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The Tempest Wolves are a fleet-based Primaris Space Marine Successor Chapter made from the lineage of the feral and unforgiving Space Wolves. This Chapter was formed due to the need for more guns on the front for the Indomitus Crusade and the spread of the massive warp rift, known as the Great Rift, across the length of the galaxy. Created with a new generation of the Space Wolves' geen-seed to try and lessen the effects of the 'Curse of Wulfen', they were sent to the world of Tyrheim, a relatively new planet discovered by the Imperium. They immediately assumed command of the planet and began to turn it into a bastion against the enemies of the Imperium and deployed hundreds of their warriors to fight on the front, especially Armageddon.
Chapter History
Vorgai Grandfang was taken by Archmagos Cawl to become the newest generation of Adeptus Astartes on the order of Primarch Guilliman to improve and perfect the current transhuman warrior in service of The Emperor of Mankind. For ten thousand years he and thousands of other citizens were in stasis while Cawl perfected both him and his future Primaris brethren. During the Indomitus Crusade, alongside the resurrected Ultramarines Primarch Guilliman, Grandfang and his brothers joined the rest of the Imperium's military forces to drive Abaddon and his 13th Black Crusade back.
Once the crusade split into the Torchbearer Fleets Vorgai gathered fellow Sons of Russ numbering slightly over 1,000 battle-brothers and took them into the void forming them into the fleet-based chapter known as the Tempest Wolves. They quickly found the perfect planet to recruit from Tyrheim, however, the world was currently under the sway of a tyrannical heretic taking advantage of the chaos brought by the recent Black Crusade. Vorgai led his warriors now clad in black and red down to the heretics and purged them.
After the blood had been spilt and the heretic purged the Wolves set about ensuring the planet’s loyalty and adopting the culture spending several years learning. Taking the Tyrheim Cult as their own chapter religion and swearing an oath of loyalty to the All-Father and his loyal sons they set to their work hunting the Orks of Kork Deff‘and and the traitors of the Black Legion in two brutal campaigns that made the chapter thankful for the massive recruitment pool afforded to them by the Tyrheim Warrior Cults.
Notable Campaigns
- Indomitus Crusade (000-111.M42) - The Tempest Wolves fought through almost every battle of the Indomitus Crusade. They fought with distinction in the Battle of Lion's Gate and the Devastation of Baal gaining valuable experience against two major enemies in the form of the Tyranids and Chaos. They, however, weren't involved in the Battle of Raukos having to go to the Tyrheim Sub-sector to drive out a huge Ork force and purge Chaos from there as well as proving themselves to the people of the sub-sector and gaining the region of space as their own.
- Varnek Campaign (Unknown Date.M42) - A brutal campaign which was largely a three-way war against a Chaos Warband and the Ork horde under the leadership of Kork Def'and. The chapter was seriously mangled by the end of this campaign requiring them to spend time recovering. During which they set up improving the defence of the system and diverting resources to finishing repairs of the chapter’s vehicles and void-ships.
- Defence of Tyrheim (ca 111.M42) - This campaign was a sub-sector wide defence of Tyrheim and its surrounding planets and is technically still ongoing. The attack was led by Ork Warlord Kork Def'and of the Blood Axe Clan and his Waaagh! Like the Beast of Armageddon, Kork proved to be a deadly commander able to plan ahead and keep the other clans that made up his force under his control through very ork-like motivation. Alongside the Tyrheim Warhost and PDFs and the legendary Warrior Cults, they held out for years slowly breaking enemy fronts and driving them back. Behind the lines, the defenders also had to deal with chaos cults causing problems along supply routes that skirted the mountains.
- Bastion Crusade (Unknown Date.M42) - The current campaign the chapter is engaged in. The conflict was started to secure the rear of the forces heading to Vigilus and allow them to focus on winning that conflict. Currently, the chapter has spread its forces far and wide to hunt and kill the enemies of the Imperium and keep the people safe, The Great Hosts are supported by the Tyrheim Warhost and Tyrheim Naval Force to provide full combat effectiveness (also no warrior of Tyrheim will allow them to miss a good fight) through the 9th and 10th Great Hosts are currently en route to Viglius to aid their allies in the battle and to show the galaxy of the what The Hounds of the Storm can do.
Chapter Homeworld
Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of Tyrheim, the death world and Chapter Homeworld of the Tempest Wolves.
Tyrheim is a death world populated by a people who optimise the idea of brutal and loyal warriors. The planet itself looks beautiful with rolling hills, amazing forests and stunning snow capped mountains but with a dark and bloody heart. The forests are filled with feral orks and deadly beasts and plants (with roughly 70-75% of all wild plants being toxic to all mammals save for transhumans and certain greenskin savages). The mountains are filled with rogue tribes of chaos cultists who are rarely anything but an annoyance but the mountains also hold deadly beasts who are the true masters of the snowy peaks.
Due to the world being controlled nominally by the chapter the Pack Master is rarely there to rule so during those times a special title of a serf is used known as the Wolf Regent who oversees recruitment & training, administration and defense of the world, once the chapter returns with a senior officer he takes the role of advisor and assistant. This serf is also the custodian of the ancient Fortress of Kings, the historical seat of power on the planet. When the Tempest Wolves arrived they modified it into a Chapter Keep and entrusted its defense to the warrior serfs and warrior cults who act as the recruitment pool for the chapter.
