books Ranek, not Ulrick was Ragnar's WP.

 

That's why I've made it my policy to never read Black Library books, they are always screwing up the fluff. The books about Ragnar have messed up the Wolf Priest that found, trained, and mentored him (Ulrick), and the Wolf Lord of the 13th Company (Jorin Bloodfang).

 

As usual, Legatus is right on the money. Space Marines are not immortal (neither were the Primarchs), although they are exceptionally long-lived. The Emperor was/is immortal, but he didn't have the ability to make others immortal, too.

 

...,and since Wolf Priests are only selected from Long Fangs, he would be at least 800 years old (if not quite a bit more).

 

Valerian

 

Some of them are quite good, and the codices/rulebooks mess around with fluff as well, so where's the difference :(

 

I am reasonably certain that I have never heard of a marine dying from old age, so as far as we can tell, they are in fact immortal.

 

Where did you hear that Wolf Priests were only taken from the Long Fangs? I've just had a look through the 2nd, 3rd and 5th codices and I don't see any reference to that, although I might have overlooked it...

[Legatus]

I am reasonably certain that I have never heard of a marine dying from old age, so as far as we can tell, they are in fact immortal.

If we disregard the 2nd Edition Codex Ultramarines, 2nd Edition Codex Space Wolves, 2nd Edition Codex Angels of Death, 3rd Edition Rulebook, 4th Edition Codex Blood Angels PDF, 5th Edition Codex Space Wolves and 5th Edition Codex Blood Angels as viable fluff sources, then I guess yeah, as far as we know Space Marines may be immortal. That all of those sources refer to a limited life span of several hundred years for Space Marines might give someone the idea that Space Marines aren't immortal. But in a Black Library book some guy living during the great crusade has alleged that Marines might be immortal, so that probably outweighs all of the other fluff written over the past decades in various Codices.

[Karack Blackstone]

I am reasonably certain that I have never heard of a marine dying from old age, so as far as we can tell, they are in fact immortal.

If we disregard the 2nd Edition Codex Ultramarines, 2nd Edition Codex Space Wolves, 2nd Edition Codex Angels of Death, 3rd Edition Rulebook, 4th Edition Codex Blood Angels PDF, 5th Edition Codex Space Wolves and 5th Edition Codex Blood Angels as viable fluff sources, then I guess yeah, as far as we know Space Marines may be immortal. That all of those sources refer to a limited life span of several hundred years for Space Marines might give someone the idea that Space Marines aren't immortal. But in a Black Library book some guy living during the great crusade has alleged that Marines might be immortal, so that probably outweighs all of the other fluff written over the past decades in various Codices.

 

I like your spin.

 

Okay, so maybe we like to think we're immortal. Several hundred years is a reasonable number to tack on, considering with the right treatments in the Eisenhorn books (gene therapy) a normal human can live to be 300 years old.

 

I think we're a little stuck on being immortal because we give something written to rework the fluff more credence than the Codeci...

 

Immortality would be nice. Guess those of us that drink and celebrate are at least living during our lifetimes. ;)

[Marshal Wilhelm]

Whenever I see Legatus over here I think "oh no, what now?!" ;)

 

+++

 

The BL books do put that forwards, that they could be immortal.

GW material says they lives a few Centuries.

 

There is no clash.

 

BL books cover the area when no one knew fully about what Marines could do. Hypothesis.

GW material covers what happens after 10K years of Marines have risen and fallen. Empirical evidence.

 

It is even possible that Marines could live for ever yet with the Heresy happening, the science used for that was distorted or lost.

Look at GW material for the perversion of rituals Chapters have in creating aspirants.

 

Both exist and work together. :)

[Sharpsilver]

The fluff really should state. Space Marines could be regarded as Immortal, unless their lives are ended (which is most likely) by Battle.

 

Dying by Disease? Nope

 

Dying by Ageing As it appears, No.

 

Death by Trauma? More than likely. This is where the whole, 'Space Marines are immortal thing' falls. Space Marines are not immortal because they would have to somehow, avoid Trauma or be so lucky as to never have a catastrophic accident. In this case. They would be immortal if they were able to eternally avoid this way of dying, which isn't going to happen.

