Legacy of Russ 6: Wolf Trap (Discussion)

[Sturm Moonwolf]

There is a man though that can stop a daemon primarch....he used a famous spear a few times

[Guest Triszin]

What I expect the in part 7. Redmaw boarding and killing the iron hands, then aiming his ship at the rock and laughing all the way. In the red open sleigh hey hey hey.

 

Actually mav you could be onto something. Maybe wolf guard will become the original legionnaires. Stormclaws/greyslayers come back show the pups how its done and take over the total of wolfguard. And then all wolfguard get a stat boost.

[TheWolfLord]

There is a man though that can stop a daemon primarch....he used a famous spear a few times   ;)

He hadn't entered real Space those times, no ordinary marine should be able to match a Primarch and a Daemon Primarch is even more powerful.

[TheWolfLord]

 

 

Ha, be funny when Russ shows up with a few thousand Legion VI'ers and tells Bjorn I was gone for a day and look what happened...

 

Wulfen hunt Daemons but no force in the current Imperium is powerful enough to rival a Daemon Primarch, maybe a Wulfen Primarch would be a match?

 

personally id hate to see russ transformed into a wulfen, as it would show a lack of control on his part. However id be happy to see him turn up at the front of a few thousand legionaries/13th company

 

I wouldnt be surprised with all the nods towards the redmaws coming back, if they simply made brans transformed state into something that for some reason can fight off a daemon primarch (itd be daft...but then all the current fluff hasnt exactly been 'subtle')

Not necessarily a lack of control, the Canis Helix responds to increased levels of corruption by physically changing the person into a Wulfen form, that's why they have survived for so long in the Eye. As Russ has the same DNA it should be responding to the corruption in much the same manner, I don't expect him to have any loss of mental abilities but physically he would be much stronger and faster.

 

Interesting point regarding Bran, he's obviously pivotal to the story or why keep him back? I don't think he can take on Magnus though, if anything the fact he can control the Wulfen mutation and revert back to his normal appearance may help persuade the Imperium that Wulfen are not mindless monsters they think they are.

He may be key in reforming the 13th Company as a mainly Wulfen force protecting the other Companies from the Curse.

[Leif Bearclaw]

There is a man though that can stop a daemon primarch....he used a famous spear a few times

He hadn't entered real Space those times, no ordinary marine should be able to match a Primarch and a Daemon Primarch is even more powerful.

Not one on one, true but to say "no force in the current Imperium is powerful enough to rival a Daemon Primarch" just isn't true. Just ask Angron .

Random observation/thought. Everyone seems to be obsessing over Bran getting to Fenris, but aren't another 5 GCs also absent atm? When did we last hear anything about Morkai, Krakendoom, Stormwolf, Red Moon or Grimblood?

[Ozeryk_Sleipnijr]

Have any of you played the scenarios against Demons in CotW. They are pretty hard core from a Space Wolf perspective ... lots of casualties.

[Charlo]

Wulfen Russ?

 

Sign me the hell up.

 

That is awesome and a great way to keep him different from his 30k version.

[Frater Cornelius]

Wulfen Russ?

 

Sign me the hell up.

 

That is awesome and a great way to keep him different from his 30k version.

 

Just... no.

[Guest Triszin]

Guys. Russ is Thor. God emperor is Odin. When Odin died, Thor became runelord Thor.

 

Therefore runelord Russ.

[Fang_Guard23]

I find it weird that there are only 6 great companies currently in the fenris system and the other 6 are gathering more wulfen.

 

I hope that Blackmane can retake the Mjalnar, the wolves could use the additional firepower, and if the deathwolves and firehowlers can take the World Wolfs secondary command bunker they can secure a defensive foothold against the crusade fleet.

[MaveriK]

 

 

 

Ha, be funny when Russ shows up with a few thousand Legion VI'ers and tells Bjorn I was gone for a day and look what happened...

 

Wulfen hunt Daemons but no force in the current Imperium is powerful enough to rival a Daemon Primarch, maybe a Wulfen Primarch would be a match?

personally id hate to see russ transformed into a wulfen, as it would show a lack of control on his part. However id be happy to see him turn up at the front of a few thousand legionaries/13th company

 

I wouldnt be surprised with all the nods towards the redmaws coming back, if they simply made brans transformed state into something that for some reason can fight off a daemon primarch (itd be daft...but then all the current fluff hasnt exactly been 'subtle')

Not necessarily a lack of control, the Canis Helix responds to increased levels of corruption by physically changing the person into a Wulfen form, that's why they have survived for so long in the Eye. As Russ has the same DNA it should be responding to the corruption in much the same manner, I don't expect him to have any loss of mental abilities but physically he would be much stronger and faster.

