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Sons of Russ and Assassins


Valor

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What, if any, is the fluff with Space Wolves being joined by any of the Imperial Assassins? I just read the rules for their new data slate, and am extremely excited about them. Is there any fluff out there to support them being with a Great Company? If not, any thoughts on if their help would be welcomed??
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Generally Assassins operate on their own independent missions, so they wouldn't be 'with' a company per se, rather they were in the same place at the same time. AS for help, when there's xenos that need killing, all help is welcome (especially as we're even BB with GKs/DAs these days). Any beef can wait until after the enemy is dead.

Assassins work outside any conventional chain of command. With the exception of a Callidus Assassin, they wouldn't work with Marines so much as happen to be in the same place at the same time with similar goals.

 

Callidus Assassins are a bit of an exception since they might be impersonating an Imperial Official, but the Wolves are still a means to an end for them.

 

On the Space Wolves' side, I imagine most Wolf Lords regard them as dishonorable, but unless they start actually attacking Imperial forces (To draw a target out or, in the case of an eversor, because they're too drugged up to realize they killed their target already), they're probably going to be tolerated.

As noted above, other forces don't usually know the assassin is "with" them. If it's a vindicare then they probably won't notice the particularly precise bullet holes amongst all of the other bullet holes in the enemy dead. If it's a Culexus/Callidus/Eversor they'll know that something's there but they probably won't know what it is. It will just be a destructive blur.

 

I think that assassins ought to be Come The Apocalypse allies for everyone including Imperials because the presence of an assassin is going to scare the pants off most Imperial soldiers and even Astartes would probably want to keep their distance. 

 

Like Fire Wolf I've been tempted to try a "Counts As" Assassin. I thought an Eversor could be a berserk Space Wolf hero overtaken by the curse of the Wulfen or a Vindicare could be a legendary Wolf Scout who always works alone but is like the Fenrisian counterpart to Telion.

Like Fire Wolf I've been tempted to try a "Counts As" Assassin. I thought an Eversor could be a berserk Space Wolf hero overtaken by the curse of the Wulfen or a Vindicare could be a legendary Wolf Scout who always works alone but is like the Fenrisian counterpart to Telion.

Loving all of this.

Do you still get bonuses for taking full squads of assassins? (sure there used to be an apoc formation), would give me something to do with my 8 disused sniper scouts biggrin.png

Sadly at this time, the fluff points that the Wolves have a bunch of assassins pointed at them. As most have pointed out, it's unlikely for the Wolves to knowingly and openly operating with assassins. But according to the Blood of Asaheim novel, there is currently a secret organisation that may or may not be Inquisition sanctioned, that is hunting Wolves during their various missions and somehow disguising them as attributable to xenos and traitors.

 

We all know that the Wolves have given the middle finger to Inquistion many times, but apparently the straw that broke the camel's back on the Inquisition's tolerance of a First Founding Chapter was the aftermath of the First Armageddon War, where Logan's obstinance and the Inqusition's idiocy resulted in bloodshed of that many times more than the Armageddon War itself in the subsequent purges. Even the Fang itself got penetrated and badly damaged far worse than when Magnus invaded. After the war, many inquisitors were openly discussing how to backstab the wolves, even going so far as tainting their gene seed.

 

In any case, in game terms Assassins can be used by the Wolves and would probably be a very good addition, especially the Vindicare providing some very powerful coverfire or character assassination for those the Wolves can't handle (daemon princes come to mind).

 

Let us not forget that the Inqusition is perfectly willing to exterminate an entire chapter of LOYAL marines if they feel so. This is basically what happened Celestial Lions during the Third War of Armageddon, where their entire ground force was not only sent to attack a powerful Ork base unsupported, but their attempts to retreat was stopped by sniper fire which proceeded to kill almost their entire command staff, from sergeants to most importantly, their apothecaries. If not for Chaplain Grimaldus of the Black Templars figuring out what was happening and rushing to save what was left of the Lions, the entire chapter would have gone extinct.

 

As it is, only a sergeant, not a veteran sergeant mind you, survived to become Chapter Master of what was left of the chapter. Grimaldus basically loaned the remaining Lions some relic armoury, ships, and again most importantly, apothecaries to rebuild the chapter, before rushing to join the main BT fleet chasing Ghazkull.

Fortunately, the fact that "The Inquisition" opposes something in no way prevents "The Inquisition" supporting that thing. A D-B said something at an event along the lines of, "The Inquisition is the biggest bluff in the galaxy. People think that Inquisitors are super powerful but all they have is a rosette. If an Inquisitor shows his Rosette to an Imperial military commander and says, "You must do what I tell you." and the guy just says, "No." what can the Inquisitor do? "

 

The Inquisition has no practical chain of command and is riven by infighting between wildly different factions. The Wolves fell out with the Grey Knights and the Inquisitors who wanted to purge the Imperial population. There will be unorthodox, so called "Radical", Inquisitors who are afraid of the Grey Knights/Puritans and glad to see the Wolves stand against them. There may well be some Inquisitors who think that the human survivors of the First War for Armageddon might offer valuable insight into how humans can resist daemonic incursions and so oppose destroying that knowledge via a purge.

Sadly at this time, the fluff points that the Wolves have a bunch of assassins pointed at them. As most have pointed out, it's unlikely for the Wolves to knowingly and openly operating with assassins. But according to the Blood of Asaheim novel, there is currently a secret organisation that may or may not be Inquisition sanctioned, that is hunting Wolves during their various missions and somehow disguising them as attributable to xenos and traitors.