[fandon]

Well it can depend on the wording. GW could come out tmw and say space marines are immortal if all of the codices say most live to... or have an average lifespan of... because they are always fighting, the average lifespan of a soldier will be lower than that of someone who never sees war, if it never says old age, then its safe to assume the reason logan and ulrick are so long lived is because they are as exceptional in battle as they are meant to be. Although I have not looked through the different codices and cannot speak for the wording.

[Legatus]

"The youths they pick will be tested to become Space Wolves. If they succeed, the gene-seed of Leman Russ will be implanted in their bodies and they will become Space Marines. As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle, and they will voyage through the stars to fight in wars on the other side of the galaxy."

2E, C:SW, p.6

 

"Logan Grimnar is the latest in a line of Space Wolf masters that stretch back to the Great Crusade and the time of the Space Wolves' founder Leman Russ. He is one of the Imperium's oldest and most renowned warriors. This cunning and fierce old man has led the Space Wolves for over five hundred years. This is a long time even for a Space Marine, who often live for several centuries."

2E, C:SW, p.66

 

"A Space Marine is a genetically enhanced warrior, far stronger and tougher than an ordinary human being. Space Marines can live for several hundred years and they possess extraordinary powers."

2E, C:UM, p.6

 

"Physically the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all the Space Marine Chapters. One of the peculiarities of the Flaw is that it has vastly increased the lifespan of those who survive, so it is not uncommon for Blood Angels to live for a thousand years. Indeed, the current Commander of the Chapter, Dante, has lived for nearly 1,100 years. These vastly extended lifespans allow the Blood Angels to perfect their techniques in art as well as in war. They have centuries in which to perfect the disciplines to which they turn their minds. This accounts for the fact that Blood ANgels' armour and banners are among the most ornate ever produced."

2E, C:AoD, p.21

 

"A Space Marine is the most powerful and most dreaded of all the Imperium's warriors. In almost every respect they are not really human at all, but super human - superior in almost every way to an ordinary man.

Space Marines can live for hundreds of years. Their senses are sharper and their muscles stronger than those of a normal man."

3E, BRB, p.110

 

"Physically, the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all Space Marines. One of the peculiarities of the Flaw is that it vastly increases the lifespan of those who survive. Thus, it is not uncommon for Blood Angels to live for a thousand years. Indeed, the current Chapter Master, Dante, was born nearly 1,100 years ago. These vastly increased lifespans allow Blood Angels to perfect their techniques in art as well as in war. They have centuries in which to perfect the disciplines to which they turn their minds, accounting for the fact that the Blood Angels' armor and banners are among the most ornate ever produced by Space Marine artificers."

4E, C:BA (pdf), p.3

 

"Yet some succeed, despite the ravages wrought upon them, the multitude of wild beasts and the natural perils that lie between them and their goal. These aspirants are welcomed to the Chapter and take their place amongst the Space Wolves. As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle, and they will voyage through the stars to fight in the Emperor's name."

5E, C:SW, p.10

 

"Physically the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all the Space Marine Chapters. One of the peculiarities of their aberrant gene-seed is that it has vastly increased the lifespan of those who bear it, so it is not uncommon for Blood ANgels to live for a thousand years. Indeed, the current Commander of the Chapter, Dante, is known to have lived for 1,100 years, and is almost certainly far older. These vastly extended lifespans allow the Blood Angels to perfect their techniques in art as well as in war. They have centuries in which to perfect the disciplines to which they turn their minds. This accounts for the fact that the Blood Angels' armour and banners are amongst the most ornate of all the Space Marines."

5E, C:BA, p.12

[Wolf Guard Dan]

I get the feeling that Space Wolves dont get as old as other space marines, they get grey hair, they go from being crazy berserkers to calm Long Fangs..

How old do they get?

 

*looks up* Long story short, centuries.

[Chaplain ChonkE]

Hehe, had to run through all that to get to the short and quick ;)

[Max_Dammit]

"The youths they pick will be tested to become Space Wolves. If they succeed, the gene-seed of Leman Russ will be implanted in their bodies and they will become Space Marines. As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle, and they will voyage through the stars to fight in wars on the other side of the galaxy."

2E, C:SW, p.6

 

"Logan Grimnar is the latest in a line of Space Wolf masters that stretch back to the Great Crusade and the time of the Space Wolves' founder Leman Russ. He is one of the Imperium's oldest and most renowned warriors. This cunning and fierce old man has led the Space Wolves for over five hundred years. This is a long time even for a Space Marine, who often live for several centuries."

