Battle of the Fang

[Guest Drekkan]

don't listen to that heretical rubbish, that's what have led harek ironhelm to his fate..

[Chodjinn]

Having recently read the Battle of the Fang, A Thousand Sons and currently halfway through Prospero Burns I have to say they've really turned me onto the Pre-Heresy fluff, great books. One thing I have gleaned from them is that Russ, knowing full well what his role is in the Imperium - that of Executioner for the Emperor - does his job, but does so with ever so slight reluctance, particularly when it comes to his fellow brothers. As in, he knows what he is, knows what he is capable of doing, so just gets on and does it, but there seems to be a side of Russ that wishes he could do something else, or differently. I do believe he had something to do with the two deleted Legions/Primarchs, who else would be the Emperor's choice to conduct such dirty business? The Wolves of Fenris do what no other Legion want, or can, do. And he also killed the mortal body of Magnus the Red ... that's a pretty high tally even for a Primarch (remember Magnus is the only non-human based Primarch, he was created by the Emperor out of the Great Ocean etc). Russ also seems very close to Fulgrim (pre-heresy obv.), and Fulgrim seems to be the only other Primarch (other than Horus) that comes close to the combat prowess of Russ (having killed Ferrus Manus and mortally wounded Guilliman).

 

As for the current whereabouts of Russ ... well he doesn't have his armour, or the Spear of Russ (which he hated and never used anyway lol) ... which means he's probably got the Pelt of Morkai and the sword Mjolnir still with him. More than enough for a Wolf to survive by!

 

Russ is the chief executioner of the Imperium, so either he's on a misson to rid the universe of Chaos, starting with the Traitor Legions and/or he was so mortified that he wasn't present to aid the defence of Terra with the Emperor, or even protect the Emperor from his mortal woundings by Horus, that he's off looking for a cure in the Eye, probably with a bunch of 13th Company vets to keep him company and tell tales around the fireside.

 

Russ isn't dead, he's just off enjoying the hunt to much.

[Spinsanity]

Russ is the chief executioner of the Imperium

Woah, wait, does this mean he's now head of the Officio Assassinorum!? :devil:

[frostclaw222]

Even unarmored, a primarch is a force to be reckoned with.

 

That being said, I imagine most of the primarchs had multiple suits of armor, and that when Russ left the Fang to Bjorn, he packed his full kit, and didn't leave a bunch of leftovers lying about his chambers. So, Russ likely has some armor. He didn't go hiking with a backpack into the Eye; he left with ships and Wolf Guard. He left with Iron Priests and Wolf Priests. Odds are, even if all his original kit is gone, they could piece together a new suit of armor for the guy from the forges on the ships.

 

That being said, I think Russ did for a time run afoul of something Very Bad. However, I personally believe the Wolf was a clever bugger, and likely managed to either get himself caught on purpose or won his way free eventually. I mean, he's a primarch. You only have to let your guard down for a tenth of a second, and he's got you in the hurt locker.

 

However, I think there's something that's keeping Russ from returning before the Wolftime. Either some wyrd-vision prophecy or the simple impact a returned primarch would have on the present day Imperium. I think when the Thirteenth Black Crusade happened, and the 13th Company started showing up, that Russ sent them but didn't accompany them. There has to be a reason why, and that (aside from the Wulfen/non-Wulfen separation between the Wolves) is likely why the 13th didn't transgalactic gate straight to the Fang and ask for their linen to be turned down.

 

Interesting lore side question, though: Are Russ's quarters kept as a shrine in the Fang? Were they turned over to the Great Wolf, once Bjorn and his successors took command of the chapter? Heck, can even the eldest priests gain entry, or did Russ genelock the doors before he left?

 

Player not found, I think when the Grand Master sleeps, he has nightmares about Russ, much in the way you have nightmares of Chuck Norris or Vin Diesel. :(

[Schultzhoffen]

He's dead. All the Loyalist Primarchs are.