Fortress-Monastery
Due to being a fleet-based chapter the chapter's flagship known as the Skidbladnir acts as the fortress-monastery housing its relics, gene-seed banks and Armory (though many of the gene-seeds and more delicate lore and relics are at their main chapter keep). Within the command deck is the Tempest Throne the seat of the Pack Master a massive iron and stone seat festoon with trophies and runes of power and rulership, around it are the Seats of Jarls fifteen smaller thrones for the Pack Lords, Vaewolf and other senior officers arranged in a circle. These seats are rarely filled by their official occupant but a senior serf (a Speaker) is often in attendance to voice the concerns of their master.
Chapter Organisation
The Tempest Wolves largely base their chapter on the natives of their home world and the Space Wolves. Much like their predecessor chapter, they dislike the Codex Astartes, finding it far too confining preferring their own methods of war that work much better for their mindset and culture.
Command Ranks
- Pack Master (Chapter Master): The highest rank of the chapter and has only had a single wolf to claim that title. The holder of this title is also king of the chapter's home world and serves on the system's council as a military advisor.
- Pack Lord (Senior Captain): This rank is given to the leaders of the battalions, these officers are given control over two companies of warriors and also control a continent of the home world as a High Jarl dealing with the administrative duties of the station. These senior officers have five claw marks with a line down the middle.
- Pack Chief (Captain): This rank leads a company and is filled by a skilled warrior and savvy tactician once given this title they also take the role of Jarl leading one of the select nations on the home world keeping the people of that nation safe from the feral ork raiders, chaos worshipping tribes and deadly beasts. Pack Chiefs carry five black claw marks on their right bracers.
- Vaewolf (Honour Guard Commander): The title of Vaewolf is given to the next in line to become the Pack Master, this isn't just a feudal title only those who have proven their skill at arms and tactical acumen donning artificer armour of the highest quality and wields the Lycan Blade as his badge of office. Due to the requirements to become a Vaewolf the one who carries the title also acts as the Chapter Champion.
- Thegn (Honour Guard Captain): The Thegn are the two chosen warriors to lead the Varangian Kvern acting as the Vaewolf's aides Each leads the two divisions of the Varangians one leading the more numerous force and the other leading the King's Guard. Thegns are marked with five claw marks like the Pack Chiefs but with a single line through the centre much like a tally mark for the numeral 5 (ᚱ).
- Huskarl (Lieutenant): The Pack Chief's second in command tasked with being the will of The Pack Chief's intent and leading demi-companies referred to as a Clan into war. These men are picked for their potential and attitude towards the other members of the chapter. They are marked with three black claw marks on their bracer with the bands with Huskarl who serve in the 1st Pack have the colours inverted
Specialist Ranks
- Gothi: The Gothi are the chapter's religious officers and elite. Following the Tyrheim Cult and leading the other followers in the Tyrheim system in the religious practices and rituals (even officiating the weddings of mortal followers). Each classification of the Gothi follows a certain god or group of gods tied to their work, Shamans follow the Raven (Corvus Corax) who is the god of knowledge and mystery, War-Healers follow the God Father Earth (Saint Mathieu) the god of healing and life and War-Smiths follow the Drake (Vulkan) the god of craft and fire.
- Shaman (Chief Librarian): This rank is the mystic leader of the chapter filling the role of chief librarians of other chapters. They are the keepers of the lore and master of the psychic arts which is referred to as magic. He also guards the volumes of knowledge within the fortress-monastery and oversees the training of future mystics within the chapter. Like their lower-ranking colleagues, they use the ancient mysticism of Tyrheim and Imperial Psyker doctrine to great effect.
- Life Keeper (Chief Apothecary): The healer and virologist of the chapter. His role is to keep the other apothecaries trained and ready to keep the chapter fighting and ready.
- Master-of-Arms (Master of the Forge): The leading tech marine within the Chapter believed by the locals to be blessed by the smith god with his divine art of crafting weapons that can slay demons with ease. The bearer of this title is often seen helping with creating great monuments to fallen heroes or to the gods (Local versions of the Primarchs and The Emperor) along with forging custom weapons and Armour for the heroes in the chapter still with them (and sometimes a particularly talented member of the Imperial Guard regiment).
- Grand Skald (High Chaplain): The spiritual leader of the chapter and keeper of tales and stories of the past. While other chapters have fear-inducing members of similar roles The Tempest Wolves have a warrior-poet whose words inspire courage and strength while instilling fear in their enemies. They still wear the black Armour of a chaplain but do not inspire such fear among the people they meet due to the knowledge that when The Grand Skald or any other Skald under him they are going to hear a tale of heroes and monsters or a song to lift the spirits so they may keep pushing through the hard days of winter. He is also second to the Lifekeeper in medical talent and often helps his companion in creating new Wolves.
- High Seer, Seer, Bone-Reader (Epistolary, Codicier, Lexicanum): Those who claim the gift of the arcane are powerful warrior mystics and wisemen. following the teachings of ancient mystics and the Shaman of the chapter. These warmages aid their brothers and allies with powerful spells and blessings calling elements and the raw power of their souls to rend enemies and reduce them to ash using a combination of Tyrheim mysticism and Imperial Psyker doctrine.
- War-Healer (Apothecary): War-Healers are the combat medics of the chapter often working with medical servitors to maximise their capabilities. These mindless drones are criminals mostly doctors and healers who have murdered their patients for greed or honourless wrath. Armed like other Apothecaries of the Ultima Founding they also arm themselves with brutal melee weapons like power weapons and are more than willing to wade through suicidal numbers to rescue a battle-brother or to recover a gene-seed of a mighty warrior of notable reputation so their power can live on.
