Maws of Fenris

Maws of Fenris
The Maws of Fenris is a Loyalist Codex Astartes-compliant Space Marine Chapter born of the recent Ultima Founding, and a Successor Chapter of the Space Wolves, composed entirely of Primaris Space Marines. The Maws of Fenris were amongst the first of the Primaris Chapters created in the Ultima Founding. The Maws of Fenris' homeworld is Tûndar, located in the Ultima Segmentum. Though their battle record is still growing, they have already established themselves, having fought against the Orks and the Forces of Chaos.

Chapter Homeworld
The Maws of Fenris claimed the world of Tûndar, a planet on the edge of the Ultima Segmentum. Tûndar is a Feral World with Terran Iron Age level technology.

It is a vast planet, with vast steppes, huge marshes and permafrost that cover both polar regions. It has very windy climate conditions, and its winters are long, extremely cold and stormy, when its summers are brief and chilly. The people of Tûndar are bold and reserved folk, feared warriors and expert hunters. To Tûndarians, the Maws of Fenris are known only as the "Warrior Spirits", apparitions of their fallen kinsmen who have met their end on the hunt or on the battlefield.

The humans that make Tûndar their home live in a low-technology Iron Age society. Small tribes cover the planet, each ruled by king or a chieftain. Hunting is seen as the highest art, and every Tûndarian must down his prey without weapon as a rite of passage.

Before Tûndar was liberated by the Maws of Fenris, the planet spent several Terran months under the control of the Cult of Black Rage. This Khorne-worshiping cult, comprehending members from the Planetary Government and from the forces of Planetary Defense Force, unleashed an uprising by assassinating Tûndar's Planetary Governor Katerina II, which was a start for their "Revolution of Blood".

This dark period ended when the forces of the Indomitus Crusade arrived. The Maws of Fenris cleansed the Cult of Black Rage from the planet and saved those Tûndarian tribes who remained uncorrupted.

The Wolf Pit
The Maws of Fenris’ fortress-monastery, known as The Wolf Pit and the Fêlla by its inhabitants, is a massive complex built on a rocky prominence above Untersrike, the deepest valley of northwestern Tûndar. The Wolf Pit is the home base of the Maws of Fenris and is a rectangular fortress with casemates that extend into the surrounding cliff range. The fortress has two distinct levels. The upper part has conventional battlements whereas the lower part has numerous gun ports in autonomous casemates that were designed to offer mutual protection if attacked. The complex includes huge ground-based anti-ship orbital defense laser weapons, docks at the summit for the Maws of Fenris' Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers, numerous shrines to the Emperor and Primarch Leman Russ, and massive fusion and geothermal reactors deep underground. It has never been conquered, although a legion of Wulfen, the Maws of Fenris’ most ashamed secret, did manage to briefly occupy the outer parts of The Wolf Pit during the Rising of the Wulfen in the 42nd Millennium.

Chapter Organisation
The Maws of Fenris' Chapter organisation follows the standard revised Codex Astartes structure. It consists of ten companies of Primaris Space Marines, each one hundred warriors strong. Each is commanded by a Chapter's counterpart of Captain, who is assisted by a pair of Lieutenants, a Chaplain, an Apothecary, an Ancient, and a retinue of Veterans. The rest of the company is divided into squads of ten to five warriors.

The 1st Company is made up of the Chapter's most experienced warriors. The 1st Company rarely fights as one unit, usually taking to the field alongside other companies to serve as a veteran reserve.

The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Companies are Battle Companies and do most of the Chapter's fighting. They usually consist of six battleline squads, two close support squads and two fire support squads, forming a balanced force to take on any foe. When the Maws of Fenris go to war, they usually deploy a single Battle Company supported by troops from the Veteran, Scout and Reserve Companies.

The Reserve Companies are each made up of squads of the same designation. The 6th and 7th Company are essentially additional Battle Companies. Their squads can be moved into a Battle Company to replace losses during a campaign. The 8th Company is the Close Support Company.