2E, C:SW, p.66

 

"A Space Marine is a genetically enhanced warrior, far stronger and tougher than an ordinary human being. Space Marines can live for several hundred years and they possess extraordinary powers."

2E, C:UM, p.6

 

"Physically the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all the Space Marine Chapters. One of the peculiarities of the Flaw is that it has vastly increased the lifespan of those who survive, so it is not uncommon for Blood Angels to live for a thousand years. Indeed, the current Commander of the Chapter, Dante, has lived for nearly 1,100 years. These vastly extended lifespans allow the Blood Angels to perfect their techniques in art as well as in war. They have centuries in which to perfect the disciplines to which they turn their minds. This accounts for the fact that Blood ANgels' armour and banners are among the most ornate ever produced."

2E, C:AoD, p.21

 

"A Space Marine is the most powerful and most dreaded of all the Imperium's warriors. In almost every respect they are not really human at all, but super human - superior in almost every way to an ordinary man.

Space Marines can live for hundreds of years. Their senses are sharper and their muscles stronger than those of a normal man."

3E, BRB, p.110

 

"Physically, the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all Space Marines. One of the peculiarities of the Flaw is that it vastly increases the lifespan of those who survive. Thus, it is not uncommon for Blood Angels to live for a thousand years. Indeed, the current Chapter Master, Dante, was born nearly 1,100 years ago. These vastly increased lifespans allow Blood Angels to perfect their techniques in art as well as in war. They have centuries in which to perfect the disciplines to which they turn their minds, accounting for the fact that the Blood Angels' armor and banners are among the most ornate ever produced by Space Marine artificers."

4E, C:BA (pdf), p.3

 

"Yet some succeed, despite the ravages wrought upon them, the multitude of wild beasts and the natural perils that lie between them and their goal. These aspirants are welcomed to the Chapter and take their place amongst the Space Wolves. As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle, and they will voyage through the stars to fight in the Emperor's name."

5E, C:SW, p.10

 

"Physically the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all the Space Marine Chapters. One of the peculiarities of their aberrant gene-seed is that it has vastly increased the lifespan of those who bear it, so it is not uncommon for Blood ANgels to live for a thousand years. Indeed, the current Commander of the Chapter, Dante, is known to have lived for 1,100 years, and is almost certainly far older. These vastly extended lifespans allow the Blood Angels to perfect their techniques in art as well as in war. They have centuries in which to perfect the disciplines to which they turn their minds. This accounts for the fact that the Blood Angels' armour and banners are amongst the most ornate of all the Space Marines."

5E, C:BA, p.12

 

Non of these claym them dying of old age,

 

As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years until they will inevitable die in combat, If you live a 1000 years you'll walk under a car or fall of the stairs one day or a other, so i dont see those texts as evidence of dieing of old age. Its just how you read those words.

[Legatus]

Non of these claym them dying of old age,

Oh my god, you are kidding me, right?

 

"As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle"

 

How can that be misunderstood?

[Wysten]

Blood Angel fluff implifies that their life span is greater then your average marine which does indicate that there is a upper limit. Though I am not sure whether the fluff is actually outdated now or not as most of the time, if the fluff is not mentioned it's carried over.

 

Often, they live long enough to preform their duty. Which may explain why the High Wolf Priest is so eager to put his life on the line, at 800 years, he can probably feel the ravages of time slowly wearing him down where his many foes could not. So he seeks to end his saga in the most glorious way possible by finding the greatest creature possible and slaying it, if he dies, then he's earned a glorious rest.

 

That being said. Thats just me playing the devils flute. I personally believe that marines are not immortal, but are often long lived enough that they do eventrally meet their end in battle. Those that don't, seek to be put into a sucidal mission head first for death and/or glory. On the table top, the average space wolf's lifespan is very short indeed. XD

[Legatus]

Blood Angel fluff implifies that their life span is greater then your average marine which does indicate that there is a upper limit. Though I am not sure whether the fluff is actually outdated now or not as most of the time, if the fluff is not mentioned it's carried over.

I was expecting that some people might disregard 2nd Edition sources, that's why I repeated the essentially identical passage about the Blood Angels longevity from 2nd, 4th and 5th Edition.

[Wysten]

Blood Angel fluff implifies that their life span is greater then your average marine which does indicate that there is a upper limit. Though I am not sure whether the fluff is actually outdated now or not as most of the time, if the fluff is not mentioned it's carried over.