A couple of observations there. If we assume the WG death at the start of Blood of Asaheim is typical of Fulcrum operations, they don't use Officio assassins, and so are unrelated to the contents of the dataslate. Tbh that plot thread was my least favourite bit of BoA, it was just sort of there, slight build up and no pay off for what is potentially a far more interesting story than either the A (Nurgle invasion) or B (Gunnlaugr and Ingvar's beef) stories in the novel (of course, it also has the potential to be the worst 40k story I've ever read). Maybe Stormcaller improves on this, but I'm also apprehensive about it, as it has the potential to make the Imperium incredibly derp (the whole, stabbing our own guys in the back because they hurt our feelings 500 years ago, which raises the whole 'how did they survive 10,000 years?' issue).

Also iirc, the Fang only got damaged (got a separate couple of issues there, but this isn't the place) because the Inquisition ships started ramming a mountain tongue.png .

It's important to realize that the Month of Shame is a huge secret. No one is proud of what happened there. Apart from the small percentage of the chapters involved that are old enough to remember it (Probably under 25 Space Wolves not in Dreadnoughts, a few navigators stuck in vaults, and maybe a handful of Red Hunters and Grey Knights), I highly doubt anyone except Grey Knight Grand Masters and order heads, the Wolf Lords and the most important priests, and high ranking inquisitors are privvy to what happened. All three parties have to be pragmatic to do their jobs, and the fact is the each side needs the other. Besides, it's not like we're the only chapter who doesn't play by the Inquisition's rules. Strictly speaking, the Dark Angels and Ultramarines could both be charged with legion building if it weren't for the fact they are pretty much legions these days (And no Inquisitor is dumb enough to risk twenty or more Space Marine chapters arguing about what legion building means with their boltguns). The Salamanders pull similar stunts with purges all the time (Or rather, They have enough of a reputation as protectors that the Inquisition will do everything in their power to get them elsewhere when they want to exterminate people).

 

The real issue with the month of shame is that the Inquisitors in charge forgot what dealing with a first founding chapter entails.

While you're probably right about the wider Imperium (GKs, Inquisitors etc.). I'd disagree that it's a big secret amongst the Wolves. To quote Bjorn when he was ending the war: "I want you to walk the halls of the  Fang and speak of your order. The Wolves will never be scoured of this memory. No more secrets, Grey Knight. We know you, now. The Wolves will always know you, from this day forth". especially given the Wolves love of stories and their oral tradition, I can't see them letting those events be forgotten.

To a point, yes, but just because the wolves as a chapter will never forget doesn't mean the Wolves tell every Blood Claw the whole story. At the end of the day, the wolves have to work with the Inquisition, including the Grey Knights, when the situation calls for it. Being so cavalier with one of the most closely guarded secrets of this Milenium is not the way to do that.

I was thinking of incorporating an assassin into my army, but as a lone wolf, former wolf scout. Thinking of borrowing another poster's name "Sven Bloodhowl".

 

So far they story goes like this.

 

After his conflict with the Inquisition, Logan Grimnar, knowing that the inquisition's assassins were after him, established a special task force of elite scouts to work as a counter force to hunt and eliminate these threats.

 

They end up tracking an assassin that they had heard has been tasked to the space wolves. Its plays out like the predator movie, where the assassin slow thins down the pack. But with each kill, the pack leader learns more about the strategies and tactics after each incident. Desperate measures lead the pack leader and his lieutenant, to set a deadly trap. The lieutenant would expose himself, a suicide mission, in and attempt to expose the position of the sniper.

 

The plan works too well, and the death of his final pack member sends Sven into a fury, the murdermake taking a permanent hold on his mind. Sven was overwhelmed with guilt, the sacrifices he witnessed would stain his saga forever.

 

Sven becomes a lone wolf (expensive one) that i can occasionally bring into an army, and I think the design possibilities are exciting

What, if any, is the fluff with Space Wolves being joined by any of the Imperial Assassins? I just read the rules for their new data slate, and am extremely excited about them. Is there any fluff out there to support them being with a Great Company? If not, any thoughts on if their help would be welcomed??

Yes there is some fluff actually. Ragnar dodging them with ease, and beating them.

 

So erm yes, Ragnar is better.

I was thinking of incorporating an assassin into my army, but as a lone wolf, former wolf scout. Thinking of borrowing another poster's name "Sven Bloodhowl".

 

Just to let you know, Sven Bloodhowl is also one of the current Wolf Lords listed in the codex.

 

I was thinking of incorporating an assassin into my army, but as a lone wolf, former wolf scout. Thinking of borrowing another poster's name "Sven Bloodhowl".

 

Just to let you know, Sven Bloodhowl is also one of the current Wolf Lords listed in the codex.

 

Thanks for pointing that out. had totally forgotten. 

I was thinking of incorporating an assassin into my army, but as a lone wolf, former wolf scout. Thinking of borrowing another poster's name "Sven Bloodhowl".

 

So far they story goes like this.

 

After his conflict with the Inquisition, Logan Grimnar, knowing that the inquisition's assassins were after him, established a special task force of elite scouts to work as a counter force to hunt and eliminate these threats.

 

They end up tracking an assassin that they had heard has been tasked to the space wolves. Its plays out like the predator movie, where the assassin slow thins down the pack. But with each kill, the pack leader learns more about the strategies and tactics after each incident. Desperate measures lead the pack leader and his lieutenant, to set a deadly trap. The lieutenant would expose himself, a suicide mission, in and attempt to expose the position of the sniper.

 

The plan works too well, and the death of his final pack member sends Sven into a fury, the murdermake taking a permanent hold on his mind. Sven was overwhelmed with guilt, the sacrifices he witnessed would stain his saga forever.

 

Sven becomes a lone wolf (expensive one) that i can occasionally bring into an army, and I think the design possibilities are exciting

 

I know Sven is already a named wolf lord, but your concept still sounds awesome. Just change the name and go for it.

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