 

Some Traitor Primarchs stll live as Daemon Princes.

 

That's it.

 

Unless Russ was corrupted in the Eye and exists as a Daemon Prince of Khorne. Now THERE would be something interesting!

[maverik_girl]

He's dead. All the Loyalist Primarchs are.

 

Some Traitor Primarchs stll live as Daemon Princes.

 

That's it.

 

Unless Russ was corrupted in the Eye and exists as a Daemon Prince of Khorne. Now THERE would be something interesting!

is this your opinion or is this fact? if it's fact, please state the reference in which GW has officially said certain loyalist primarch's such as Corax, Russ, Vulkan, and Khan are indeed dead. If this is just your opinion, then I'd suggest you tone it down a little, as you come off as ignorant and a bit of an a$$.

[frostclaw222]

Well, Schultzhoffen is mostly correct. I mean, Roboute is dead, dying, or on the mend in his stasis bubble. Dorn's scrimshaw. The Lion...we don't know, but it wasn't looking too good there when last we saw him. Ferrus is now the victim of a temporally-recursive guillotine, and Sanguinius is surely dead. Vulkan, Corax, Russ, even the Khan...they're MIA presumed KIA at best.

 

But that doesn't necessarily mean they're truly dead. It could just mean the Imperium isn't leaving the lights on after a certain hour in the long night if they're out past curfew.

 

Russ, Vulkan, and Corax could be walking about at liberty within or beyond the Imperium in the present day. The Khan could still be cooling his heels in a Dark Eldar cell. Or they all may be dead. We'll likely never know. But I'd like to believe that, in the sense of balance, that what number of daemon primarchs remain is countered by remaining living primarchs. So, scratch one for Horus, scratch another for Night Haunter...

[Scyld Fireblade]

Guilliman is in stasis, Dorn is very dead, Sanguinius is also dead, Vulkan vanished but is supposed to return when his sons have found all 7 of his gifts, Corax headed for the eye of terror alone (probably dead but might have run into Russ), Khan lost in webway (either dead, captured, or just very lost), Ferrus is headless I believe (dead), Lion El'Johnson is in taking the longest nap ever at the lowest level of the Rock (only the Emperor and the Watchers in the Dark know where this secret chamber is), and Russ is almost certainly leading the 13th Company in either the EOT or the warp itself.

 

Horus is dead, Curze is dead, Alpharius is dead, all the rest of the traitors are deamon princes but the only ones heard from recently are Angron, Magnus, and Purterabo.

 

So 3 from each side are dead. Dorn, Sanguinius, Ferrus. Horus, Curze, Alpharius.

 

And 3 from each side we can be pretty sure are still alive. Russ, Lion, Vulkan. Magnus, Angron, Purterabo.

[Brother Captain Kezef]

Ever wonder why Kaldor Draigo is so damned tough? How he kicks butt lost in the warp?

 

Russ runs an awesome, chaos-kicking, school of win deep in the warp an he trains Imperial heroes to go forth and smite daemons.

[archangel23]

He's dead. All the Loyalist Primarchs are.

 

Some Traitor Primarchs stll live as Daemon Princes.

 

That's it.

 

Heresy, I say! Heresy! For that I shall headbutt you till you black out and have our Ironpriests turns you into a thrall. Worse yet, no ale for you. :P

[Brother Seraphion]

He's dead. All the Loyalist Primarchs are.

 

Some Traitor Primarchs stll live as Daemon Princes.

 

That's it.

 

Heresy, I say! Heresy! For that I shall headbutt you till you black out and have our Ironpriests turns you into a thrall. Worse yet, no ale for you. :D

 

The gravest punishment a wolf can inflict on another.... A life with no ale :D

[Schultzhoffen]

@maverick_girl.

 

Do you always like to get personal on internet forums? Not much of a life, mate? Chill out. I'd suggest that one of us is an a$$, alright, but possibly not me.