 

Interesting point regarding Bran, he's obviously pivotal to the story or why keep him back? I don't think he can take on Magnus though, if anything the fact he can control the Wulfen mutation and revert back to his normal appearance may help persuade the Imperium that Wulfen are not mindless monsters they think they are.

He may be key in reforming the 13th Company as a mainly Wulfen force protecting the other Companies from the Curse.

no force could rival a daemon primarch? I can think of two occasions the grey Knights took on daemon primarchs and banished them....

 

Also I don't think you quite get the canis helix. The wulfen are already wulfen due to the curse, so I don't understand where you get that it transforms them physically, due to a response from increased levels of corruption. Even before going into the eye of terror, wulfen were being used as shock troops during the great crusades/heresy. They've survived inside the eye due to instinct, with guidance from wolf lords and wolf priest and part of that is the discipline. Even in the audiobook thunder from Fenris, wulfen knew instinctively to attack nurgle daemon. It was the enemy, simple as that! wulfen pre-war zone fluff respond and obey alpha figures such as wolf priest, shown in the later Ragnar books. Astartes don't turn into a wulfen due to increased levels of corruption. They turn due to the gene seed flaw. Embracing the beast within. Self control and discipline is what keeps space wolves from going over that edge. There have been a few occasions when chaos sorcery forced sw warriors into wulfen but thats forced. The gene seed flaw occurs naturally and in different stages in a SW life.

[Leif Bearclaw]

But what are we seeing now then? The Curse spreading like this through the Chapter is unprecedented, as far as I'm aware. Are they just flat out changing how the Wulfen work? Or do we think the root cause of all this BS will be revealed and murderised by the time this abomination of a story draws to a close?

[Jarl of Wulfen]

@Maverik I believe this is where the curse reacting to chaos comes from

"Little needs to be said of Fenris, the inhospitable, ice-bound world from which the Space Wolves come, but whether the 13th Company have found a home within the Eye of Terror is unknown. Certainly, the Canis Helix would prove a vital factor in surviving within the Eye, for it is known that the Curse of the Wulfen is want to surface as a defence against the influence of Chaos." Children of the Night - WD 283

[SW1]

The fluff as far back as I can remember has the helix as a natural resistance to chaos. My understanding is that the change into a wulfen can be triggered from a loss of control of ones inner balance (call it what you want rage? Inner animal? Doesn't really matter). However when exposed to the effects of chaos this change can be more likely to be triggered. So SW's with long term exposure to the eye of terror will be more likely to have been triggered into turning wulfen but they don't have to change.

 

A slightly different perhaps my own informed head cannon view is if a SW is exposed enough to chaos taint that they'd start mutating the helix kicks in and changes them into wulfen rather than allow other changes.

 

I guess both ideas can run alongside each other and not conflict being different aspects of the helix?

[SW1]

The other implied thing is that SW's being around wulfen can be more likely to have the change triggered in them. Not sure how this mechanic works in lore but greater concentrations of wulfen seem to be having a more pronounced effect on SW's around them.

 

It's an interesting story mechanic and would be interesting to see a more accurate description from GWS but we know they are unlikely to provide this.

[NightHowler]

Unless the 13th are fleeing the warp *because* they are being turned into Wulfen by some spell Magnus has cooked up. Perhaps this spell works by proximity to others already transformed by the spell - hence why normal space wolves who didn't bare the mark of the Wulfen or struggle with their own inner beast are now being turned into Wulfen wholesale just by exposure to the returning members of the 13th who have already turned. Might also explain why we've seen no wolf priests, rune priests, grey slayers, etc, etc among the Wulfen.

 

Just thinking out loud here I guess.

[TheWolfLord]

 

 

 

 

Ha, be funny when Russ shows up with a few thousand Legion VI'ers and tells Bjorn I was gone for a day and look what happened...