Inceptors and Ravenours from the 8th Company often comprise the first wave of an invasion force, disrupting enemy lines and causing panic before the main forces arrive. The warriors of the 8th Company are also expert at responding quickly to support their brothers when needed.

The 9th Company is the Fire Support Company. It is made up of Hellblasters and other heavy weapons squads. They will often be called to assist a battle company should they need extra firepower.

The 10th Company of the Maws of Fenris is the Covert Company. It consists of Veterans whose personalities don’t suit to the boisterous brotherhood of the Packs.

Wolf Packs
Instead of organizing into the squads dictated by the Codex Astartes, the Maws of Fenris form their Battle-Brothers into "Packs." Each Pack will generally be made up of Astartes who have fought together for some time and will work together as a pack of Fenrisian Wolves do on the hunt.

For the Maws of Fenris their finely-honed senses of smell and hearing are just as important to them as their keen eyesight. Packs will work together to sniff and sound out their foes, hunting their prey like the wolves of Fenris, identifying the locations of their comrades as much by their enhanced sense of smell as by any technological means.

The Maws of Fenris have six primary types of Packs in the Chapter, including the Inceptors, Intercessors, Aggressors, Hellblasters, Ravenours and the Wolf Guard. There are also Lurking Deaths, who are an oddity among the Adeptus Astartes.


 * Inceptors – An Inceptor is a newly inducted Astartes of the Maws of Fenris Chapter. Inceptors are the most impetuous of the Maws of Fenris' battle-brothers. Inceptors have quickly proven themselves to be excellent pack hunters. Like all Maws of Fenris, they possess highly acute senses - even for Space Marines - that allow them to track their prey across smoke-filled battlefields, sight their targets through clouds of choking toxins and pick up the scent of fresh blood from many miles away. Using these innate tracking skills, along with their heavy jump pack-enhanced speed, Inceptors can head off enemy flanking maneuvers or run down those foes who think themselves safe on the rear lines. Packs of Inceptors are experts at finding the most direct route to their enemy, bounding across ravines and rough terrain, landing on rocky outcrops and launching from the peaks of crumbling towers. When the hunt calls for it, Inceptors can also deploy from low-orbiting attack craft, where they leap from assault bays and plummet towards the battlefield. The carnage that Inceptors can unleash upon their prey is the stuff of sagas. Armed with an Assault Bolter in each hand or a pair of Plasma Exterminators, they can quickly tear through ranks of even heavily armoured infantry. Those foes unfortunate enough to face an Inceptor without the protection of armour are summarily shredded, reduced to gobbets of meat by the rapid streams of high-impact fire. If they survive to become mature and capable warriors, they will eventually be elevated to the veteran ranks of the Intercessors.


 * Intercessors – If Inceptors survive long enough to mature into seasoned Astartes, they are promoted to the ranks of the Intercessors. These veteran Astartes are extremely reliable and resilient warriors who form the core of many a hunt. The inherent aggression of these Primaris Space Marines is balanced by an icy calmness, an ability to assess the battlefield situation quickly and respond rapidly to the movements of the enemy. Rather than charging headlong into close-quarters fighting, Intercessors prefer to take down their prey at range, but will not shy away from visceral hand-to-hand combat if it best serves their Company. All Intercessors carry a bolt pistol sidearm as well as belts of frag and krak grenades to blast apart clustered and heavily armoured foes, respectively. Packs can also be equipped with auxiliary grenade launchers to fire their explosives at distant enemies. Most Companies have many Intercessors in their core line, and when deployed for war they often fight alongside packs of Aggressors and Hellblasters.