- War-Smith (Techmarine): War-Smiths are seen by those of Tyrheim as blessed by the smith gods of the Tyrheim pantheon able to make such weapons that they can kill gods (or at the very least Daemons) and unstoppable suits of armour. The War-Smiths are rarely seen outside the Armoury when not fighting, feasting or attending important religious festivals when down in this hallowed hall of fire and iron they work ceaselessly creating, fixing and improving the Tempest Wolves' weapons ready for their next battle.
- Skald (Chaplain): The Skalds are the students of the Grand Skald learning the true ways of Tyrheim and leading their allies into war with blessings in both high-gothic and Tyrheim's low gothic dialect. Armed with weapons even their battle-brothers fear they wade into combat cleaving through enemies of man while singing ancient songs of legendary heroes of their homeworld's past. They are also well versed in medical knowledge being able to help the War-Healers in keeping their fellow Astartes alive though they can not recover the gene-seeds instead they will defend the fallen until the gene-seed is recovered as well as the body for burial.
- High Warden: The High Warden is the Skald assigned to lead the Black Tribe and ensure they do not run amok. This Skald is not like his fellows they are a dower and strict individual due to their role, not unlike a traditional Chaplain of other chapters. The current is Floki Gunnarson a dedicated and loyal man who sees it as his job to ensure The Wolf-Kissed of The Black Tribe meet and honorable fate and hopefully find a cure to their condition.
- Warden: Wardens are Skalds assigned to lead a group of 10 Wolf-Kissed into battle currently there are only 5 of them. Like the High Warden they are more akin to traditional Chaplains and not the story tellers of their chapter.
- Sky Guardians: Like the Space Wolves the Tempest Wolves don't have a Master of the Fleet instead they have a council of captains of each battle barge with the captain of the chapter's flagship being the head of this council to act in the place of Master of the Fleet each captain is actually a serf who in the past served with the imperial navy fleet in the Tyrheim sub-sector or former rogue traders they persuaded to join their chapter.
- Immortal (Dreadnaughts): The Tempest Wolves refer to their dreadnaughts as Immortals and beyond their combat usage they are also used during the funerals of fallen battle-brothers as they are seen in the Tyrheim culture as gatekeepers to the afterlife tasked with remaining in the mortal plane until the end times where they can join the All-Father in the final battle. During the funerals, they are woken and arrayed around the corpse of the fallen where they sing hymns to guide them to the eternal ranks of the All-Father's army. In Tyrheim's mythology, the Immortals were powerful near god-like warriors who were tasked by the gods of the death to guard the afterlife and sort the worthy and unworthy and send them to heaven or hell respectively. They were barred from this fate if they were slain in combat with demons and dark gods they were returned to their role as gatekeepers until the foretold end time when they could lead the last wave of worthy warriors to aid the All-Father against the Dark Gods and save all life.
- Herald (Standard Bearer): The banners of the Tempest Wolves are different to other chapters. Instead of a large banner, they have a long-flowing flag atop a power spear. This is due to the idea that "A banner wasn't taken into war unless it is stained with battle." due to this all banners of the chapter are patched up and stained. To have a banner that isn't stained after its first conflict is an insult to the gods and chapter. The Heralds who carry them are willing to lead charges due to this and are trained relentlessly to perfect their fighting techniques.
- Slayer (Company Champion): These are a Host's top duelist armed with master-crafted weapons and wearing equally crafted armour they seek worthy foes to carve into and take a trophy be it a head, weapon or other pieces of the enemy. To be selected as a Slayer the previous Slayer must have died or transferred to loftier stations and a candidate must be presented to the Vaewolf by at least four host members who give testimonies on why this candidate should become a Slayer. After hearing these the Vaewolf will duel the potential slayer without armour and go till first blood or the Vaewolf calls enough. If they have proven themselves through victory or an honourable loss they are given the Slayers Blade a master-crafted power sword or axe and new armour (often their old armor customized), they are expected to be paragons of the War Gods' teachings never declining a challenge from a worthy foe and showing respect to even the most hated foe.
- Vandels (Judicars): They are enforcers of the laws in the chapter and its domain and devout followers of the gods of law, justice and revenge in the Tyrhiem Cult. Garbed in black Armour and wielding a massive executioner blade those who see these warriors approach have been marked for death be they traitor Astartes, guardsmen, officials or enemies of note. They walk for war with an honor guard of like-minded warrior cultists and do not stop until the prey's skull is added to The Wall of the Damned.
Junior Ranks
- Thegn-Hirðmen (Veteran Sergeant): When a member of the King’s Guard take the role of the sergeant of a Shield-Warden squad they take the title of Thegn-Hirdman to lead them and watch for new Oathbound. These warriors have two black claw marks.
- Hirðmen (Sergeant): The man tasked with leading a squad of battle-brothers into battle known as a tribe in the Tempest Wolves with a strong will and commanding presence within the 4-9 transhuman killing machines they lead. Often leading from the front and often has the loudest voice in a crowd. Like the Kal-hirdmen the Hirdmen have two red claw marks on their right bracer.
- Fyrd-Hirðmen ("Corporal"): A unique rank which means Hirdman's Second. These soldiers are up-and-coming Hirdmen given the chance to lead a detachment of the squad when fate requires a division of forces. These bear a single red claw mark on their right bracer.