Wulfen hunt Daemons but no force in the current Imperium is powerful enough to rival a Daemon Primarch, maybe a Wulfen Primarch would be a match?

personally id hate to see russ transformed into a wulfen, as it would show a lack of control on his part. However id be happy to see him turn up at the front of a few thousand legionaries/13th company

I wouldnt be surprised with all the nods towards the redmaws coming back, if they simply made brans transformed state into something that for some reason can fight off a daemon primarch (itd be daft...but then all the current fluff hasnt exactly been 'subtle')

Not necessarily a lack of control, the Canis Helix responds to increased levels of corruption by physically changing the person into a Wulfen form, that's why they have survived for so long in the Eye. As Russ has the same DNA it should be responding to the corruption in much the same manner, I don't expect him to have any loss of mental abilities but physically he would be much stronger and faster.

Interesting point regarding Bran, he's obviously pivotal to the story or why keep him back? I don't think he can take on Magnus though, if anything the fact he can control the Wulfen mutation and revert back to his normal appearance may help persuade the Imperium that Wulfen are not mindless monsters they think they are.

He may be key in reforming the 13th Company as a mainly Wulfen force protecting the other Companies from the Curse.

no force could rival a daemon primarch? I can think of two occasions the grey Knights took on daemon primarchs and banished them....

Also I don't think you quite get the canis helix. The wulfen are already wulfen due to the curse, so I don't understand where you get that it transforms them physically, due to a response from increased levels of corruption. Even before going into the eye of terror, wulfen were being used as shock troops during the great crusades/heresy. They've survived inside the eye due to instinct, with guidance from wolf lords and wolf priest and part of that is the discipline. Even in the audiobook thunder from Fenris, wulfen knew instinctively to attack nurgle daemon. It was the enemy, simple as that! wulfen pre-war zone fluff respond and obey alpha figures such as wolf priest, shown in the later Ragnar books. Astartes don't turn into a wulfen due to increased levels of corruption. They turn due to the gene seed flaw. Embracing the beast within. Self control and discipline is what keeps space wolves from going over that edge. There have been a few occasions when chaos sorcery forced sw warriors into wulfen but thats forced. The gene seed flaw occurs naturally and in different stages in a SW life.

I was talking about a single entity when I stated nothing can stand up to a Daemon Primarch and that's completely true, I'd also imagine Grey Knights would struggle to banish Magnus as easily as Angron due to his great psychic power.

 

I also get the Canis Helix very well and as others have also stated it is triggered in different ways, the 13th suffered particularly from the curse and contained the largest proportion of Wulfen. This is undoubtably the reason why they were able to survive in the Eye without falling to corruption for so long.

 

Additionally, during the Eye of Terror lore it was explained that the change to Wulfen was not a permanent change but would affect many members of the 13th to different extremes and at different times, this is entirely different to the effect of the curse on a Space Wolf outside of the Eye, with the exception of Bran it's effectively a permanent change and once the Wolf Within takes hold there's usually no coming back.

 

Furthermore within the 13th there were individuals who had undergone the physical change but remained in complete control mentally, a Rune Priest from the Ragnar series who could talk and was a potent Psyker. More recently in last years Legends of the Dark Millenium there was a Wulfen Rune Priest who lead a pack of feral Wulfen to help Logan battle Tzeentch Daemons. After the fight he spoke to Logan before leading the Wulfen back into the warp.

[TheWolfLord]

Unless the 13th are fleeing the warp *because* they are being turned into Wulfen by some spell Magnus has cooked up. Perhaps this spell works by proximity to others already transformed by the spell - hence why normal space wolves who didn't bare the mark of the Wulfen or struggle with their own inner beast are now being turned into Wulfen wholesale just by exposure to the returning members of the 13th who have already turned. Might also explain why we've seen no wolf priests, rune priests, grey slayers, etc, etc among the Wulfen.

Just thinking out loud here I guess.

Interesting idea, the original galaxy wide incursions were in the pattern of an ancient Prospero rune meaning 'vengeance'. Maybe that pattern was part of a larger spell being carried out by Magnus.

 

They've tried it before and very nearly succeeded in the last Ragnar book and that was also a large scale spell needing sigils on various planets sector wide

 

Some of the 13th Wulfen seem to be able to communicate (with difficulty) so I'd assume they'd be able to explain if there was a reason for their return. That was actually one of my main gripes about the Curse of the Wulfen novel, at no point were the Wulfen asked why they chose that time to return and the Wulfen offered no real explanation, that was generally a really badly written book though and there were a lot of major plot holes.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if this becomes known in the next stage of the story but why at this point the Wulfen haven't been briefed or offered their Intel from the Eye staggers me.

