wolfBlood GreyHunter

by John Fyfe a.k.a snoWolf

shipBlood Marine Red3
 

From the planet of New Fenris nyFenris  a.k.a Blizzard, come the intractable descendants of a lost Space Wolves fleet - hardened by the trials of the Ice Desert isOgen - and led by Lars u.Beotakken the Lord Warden of the WorldWall.

This Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes are a unique blend of ferocious wolfBlood ulfBlod Marines (with the Space Wolf geneseed), and the more stable and technically minded shipBlood shepBlod, descendants of the long-lost Skandik Colony Flotilla, utilising a recombined s.Lupus geneseed.

Woe betide the enemies of man and Holy Russ who fall under the combined teeth and claws of the snoWolves - now rediscovered and reunited with their progenitors on Lost Fenris.

ORIGINS

HOME WORLD

BELIEFS

GENESEED

RECRUITMENT

COMBAT DOCTRINE

ORGANIZATION

ARMOUR & COLOUR
SCHEMES

DESIGNER'S BIO

Origins

It is believed that the snoWolves are the remnants of a battle fleet from the Heresy - lost thousand of years ago in the warp storms of the Segmentum Tempestus. The oral history of the wolfBlood faction suggests that they came across a drifting colony flotilla within the same storm and reluctantly joined together. The slightly more reliable (but probably time-corrupted) records of the shipBlood recount how the Skandik Colony Flotilla became lost in Warp Storms on the way to their "promised-land" as part of the 10th Diaspora of the Empire. Joining with the tempestuous Space Wolves for mutual; protection within the heart of the Warp Storm was a calculated risk for the Colonists but, being of similar Norse origins to the original inhabitants of Fenris, they decided to take the risk.

After drifting together for many decades the fleet were amazed when the storm dropped them back to real-space within limping distance of a blue artic world not unlike lost Fenris. A further sign that they had found their new home came when they came into close orbit and saw - hanging fixed above the planet - the Eye of Russ or Wolfs Eye ulfOgen.

Home World

The home planet of the snoWolves, nyFenris or more commonly known as Blizzard, is located on the far south-western spiral arm of the galaxy within the Segmentum Tempestus. It is an isolated system containing a medium star orbited by five planets in extremely unusual orbits, of which only Blizzard is inhabited.

Blizzard itself is an artic deathworld, with flesh stripping gales continually blowing across its open ice desert - the only notable topographical feature is the High Plateau hogsLatt which, solely due to the protection of the surrounding peaks, is bordering on cold temperate. The high plateau is the only area where the ground is capable of growing crops and is home to the small population of  nyFenrisi, living in scattered villages and small towns.

Two moons orbit the planet, ulfOgen and tearDrop, both named in memory of the lost Primarch of the Space Wolves - Leman Russ. The sulphurous colour of the captured asteroid, together with it's central mountain range reminded the founders of the eye of the wolf and so was named for the eye of the great wolf himself. Known severally as half-moon halfMane, wolves eye ulfOgen, or most reverently as russOgen - the eye of Russ forms part of the iconography of the snoWolves - every wolfBlood carries its distinctive yellow & black symbol on his left shoulder, below the distinctive blue & white of the Blizzard Chapter.

The remaining moon, tearDrop, a temperate water word, is said to represent the tears shed by Russ on hearing of the fall of his beloved Emperor. As such this moon is shunned by the nyfenrisi and never visited.

Blizzard culture is strongly spilt into two castes - both of whom claim to be the higher. Those descended from the original Space Wolves are know as wolfBlood, and those descended from the Skandik Colonists are shipBlood. In practice there is basic equality between the castes, and even some intermarriage, with the shepBlod providing most of the civil authority and the ulfBlod the military.

Even many traditionalist now believe that the only real difference between the average nyfenrisi citizen who claims ulfBlod is the derivative u. in his/her name (e.g.. Bjorn u.Varslan) - as opposed to the s. in one claiming shepBlod descent (e.g.. Kurt s.Bremhalle). It is only when the citizens are chosen for trial and geneseed implantation that the real difference between wolf and ship makes itself known.

Even before the young men are selected for trial they are taught to fear and respect the two main predators of this dangerous world. The lodJar or Mountain Cat is the main native predator - a ferocious fur-clad terror over twice the height of a man which hunts in the high peaks surrounding the hogsLatt and can, when provoked, easily gut a man with a swipe of it's huge cat-like paws. The other predator is the descendant of the Fenrisian Wolves brought with the founders - the Flow Wolf or flakUlf is the only non-native animal to survive in the open ice desert - and the only animal on the planet to regard man as it's master - once bested in hand to tooth combat.

Beliefs

Despite the basic equality of the culture it is generally the case that the citizens of shipBlood are found in the more technical disciplines, as well as fulfilling most of the administrative tasks, both for the planetary council -  known as the founders or grundaren - and the Blizzard Chapter itself.

Those of wolfBlood are usually to be found in the hunters of the planet - still necessary for survival due to the short and unreliable growing season - and they form the fighting backbone of the Chapter.