Specialist Formations
- Varangian Kvern (Honour Guard): These marines are the 200 greatest warriors within the chapter made up of 100 of the most skilled and deadly veterans of the chapter's founding. Armed with artificer armour and weapons, while traditionally used as bodyguards to The Chapter Master in other chapters within the imperium The Varangian Kvern, whose name means Noble Shield Guard in the Tyrheim dialect, is used as the enforcers of the Pack Master's will during important battles and campaigns.
- Oathbound: These are the first stage of the very elite of the chapter. Each member is a hardened veteran who has been selected by the King’s Guard Hirdmen who lead the Shield Warden squads. After which they are given artificer armour and weapons and operate as mixed units of warriors for example a squad may be a mix of 3-5 heavy intercessors and the rest being assault intercessors or reivers allowing a unit of heavy firepower and savage melee power.
- King's Guard: The very elite of the elite, made from the original veterans of the chapter’s early battles were reduced to fifty until recently when they were they were increased to 100 warriors. Each is armed as Bladeguard Veterans wielding axes, swords and hammers to smite all before them. normally they operate as small teams of 3-5 warriors spread out across the chapter’s forces or in hunting packs that seek worthy prey across the galaxy. When operating as a singular unit is a sign that the prey they fight is truly dangerous. That being said the Thegns and Vaewolf have two each with them acting as bodyguards and 20 act as Hirdmen for the Shield-Wardens watching the experienced warriors for new Varangians.
- Warrior Cults: A common feature of Tyrheim's culture are the Warrior Cults are orders of warriors similar to the knights of Caliban and other feudal worlds. There are roughly 14 cults each aligned to one of the gods of the Tyrheim Cult and are massive in number, the chapter itself takes new recruits from The Cult of the Wolf, Lion, Drake, Raven and Crown due to this the chapter has a massive number of neophytes to call upon but this also means that these future astartes remain as neophytes longer than average. Despite this they are used as a light infantry and force augmentation unit, each warrior is armed to the teeth with bolters, shotguns, missiles, grenades and a variety of other tools of death and war. Appearance is why they look much different from the classic neophyte instead they look like an army of feudal warriors wearing a mix of ceramite plates and flexible yet durable leather. The units they fight in are called Razors and are formed much like Imperial Guard companies and are led by experienced neophytes and non-Astartes warriors whose skill in combat could be considered inhuman.
- Úlfheðnar: The Úlfheðnar ('The Wolf Kissed') are those warriors of the Tempest Wolves' that are equivalent to the Wulfen. During The Battle of Kriss 4, a barren world just outside the Tyrheim System, the Tempest Wolves 1st Pack, fightling alongside some Warrior Cult forces of the Order of the Wolf, were engaged against a Thousand Sons warband known as Infinity Paths who were trying to complete a ritual to corrupt the sub-sector. during the final stages of the battle a squad of Drengr and fifty of the Wolf cultists managed to kill the sorcerer lord in command of the warband but were caught in the backlash from the ritual failing. For several hours the Drengr were caught in a rage not unlike the Black Rage experienced by the Blood Angels. The cultists however weren't so lucky. While the Drengr calmed down they did not, their allies were forced to capture them and take them to Tyrheim itself so they wouldn't risk a void-ship while they were studies. A team of Skalds, Seers and War-Healers tested every way they could and found that the afflicted's mind and body were changed greatly - their minds were in a constant heightened state as if in the midsts of battle and their muscle mass had increased between 4-5%. On top of that they found that their body's natural limiters were all but removed meaning they found the muscles and tendons of the afflicted were strained or starting to rip apart. They were named 'The Wolf Kissed' or 'Black Tribe'. These berserk warriors became the dark heart of the Chapter, experiencing both great psychological and physical changes as their flesh was transfigured into a hybridized form of Astartes and Wulfen. This descent into the depths of the beast, its predatory taint, is believed to be some kind of innate defense mechanism of the Canis Helix - the genetic legacy born by those who possess the genetic legacy of the Wolf King. This innate predatory wolf spirit is made manifest in the flesh in order to protect those that bear it from exposure to Chaos. These berserker brethren were then fitted with special armor similar in appearance to Neophyte/Scout Armor and a special muzzle based on the lower half of a MK X helm. Due to their mental state firearms were deemed useless so they were armed with blades and hammers. To control them they were led into battle by a special type of Skald who operates more like a classic Chaplain than a lore-keeper and morale officer.
Line Formations
- Shield Wardens (Veterans): All of the first pack have the distinction of being a Shield Warden and are the most elite troops under the Varangian Kvern. Their armour is marked by their right arm being coloured dark red.
- Drengr (Battleline): The battle-brothers who prefer mid-ranged combat are named Hersir the Tyrheim term for warrior they fight in power armour and bolter ripping enemies apart with explosive bolts and ceramite fists and combat blades. With the inclusion of the Vanguard Infiltrators, they have a degree of covert killing potential going by the name of Skygge Drengr or "Shadow Warriors". They move with stealth and secrecy to eliminate enemy supply routes or reinforcements.
- Raider (Terror & Recon): These warriors prefer stealth and surprise over brute force and explosions, though they can fight with power. clad in specially made power armour and armed with close-range Bolters and Bolt-Pistols they make their way into the enemy's heart and cut it out. With the Vanguard Eliminators, the Raiders can strike deeper into the enemy lines with minimal effort, sniping the enemy commanders for a distance.
