Members of the Space Wolves, both from the novel series Space Wolf and the tabletop and background.
Leman Russ
One of twenty Primarchs created by the Emperor of Mankind, Leman and his brothers were scattered to the stars by the Chaos Gods to prevent the coming of the Imperium. Landing on Fenris, Leman grew up amongst the Fenrisian Wolves, with two wolf brothers Freki and Geri. Eventually captured by the people of Russ, Leman was taken in by their king. Eventually succeeding him, Leman Russ went on to conquer Fenris. When the Emperor arrived, Leman was one of the few Primarchs who did not bow to his father, instead challenging the Emperor to an eating contest, a drinking contest, and contest of strength. Leman won the first two but failed the third, and submitted to the Emperor, taking control of the VI Legion of the Adeptus Astartes, renamed Vlka Fenryka, the Wolves of Fenris, more commonly translated as the Space Wolves.
During the Great Crusade, the Wolves were believed to be superstitious barbarians who destroyed all in their path with utter savagery, but were actually unfettered battlefield analysts who would utterly exterminate any foe without restraint. In short, the Emperor's secret weapon: a Legion designed to kill another Legion. Leman Russ also became a rival of Lion El'Jonson, the Primarch of the Dark Angels, though the two eventually became firm friends. When the Horus Heresy began, Russ and the Wolves were ordered by Malcador the Sigilite to bring Magnus the Red, Primarch of the Thousand Sons, to Terra for charges of sorcery. Russ's orders were altered by Horus, who had already fallen to Chaos, and he was charged with destroying the Thousand Sons. Russ and the Space Wolves destroyed the Thousand Sons home world of Prospero, but took heavy losses in the process, though they still joined the Dark Angels and the Ultramarines in trying to reinforce Terra. After the Emperor ascended the Golden Throne, Leman Russ departed Fenris to find a means to heal the Emperor, promising he would return for the Wolftime, the final battle.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: He earned such a brutal reputation during the Great Crusade that the Space Wolves were nicknamed "the Rout".
- Drinking Contest: One of the ways he beat the Emperor.
- Hero Killer: In Prospero Burns, Russ implies to Kasper Hawser that the Wolves were the ones who "erased" the II and XI Legions, which means Russ may have killed their Primarchs.
- Hypocrite: Russ was fantastically opposed to psykers. He would then proceed to have Rune Priests use bones and totems on divining the future. In fairness, he genuinely believes that the Rune Priests draw their power from Fenris, and not the Warp. Apparently the Emperor never managed to convince him he was wrong.
- In Prospero Burns a Space Wolf Rune Priest actually outright admits that they wield psychic power, indicating that the whole "draws their power from Fenris" thing is just a cover story the Wolves use to keep their own psykers in service (Fear to Tread supports this notion as well). Which, really, just sort of makes Russ more of a hypocrite.
- And again in "Betrayer". When he calls the World Eaters to account for their habit of slaughtering entire planets, Angron accurately points out that Russ does the same. Russ counters by saying that the Emperor orders him to do so, leading Angron to point out that doesn't actually make Russ's actions any better. At least Angron has a mentally crippling implant forcing him to do what he does. Russ just obeys his father, right or wrong.
- His men have plotted to kill Blood Angels because their gene seed is too "deviant" ignoring how his own causes the Space Wolves to literally mutate into animals.
- Made of Iron: After receiving a (probably deactivated) Power Fist to the head from the Emperor, Leman said that he had a head ache from the drinking contest.
- My Master, Right or Wrong: If your name is The Emperor, or if he even thinks your name is The Emperor, he will do whatever you tell him to, even if that means wiping a world clean of life and murdering his own brother.
- Raised by Wolves: Literally.
- Rebellious Spirit
- Red Baron: The Wolf-King, the Great Wolf.
- Tap on the Head: He instigated an altercation with Lion El'Jonson, angry that Lion had broken rank to kill the enemy commander Leeman had his sights on. They wrestled for three days, until Leeman realized how ridiculous the situation was and started laughing. Lion took the opportunity to strike him in the head, and by the time he came to the Lion and his Angels had left the planet.