I was expecting that some people might disregard 2nd Edition sources, that's why I repeated the essentially identical passage about the Blood Angels longevity from 2nd, 4th and 5th Edition.

Aye, I was just double checking since I don't have access to blood angel fluff. Either it's a huge afterthrought by trying to keep vampiric references in there, or generaly assumes that we all know that marines won't live forever, just longer if they somehow lived a life fairly free of war.

[Max_Dammit]

Non of these claym them dying of old age,

Oh my god, you are kidding me, right?

 

"As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle"

 

How can that be misunderstood?

It says nothing to me except that he will live hundreds of years FIGHTING if he doesn't die before he gets 100, nowhere does it claim he will die if he doesnt die in battle. Again, you read it that way, I dont.

 

If you can give a quote of a marine that dies of old age only than do you have proof, this is just wording that can be interpreted in many ways.

 

And if they are mortal, why do they worry about the day that the galaxy was conquer and they had no place in the system, if they die even after 1000 years, its no bigy, this would only worry you if you could not die of age and would spent eternity not doing something you where made for.

[Legatus]

It says nothing to me except that he will live hundreds of years FIGHTING if he doesn't die before he gets 100, nowhere does it claim he will die if he doesnt die in battle.

I assume english is not your native language, so I guess I should not be to hard on you. The line I quoted is quite explicite in stating that those Marines that are not killed in battle can live for hundreds of years. In other words that is the natural life expectancy of a Space Marine. It means after these hundreds of years the Marine will die of old age.

 

 

And if they are mortal, why do they worry about the day that the galaxy was conquer and they had no place in the system, if they die even after 1000 years, its no bigy, this would only worry you if you could not die of age and would spent eternity not doing something you where made for.

No faction wants their kind extinct even after they are gone. Well, selfish people that do not care about their fellows might not care.

[Max_Dammit]

English is not may native language, but i read it enough to know that that is one way of reading that line, but as this is a continuing circle lets just sy you beleve what you think, and ill believe what i think till the day one of is is proven wrong.

[Valerian]

and since Wolf Priests are only selected from Long Fangs, he would be at least 800 years old (if not quite a bit more).

 

As you dont read black library stuff

 

The last SW book contradicts this claim

 

The last SW book? Do you mean the 5th Edition Codex? If so, can you point out the contradiction for me, as I haven't noticed it.

 

Where did you hear that Wolf Priests were only taken from the Long Fangs? I've just had a look through the 2nd, 3rd and 5th codices and I don't see any reference to that, although I might have overlooked it...

 

There was almost no fluff included in the 3rd Edition "Mini-Dex", so most of the background material for that edition was included in White Dwarf articles instead. With the release of the 3rd Edition Codex Space Wolves in the summer of 2000, there were tons of Space Wolves background material included in White Dwarfs 244-246 (May through July). In the "Wolves of Fenris" article in White Dwarf 246, we have the following passage all about Wolf Priests:

 

Wolf Priests

 

Where other Chapters have both Apothecaries and Chaplains, the Space Wolves have their Wolf Priests. The Wolf Priests are amongst the most revered men of the Chapter and are responsible only to the Great Wolf himself. They are hard, grim men, knowledgeable in the sagas of the Chapter's history. They recruit new brothers, oversee their training and minister to their spiritual needs. Wolf Priests are also wise in the ways of medicine. In battle they use these skills to ease the suffering of wounded comrades. They are responsible for performing the benedicto ultimatus and removing the geneseed of fallen Space Wolves.

 

Wolf Priests are chosen from the ranks of the Long Fangs. Becoming a Priest means severing all ties with their former pack-brothers and Great Company. It is a great loss, and they are mourned as dead by those they leave behind. To symbolise this they take on a new name when they don the sacred skull-embossed armour. This is important, for the Wolf Priests must be seen as impartial for they arbitrate in any dispute among the Companies. A convocation of Wolf Priests advises the Great Wolf on matters of Chapter law and discipline.

 

The Wolf Priests guard the Chapter's genetic seed, bio-culturing new implants and maintaining the vigour of the strain by weeding out any weakness or mutation. Their knowledge is deep, and for many centuries they have studied the effects of the cursed Wulfen gene helix in a search for a way to modify it and make safe the Chapter's genetic seed. However, their efforts have only succeeded in preventing the curse spreading, and it is unlikely that the damage can ever be repaired completely.