- Berserker (Close Range Support): These are the jet-packed warriors and battle-brothers who prefer to get in close with bolt-pistol and blade. These warriors are seen at the front charging into the enemy's frontline and smashing headlong into the enemy's ranks, ignoring the hail of fire they receive as they surge forward.
- Jotun (Fire Support): These warriors are armed with massive guns that spew forth blasts of plasma at the enemy's tanks and transports or wade forward in bulkier power armour and blast away with rapid firing bolters or send forth streams of super hot fire. The Vanguard Suppressors have allowed the Jotun to unleash some light anti-armour killing potential and provide the incredible movement with their jump packs, acting as a mobile attack unit.
Unique Serf Ranks
- Regent: The highest ranking serf of the chapter. A serf of this rank acts as the ruler of Tyrheim when the Chapter Master is away on a hunt, which is often, during this time they have absolute power managing all facets of the day-to-day running of the world and when the Chapter Master returns they act as an advisor. The current Regent is Holdar Gammerson a strong-willed and fair man, a skilled fighter and talented administrator able to keep the belligerent people of Tyrheim in check and not return to the old ways.
- Speaker: The Speaker is a special position given to a trusted serf who acts as the representative of a senior officer if they unable to attend meetings with the Pack Master or fellow senior officers. They are often members of the officer’s personal retinue of serfs much like a major-domo of ancient knights and nobles.
- Bondsmen/women: The warrior serfs of the chapter tasked with policing the planet and work with the Warrior Cults in defending chapter assets such as the Chapter Keep and void-ships. Each is trained to an exacting standard and equipped equally and sometimes better than the Imperial Guard, they are structured in a similar manner as well but with different formation names. A regiment is a Banner, Company is a Host, a Platoon is a Gathering and a Squad is a Bond.
- Master: These are serfs with unique skills such as craftsmen or healers. They act as mortal aids to the Gothi in their work but never follow them beyond the Tyrheim system.
- Sky Guardian: These are the void-ship commanders each are veterans of the Imperial Navy or Rogue Traders. Led by a council lead them in a semi-autonomous nature, organising supplies, training and developing new tactics. Beyond leadership the Sky Guardians are talented fighters with blade and firearm, many dress like rogue traders creating an air of roguish charm and panache.
- Thrall: These are the scum and dishonoured those who’ve broken sacred rules among the chapter a step up from servitors, a small step, they are given the worse jobs cleaning viscera from surgeries and other messes, helping those of higher ranks in menial work and generally treated like slaves. Despite the Tyrheim culture of respecting others no matter their station the sins these people have committed are so grave that they aren’t afforded this.
Order of Battle
Headquarters
| Chapter Command | ||||
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| Other Departments | ||||
| Armoury | Reclusium | Apothecarion | Librarius | Chapter Fleet |
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 |
 |
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Unknown number of Escorts |
The Packs
| Úlfhéðnar | ||||
 5 Wardens of the Black Tribe 50 ÚlfhéðnarAll Tempest Wolves Space Marines who have succumbed to the berserker rage serve in the Black Tribe, including Dreadnoughts |
Chapter Culture & Beliefs
Like the Space Wolves and other Sons of Russ they are fierce, independent and loyal warriors whose battle-fury is monstrous. The members of the Chapter have a growing reputation for brutal efficiency and disregard for the orders of those who haven't earned their respect, this includes the Ecclesiarchy who they see as arrogant and moronic children whose treatment of the people goes against the Chapter's ideology it shares with the Salamanders often quoting, "Without the people what is the Imperium of Man?"
Also much like The Space Wolves feasting and competition is commonplace in the chapter with members often seen laughing and drinking an obscene amount of ale and eating equal amounts of meat and other food. This jovial personality extends to the treatment of the people of The Imperium much like the legendary Salamanders they value the safety of the people and will often help them at the cost of their own lives viewing it as a way to enter The Halls of the Honours their equivalent to heaven where they amass great numbers of warriors to launch an assault of The Warp. It isn't uncommon to see a warrior of The Chapter stop their march through a city's streets to console frightened civilians and will often protect them from ecclesiarchy priests whose rantings of doom and death aren't helping the situation.
Tyrheim Cult
Tyrheim and its surrounding planets of the system all follow the same or similar religious ideology (apart from the Knight World Alfheim and the Forge World Kalthen), which is a pantheon of gods each governing aspects of their lives the reason the system hasn't been purged is that the Emperor and the Primarchs (along with some saints) are all gods within this religious view much like Fenris the Emperor is called 'The All-Father' and is king of the gods. Among the chapter each specialisation is linked to a god for example the War-Smiths mainly follow the gods of crafting and fire (Vulkan or Ferrus), while the Drengr are followers of the gods of war (Guiliman or Jaghatai) and the Berserkers follow the god of courage and martial skill (Leman Russ or The Lion).
Beyond the gods there are two other factions in the Tyrheim Cult the first are The Spirits who are neutral and represent the primal factors of nature such as death or the seasons, when a follower of the Cult pray they will pray to a god linked to the situation for skill and protection, the associated spirit to be ignored and will leave a sacrifice or gift to appease them. The final is the Dark Gods made up of the four Chaos Gods and the traitor primarchs they are only worshiped by traitors and the gods are asked to protect the supplicant from their machinations.