[RobMac]

 

I'm not going to criticise the writer, I'm enjoying the series and given the author was told the beginning and the outcome he's trying to create a meaningful event that moves the story on without killing any major characters. If it wasn't happening to my Wolves I'd be enjoying it a lot more of course.

Then I'll criticize the author for you. He may write well but he has demonstrated ignorance of lore that has existed since at least 4th edition; he writes like he's absolutely enjoying the destruction of our chapter; he lacks the creativity to create dramatic threat through any means but killing ever greater and greater numbers of our chapter and destroying all of our system's defenses; and I for one hope to Russ and the Allfather that in the next book the author gets sucked into his own book, eaten alive by a great unclean one, and then pooped out the other end still breathing but busting at the seems with every foul disease known to Pappa Nurgle.

 

**spits on the ground to get even the mention of that author out of my mouth**

 

I feel like I should point out that Space Wolves aren't the only faction engaged in these stories. While fans of the Wolves may be lamenting losses (that still amount to well under 50% of the Chapter), there are Dark Angels readers who are demanding to know why no named Wolves are being killed off, why Fenris hasn't been bombarded and why the Inquisition hasn't declared the Wolves to be traitors. And that's not to mention all the daemon fans who think their faction are coming across as nothing more than fodder and aren't doing nearly enough damage to the Wolves, given this is one of the largest daemonic incursions in 40k lore. 

 

Speaking of the lore, I feel I should repeat the fact that getting to write about the Wolves is my biggest honour as an author to date (I mean, you could point out this is also my first full-length novel, but it still stands). I have nothing but respect for them. Unfortunately no matter who wins War Zone Fenris I'm going to lose it, given one side has to be defeated for there to be any progression.

 

 

My only pet peeve is the lack of Storm Claws, Grey Slayers and Gate Powered Rune Priest. 

 

Currently only fully-fledged Wulfen have been returning to the material plane. 

[NightHowler]

 

 

I'm not going to criticise the writer, I'm enjoying the series and given the author was told the beginning and the outcome he's trying to create a meaningful event that moves the story on without killing any major characters. If it wasn't happening to my Wolves I'd be enjoying it a lot more of course.

 

Then I'll criticize the author for you. He may write well but he has demonstrated ignorance of lore that has existed since at least 4th edition; he writes like he's absolutely enjoying the destruction of our chapter; he lacks the creativity to create dramatic threat through any means but killing ever greater and greater numbers of our chapter and destroying all of our system's defenses; and I for one hope to Russ and the Allfather that in the next book the author gets sucked into his own book, eaten alive by a great unclean one, and then pooped out the other end still breathing but busting at the seems with every foul disease known to Pappa Nurgle.

**spits on the ground to get even the mention of that author out of my mouth**

I feel like I should point out that Space Wolves aren't the only faction engaged in these stories. While fans of the Wolves may be lamenting losses (that still amount to well under 50% of the Chapter), there are Dark Angels readers who are demanding to know why no named Wolves are being killed off, why Fenris hasn't been bombarded and why the Inquisition hasn't declared the Wolves to be traitors. And that's not to mention all the daemon fans who think their faction are coming across as nothing more than fodder and aren't doing nearly enough damage to the Wolves, given this is one of the largest daemonic incursions in 40k lore. 

 

Speaking of the lore, I feel I should repeat the fact that getting to write about the Wolves is my biggest honour as an author to date (I mean, you could point out this is also my first full-length novel, but it still stands). I have nothing but respect for them. Unfortunately no matter who wins War Zone Fenris I'm going to lose it, given one side has to be defeated for there to be any progression.

As a person who has been playing GW games since the 1990s, and who has only ever played Space Wolves, painting space wolf models, scouring old White Dwarf articles for any scrap of Space Wolf lore, reading the flavor texts under all the pictures that decorate every corner of each edition of our codexes, and having written my own short stories and detailed history for my personal chapter, I hope that you can understand why I care so little about people who clamor for the absolute destruction of my favored chapter and where my anger comes from when I hear that their concerns are even contemplated however briefly. Upset because we're not seeing our named characters killed off? This isn't game of thrones.

