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Mourning our Brethren.


Grey Mage

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Do we have information on how Space Wolves mourn their fallen pack-mates after the battle? Our legions culture is very close-knit, with a large emphasis on your packmates and strong bonds throughout. How do you think it affects them? On a world with little or no wood and shifting countryside what kind of burial traditions might there be? Does anyone have any hard sources that Ive missed?
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Prospero burns has a whole ceremony in it

 

 

Prospero burns has a whole ceremony in it

 

Ninjad :)

 

Mwahahaha! Wasn't even a contest ;)

 

As far as the tribal peoople of Fenris, the issues of fuel for burning, or ground for burrying is relavant. I imagine they take them as far away as possible from their village, and dump them. They aren't cannibals, and they don't want the corpses drawing predators nearby, so thats the only reasonable solution I can think of.

I would assume the typical Beowulf "put on a boat and push out into the ocean and light the boat on fire with a fire arrow" approach might be appropriate.

 

Probably would depend on the pack, too, no? The Wolf Lord might have authority on dictating what should be done with a certain body.

Oh I would also assume it depends on how the honored wolf brother died, no doubt.

 

Say, if he was hit by a multi-melta and became a pile of fleshy goo to be scrapped out of his own armour... might have to modify the ritual slightly. Less its a coffin or tomb, in which case it would be closed casket, no doubt.

There was a post battle ceremony in the Second Edition Codex with Ulric the Slayer and that plucky little guy Ragnar. That is where they collect the gene seed and start the mourning process.

That's old school right there, braw.

 

They don't mourn the fallen. Ulrik himself says on pg 76 of 2e C:SW:

"Look for the last time upon the faces of your brothers." said the Priest. "Do not mourn them for they died bravely. They lived as men and died as men and now their spirits are within the Halls of the Emperor. No warrior can ask for more."

 

Pg 76 of 2nd Ed C:SW

Round and round they went and, as they did so, Ragnar, like every man present, remembered the dead and reflected on his own life in the service of the Chapter. On each noble face Ragnar saw his own future written. One day he too would be there, honoured by his comrades, his spirit gone to join the Emperor in his unending battle with the forces of darkness. There was no more to be asked for.

 

So the gather their dead and after stripping gene-seed, put them on a pyre and a Wolf Priest sets them alight. With wolf howls to finish.

This is just an example:

 

Sayeth the Wolf Priest:

"Here, we gather the fallen.

 

Before us, those that have passed on before us,

The living, await our turn.

Before, the All-Father and the stars,

We commend them unto the pyre.

Within us, they live on.

Within the All-Father's halls, do they live on.

 

These, our fallen Brothers,

Live on within our minds.

Their wyrds ended, their cords cut,

They died as heroes for all to see.

Their last blood spilt, their price in service,

This one last act of valor, brought them low,

and laid them upon the snow.

 

Mourn this, for while each gave their all,

Their skill at arms shall be missed,

Though only until the Wolf Time!

 

Hail, Brothers, <insert name here> goes into the Halls of our All-Father!

<repeat for each Brother lost>

 

So they go into the pyre, so go we into the fight.

Hail, Sons of Russ!

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