With regard to beliefs - both castes have taken Russ as their redeemer - strengthened by millennia of isolation - they revere him only slightly below the Emperor himself - some even say they only love the Emperor for the sake of Russ.

Inquisitorial Certificate of Purity
(click to enlarge)
 

Geneseed

One major area that the snoWolves differ from most other Chapters lies with the Space Marines themselves. They are perhaps the only Chapter that has marines implanted with two different geneseeds.

During the many decades drifting through the warp storm, the scientists of the Skandik fleet saw the instability of the Lupus seed and its tendency to lose warriors to the "Wulfen Rage". They felt this to be too much of a risk for their own safety and, after many decades (and failed experiments), they developed the the recombined s.Lupus geneseed which is now used at implantation by those of shipBlood.

The inquisition have studied this "new" geneseed and have, reluctantly, passed it for use as "pure" - even noting that it is some 27.9% less likely to bring with it the genetic flaws of the original.

Some chapters look upon any alteration to the Primarchs' geneseed with suspicion and contempt, and as such regard the snoWolves as a vile aberration of even worse, heretical. Still, most other Chapters look upon the snoWolves deeds and accomplishments and can find no fault. Since it's founding, and it's re-integration under the (albeit reluctant) authority of the Great Wolf, the Blizzard Chapter has served the Emperor with honour, valour and dedication.

 varldsDyke

THE WORLDWALL

One of the many names for the high ridges around the only inhabitable land on nyFenris.

The razor sharp ridges are so high and difficult to cross that they not only protect the high plateau hogsLatt, but contribute to the distinctive look of the planet from space. The ridges and plateau together form the World Spine varldsRygg.

The high ridges are held in awe and reverence by the nyFenrisi since they know only too well that there would be NO human life on their planet without them.

The varldsDyke is honoured in the title of the leader of the Space Marines Chapter - Warden of the WorldWall.

The vardsDyke is also home to the ferocious Mountain Cat lodJar, a vaguely feline terror which lives in the peaks and passes of the Wall, ranging to the edges of the Ice Desert to hunt - and features heavily in the first trials of ulvBlod.

The vardsDyke is also home to the vast underground complexes of the nyFenrisi snoWolves. The entire complex known as Homeground hemmaPlan is not only underground, but is masked, concealed and camouflaged with some of the most sophisticated devices and technology available.

Its many access ports are strategically located throughout the ridges with larger vehicle bays covered by a combination of false fronts or holofields. The steep cliffs even contain larger bays that are capable of housing the Chapter's Thunderhawks.

The snoWolves also use electronic jammers and scramblers not only mask energy signatures of hemmaPlan from orbit, but also relays that give false energy readings in areas that have nothing of value.

All of these precautions are to ensure the highest possible survival from a major planetary invasion. Since Blizzard is in such a remote location, and the founders had no prospect of reinforcement from the rest of the Empire .

Recruitment

snoWolves recruit exclusively from the population of Blizzard, selecting only those who prove themselves at an early age. Clans consider it the highest honor to have one of their own chosen for this privilege. Some clans are renown for producing offspring that are consistently some of the best recruits. Sometimes, rival clans will hold "competitions" to test the bravery and skills of its members in hopes that their youths will be among the selected few. For example, participants equipped with only a knife are sent out into the wild alone, tasked to capture a tokano. Many of these young men and women never return.

Occasionally aspirants are even chosen from the ranks of the snoWolves themselves, usually the offspring of a proven pair of warriors. These prodigy often make the best recruits as they have spent their lives amongst the battle brothers and sisters of the Chapter and more than likely have some natural talent inherited from their parents. These individuals go on to make exceptional marines and if fate is kind, will one-day sire a child to continue his or her legacy.

Some of the snoWolves greatest heroes have been from the same bloodline. The Dreadnoughts Red Toth and Silvermane are brother and sister who still serve the chapter encased in their adamantium bodies.

Combat Doctrine

Blizzards' people's background as hunters and trackers has strongly influenced the snoWolves tactics and doctrine. They employ scouting units more regularly than other Chapters, relying on stealth and infiltration to advance upon or flank their enemies.

They have since incorporated other doctrine from the Codex Astartes, with special emphasis on reconnaissance and tactical intelligence. The snoWolves cultural history makes them well suited for the reconnaissance role and they place a high priority on all aspects of it. snoWolves use all the resources that they can muster, everything from orbital surveillance satellites to a scout on the ground with “eyes on target”. Chapter doctrine demands that as much of the enemy's strength and disposition be learned so that any weaknesses may be exploited. The Chapter's HQ staffs a larger number of Intelligence Officers and analysts than commonly found in most other Space Marine Headquarters.

One area that the snoWolves are lacking is in the area of Heavy Support. This is partially due to the relative isolation that the snoWolves have with other more industrialized worlds of the Imperium, thus making the acquisition and replacement of heavy Armoured vehicles difficult.

Because of this drawback, the snoWolves have adapted a lightly Armoured, highly mobile tactical doctrine that relies less on the brute force that other chapters are renown for.

