Leman Russ

Setting: Warhammer 40k.

General info: Leman Russ is the Primarch of the Space Wolves Space Marine Legion. He was discovered on the planet Fenris, a death world covered in snow, mountains and forests inhabited by fierce beasts and warriors. Russ grew up among the Fenrisian tribes, becoming a legendary warrior and ruler. When the Emperor came to Fenris, Russ initially refused to join him, leading to a titanic battle between the two. After Russ was bested in combat by the Emperor, he swore loyalty and took command of the VI Legion of Space Marines that had been created from his own gene-seed. Russ led the Space Wolves in the Great Crusade, gaining a fearsome reputation as a cunning and savage warrior. His legion became known for their wolf-themes, drinking and rowdy behavior, but were peerless fighters. Russ fought alongside the Emperor and Sanguinius during the liberation of the planet Murder. When Horus turned against the Imperium in the Horus Heresy, Russ initially refused to believe it, having fought alongside Horus for decades. However, when the treachery was confirmed, Russ swore to take Horus' head in vengeance.

Appearance: Russ is a towering figure, even amongst the superhuman Primarchs. He stands well 3 meters tall, with a burly, muscled physique. He has long, shaggy blonde hair and a full beard, indicative of a wild barbarian king. His eyes are piercing blue and keen, like the glacial ice of Fenris. His features are rugged and weathered from a lifetime of war and hardship. His canines are slightly elongated, giving him a bestial cast.

Wargear: Armour of Elavagar: The Armour of Elavagar is a masterfully crafted suit of barbarically styled Artificer Armour that Leman Russ has worn since taking command of the Space Wolves Legion. It incorporates many archeotech devices that are unknown to the Adeptus Mechanicus and likely originates from the Dark Age of Technology. The armour is fashioned from auramite plates layered with bonded adamantium and reinforced ceramite. It incorporates built-in exothermic generators that can radiate intense cold when activated, wreatthing Russ in an freezing miasma that chills his enemies to the bone. Intricate wolf pelts and totems are attached to the armour's surface, along with wolf skulls, fangs and other fetishes. A long wolf tail hangs from the backplate. The pauldrons are styled like snarling wolves' heads. The helm is modeled after a ferocious Fenrisian wolf, though Russ often goes bareheaded. When active, the helm's eyes glow with an icy blue radiance. The armour incorporates a robust auto-sense suite, granting Russ unparalleled awareness of his surroundings. It can interface with Fenrisian rune-wolves for advanced telemetry and auspex readings. The armour is continuously self-repairing and adapting to damage, incorporating debris and shattered weapons into its structure. Arcane discs grant limited teleportation for short tactical jumps. Phase-iron plates can become intangible for a split second to evade attacks. The armour boosts Russ' already prodigious strength and resilience to monumental levels. Its machine spirit is intelligent and closely bonded with its wearer.

Mjalnar, the Sword of Balenight: Mjalnar is an enormous two-handed chainblade as long as a grown man is tall. Its monstrous teeth can rip through tank armor and cleave enemies in half with ease. The sword was discovered by Leman Russ himself on the corpse of the great wolf-king Balenight, whom Russ slew in hand-to-hand combat. The blade is fashioned from a nigh-unbreakable metamaterial and incorporates disruptive energy fields that can rend molecules apart. When activated, it wreathes itself in pale blue lightning that can arc out to shock nearby foes. The teeth emit a blood-freezing howl as they rip through flesh and bone. Arcane machine spirits drive the chainblade's remorseless hunger for carnage. The pommel holds a Fragment of Balenight's spirit which guides Russ in battle. Mjalnar is perfectly balanced and responds to Russ' thoughts through his neural interface, moving with unnatural speed and precision. It is said that Mjalnar will never rest until it tastes the blood of Horus.