 

I'll give you Khan...maybe (if lost). However, does time flow differently in the web? Possibly also The Lion (is he alive -I thought he wasn't).

 

Ok, maybe two loyalists ARE alive but incapacitated/in stasis/captured. My bad!

 

However, Russ actually said that he was dying that's why he left. It's the classical Viking/Arthurian type legend. The dead king will return when most needed.

 

The Wolf Time is probably some type of Mythical clash of the gods where even the dead will return to do battle.

 

The Emperor himself couldn't defeat Chaos completely (look what happened to him). Am I supposed to believe that Russ and Corax somehow survived battling in the warp? Really? I'm open to convincing but I can't see it.

[maverik_girl]

@maverick_girl.

 

Do you always like to get personal on internet forums? Not much of a life, mate? Chill out. I'd suggest that one of us is an a$$, alright, but possibly not me.

 

I'll give you Khan...maybe (if lost). However, does time flow differently in the web? Possibly also The Lion (is he alive -I thought he wasn't).

 

Ok, maybe two loyalists ARE alive but incapacitated/in stasis/captured. My bad!

 

However, Russ actually said that he was dying that's why he left. It's the classical Viking/Arthurian type legend. The dead king will return when most needed.

 

The Wolf Time is probably some type of Mythical clash of the gods where even the dead will return to do battle.

 

The Emperor himself couldn't defeat Chaos completely (look what happened to him). Am I supposed to believe that Russ and Corax somehow survived battling in the warp? Really? I'm open to convincing but I can't see it.

My comment wasn't personal, nor was it intended to be such. However your reply and reaction is all that's needed to prove my point.

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

well, before this becomes a pissing contest, lets go over the loyalist primarchs:

 

Guilliman: fatally wounded by fulgrim, held in a stasis field. some believe he is somehow healing. NOT DEAD

Ferrus Manus: Beheaded by Fulgrim. VERY DEAD

Corax: left after purging his Legion, no reports of his death. UNKNOWN, no proof either way

Dorn: Killed repelling a Black Crusade, some sources say his body is encased in amber in the Phalanx, others say just his hand. DEAD

Vulkan: left his Chapter after scattering relics around the galaxy, no reports of his death. UNKNOWN, no proof either way

the Lion:Mortally wounded in his duel with Luther, currently healed ad held in stasis in the lowest chamber of the Rock, by the Watchers in the Dead. ALIVE

the Khan: Pursued eldar raiders into the webway, no confirmation of his whereabouts. UNKNOWN, no proof of his death

Sanguinius: killed by Horus. VERY DEAD

Russ: matched his company into the Eye of Terror, no official confirmation of his death. Rumors said that a central figure led the 13th Company Warbands during the 13th Crusade which some took to be Russ, some follow his quote saying his breath is all but spend. no proof either way. UNKNOWN.

 

so of the loyalist primarchs, only 3 are confirmed dead. 1 is in stasis held by his followed, another in stasis by jawa rejects, and the rest have no proof going either way.

 

WLK

[Emperor's Scourge]

@maverick_girl.

However, Russ actually said that he was dying that's why he left.

 

Citation?

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

and for the sake of being complete, the Traitor Primarchs:

 

Horus: dead, dead, dead. His corpse was destroyed by Abaddon so he couldnt be cloned. VERY DEAD.

Perturabo: on the IW new daemon planet, doing a whole lot of nothing. USELESS but ALIVE

Mortarion: on the plague planet, which he created to resemble Barbarus. USELESS but ALIVE

Magnus: on the planet of sorcerers, working for tzeentch. USELESS but ALIVE

Lorgar: screaming the praises of the chaos gods. USELESS but ALIVE

Night Haunter: killed by an Imperial Assassain. VERY DEAD

Angron: killing everything near him for Khorne. ALIVE AND ANGRY

Fulgrim: possessed by a Daemon. ALIVE and a puppet

Alpharius and Omegron: who the freak knows? buncha marty sues fools...

 

WLK

[Wardiel]

Thank you WLK for summarizing, good to see it all in one place.

