Quotes on Space Wolf Gene-Seed

[Ferrata]

I am looking for some quotes from the different Space Wolf codices as I only have one at hand. I have the following quote, but I am looking for any quote from sources that mention the instability of the gene-seed and the fate of the Wolf Brothers. Thank you very much for your time.

 

"The Space Wolves were never a very large Legion and so were divided only once, creating the ill-fated Wolf Brothers Chapter. Perhaps the High Lords recognised the problems of genetic instability that would plague the genetic seed of Leman Russ, giving rise in later times to the terrible curse of Wulfen, and therefore decided against dividing and further spreading the Space Wolves' genetic base."

[Valerian]

I am looking for some quotes from the different Space Wolf codices as I only have one at hand. I have the following quote, but I am looking for any quote from sources that mention the instability of the gene-seed and the fate of the Wolf Brothers. Thank you very much for your time.

 

"The Space Wolves were never a very large Legion and so were divided only once, creating the ill-fated Wolf Brothers Chapter. Perhaps the High Lords recognised the problems of genetic instability that would plague the genetic seed of Leman Russ, giving rise in later times to the terrible curse of Wulfen, and therefore decided against dividing and further spreading the Space Wolves' genetic base."

 

This request is right up my alley; however I am on my iPhone now. I'll try to post up some stuff for you later tonight though. Other than just generic geneseed info, are you looking for anything else, specifically?

 

Loremaster Valerian

[Grimfoe]

1994 Codex (2nd edition): Haven’t found much in this book yet:

“Although the nature of these trials is varied, being determined by the great cunning of the Wolf Priests, the final test is always the same. This is the test of Morkai, named after the legendary two-headed wolf that guards the gate of death.

Some fail this final test and are claimed by Morkai and forgotten. The trial is long, for the young warrior is taken a thousand miles beyond the Space Wolves fortress of the Fang. He drinks from the Cup of the Wulfen, and his body absorbs the first and most deadly gene-seed of the Space Wolves – the unique Canis gene helix, without which none of the other gene-seeds will work.

The Wulfen seed grows fast within the warrior, splitting bone and distorting flesh, turning man into a howling savage that is half human and half wolf. The warrior hungers for flesh and his mind is possessed with bestial instincts which override his natural sanity. Only one thought remains, and this is to return to the Fang, where his humanity can be restored by the insertion of other gene-seeds. Many die under the curse of the Wulfen. Others lose their way and are left to wander the barren wastes of Asaheim. Yet some succeed, despite the multitude of wild beasts and natural perils that lie between them and their goal. Even years afterwards, a Space Marine always retains a small part of the Wulfen spirit within him, a dark memory of the savage and bestial self that he has overcome.” (p. 6)

 

edit: I've look through the second and third edition codices and I see very little about the history and second founding. Maybe in the regular marine codex?

[Grimfoe]

I looked a little further and cannot find anything very specific in the codices I have. I think the information you're looking for would be in the Index Astartes books. I seem to only have Volume III here, but I'm sure there is quite a bit of info about the second founding in the first two volumes. If someone has a copy, that would be the place to look, I'd guess.

 

Good luck.

[Ferrata]

Thanks for the help so far.

 

Other than just generic geneseed info, are you looking for anything else, specifically?

I'm just attempting to find all the quotes that support the idea that the Space Wolves don't have any successor chapters because their gene-seed needs Fenris. So, in addition to this, any pointers to the information on the Lost Companies that decide the Lord Wolf ain't no good would be welcomed as well.

[Wulfenstein]

Here might have some info you could find useful about halfway down.

[Valerian]

Thanks for the help so far.

 

Other than just generic geneseed info, are you looking for anything else, specifically?

I'm just attempting to find all the quotes that support the idea that the Space Wolves don't have any successor chapters because their gene-seed needs Fenris. So, in addition to this, any pointers to the information on the Lost Companies that decide the Lord Wolf ain't no good would be welcomed as well.

 

Sorry I didn't get to this last night; I got busy with real life. Maybe later today when kids go down for naps. Unfortunately for you there isn't much support that the Space Wolves geneseed requires Fenrisians to function correctly. We've gone through all of this in much detail in the past, so if you do some advanced searching in the Fang you'll likely find the discussions. Here are a few of the major reasons:

 

1. The original Terran-based 6th Legion were formed with Russ' geneseed, and they did just fine.

2. In the WD244 Lost Companies article, it is said that those that break away probably recruit from locals to ensure the continued survival of their Great Company.