 

I admit that in my frustration at watching my faction reduced to rubble I hadn't considered your feelings when I railed against you, and for that I apologize. But nothing less than what I wrote would adequately describe my impotent rage at losing something I'd always thought was inviolable. "Only 50% losses" for a chapter are huge. The loss of the defenses of our system leave us naked. As long as we are left strong I will probably get over it, but if we are left a shattered chapter with no way of defending ourselves, I won't.

[SW1]

Bah ... The writer seems to be doing a decent job of balancing things. Trying to satisfy everyone is a thankless task where no one really wants their faction to come out the other end a whipping dog.

 

Whichever direction the story heads I just want to get to the next instalment now I have a good feeling it'll all work out in the end. ;) :p

[RobMac]

 

 

 

I'm not going to criticise the writer, I'm enjoying the series and given the author was told the beginning and the outcome he's trying to create a meaningful event that moves the story on without killing any major characters. If it wasn't happening to my Wolves I'd be enjoying it a lot more of course.

Then I'll criticize the author for you. He may write well but he has demonstrated ignorance of lore that has existed since at least 4th edition; he writes like he's absolutely enjoying the destruction of our chapter; he lacks the creativity to create dramatic threat through any means but killing ever greater and greater numbers of our chapter and destroying all of our system's defenses; and I for one hope to Russ and the Allfather that in the next book the author gets sucked into his own book, eaten alive by a great unclean one, and then pooped out the other end still breathing but busting at the seems with every foul disease known to Pappa Nurgle.

**spits on the ground to get even the mention of that author out of my mouth**

I feel like I should point out that Space Wolves aren't the only faction engaged in these stories. While fans of the Wolves may be lamenting losses (that still amount to well under 50% of the Chapter), there are Dark Angels readers who are demanding to know why no named Wolves are being killed off, why Fenris hasn't been bombarded and why the Inquisition hasn't declared the Wolves to be traitors. And that's not to mention all the daemon fans who think their faction are coming across as nothing more than fodder and aren't doing nearly enough damage to the Wolves, given this is one of the largest daemonic incursions in 40k lore. 

 

Speaking of the lore, I feel I should repeat the fact that getting to write about the Wolves is my biggest honour as an author to date (I mean, you could point out this is also my first full-length novel, but it still stands). I have nothing but respect for them. Unfortunately no matter who wins War Zone Fenris I'm going to lose it, given one side has to be defeated for there to be any progression.

As a person who has been playing GW games since the 1990s, and who has only ever played Space Wolves, painting space wolf models, scouring old White Dwarf articles for any scrap of Space Wolf lore, reading the flavor texts under all the pictures that decorate every corner of each edition of our codexes, and having written my own short stories and detailed history for my personal chapter, I hope that you can understand why I care so little about people who clamor for the absolute destruction of my favored chapter and where my anger comes from when I hear that their concerns are even contemplated however briefly. Upset because we're not seeing our named characters killed off? This isn't game of thrones.

 

I admit that in my frustration at watching my faction reduced to rubble I hadn't considered your feelings when I railed against you, and for that I apologize. But nothing less than what I wrote would adequately describe my impotent rage at losing something I'd always thought was inviolable. "Only 50% losses" for a chapter are huge. The loss of the defenses of our system leave us naked. As long as we are left strong I will probably get over it, but if we are left a shattered chapter with no way of defending ourselves, I won't.

 

Don't worry about it, writers should all have thick skins. But let me reassure you on the "50% casualties" matter, because it deserves examination. Of the 12 Great Companies, 5 are en-route to Fenris and are at this stage almost completely undamaged. That leaves Grimnar's, Egil's, Sven's, Harald's, Ragnar's, Bran's and Krom's Companies. Of the seven, Krom's suffered only minor losses in Curse of the Wulfen purging the Wolf Moon and are currently unengaged on Fenris. Ragnar's has so far suffered less than 20% casualties. Egil's withdrew to orbit above Midgardia after around 30% losses. Bran's has just arrive in-system undamaged. That means only Grimnar's, Sven's and Harald's Great Companies have taken any substantial hits, and by substantial I mean Sven and Harald's are approaching - but still haven't reached - 50% casualties. Grimnar's losses remain uncertain due to the Champions of Fenris being scattered underground, but we know they haven't been wiped out.