 

At least one Wolf Priest always stalks the surface of Fenris seeking promising new candidates to recruit into the ranks of the Space Wolves. Wolf Priests perform the ritual implanting of the geneseed and supervise every aspect of training the aspirants. Wolf Priests are the first Space Marines any new recruit has dealings with, and they sternly supervise their development. During training, Space Wolves gain an almost religious respect for these grim old men that never leaves them. A brawl between drunken Space Wolves can be broken up by a single word from a Wolf Priest. It is said that a Wolf Priest's face is the first and last that Space Wolves ever see. They look on it for the first time when they are recruited and for the final time when the Wolf Priest performs the benedicto ultimatus.

 

This passage is almost word-for-word, the same as the description used in an earlier "Wolves of Fenris" article, from White Dwarf 156, which was published near the end of the Rogue Trader era, right before the release of 2nd Edition:

 

Wolf Priests

 

The Wolf Priests are responsible only to the Great Wolf himself. At least one Wolf Priest always stalks the surface of Fenris seeking promising candidates to recruit into the ranks. They are responsible for choosing aspirants and for overseeing all aspects of their recruitment and indoctrination. Wolf Priests perform the ritual implanting of the geneseed and supervise every aspect of training the aspirants. They are hard, grim men, knowledgeable in the sagas of the Chapter's history.

 

Wolf Priests are chosen from the ranks of the Long Fangs. Becoming a Priest means severing all ties with their former Great Company. To symbolise this they take on a new name when they don the sacred skull-embossed armour. They must be seen to be impartial for they arbitrate in any dispute among the companies. A convocation of Wolf Priests advises the Great Wolf on matters of Chapter law and discipline.

 

Wolf Priests are the first Space Marine any new recruit has dealings with, and they sternly supervise the training of aspirants. During training Space Wolves learn an almost religious respect for these grim old men that never leaves them. A brawl between drunken Grey Hunters can be broken up with a single word from a Wolf Priest. It is said that the Wolf Priest's is the first and last face a Space Wolf ever sees. He looks on it for the first time when he is recruited and for the final time when the Wolf Priest performs the last rites.

 

Interestingly, the 5th Edition Codex does not specify that Wolf Priests are selected from among the Long Fangs (however, it doesn't contradict this, either), but does state that, "Even the proudest Wolf Lord bows before the ancient wisdom of a Wolf Priest and will step aside from his path....".

 

"As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle"

 

How can that be misunderstood?

 

There really is only one appropriate, and correct way to interpret this quote. If a Space Marine (including a Space Wolf) does not die in battle, he will die naturally (ie. of "old age") after a few hundreds of years. Some Marines are "exceptional" and far exceed the norm for other Marines. Both Logan and Ulrik have lived to an exceptional age for Space Wolves (being the iconic heroes that they are), having not yet been killed in battle, or having died naturally yet, after 7 or 8 centuries.

 

The Blood Angels have multiple background entries that state that they have lifespans longer even than other Space Marines; this statement would make no sense whatsoever if Marines were immortal.

 

Regards,

 

Valerian

[Andrew_Beck]

Somewhere in Horus Heresy serie is written, that upon the very creation of primarchs Emperor took them from the time flow ergo made the invunerable to aging. :D

[Grimtooth]

and since Wolf Priests are only selected from Long Fangs, he would be at least 800 years old (if not quite a bit more).

 

As you dont read black library stuff

 

The last SW book contradicts this claim

 

The last SW book? Do you mean the 5th Edition Codex? If so, can you point out the contradiction for me, as I haven't noticed it.

 

Where did you hear that Wolf Priests were only taken from the Long Fangs? I've just had a look through the 2nd, 3rd and 5th codices and I don't see any reference to that, although I might have overlooked it...

 

There was almost no fluff included in the 3rd Edition "Mini-Dex", so most of the background material for that edition was included in White Dwarf articles instead. With the release of the 3rd Edition Codex Space Wolves in the summer of 2000, there were tons of Space Wolves background material included in White Dwarfs 244-246 (May through July). In the "Wolves of Fenris" article in White Dwarf 246, we have the following passage all about Wolf Priests:

 

Wolf Priests

 

Where other Chapters have both Apothecaries and Chaplains, the Space Wolves have their Wolf Priests. The Wolf Priests are amongst the most revered men of the Chapter and are responsible only to the Great Wolf himself. They are hard, grim men, knowledgeable in the sagas of the Chapter's history. They recruit new brothers, oversee their training and minister to their spiritual needs. Wolf Priests are also wise in the ways of medicine. In battle they use these skills to ease the suffering of wounded comrades. They are responsible for performing the benedicto ultimatus and removing the geneseed of fallen Space Wolves.