 * Aggressors - By far the most gregarious and jovial of the Primaris battle-brothers, Aggressors wade through the battlefield in search of the thickest fighting, their war cries and gruff laughter ringing loud through the clangour. They find endless satisfaction in dispatching the enemies of the Imperium, with the largest hordes and most terrifying monstrosities giving them the greatest joy. Yet they are not impetuous or hot-headed like the warriors who fight in close support packs, and their crushing advances are not made merely for the purpose of personal glory. The hammer blow of an Aggressor charge is carefully aimed to smash enemy formations, thus creating openings for other Maws of Fenris packs to pick off the fractured remnants. Only when their battle-brothers are sharing in the violence do Aggressors allow themselves to truly revel in the fighting by unleashing endless storms of fire upon the foe. Some Aggressors eschew the use of 'long-ranged' guns, such as Boltstorm Gauntlets, and instead march to battle armed with Flamestorm Gauntlets. Equipped with the same power-field generators, these variant gauntlets are equally deadly at extreme close quarters but are mounted with flamers in place of bolt weapons. The wide blanket of burning promethium laid down by flamestorm gauntlets makes them indiscriminately devastating against enemies who dare to approach the Aggressors.


 * Hellblasters - Hellblasters are masters of plasma warfare. Like the Primaris Space Marines themselves, the armaments borne by Hellblasters are products of millennia-old design, crafted by the Archmagos Dominus of Mars, Belisarius Cawl. The most common of these weapons is the Plasma Incinerator, a variant of the plasma guns used by other Warrior Spirits with an even greater range and ability to melt through armour. The Heavy Plasma Incinerator is more devastating still, requiring a back mounted ancillary power core to unleash its blasts. The assault plasma incinerator sacrifices a modicum of this destructive potential to accommodate an array of targeting augurs and can be fired with relative accuracy even when the Hellblaster wielding it is charging at full pace. Hellblasters have a strong bond with the weapons they carry, believing that their own saga and that of their weapon's machine spirit are inextricably intertwined. When facing the most monstrous of foes, the Hellblaster may call upon this machine spirit, rousing its bellicosity to help fell the horrendous beast. If the furious energy the weapon releases should also kill the Hellblaster himself, then it is indeed a heroic last verse in their shared saga.


 * Lurking Hunters – For some Maws of Fenris Astartes, the close-knit and boisterous brotherhood of the Pack (squad) is not well suited to their personality, as they yearn for the open spaces and isolation of the Tûndarian plateaus. These Primaris Space Marines are selected to become part of a Company’s Lurking Hunters force, providing reconnaissance and disrupting enemy movements. These Space Marines are often already Veterans. The 10th Company of the Maws of Fenris Chapter consists entirely of Ravenour Packs along with the Chapter’s force of equally reconnaissance-focused Lurking Death Packs.
 * Lurking Ravenours – A subset of the Lurking Hunters, the Lurking Ravenours are terror troops who instill in their enemies a sense of inescapable doom and thus serve as the Chapter’s equivalent of Reivers. Ravenours are adept at flanking actions, setting up ambushes and targeting seemingly safe rearguard troops. As Primaris Space Marines, the full capabilities of Lurking Ravenours are still being discovered by the Wolf Lords. On occasion, packs of Ravenours are placed with the main body of a pack, their arms and armaments making them more than capable in a straightforward firefight; but they have also shown exceptional flair for less conventional methods of deployment. Their sleek and lightweight Mk X Phobos armour can be fitted with grav-chutes that allow the Ravenours to be dropped into battle from low orbit. The grav-chutes' paired fins are used to guide the Ravenours' descent, allowing them to glide along mountain ridges and around hive spires without leaving the contrail of a jump pack or Drop Pod, which would alert the enemy to their presence. The innate savagery of Ravenourss makes them a natural fit in the Companies of the Maws of Fenris. However, they tend to avoid the feasting halls where possible, and rarely engage in conversation with other battle-brothers. The only warriors outside of their own tight-knit packs with whom they openly converse is the Lurking Deaths, and even then, their communications take place whilst out on shared patrols. Though Ravenours and Lurking Deaths have been seen talking – and on occasion even laughing - in the distance, their stalkers' camaraderie remains dormant when in the presence of others not of their ilk. What Ravenours lack in ebullience they make up for in battlefield effectiveness. Their reputation for swiftly and violently dispatching any enemy they are loosed upon has quickly spread through the ranks of the Maws of Fenris, and while they make poor drinking partners, their Battle Leaders know that Ravenours can be counted upon to fulfil the duties of the Chapter.
 * Lurking Deaths – The Lurking Deaths are a subset of Lurking Hunters. These Primaris Astartes are ruthless killers, trained to operate behind enemy lines as saboteurs, assassins and infiltrators. Lurking Deaths are not a single unit, but several different types of squads who perform different tactical roles for an overall Vanguard force. These mighty Astartes serve as the Maws of Fenris’ version of a Vanguard Space Marines.