Combat Doctrine
The Tempest Wolves are experts in close-quarters combat favoring tactics that get close to the enemy so they can carve them to pieces. Even their battleline units will prefer mid to close-range combat (hence why Auto Bolt Rifles are common in the chapter) and will often only fight at long range when defending a position such as a bunker or an evacuation point. After completing their training among the warrior cults of Tyrheim the young pups are put into their classification of space marine based on their personality. For example, the Beserkers are known for being the wildest and most aggressive of the chapter and the Raiders are the quietest and most stoic, but still brutal and vicious when they find their prey.
The chapter is also noted for being quite adaptable happily using tactics from other imperium forces and even copying tactics from xenos such as Orks and Dark Eldar to annoy their commanders and make their tactics sloppy making the potential victory so much sweeter. aside from their adaptability they still fight like Space Wolves most of the time favouring aggressive, brutal and relentless tactics using hard-hitting assaults with sly ambushes to shatter any resistance they find. They also use psychological warfare such as quietly eliminating enemy positions and leaving the shredded remains in plain view to let fear and paranoia infect their prey.
When fighting with other members of the Imperium they will often step forward alongside any Space Wolves or other Sons of Russ to act as the vanguard for the attack showing their desire to get the glory of first blood, despite this ideology they aren't stupid at all each assault is carefully planned and executed ensuring maximum carnage against the enemy. Due to their ideology, they will often divert troops to help non-combatants or heavily and combat ineffective allied units retreat from the frontlines to get to safety or recover which is why they bring the Order of the Wolf warriors and forces of the Tyrheim Warhost, knowing that many imperial commanders will fire upon soldiers withdrawing they will often send those diverted troops to escort those guardsmen back and make sure they are able to rejoin the fight. The chapter also has a high number of apothecaries in the form of Helix Adepts enough to allow 90% of all squads to have one counted amongst their number (except Inceptors due to their jetpacks making it hard to put their medical gear on). These combat medics are matched based on their squad's combat style so a medic in a beserker squad will be as bold and aggressive as the rest (and often killing much more enemies than the rest of their squad).
Chapter Gene-Seed
The Tempest Wolves gene-seed does show signs of the Canis Helix but due to Cawl's experiments, it has been stabilised. Despite the Archmagos Dominus's ministrations they still show the feral brutality and savage drive in war. This stability, while not perfect and as high as other chapters like the Ultramarines, does mean the process of turning into Wulfen is currently low, stopping when the Battle-Brothers gain their elongated canines and wild hair. However recently there has been evidence or pseudo-Wulfen in the form of Úlfheðnar, warriors who’ve been consumed by a battle rage and fight with such ferocity that their own muscle start to rip apart.
Deathwatch Service
The Tempest Wolves have rarely heard the call of the Long Vigil and those who have were members of tribes who are the only surviving members and went hunting across the stars in a quest for bloody revenge. The reason these lone warriors don't just wait for a new pack is the trauma they feel if they fight alongside more brothers of the chapter, suffering the same pain of loss all over again. They go by the ideology that if they fight alongside others they haven't built an emotional bond with there is less chance for them to experience the deep, soul-destroying grief and dread they experienced when their fellow pack mates were killed, therefore, they are able to go on fighting without the heavy weight of this emotional burden weighing down their soul.
These men are far more brutal and less jovial than the other Tempest Wolves often brooding away in a corner before heading off to follow what is known as 'The Blood Exile' among the Chapter and people of Tyrheim. They leave after a celebration commemorating their past deeds and ceremonially leave their weapons behind before leaving on the black-hulled transport. They also never return as the trauma has set in far too deep and won't heal before they die in glorious battle. So far only 6 of the chapter have left to atone for failing their brothers.
Notable Members
- Vorgai Grandfang: The chapter master of the Tempest Wolves and King of Tyrheim and regent of the sub-sector. An absolute mountain of a man towering over even Primaris Marines even outside his Artificer Gravis Armour called The Skin of Korvak (named after a deadly Wyrm who was famous for unbreakable scales). He is a charismatic leader and a cold and brutal commander, wielding his Thunder Hammer of Tyrheim with deadly skill. He is equally famous for his ability to drink anyone under the table and still fight unhindered.
- Markus Warfang: Possibly the most deadly warrior within the chapter. Markus grew up on the world of Kaltrina which was destroyed during the Horus Heresy. He fought throughout the Indomitus Crusade as a Reiver, quickly rising through the ranks of Vorgai's unit and joining him in his search for a home. Once the chapter was formed and due to Markus' prowess in combat, he was made The Vaewolf of the chapter's honour guard, the Varangian Kvern, and was given his new armour the Pelt of Wolves - an artificer armour with a ghost white wolf pelt draped over the right shoulder. Alongside the armor he wields the twin heavy bolt pistols Vengeance (bearing white runes) and Redemption (bearing red runes) both modified with high-capacity magazines giving double the shots and the ability to fire in two-shot bursts. In addition, he carries the Lycan-Blade and Broken Fang. The Lycan-Blade is a mighty hand-and-a-half power sword and the Broken Fang is a one-handed power sword. The larger of the two has a rune-inscribed blade depicting a Tyrheim prayer and crackles with power, however, the guard is the standout feature of this formidable weapon. It doesn't have the standard cross guard of most swords, instead, it possesses a domed guard in the shape of a wolf's head with the upper portion facing the enemy. The ears blend into the knuckle guard that extends halfway down the grip, but not connecting. Broken Fang on the other hand is a machete-like blade not much bigger than a combat blade. The tip has been purposefully made to look broken, hence the name.
