A couple of Vlka Fenryka Questions

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

Reading through Inferno, there are a couple of things I am unsure about. Was hoping that someone with more knowledge in this area could help.

 

Thanks :)

 

 

1. Varagyr Terminators

 

From their (limited) fluff in Inferno, it seems these are unique to the 1st Company and are all sworn to Leman Russ to act as his personal bodyguard and advisors. What therefore is the likelihood of them joining other Great Companies / Jarls?

 

So what I want to know is do they only accompany Leman Russ in battle? I.e. They are his personal guard and advisors, and unique to him, so other companies can field normal terminators only.

 

Or are they deployed like normal Space Marine 1st Company assets; assorted across the Legion where needed?

 

Could my ordinary Wolf Lord / Jarl have a Varagyr bodyguard, or are they for the Primarch only (fluff-wise that is, not rules wise). I like to think that as some of the oldest and most skilled veterans they would be lent to other commanders as advisers and bodyguards, as well as to be the voice of the Primarch. But I don't know the Wolves well enough to know if this is correct to the lore - I like my armies to be very themed and lore friendly.

 

2. The 'Black Cull'

 

These are mentioned in Inferno (p. 84) and seem to match up with the description of the Deathsworn (connection to the Cult of Morkai and increased aggression and bloodthirstiness, being grouped with Destroyers etc.). But it is not explicitly stated that they are one and the same. Is there any more info on these? A source would be great, for my own research, but I would be more than willing to take your word for it as there are some people who are very knowledgeable about this sort of thing and inference from what little info I have found is fine if there is nothing else.

[Nova_chron]

I view the Varagyr as representatives of Russ when not with him so take them all you want. On the Black Cull I view them as the step before exterminatus these are the Warriors you use to make a statement, I don't have any more info on possible fluff for them so run with whatever fills your sail creatively.

[Hellrender]

I believe it was written somewhere that russ also dispersed the varagyr through the legion, to advice wolf lords, bring word to russ, or just to help in an important fight.

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

I view the Varagyr as representatives of Russ when not with him so take them all you want. On the Black Cull I view them as the step before exterminatus these are the Warriors you use to make a statement, I don't have any more info on possible fluff for them so run with whatever fills your sail creatively.

 

Yeah, that is kind of what I was thinking. That they would fulfil a similar role for Russ as the Custodes did for the Emperor with the Word Bearers; sort of scattered about in the Great Companies to keep an eye on progress and advise/assist as needed.

In terms of the Black Cull, that sounds like what I got from the Deathsworn description, so I think it would be a fair conclusion that they are one and the same.

 

Thanks! :)

 

I believe it was written somewhere that russ also dispersed the varagyr through the legion, to advice wolf lords, bring word to russ, or just to help in an important fight.

 

Brilliant! I'll have another look through the book and see if I can find that then as that quote would fit my idea of them perfectly.

 

Thank you! :)

[Hellrender]

Think i got it from a wiki somewhere, don't have the book myself..

 

 

 

When Leman Russ was rediscovered by the Emperor's own Principia Imperialis Expeditionary Fleet on the Death World of Fenris, he was swiftly sent to command the VI Legion, but he did not go alone. With Leman Russ went as many as several hundred Fenrisian warriors who had, despite their age, undergone and survived the implantation and gene-processing required to become Astartes, at least to the greater part. Many had died in the attempt, but far less than might have been expected. These men were to be Leman Russ' first Varagyr. They were Russ' oath-bound warriors, sworn to him even if it meant denying the jaws of death to be at his side, and whose loyalty had seen them leave their world of ice and blood and ascend uncomprehendingly but undaunted to the stars in their lord's footsteps. These Varagyr were valued by their king for this loyalty over the might of the transhuman Astartes of the VI Legion he was given to command, despite their vaunted strength and savage reputation, for they had not yet proven themselves as warriors or earned his respect. Leman Russ ordered the Varagyr to be dispersed partly through the ranks of his Legion, which was cause for some resentment, but it was quickly made known that Russ' rule was not to be questioned, and that the Varagyr were more than willing to offer themselves in single combat to decide any argument over the matter.