 

We should all know that sniping at each other will only get a thread closed, stopping a potentially interesting conversation, lets all play nice!

 

Do we think GW will ever clarify this stuff? They might just like to leave things a mystery, or are just too scared to say one way or another to keep fans from revolting.

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

@maverick_girl.

However, Russ actually said that he was dying that's why he left.

 

Citation?

 

2nd edition WOlf Codex has a quote along those lines.

 

5th ed codex has an interesting line saying that Russ has a wolf cloak that allows him to pass through Morkai's realm freely.

 

WLK

[Schultzhoffen]

@ Emperor's Scourge.

 

Space Wolf Codex pg 28 (current Codex) -Last Words of Leman Russ.."my life's breath is all but spent...I am now dying..."

 

I'd suggest Russ is dead.

[Emperor's Scourge]

@ Emperor's Scourge.

 

Space Wolf Codex pg 28 (current Codex) -Last Words of Leman Russ.."my life's breath is all but spent...I am now dying..."

 

I'd suggest Russ is dead.

 

I read the excerpt and it's possible that you're correct, but that small paragraph flies in the face of every other bit of fluff surrounding the Feast where he announces that he's going into the Eye of Terror. Kind of an odd way to drop that bomb.

[commander alexander]

I can't site the source, but I remember reading about a large, dark bird in a cage in either in Chaos, or Dark Eldar hands. That hints at Corax being possibly alive.

 

I can't tell where any of you are getting that the Lion is on the rock, the only person I know of, in the deepest-darkest cell is Luther.

 

As for Russ, I've never heard or read anything about his current wherebouts other than the meaningless comment by Magnus in BotF.

 

Now some stuff I coded as spoilers just in case.

 

 

What I am curious about, is how the Cabal interacted with all the Primarchs. As far as I know, the only confirmed contact was between the twin primarchs Alpharius and Omegon. The Watchers in the Dark are ancient, and powerfully psychic xenos. Do the DA's know this, or do they just let the mysterious little things stay mysterious? Are the Watchers members of the Cabal themselves? Did the other primarchs have their own "Watchers" of sorts? Alien races that kept tabs on what the best and brightest of the "young" race of mankind? What form did they take, where they all or some members of the Cabal? Did the Emperor or the Primarchs know about them? Do they still interact with, or keep tabs on the primarchs? As far as Alpharius and Omegon, only one of them was supposedly killed, so are they stll interacting even though the alpha legion failed, and thus doomed the galaxy to chaos?

 

 

Okay, my midnight, midless bable is done. It's worth waht you paid for it, the three minutes to read it.

[MaveriK]

the 'last words' Leman Russ quote and it's evolution.. from one of my older post, in an older thread.

 

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v-QnkPLGAT/TCTUpfDP..../s800/lr_lg.jpg

This picture is from pg. 27 of the Rogue Trader (1987) first edition rule book.

 

The caption in the picture reads... Imperial Record AA/SW 05,015. f19.P6. Profile: Leman Russ Born: 2612016. M32. Guranta D Gurantan system. Commissioned Adeptus Terra as special agent 0134041. M32. First rose to Imperial notice during Lucan Crusade. Appointed Imperial Commander Lucan 0333042. M32. Instrumental in founding Adepts Astartes unit 4 'Spacewolves'. Suffered severe alviola damage during acid storms on Susa. Transplanted with model cybron-osmotic grill.

 

This was the first time the last words of Leman Russ was printed... http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/555972..._2539f92d2e.jpg

pg. 8 First Book of the Astronomican (1988) The Wolf Time: A four-part campaign by Rick Priestley. It involved Space Wolves and Orks, a third player took the role of Games Master to arbitrate.