Axe of Helwinter: This massive axe was gifted to Leman Russ by the Father of Wolves, the ancient Fenrisian wolf-god known as Krakengard. The axe head is hewn from the heart of a mountain, impossibly dense yet still feather light. One side bears a razored frost blade, while the hammer head on the reverse side crackles with disrupting kinetic shockwaves. When it strikes, the Axe of Helwinter unleashes blasts of soul-chilling cold that flash freeze foes in place. A built-in teleporter allows it to return to Russ' hand when thrown. Runic wards protect the Primarch from its cold and disruption effects. The axe can draw upon the savage bite of Fenris itself, channeling the deadly cold of the Aett to obliterate its victims. It is said that a single swing of the Axe of Helwinter once froze an entire lake solid in seconds during the battle of Blackfrost Gorge. The axe's haft is carved from the Tree of Morkai and bound in the hide of Icefang, greatest of the ice bears. When not in use, the Axe of Helwinter is housed in the Fang, the Space Wolves' fortress-monastery.

Scornspitter: Once simply a Space Marine Legion Bolter, Scornspitter had been re-worked by no lesser hand than the Salamanders' Primarch Vulkan to form an outsized but perfectly balanced pistol suitable for the hands of the Wolf King.

Personality: Russ has a larger-than-life, boisterous personality. He is rowdy, loud, and fierce, fond of eating, drinking, boasting and fighting. Russ speaks in an archaic, blunt and earthy manner. He is quick to anger and very proud. Russ enjoys the company of his warriors, joining them in their feasts and camaraderie. He has a roguish, humorous side, often playing tricks and pranks. However, beneath this wild exterior Russ is also very intelligent and cunning. He is an unmatched tactical genius and expert at maneuver warfare. Russ studies his enemies closely, learning their weaknesses before striking. In battle Russ fights with a bestial fury, tearing his foes limb from limb. He is utterly loyal to the Emperor and will do whatever it takes to complete his missions. Despite his brutal behavior, Russ also values honor and will keep his word.

Preferences: Russ has a strong preference for melee combat over ranged warfare. He relishes closing with the enemy and engaging in close-quarters brutality. He favors devastatingly powerful two-handed weapons like his sword Mjalnar that can cleave through armor and flesh with ease. Russ enjoys fighting alongside his loyal Space Wolves warriors. He leads from the front and fights beside his men, sharing in the glories and horrors of battle. The Primarch strongly believes in decisive, aggressive warfare. He prefers to attack enemies head-on rather than waste time in lengthy sieges or protracted campaigns. Russ has a keen interest in ancient archeotech, mystery and esoteric lore. He values relics and artifacts that harken back to Fenris' legendary past. He prefers his warriors be versatile and adaptable, able to handle rapidly changing battlefields. Rigidity and doctrinal purity are shunned. Russ wants his legion to embody the fierce independence and warrior culture of Fenris. He encourages them to indulge in feasting, drinking and boasting like their tribal forbears.

Likes: Russ loves the icy death world of Fenris with its deadly cold, savage beasts and rugged clans of warriors. The harsh environment shaped him into the ultimate survivor. He enjoys saga-telling, boasting of past glories and deeds of valor over rounds of potent Fenrisian ale. Russ relishes such times of camaraderie with his warriors. The Primarch takes great pride in his legion, regarding the Space Wolves as his kin and the embodiment of his world's fierce character. Russ admires courage, tenacity and martial prowess in mortal warriors, seeing something of himself in their struggle to master deadly environments. He enjoys the thrill of an even-matched duel or hunting dangerous cyber-beasts where quick wits matter as much as strength. Russ loves to feast, taking great pleasure in consuming massive amounts of meat and mead. Eating and drinking help strengthen the bonds between warriors. Ancient lore and runic mysticism fascinate Russ, who seeks to learn more of Fenris' origins and hidden past.

Dislikes: Russ has no patience for rigid codes of etiquette or the delicate political dances of Terra's courts. Such things feel constricting to his straightforward nature. He looks down on warriors who rely too much on ranged warfare and technological crutches like those embodied by other legions. Russ detests sorcery and psykers, seeing them as dishonorable and unnatural. He distrusts those who wield strange powers. The Primarch is scornful of weakness or perceived cowardice. Such traits have no place among Fenris' tribes or the Emperor's chosen legionaries. He dislikes feeling caged or confined in one place for too long. Russ yearns for new challenges to conquer and mighty foes to test himself against. Traitors and oath-breakers are regarded with utter contempt by Russ who prizes loyalty to one's kin above all else. Russ has little patience for pretentious titles, pomposity, or the endless political maneuvering of the Imperium's bureaucracy. He values honesty and directness.