3. Russ' geneseed and the Canis Helix is simply hard on aspirants, accounting for the deaths of millions of aspirants (source is one of the codices, but I forget which one right now).

4. Instability is simply inherent in the geneseed with many Marines having to fight the Wulfen within throughout their careers (just see Grimfoe's quote above).

5. Although the 13th Company Index Astartes article surmises that the Wolfbrothers were probably disbanded (WD258), WD 244 article strongly suggests (says it straight up), that the "ill-fated" Wolfbrothers were lost in the Eldar webway in M37, which would have been over 6,000 years after they were founded.

 

Regards,

 

Valerian

[Muller]

Read the final 4 chapters of the first Space Wolf Book.

(It's not the codicies, but you get to read all about the instability in great detail)

[Valerian]

So, in addition to this, any pointers to the information on the Lost Companies that decide the Lord Wolf ain't no good would be welcomed as well.

 

Alright, I've finally gotten around to providing some Lost Company information for you. Enjoy.

 

Lone Wolves

Evidence concerning the existence of the so-called Space Wolves 'lost companies'. This report compiled by the Emperor's most humble servant, scribe Chambers, M41.

 

Honored brethren, in accordance with your request I have instigated an investigation into the matters raised by the Ecclesiarchy envoy, Balthasar Van Heppel. Thus far I have conducted a level six probe into the Libraris Omnia on Terra and made a regrettably brief visit to the Space Wolves home world of Fenris. The specific charges made by Van Heppel, of iconoclasm and heresy within the Chapter, were most directly addressed at Fenris where I sought audience with the current Great Wolf, Logan Grimnar. A giant of a man, even for a Space Marine, the Great Wolf presents himself as a simple, blunt and irreverent warrior - frequently using the basic psychological technique of deflection, laughing uproariously (and intimidatingly) in response to any question he does not wish to address. However my overwhelming impression was of a shrewd and quick-witted leader disguising himself as a barbarian.

 

Although the Great Wolf was suspicious of my motives for visiting Fenris, he seemed affable enough once I had joined him in consuming several kegs of locally made winter-ale (after taking a suitably strong dose of anti-toxicants naturally). My discussions with Logan Grimnar, the subsequent tour he provided of the more accessible areas of the Space Wolves Chapter-fortress, and my own nocturnal investigations of the less accessible areas sufficed to convince me of the following: the Space Wolves, like many of the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, honor the Emperor and their Primarch above all others. They worship the Emperor as the greatest man who ever lived, all-father to both the Imperium and themselves. This is significant because they do not invest Him with the divine attributes commonly espoused by the Ecclesiarchy.

 

While this could technically be termed a Heresy of the third degree, the fact remains that the Space Wolves' faith in the Emperor and Leman Russ remains stronger than in many of the hives and worlds across the Imperium. I found countless shrines, inspirational images and devotional offerings with The Fang (the Space Wolves' fortress), often of a somewhat barbaric nature it is true but nothing which would indicate anything other than an unswerving dedication to the Emperor of Mankind. I believe tht what rankles the Ecclesiarcy is the manner in which their devotion is expressed (i.e. outside their auspices).

 

Of greater interest than Van Heppel's accusations is certain information gained from the Libraris Omnia. The servitor-probe was programmed to retrieve all available data on the Space Wolves Chapter and turned up some unexpected fragments on the so-called 'lost companies' of the Space Wolves. To place things in context, the Space Wolves' lack of successor Chapters has often been noted as unusual given its status as a first founding legion with a history extending back to the legendary days of the Great Crusade.

 

As is well-known, after the Horus Heresy the great Space Marine Legions of that time were broken up into the smaller Chapters of today. In this way no single Chapter Master controlled the terrible power of an entire legion. However, despite this and the great size attributed to the Space Wolves Legion during the Crusades (Dionerius stated that the Space Wolves "stood 10,000 strong at the gates of Thranx") no successor Chapters are listed for the Space Wolves. This is a mystery I believe I can now shed some light onto. As may be observed from the accompanying fragments, each one tells the story of a group of Space Wolves who appear to have separated themselves from the Chapter. In some cases, as with the 'Sons of Russ', this could merely be artistic license on the writer's part but in each case no corroborating evidence could be found for the Space Wolves Chapter being involved. Amongst most Space Marine Chapters such behavior would be viewed as a fatal breach of discipline, those involved would be declared renegade and mercilessly hunted down. However, the Space Wolves Primarch, Leman Russ, was always renowned for his independence and impetuosity and I believe these traits remain predominant within the Chapter. The oaths of fealty undertaken by the Wolf Lords of the Space Wolves Great Companies declare their allegiance to Russ and the Emperor but do not stipulate servitude to the Great Wolf.