- Alvern Blackhammer: Alvern Blackhammer is a man of few words but limitless skill. His prowess in combat and in the forge is nearly legendary among the people of Tyrheim, Alvern was originally going to be the leader of his own chapter but he and Vorgai not being ones to follow the Codex decided to form The Tempest Wolves with Alvern as the Master of the Forge so he may craft the Chapter's legacy.
- Orlan Eversight: A grim and hard man and a devout follower of the Tyrheim Cult particularly the gods of warfare and death. Due to his dark and brooding nature, he does make many allies uncomfortable. Clad with Gravis Armour and armed with the standard arsenal of a Primaris Chaplain.
Chapter Fleet
The Flagship of the Tempest Wolves, a Courageous Class Battleship
(Please note I'm still working on names for all the ships.)
The Tempest Wolves' fleet is a heavy duty combat force. Being a fleet based chapter that is over-strength the fleet is larger than average with a strong focus on ship to ship combat to ensure planetary invasions go smoothly.
Battle Barges
- Skidbladnir: The flagship of the chapter's fleet and commanded by the head of the Sky Guardian Council Vilkim Vortsson a hard man who's seen more than enough void combat against some of the Imperium's worst enemies. The ship is a recently salvaged and repaired Courageous Tranche Two Battleship with some modifications and upgrades such as the prow Macrocannons, Lances and enhanced Void Shields to allow the vessel to wade deep into an enemy fleet and tear into them with broadsides and boarding craft. The typically flawed power systems of the class was replaced with more efficient and potent versions. The warrior-serfs who serve on the ship are also noted for being particularly protective of it never taking an insult lying down. Its baptism of fire was against the armada of Kaptin Nugzag Redeye during the Battle of Vanaheim.
- Never Fault: A Battle-Barge that gained a reputation for being near impossible to take out hence its name. Its commanding officer and member of the Sky Guardians, Lorgar Headstone, is a man of limitless mental and physical willpower, never giving an inch, his ship as a side effect has more than a few battle scars which haven't been fully hidden or removed from view as a badge of honour. The crew are equally as stubborn as their commander which gives them a reputation as thugs.
- Void Knight: The Void Knight is a Battle-Barge whose commander is noted for his defensive tactics. During the Defence of Tyrhiem the Void Knight led the defence of the homeworld delaying a large number of the Ork's second wave to allow the ground forces to rebuild it's defensive lines. In future battles, the Void Knight's commander favored tactics that force the enemy to make the first move and then strike.
- Star Walker: The Star Walker is a Battle-Barge noted for its commander's hunting ability, with rumors circulating that this is due to some kind of latent psyker ability or an understanding of the enemy. Due to this, the ship has uprated engines to chase their prey down.
- Einherjar: This Battle-Barge is commanded by Bjorn Oakenheart, a stoic and strict man who prides himself on a well run and efficient ship, so much so he's not above reprimanding his fellow commanders for their inefficiency and apparent lack of pride in their ships. But Bjorn is a highly respected man and loyal ally, each who serves with him knows this and is proud to be assigned to his squadron.
- Draugr: A grim Battle-Barge in terms of appearance bearing a human skull on its prow and painted in black. The crew are noted for being followers of the Death Gods and see themselves as guides to hell for their enemies. Their commander Skavdi Ebon-Hearth is a dower man of lithe build looking as if near death at all times, he is however deceptively deadly in personal combat and equally deadly in the void ensuring that his vessel's guns rarely miss a target.
Strike Cruisers
- War-Howl: This potent strike cruiser is helmed by Captain Vadik Longstridem a cunning and tricky man. He is highly adaptive in his tactics knowing the weaknesses and strengths of his ship and using them to the fullest. The vessel has only recently been redeployed after being seriously damaged during a skirmish with a Khorne raiding party, Vadik was one of three captains near enough to stop them but the only survivor.
Chapter Relics
- Hammer of Tyrheim: The Thunder Hammer of Pack Master Vorgai which he wields alongside his Boltstorm Gauntlet. The Hammer itself appears to be a leering dragon head readying a blast of fire in its mouth. Carved across every inch of the mighty weapon are runes and holy prayers. The Hammer was originally a regular Thunder Hammer that had it's head snapped off by a Bloodthirster during the Indomitus Crusade and was briefly replaced by a Power Sword until the Pack Master and his new chapter arrived on Tyrheim and liberated it from its Chaos-worshiping king and his followers, the hammer was remade using the original shaft creating the new symbol of rulership on Tyrheim.
- The Lycan Blade: A mighty power sword of masterful quality, blade is made of adamantium and bares Tyrheim runes of a prayer invoking wrath on the enemies of the wielder. The guard is a domed guard in the shape of a wolf head with the upper half of the head facing the enemy and the ears blending with a knuckle guard that goes half way down the hilt but does not connect. Its wielder Markus Warfang added some totems and trophies to it when he was given the blade, consisting of a wolf fang, a eagle feather, a drake scale and a shard of a crown worn by a chaos cultist with delusions of royalty.
- The Pelt of Wolves: The Pelt of Wolves is an artificer wrought MK X suit of power armor that is black in colour with red runes etched onto it's ceramite surface. The left pauldron is smaller than the right, much like the phobos pattern's right pauldron. along the bottom edge are Pteruges (the strips of leather or cloth seen on Cataphractii pattern terminator armor). It also bares his personal crest, a wolf head biting onto crossed swords. The rest of the armor has gold highlights on his greaves, left pauldron and gauntlets depicting a wolf skull.