 * Old Wolves – Old Wolves are those Astartes in the Maws of Fenris Chapter who have gained considerable experience in the service of their Chapter and often serve in the Chapter's elite 1st Company which is comprised solely of Old Wolves Packs or as an elite corps, Command Squad within a Chapter's other companies or serve as the Pack leader for a Company’s packs, imparting their knowledge and experience to their younger charges and serving as the equivalent of standard Space Marine Sergeants. Old Wolves Packs are exclusively a part of the 1st Company of the Chapter. Old Wolves are the Maws of Fenris’ equivalent of Veteran Marines.
 * Wolf Guard - Some Old Wolves, having achieved feats of exceptional valour and martial prowess, may become members of the Chapter's Wolf Guard. These mighty Astartes serve as the Maws of Fenris' version of an Honour Guard. Eventually, it is possible for a Wolf Guard to rise to the position of Varg Lord, the mighty officers equivalent to standard Space Marine Captains who command one of the 10 Companies that comprise the entirety of the Chapter.

Command Ranks

 * Varg Master - The Varg Master is the Maws of Fenris' equivalent of a Chapter Master. Chosen from among the Chapter's Varg Lords, the current Varg Master is Olof Styrsson, who has led the Chapter for over a standard century, ever since its founding in 999.M41.


 * Varg Lords - A Varg Lord is the Maws of Fenris officer who is the equivalent of a standard Space Marine Captain and who commands one of the 10 Companies that comprise the full Maws of Fenris Chapter's military force. A Varg Lord is always accompanied and protected by a contingent of Wolf Guard specifically loyal to him. The Chapter's Companies are led by the 10 current Varg Lords.


 * Pack Leader - A Pack Leader is the Maws of Fenris' equivalent to a standard Primaris Marine Sergeant. Pack Leaders are Company's veterans - Old Wolves - who serve as the Squad leaders for a Company’s packs, imparting their knowledge and experience to their younger charges.

Notable Members

 * Varg Master Olof Styrsson - The first, and so far only, Varg Master of the Maws of Fenris is Olof Styrsson. He is one of the original Primaris Space Marines created by Belisarius Cawl on Mars. Awoken during the Indomitus Crusade, he rose to lead his Primaris brothers to dozens of victories and was eventually chosen by Roboute Guilliman to lead the newly founded Maws of Fenris at the end of the Crusade.

Chapter Colours
The Maws of Fenris wear steel grey Power Armour except for the belt buckle which is dark grey. The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest plate is silver, with Imperialis’ skull is white. A company symbol is located on the right shoulder pauldron. It’s colour indicates an Astartes’ battleline assignment. To honor their Fenrisian heritage, the Maws of Fenris often adorn their armours with tokens taken from Tûndarian beasts, such as pelts and teeth.

A Maws of Fenris company’s markings differ from those outlined by the Codex Astartes in utilizing symbols on their right shoulder plate instead of different colored trim and numbers. Their Chapter iconography is based on the imagery used by the Fenrisian tribes from which their Company’s original captains were recruited.

Chapter Badge
The Maws of Fenris' Chapter badge is a black wolf’s head pointing downwards, centered on solar eclipse with yellow rim, centered upon a field of crimson red. It represents the Great Devourer, an ominous symbol from Fenrisian mythology.

Relations
Feel free to add your own

Allies
Feel free to add your own

Notable Quotes
Feel free to add your own

By the Maws of Fenris:
"We are the Maws of Fenris, Predators of Tûndar. We protect those who stand behind us. Respect those who stand beside us. But those, who stand against us. They we’ll devour"

- Varg Lord Fjornir Red-Grin, 5th Company of the Maws of Fenris

Feel free to add your own