 

“Listen but closely Brothers, for my life’s breath is all but spent. There shall come a time far from now when our Chapter itself is dying, even as I am now dying, and our foes shall gather to destroy us. Then my children, I shall listen for your call in whatever realm of death holds me, and come I shall, no matter what the laws of life and death forbid. At the end I will be there. For the final battle. For the Wolftime. Last words of Leman Russ the Primarch of the Space Wolves Chapter of Space Marines.”

pg. 48 Space Wolves 2nd Edition Codex (1994)

 

“At the end I will be there. For the final battle. For the Wolftime. Last words of Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves Chapter.”

pg.15 3rd Edition Codex Space Wolves: Supplement (April, 2000)

 

“LISTEN BUT CLOSELY MY BROTHERS, FOR MY LIFE’S BREATH IS ALL BUT SPENT. THERE SHALL COME A TIME FAR FROM NOW WHEN OUR CHAPTER ITSELF IS DYING, AND OUR FOES SHALL GATHER TO DESTROY US. THEN, MY CHILDREN, I SHALL LISTEN FOR YOUR CALL IN WHATEVER REALM OF DEATH HOLDS ME, AND COME I SHALL NO MATTER WHAT THE LAWS OF LIFE AND DEATH FORBID. AT THE END I WILL BE THERE. FOR THE FINAL BATTLE. FOR THE WOLFTIME.” pg. 28 Space Wolves 5th Edition Codex (Oct, 2009)

 

A few things to consider..

 

“The most fearsome of all was Blackmane, a terrifying black-maned giant known as the Howler in the Night, whose long howling cry calls the souls of the dead warriors from their graves. Russ fought Blackmane and slew him, making his pelt into a magic cloak that allowed him to pass into the realm of the dead.” pg. 12 Space Wolves 2nd Edition Codex (1994)

 

“Leman Russ himself went to war with a pair of gigantic Blackmanes at his side, fierce monsters of near-human intelligence known as Freki and Geri, meaning ‘Fierce’ and ‘Cunning’ in the Fenrisian tongue. In the myths of the Fenrisian tribes, the Blackmanes serve in the afterlife as minions of the wolf Morkai, two-headed guardian of the Gates of Death. Legend has it that one who crosses into the afterlife with a Blackmane at his side will never truly die.” pg 31 Space Wolves 5th Edition Codex (Oct, 2009)

 

“Russ fought the Blackmane and slew him, making his pelt into a magic cloak that allowed him to pass beyond the gates of death.”

pg. 88 Space Wolves 5th Edition Codex (Oct, 2009)

 

“Bjorn did not believe that he was dead. The power of the Primarch transcended mere mortality. He knew that somehow Russ would defy time and come back to the Fang one day.” pg. 16 Space Wolves 2nd Edition Codex (1994)

 

“No-one knows what happened to Leman Russ. Some say he disappeared in the Eye of Terror while searching for his old friend and rival, the Primarch of the Dark Angels. Some say that he was on a secret mission from the Emperor when he was slain in battle with a Greater Daemon of Chaos, and that his spirit is lost in the warp. Others say that, to this day, he walks disguised among mankind, watching oer the people of his Emperor and guarding them from the Powers of Chaos. Bjorn gathered all the warriors together in the Great Hall of the Fang, and announced the Great Hunt. Russ’s people would seek their master. Since that day there have been other Great Hunts. Sometimes Russ appears to a Great Wolf in a vision and tells him it is time. Sometimes he haunts the dreams of the Chapter’s Rune Priest and their words cause the Great Wolf to declare another Great Hunt. It would seem that whenever the ghost of Russ appears to his people he has some mighty task in mind for them” pg. 47 Space Wolves 2nd Edition Codex (1994)

 

….There is a shortened version of the passage above on the new codex, pg. 21 The Disappearance of Russ. Space Wolves 5th Edition Codex (Oct, 2009)

 

“Bjorn walked at the side of Russ humself, and was the first Great Wolf of the Chapter after the Primarch disappeared. He led the Space Wolves on the first Great Hunt, the Chapter’s epic but fruitless quest to find Russ, and it was he who reluctantly gave the order to cease the Hunt, when became obvious that Russ was not to be found.” pg. 68 Space Wolves 2nd Edition Codex (1994)

 

Of all the Primarchs, the end of Leman Russ is the most mysterious, for he is accounted to have vanished ten thousand years ago. One of the most fundamental of the Space Wolves tenets is the belief that their Primarch will eventually return to oppose the Evil One, Horus, in the Final Battle at the end of the universe.” - pg. 30 3rd Edition Codex Space Wolves: Supplement (April, 2000)

 

This is what we know and are told throughout the years..

