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Battle of the Fang


archangel23

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Mav,

 

Excellent summary. I've got a couple comments and questions, below.

 

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.

 

What is the source for this? Can you locate the White Dwarf? I only ask, because I've seen this mentioned before, but don't remember it myself, and don't have it in my extensive fluff library. I'd like to add this to my collection.

 

Leman Russ disappeared in the Eye of Terror.

 

What is the source for this? As far as I can tell, we've never been told this explicitly; it has only been hinted at.

 

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.

 

According to my sources, the "last words" were definitely not spoken to the Wolves during the feast of the Emperor's Ascension. In the multiple entries that describe that event (many of which you reference above), Russ didn't say anything to the group, but rather just gathered all of his retainers except for Bjorn and left. In fact, the largest part of the mystery about his "last words" are that we do not know the context from which they were spoken.

 

 

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."

 

Where did this one come from? It is slightly different than those that I'm familiar with.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Valerian

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