 

It appears that in some cases a Wolf Lord and his Great Company separate from the main body of the Chapter, undertaking their own quests and missions for a variety of reasons. The case of Jotun Bearclaw, for example, indicates that his men had elected not to return to Fenris because of the long journey time through warp space, and presumably the temporal displacement they would suffer on arrival (potentially several years over such a distance). I suspect that there is a more hidden motive behind the Company's actions, one which he chose not to share with the Kimmerians. This may be related to the Space Wolves' ancient quest to find their lost Primarch.

 

As to the long term viability of these 'lost companies' it is difficult to say. Given sufficient geneseed and technical competence it is entirely possible for such a company to maintain its strength over a protracted period, inducting and training new recruits in the same way as a normal Chapter. Less well-supplied companies might have to resort to training ordinary humans to fill their ranks or face the prospect of gradually dwindling in numbers until the company ceases to exist.

 

Speculation aside, this subject obviously requires further investigation. A Space Wolves Great Company is a substantial organization and the concept of having such groups wandering the galaxy without any kind of check or balance is somewhat worrying. I shall endeavor to uncover more information before contacting you again.

 

- Inquisitor Asmorales Harkenforth

- article, WD245 (June 2000)

 

The full story of Jotun Bearclaw's Great Company is also in WD245, but I haven't bothered to copy the whole thing. The gist of the story is that 3 Great Companies were sent to fight at Ichar IV, and his men had elected to stay on the Eastern Fringe to keep hunting down Tyranids, rather than to endure months of warp travel to return to Fenris. Jotun and his men link up with the VIII Kimmerian Regiment in 737M41 and coordinate an attack on a brood nest. Obviously, this indicates that not all Lost Companies are renegades, or have issues with the Great Wolf, but that some simply see that their duty to the Allfather and Russ lies elsewhere.

 

The Wolf Brothers

(excerpted from the calleria M37)

 

...And ranging 'cross Yahals plain

The Eldar turned at bay.

They stood and fought, shed blood

And burned

A thousand men that day.

 

Then Wolf Brothers came

To slay them all,

Bloody swords raised, howling,

fangs gleaming

Answering the warriors' call.

 

No alien could stand against

So fierce a foe,

No trick would turn them aside.

On they came, unstoppable

To strike a deadly blow.

 

Turning, fleeing the Eldar ran

Through their portal

Beyond the reach of man.

Undaunted Wolf Brothers

Pursued them unto realms immortal

 

Though aliens were defeated,

Their fury tamed,

The ill-fated Wolf Brothers

Were lost, mourned

Never seen again...

- WD245 (June 2000)

 

 

All Space Wolves are headstrong and in the past this has even led to a Wolf Lord forswearing his oath of fealty to the Great Wolf and striking out on his own. This last happened in 815M41, when Wolf Lord Sven Ironhand revoked his oath and led his Great Company into exile on the Eastern Fringes. He was declared outlaw by Logan Grimnar, and a new Great Company was raised to replace the one that was lost. Some say that Sven went on to carve out an Empire in the Eastern Fringes and rules there to this day.

- Wolves of Fenris article, WD246 (July 2000)

 

 

Valerian

[Grimfoe]

Very impressive Search Fu!

 

This is the story I remembered reading and was looking for. I thought it was in one of the codices and when I didn't find it, I assumed in was in the Index Astartes (I guess it may be there as well).

 

 

Nice job pulling it out of an old White Dwarf.

[Valerian]

Very impressive Search Fu!

 

This is the story I remembered reading and was looking for. I thought it was in one of the codices and when I didn't find it, I assumed in was in the Index Astartes (I guess it may be there as well).

 

 

Nice job pulling it out of an old White Dwarf.

 

Thanks Brother!

 

Loremaster Valerian