 

[Sandlemad]

The Black Cull seems to be a general term for formations of Deathsworn, destroyers, moritats, flamer units and other horrible last-resort razing weapons. The deathsworn are the suicidal core of it and the most intimately associated with the cult of Morkai, but the term 'Black Cull' is used more broadly in the blow-by-blow of Prospero.

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

@Hellrender - Is that frim 40k wiki? Because if it is, that will 100% be accurate. Well, assuming they still do it, but 40k wiki were always widely known for having direct copy-pastes of the lore from Forge World publications. It is fantastic for people who need quick access to the fluff and don't have the book on them (or at all).

 

@Sandlemad - that makes a lot of sense now. So all Deathsworn are Black Cull, but not all Black Cull are Deathsworn.

Thanks for that.

 

Is the name Black Cull symbolic at all? Obviously destroyers are known to have blackened armour, do the Deathsworn also? Because then they would almost be like the wolves version of death company.

[Sandlemad]

@Sandlemad - that makes a lot of sense now. So all Deathsworn are Black Cull, but not all Black Cull are Deathsworn.

Thanks for that.

 

Is the name Black Cull symbolic at all? Obviously destroyers are known to have blackened armour, do the Deathsworn also? Because then they would almost be like the wolves version of death company.

 

 

I took it to refer to the blackened landscape they leave behind them or just black as in 'grim' - FW likes using colours to make up proper nouns - but could be! There's not been any official depictions of the Deathsworn yet so black armour might be a decent way to distinguish them, even if they don't have the same rad-weapon scarring that destroyers have. Wolf priests are the ministers of the cult of Morkai so you could apply that 'backwards' to the regular deathsworn.

[Hellrender]

Yep, 40k wiki

[Nova_chron]

I plan to do my portion of the Black Cull will predominantly legion colors but their helms will be black as will their pack marking and the left arms

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

 

@Sandlemad - that makes a lot of sense now. So all Deathsworn are Black Cull, but not all Black Cull are Deathsworn.

Thanks for that.

 

Is the name Black Cull symbolic at all? Obviously destroyers are known to have blackened armour, do the Deathsworn also? Because then they would almost be like the wolves version of death company.

 

 

I took it to refer to the blackened landscape they leave behind them or just black as in 'grim' - FW likes using colours to make up proper nouns - but could be! There's not been any official depictions of the Deathsworn yet so black armour might be a decent way to distinguish them, even if they don't have the same rad-weapon scarring that destroyers have. Wolf priests are the ministers of the cult of Morkai so you could apply that 'backwards' to the regular deathsworn.

 

 

That's interesting then. I quite like the idea of them (at least in part) wearing black. Will be interesting to see how the Forge World miniatures are painted - that is assuming they release actual models for these. 

That was kind of my thought process really; Speakers of the Dead = Chaplains (sort of) -> Association with the colour black -> possible links of black to Cult of Morkai -> black cull -> Deathsworn

 

Whether all black would be the way to go I am unsure, but I think that colour would really fit their theme and I will use it at least on some parts of their armour.

 

Yep, 40k wiki

 

Nice! I reckon that is a direct quote then. Cheers.

 

I plan to do my portion of the Black Cull will predominantly legion colors but their helms will be black as will their pack marking and the left arms

 

That is a really cool idea. That is the kind of thing I was thinking in terms of associating the colour black with them. Will you bother with the wolf skull helms? Because they could look cool in black - if not, bone would contrast nicely with the dark colours.

It will be a while until I get to them though so I will probably see what FW produce in the way of official models.

[Nova_chron]

I'm still in the air on the helms but I will probably get some

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

I'm still in the air on the helms but I will probably get some

 

Same here really. That's why I am thinking I will probably wait and see what models Forge World produce. I want the skull helms, as that is how they are described, but so far, if one was to make your own, you are limited to scavenging several from the Space Wolf Character, or getting some from a 3rd party company. Not sure of their name, but they are in Russia I believe and postage, for me at least, puts the price much too high for what you get (plus I am already unsure about the sculpts so more negatives isn't going to sell it to me).

 

Although don't let me put you off, some people have made their own using them and have done a great job, I am just not sure if I would want them.