 

Older white dwarf fluff mentions that Russ was sent by the emperor to search for the 'tree of life' inside the eye of terror.

 

Leman Russ disappeared in the Eye of Terror. The Space Wolves hold a legend that says Russ went on a quest to find a means to cure the Emperor. His final words before his disappearance is that he would return for the 'Wolftime' (the final battle). It is also said that Leman Russ led the 13th Company into the Eye of Terror and ordered them to hunt down the

 

There is a mention about a mysterious figure dressed in rags who leads and orders the 13th company warbands during the Eye of Terror campaign. Who this figure is still unknown to all of us. Also for people who say that a loyalist primarch cannot survive inside the eye of terror, I'd like to bring up the Grey Knights codex, and also the existence of the 13th Company. Those two examples alone should be enough proof that even after all this time, it is plausible if not possible that a mighty primarch such as the wolf king can still be alive.

 

And what about The Hrafnkel, flagship of the Wolf King. Nowhere in the history books is it mentioned that it was found at all. Destroyed debris or the entire ship itself... NOTHING! along with it's crew and the retainers the primarch took with him. Not to mention, those last words were spoken to the wolves during the feast of the Emperor's Ascension. Nobody confirmed his death, only disappearance.

 

Looking at the timeline..

 

211M31 — Leman Russ of the Space Wolves takes his most favored retainers and departs from the Feast of the Emperor's Ascension, never to be seen or heard from again. His armor would be discovered much later, during the second Great Hunt, at the Temple of Horus on Rudra, a world on the edge of the Eye of Terror.

 

The Feast of the Emperor's Ascension was as fine as any Space Wolf had seen. In celebration of the Emperor's final victory over the Great Evil One, thousands of his sons joined in the revelry. The torches that lined the walls were as stars in the night sky, and our spirits soared high as the vaulted roofs. The halls rung loud with song and laughter. At the head of the feast, surrounded by his closest friends, sat the Wolf-King himself, Leman Russ.

 

The Great Primarch climbed once more onto the ancient oaken banqueting table, the very same one on which he had fought the Emperor in a titanic and desperate struggle for his life and pride centuries before. One by one, the raucous voices stopped. Russ' speeches were legendary.

 

Seconds passed. Then minutes. The Great Hall was as silent as a barrow-tomb. All eyes were fixed on Russ.

 

But the Primarch made no sound, and his body remained frozen. We who were closest to him could see that his great yellow eyes were glazed over, that his iron muscles locked in spasm. Slowly a susurrration of noise bled into the natural amphitheater of the Hall as his warriors questioned what in the Eye of the Kraken could be happening. Surely this was a joke? Surely at any moment our roaring, charismatic King would bellow with deafing laughter, calling for more ale? Was it some kind of challenge, or something worse? We could not tell, and none dared to ask.

 

Suddenly, Russ fell heavily to his knees, a resounding crack reverberating around the hall and bringing utter silence once more. He turned to his most faithfull retainers and, in a coice that no others could hear, not even I, issued his instructions. His face lined with sorrow, he addressed the throng, and his grave words sank deeply into every one of the Space Wolves souls. As one, Russ and his retinue turned on their heels and strode out of the Great Hall. Only I, the youngest of the Primarch's favored, was left behind.