To compensate for their lack of more heavily Armoured vehicles, the snoWolves need to rely on the use of its Attack Bikes, snoBikes, FAVs (Fast Attack Vehicles), and even Assault squads. What they don't have in the area of devastating firepower, they make up for with superior mobility. The entire 9th Company has been given a rapid strike role and is composed of entirely of snoBikes, FAVs and all variants.

snoWolves make use of all equipment normally available to a Codex Chapter. In addition, the Chapter's shipBlood technicians have developed specialised equipment designed to enhance their scout and reconnaissance missions. Improved scanners, ROVRS (Remote Operated Vehicles: Reconnaissance/Surveillance), camouflage, and advanced communication equipment to name but a few.

One additional vehicle, the snoStorm FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle), is used exclusively by the Chapter. Originally introduced by the 6th Company “Wolverines”, this fast spike-wheeled vehicle was designed to augment the snoBikes that they often deploy. The snoStorm is simple to maintain, has numerous weapon configurations to match any mission, is easily transported and is able to perform in any battlezone.

Organisation

Over time, the Chapter's organisation has been altered from the Codex Astartes to fit in more with the snoWolves' tactics and doctrine. The 1st Company is composed of the Chapter's Veterans. The 2nd through 5th Companies are organized into standard Battle Companies with the one exception of the 10th Devastator Squads being replaced with a Scout Squad.

The 6th Company is a Battle Company that specializes in fast, hard-hitting attacks - hence their nickname “Wolveines”. ulfOgen, the planet's holy moon, is the base of operations for the 7th Company ”Desert Wolves”, masters of hot weather operations. The 8th Company is a reserve Assault Company with the 9th Company as mentioned earlier, organized as a Rapid Strike Company. The snoWolves' 10th Company has an expanded role of not only training the Chapter's new recruits and being home to the majority of the shipBlood marines, but also has the responsibility of carrying out most of the reconnaissance operations.

The snoWolves' fleet maintains a larger than average number of strike cruisers and rapid strike vessels for a Chapter its size. This is necessary to give them the mobility and speed needed to respond to various threats and to patrol the vast frontier within their area of operations. Less commonly deployed is the Chapter's single battle barge Udiuliunula (Shadow Storm) as the Chapter is not usually tasked with missions requiring a massive planetary invasion or siege.

Battle Cries

The snoWolves - particularly those of ulvBlod delight in battle cries - using many during there forays into close combat. These vary in language and crudity dependant upon the situation from the simple:

NYFENRISI   Sons of New Fenris!          HORNTANDER OCH KLOR   With Tooth and Claw!

BLAKVALL KOM  Blue Night Comes!   RUSS VOCH IMPERAT  For Russ and Empire!

to the obsecene:

NYFEN K'LF'K  no translation

Armour & Colour Schemes

snoWolves' utilize a mix of Mark VI and Mark VII variants of Space Marine Power Armour. THere are wo main variants of the chapter colours.

ulfBlod

Those of wolfBlood carry a darker variation of the more traditional Space Wolves Grey, chosen, somesay, to signify the dark days of isolation. All ulfBlood carr their pack designaion on their right shoulder pad and the snoStorm symbol of the chapter on their left - '...the blue of the night and the white of the world'. Every wolfBlood also carries the distinctive yellow & black symbol - the eye of Russ - on his left shoulder, below the distinctive blue & white of the Blizzard Chapter.

Most ulfBlod marines will have facial tattoos representing their 'battle scars' and these have are noew represented as markings in dark blue over the face (and beyond) of their sliver helmets.

Terminators and Veterans follow the same paint scheme as with Power Armour. Both also distinguish themselves with personal trophies, totems, seals, fox tails, teeth, skulls, and other various embellishments.

shepBlod

Those of shipBlood  have Armour which is painted with the snoFall camo-scheme throughout - as are the majority of vehicles used by the Chapter. This combination of triangular blues and greys is said to represent the teeth of the fleshstripping worldWind varldsWint which scours the plains of nyFenris. Like their ulfBold brothes they carry the chapter badge on their shouldes, but the border does not show 'the blue of night' but 'the black of the void'- as does their kneepads.

Not having a pack-sysem the shipBlood marinesa are oganised into colour-coded squads which are signified by the requisite number of coloured cicles on their shoulders and knees.

Scouts are normally shipBlood and wear brown fatigues with their Scout Armour in the standard snoFall camo.

Note that with all Armour types no attempt has been made to have Armour designed exclusively for the female members of the Chapter, they all use the same style Armour regardless of gender. Although common in other forces for females to have form fitting or stylized Armour of some sort, snoWolves find that this is not necessary. However some of the higher ranking females do seem to opt for custom Armour but those are usually the exception. For the rest of the rank and file battle brothers and sisters all have the same outward appearance (unless of course, they aren't wearing helmets at the time).

Vehicles, dreadnoughts, and bikes are  sometimes repainted for special operations such as ones on night worlds or hive worlds.

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