- The Waraxe of the Void: The singled headed power-axe wielded by Pack Chief Eric Voidhowl of the 3rd Host a weapon he can easily swing with one or two hands and covered in death and strength runes. The blade itself is of simple design a Dragon-wood haft and a adamantine head that has claimed to skulls of more than a few Warbosses and chaos Champions since it's forging.
Chapter Equipment
Despite being relatively new in comparison to First Born chapters the Tempest Wolves have already crafted unique version of equipment and even made prototypes of new equipment the test in battle.
- Tyrheim Pattern Bolt Rifles: While not massively different from the standard Cawl Pattern bolt rifles the difference shows in the fact that all models have a built-in bayonet to accommodate the chapter's preferred style of combat. The only models that don't are the bayonets are those with auxiliary grenade launchers and combi-weapons.
- Wolf Claws: The chapter's version of Lightning Claws with a similar appearance to Frost Claws used by the Space Wolves except the claws are rough-looking metal, the weapons maintain the disruption field and are often given to Berserkers or Raiders (specifically Reiver type Vanguard Marines).
- Sleipnir Pattern Assault Bike: An invention of a particularly eccentric War-Smith named Floki Hymnson. The Sleipnir is an experimental hover bike based on the Raider Pattern used by Outrider units but with heavily modified repulsor plates from the hover tanks used by the chapter. While promising in application the issue of use comes from the machine spirits being highly uncooperative to the rider due to this only three have been made and the riders are rotated in hopes to find a compatible personality.
- Vikingr Pattern Attack Bike: This particular pattern of Attack Bike is basically a Raider Pattern bike with a side-car carrying a heavy weapon such as a heavy bolter or flamer. These are often assigned to "interception units" which are heavy bike units designed to harass enemy armour and raiding parties.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Tempest Wolves predominantly paint their battle-plate an impassive black with dark red as a secondary colour which includes; the shoulder pauldron trim, wrist trim and knee guards. The Aquila or Imperialis affixed to the plastron is also a dark red colour. The Astartes of this Chapter are also known to etch Tyrheiman runes and markings onto various portions of their battle-plate (whose exact meaning and symbolism is impenetrable to outsiders), as well as adorning themselves with grisly trophies and primitivistic fetishes in the form of great animal pelts, wolf tails and teeth.
Pack & Tribe Markings
Tribe markings utilised by the different Packs of the Tempest Wolves.
Much like their progenitors, the Tempest Wolves are also a non-Codex oriented Chapter, and as such, instead of using the standard Codex markings to indicate squad assignment, instead they opt to utilise their own unique symbols to represent each Tribe (squad). These symbols are taken from their homeworld's mythology. The Chapter's warriors bear this Pack marking on their right shoulder pauldron and their Chapter icon is proudly born on the left. Strangely enough, the chapter uses markings on the right knee pad similar to a Codex-compliant chapter.
Chapter Badge
The Tempest Wolves' Chapter badge takes the form of a large, stylised black wolf's head outlined in dark red. A pair of large dark red lighting bolts can be seen striking downwards from the bottom of this central symbol.
Relations
Allies
Enemies
Notable Quotes
By the Tempest Wolves
- "There is a simple reason our chapter has issues with the Ecclesiarchy....They do not help the people that make up the Imperium In all my time fighting as a warrior of the Allfather and before then i saw maybe four priests of the Imperial Cult actually lend aid to the people they are MEANT to serve. Maybe back when they were founded they were a just and noble faction but now they have lost their way."
- — Pack Master Vorgai Grandfang when asked about the limited influence of the Imperial Cult on Tyrheim.
About the Tempest Wolves
 Sons of Russ Chapters
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| Member Chapters | Beasts Undaunted • Blades of Morkai • Bloodied Hunters • Cernachian Wardens • Crimson Prowlers • Dawn's Wolves • Dusk Howlers • Dusk Stalkers • Fangs of Fenrir • Grey Wolves • Hartlords • Iron Beasts • Kraken Reavers • Kraken Sons • Moonlight Stalkers • Sea Kings • Sky Wolves • Stone Bears • Tempest Wolves • Void Selkies • Waveborn • Wild Hunt • Wild Wolves • Wolves of Blood and Bone • |
 Space Wolves Successor Chapters 
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| Ultima Founding | Abyss Stalkers • Ascetics of Korit • Astral Bears • Beasts Undaunted • Blades of Morkai • Blood Predators • Blood Seekers • Bloodied Hunters • Cernachian Wardens • Crimson Prowlers • Dawn's Wolves • Dusk Howlers • Dusk Stalkers • Fangs of Fenrir • Fangs of Vidar • Ghost Wolves • Golden Boars • Gore Wolves • Grey Wolves • Greymanes • Hartlords • Iron Beasts • Kraken Reavers • Kraken Sons • The Mastodons • Maws of Fenris • Moonlight Stalkers • Night Wolves • Painted Hounds • Phantom Wolves • Red Wolves • Sea Kings • Sky Wolves • Stone Bears • Tempest Fangs • Tempest Wolves • Void Selkies • Waveborn • West Khan Wolves • Wild Hunt • Wild Wolves • Wolf Knights • Wolfborn • Wolves of Blood and Bone • Wolves of Redemption • Wolves of Yggdrasil • |
| Extinct | Corpse Wolves • |
| Renegades | Bloodborn Wolves • † Skyrar's Dark Wolves • |
Gallery