 

Wolf Priests are chosen from the ranks of the Long Fangs. Becoming a Priest means severing all ties with their former pack-brothers and Great Company. It is a great loss, and they are mourned as dead by those they leave behind. To symbolise this they take on a new name when they don the sacred skull-embossed armour. This is important, for the Wolf Priests must be seen as impartial for they arbitrate in any dispute among the Companies. A convocation of Wolf Priests advises the Great Wolf on matters of Chapter law and discipline.

 

The Wolf Priests guard the Chapter's genetic seed, bio-culturing new implants and maintaining the vigour of the strain by weeding out any weakness or mutation. Their knowledge is deep, and for many centuries they have studied the effects of the cursed Wulfen gene helix in a search for a way to modify it and make safe the Chapter's genetic seed. However, their efforts have only succeeded in preventing the curse spreading, and it is unlikely that the damage can ever be repaired completely.

 

At least one Wolf Priest always stalks the surface of Fenris seeking promising new candidates to recruit into the ranks of the Space Wolves. Wolf Priests perform the ritual implanting of the geneseed and supervise every aspect of training the aspirants. Wolf Priests are the first Space Marines any new recruit has dealings with, and they sternly supervise their development. During training, Space Wolves gain an almost religious respect for these grim old men that never leaves them. A brawl between drunken Space Wolves can be broken up by a single word from a Wolf Priest. It is said that a Wolf Priest's face is the first and last that Space Wolves ever see. They look on it for the first time when they are recruited and for the final time when the Wolf Priest performs the benedicto ultimatus.

 

This passage is almost word-for-word, the same as the description used in an earlier "Wolves of Fenris" article, from White Dwarf 156, which was published near the end of the Rogue Trader era, right before the release of 2nd Edition:

 

Wolf Priests

 

The Wolf Priests are responsible only to the Great Wolf himself. At least one Wolf Priest always stalks the surface of Fenris seeking promising candidates to recruit into the ranks. They are responsible for choosing aspirants and for overseeing all aspects of their recruitment and indoctrination. Wolf Priests perform the ritual implanting of the geneseed and supervise every aspect of training the aspirants. They are hard, grim men, knowledgeable in the sagas of the Chapter's history.

 

Wolf Priests are chosen from the ranks of the Long Fangs. Becoming a Priest means severing all ties with their former Great Company. To symbolise this they take on a new name when they don the sacred skull-embossed armour. They must be seen to be impartial for they arbitrate in any dispute among the companies. A convocation of Wolf Priests advises the Great Wolf on matters of Chapter law and discipline.

 

Wolf Priests are the first Space Marine any new recruit has dealings with, and they sternly supervise the training of aspirants. During training Space Wolves learn an almost religious respect for these grim old men that never leaves them. A brawl between drunken Grey Hunters can be broken up with a single word from a Wolf Priest. It is said that the Wolf Priest's is the first and last face a Space Wolf ever sees. He looks on it for the first time when he is recruited and for the final time when the Wolf Priest performs the last rites.

 

Interestingly, the 5th Edition Codex does not specify that Wolf Priests are selected from among the Long Fangs (however, it doesn't contradict this, either), but does state that, "Even the proudest Wolf Lord bows before the ancient wisdom of a Wolf Priest and will step aside from his path....".

 

"As Space Marines they will live for hundreds of years, if they do not die in battle"

 

How can that be misunderstood?

 

There really is only one appropriate, and correct way to interpret this quote. If a Space Marine (including a Space Wolf) does not die in battle, he will die naturally (ie. of "old age") after a few hundreds of years. Some Marines are "exceptional" and far exceed the norm for other Marines. Both Logan and Ulrik have lived to an exceptional age for Space Wolves (being the iconic heroes that they are), having not yet been killed in battle, or having died naturally yet, after 7 or 8 centuries.

 

The Blood Angels have multiple background entries that state that they have lifespans longer even than other Space Marines; this statement would make no sense whatsoever if Marines were immortal.

 

Regards,

 

Valerian

 

Seriously Val, you can fluff the :) out of people!

 

:P