 

Every year hence his place was laid at the feast. Every year his drinking horn was filled should he return. Seven long, painfull years passed, and still Russ did not come home to us. It was a bleak time, and many say that the worst of all Helwinters raged outside the walls of the banqueting halls on the night when the Wolflords came to their decision. If Russ would not come back to us, then we would find him ourselves. Electedas Great Wolf, I led the Space Wolves in the search for our forefather. And was thus the first of the Great Hunts began.

 

The Companies of the Space Wolves took to their ships, and sailed on different headings far into the Sea of Stars. The tale of the battles we fought and the worlds we discovered is a long one indeed, too long for any time to save Allwinter's Eve. But ultimately, our search was in vain, earing nothing more than stories and hollow prophecy. And thus it was that the first Great Hunt ended in sorrow.

 

It is not unheard of for the spirit of Russ to grant a senior Rune Priest a vision, to speak directly into his mind. Their words are then the words of Russ himself, and it is then that a new Great Hunt is called. Although non have succeeded in ou ultimate goal, many victories have been won, and mighty tasks have been accomplished in the name of Russ. And we are left with the comfort of hsi final words: at the end he will return to us. For the final battle. For the Wolftime."

 

218M31 — The surviving Wolf Lords of the Space Wolves gather together and elect Bjorn their leader, awarding him the title Great Wolf. Bjorn gathers the Chapter and announces the first Great Hunt in an attempt to find Leman Russ. The Great Hunt ends in failure and sadness.

 

???M3? — We/I don't have an exact date as to when the second great hunt took place.. therefore we can assume that Russ was still running around, and decided to shed his armor and leave it at the temple of Horus on Rudra.

 

M32 (First Battle of the Fang) — Magus the Red and his Thousand Sons attack Fang, base of the Space Wolves, in retribution for the destruction of Prospero.

 

Chapter Twenty of Battle of the Fang, by Chris Wraight.

 

Magnus: ‘Do you remember what you said to me, brother?’ Magnus spoke aloud, his voice pure and powerful. His fingers twitched at his sides, eager for what was

to come. ‘Do you remember what you said to me as we fought before the pyramid of Photep? Do you remember the words you used? I do. As I recall, your face was tortured. Imagine that – the Master of Wolves, his ferocity twisted into grief. And yet you still carried out your duty. You always did what was asked of you. So loyal. So tenacious. Truly, you were the attack dog of the Emperor.’ Magnus lost his smile. ‘You took no pleasure in what you did. I knew that then, and I know it now. But all things change, my brother. I’m not the same as I was, and you’re... well, let us not mention where you are now.’

 

995999M41 — Thirteenth Black Crusade. Abaddon the Despoiler launches his latest Black Crusade into the Cadian Sector. 13th Company warbands reemerge still fighting the chaos traitors.

 

???????M41 — New loyalist space marine wolf-like chapters of unknown origins appear. Such Red Wolves, and Shadow Wolves from the book Helsreach.

[Schertenleib]

The statement of his last breath could very well be Russ's way of saying he was off on a mission that MAY very well kill him. With his cloak I believe that he is able to escape into the realms of death and return again. It would also be a way of limited communication with the current Great Wolf or Rune Priests.

[Marmande]

Or the cloak could just be one of those mythological stories that pervade a book about viking-inspired astartes and isn't an actual item of Russ'.

[archangel23]

Wow, and I was just curious about what others thought on this issue. I can't help but think if the Daemon Primarchs are alive that somehow the loyalist ones are as well Especially Russ. I still think he's alive in the "Eye".

 

I had a thought last night. I wonder if the serviving Loyal Primarchs life would be tied to the Emperors? We know the Golden Throne is failing. So I would guess the Allfather would be free to inhabit the Warp as a new God. If that were to come to pass, could he indeed call his missing sons to him and then return them to his domains of Imperial Space.

 

I have no reason for the thought other than it came to me. For the record, I did not read it in any fluff. But seriously, I would think Russ would be the tool of choice to take back what is his. It would be a great plot for the Wolftime. Just a thought.

 

I think I need to pass out... too much mjod. :P