 

Now, given that the 13th are arriving to reinforce the Chapter, I'd say current losses are 20% or less. The worlds of the Fenris system have been damaged, certainly, but as I've said I didn't go about writing it purely as a Space Wolf fan. 

[Fang_Guard23]

 

 

 

I'm not going to criticise the writer, I'm enjoying the series and given the author was told the beginning and the outcome he's trying to create a meaningful event that moves the story on without killing any major characters. If it wasn't happening to my Wolves I'd be enjoying it a lot more of course.

Then I'll criticize the author for you. He may write well but he has demonstrated ignorance of lore that has existed since at least 4th edition; he writes like he's absolutely enjoying the destruction of our chapter; he lacks the creativity to create dramatic threat through any means but killing ever greater and greater numbers of our chapter and destroying all of our system's defenses; and I for one hope to Russ and the Allfather that in the next book the author gets sucked into his own book, eaten alive by a great unclean one, and then pooped out the other end still breathing but busting at the seems with every foul disease known to Pappa Nurgle.

**spits on the ground to get even the mention of that author out of my mouth**

I feel like I should point out that Space Wolves aren't the only faction engaged in these stories. While fans of the Wolves may be lamenting losses (that still amount to well under 50% of the Chapter), there are Dark Angels readers who are demanding to know why no named Wolves are being killed off, why Fenris hasn't been bombarded and why the Inquisition hasn't declared the Wolves to be traitors. And that's not to mention all the daemon fans who think their faction are coming across as nothing more than fodder and aren't doing nearly enough damage to the Wolves, given this is one of the largest daemonic incursions in 40k lore. 

 

Speaking of the lore, I feel I should repeat the fact that getting to write about the Wolves is my biggest honour as an author to date (I mean, you could point out this is also my first full-length novel, but it still stands). I have nothing but respect for them. Unfortunately no matter who wins War Zone Fenris I'm going to lose it, given one side has to be defeated for there to be any progression.

As a person who has been playing GW games since the 1990s, and who has only ever played Space Wolves, painting space wolf models, scouring old White Dwarf articles for any scrap of Space Wolf lore, reading the flavor texts under all the pictures that decorate every corner of each edition of our codexes, and having written my own short stories and detailed history for my personal chapter, I hope that you can understand why I care so little about people who clamor for the absolute destruction of my favored chapter and where my anger comes from when I hear that their concerns are even contemplated however briefly. Upset because we're not seeing our named characters killed off? This isn't game of thrones.

 

I admit that in my frustration at watching my faction reduced to rubble I hadn't considered your feelings when I railed against you, and for that I apologize. But nothing less than what I wrote would adequately describe my impotent rage at losing something I'd always thought was inviolable. "Only 50% losses" for a chapter are huge. The loss of the defenses of our system leave us naked. As long as we are left strong I will probably get over it, but if we are left a shattered chapter with no way of defending ourselves, I won't.

 

The wolves are not being reduced to rubble. I think that krom could unleash the wolf brothers from their stasis caskets. remember that deep below the fang, even deeper then the dreadnought vaults are the ancient halls that the wolf brothers sleep. Unleash the wolf brothers and let the 13th wulfen tame them.

 

my thought is that the wulfen were to be sent a head to fenris to bolster the space wolves numbers and prep them for a daemonic attack, but what happened was that the forces of chaos shifted the warp rift coordinates to multiple planets beyond the fenris system, dividing the space wolves up into multiple retrieval fleets. The rest of the 13th that still have proper power armor and retain there minds are fighting in the warp.

[Valerian]

RobMac,

Thanks for coming along and joining the conversation; that's very cool of you, and I for one appreciate getting to enjoy additional perspective straight from the author.

V

 

EDIT:  Oh, and also since you are new to the B&C, and here to The Fang, I'd like to also welcome you aboard.  

[RobMac]

RobMac,

 

Thanks for coming along and joining the conversation; that's very cool of you, and I for one appreciate getting to enjoy additional perspective straight from the author.

 

V

No worries, it's a pleasure to be here. I knew as soon as I saw some rumour sites declaring that Fenris had been destroyed that there would be a lot of misinformation, so just trying to combat that. Plus, I've been a lurker here for, like, a decade. Now seemed as good a time to join as any! 

 

But please, I'm not here to cramp anyone's style, speak freely :)