- Undying Loyalty: While his devotion to The Emperor basically means he will quite happily destroy entire civilisations in the blink of an eye, one has to admire the complete and utter fealty he shows towards the man he sees as his father. Some of the other primarchs theorize that Russ does this out of an Alpha pack mentality.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Lion El'Jonson.
Logan Grimnar
Logan Grimnar is the Great Wolf, the Chapter Master of the Space Wolves, a position he has held for six hundred years. In a galaxy of Well Intentioned Extremists and Knight Templars, Logan Grimnar has proven himself to be a true hero, more concerned with the people of the Imperium than its rulers.
- Cool Old Guy: Almost everyone thinks so.
- Gentle Giant: As much a loving and kind grandfather to his charge as he is a great warrior.
- Lightning Bruiser: combined with Unstoppable Rage, is able to sprint in Terminator Armor during the Inquisition and Grey Knights' assault on Fenris. Let that sink in for a moment: the guy is so thoroughly pissed that he is able to run in armor that is so heavy that even Astartes are only able to trudge slowly when wearing it.
- Nice Guy: A violent warrior, yes: But what sets hims apart from his peers is that he actually loves and cares for the humans that he fights for.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The fallout of his decision to protect the defenders of Armageddon and save them from the Inquisition ultimately claimed ten billion lives; far more than would have died had he done nothing.
- Papa Wolf: Literally. Even the Inqusition thinks twice about murdering innocents for a reason; Logan is it.
- Red Baron: Nicknamed the Old Wolf.
- What the Hell, Hero?: After the First War for Armageddon, the Inquisition rounded up the Imperial Guardsmen and innocent civilians who had seen the Chaos hordes, sterilized them, and sent them to forced labor camps. Logan fought against this, going so far as to kill a Grey Knight Grand Master (Technically, the Grand Master got the axe for firing on the Wolves during parlay.) and Lord Inquisitor, and though he failed, he has never forgiven the Inquisition, the Administratum, or the Ecclesiarchy for this. Ever since, Inquisitors were told to steer clear of Fenris which they have abided by. That's right, folks: The Holy Ordos of the Emperor's Inquisition fear not the daemon, the alien, or the heretic, but Logan Grimnar? He terrifies them on an unprecedented level.
- Also applies to Grimnar's actions in the same event. Whilst it's ambiguous as to whether Armageddon's population and troop were tainted, his actions of saving (at best) a few million troops led to the deaths of far, far more. Considering he knew what the Inquisition would do, saving the lives of a few troops is questionable.
Bjorn the Fell-Handed
The oldest warrior in the Imperium, Bjorn was a Wolf Guard and the first Great Wolf of the Space Wolves. Wounded in battle, Bjorn was encased in a mighty Dreadnought, and is now only called upon in the event of the most fierce fighting.
- Accidental Misnaming: Or, more specifically, my name is not Bear.
- Bodyguarding a Badass: Part of his job as Wolf Guard was to serve as a bodyguard for Leman Russ...yeah.
- The Captain: Well, the Wolf Lord.
- A Day in the Limelight: Battle of the Fang is told from his point of view.
- Handicapped Badass: The only thing keeping him alive is his Dreadnought armor.
- The Magnificent: The Fell-Handed.
- Old Soldier: Exaggerated: as of M42 he's over ten thousand years old, making him the third-oldest living being in the entire Imperium after the Emperor (sort of) and, as of the M42 changeover, Roboute Guilliman. He occupies an honored position in the chapter, awoken at the turn of every millennium to recount its lore, as well as occasionally for critical battles.
- Only Sane Man: Old enough to remember the Emperor's attitude towards religion.God-Emperor? Calling him a god was how all this mess started.
- Sealed Badass in a Can: When he is asleep beneath the Fang.
- Stop Worshipping Me: Recent books have shown Bjorn getting pretty annoyed with everyone getting down on their knees upon seeing him.
- Time Abyss: He's over ten thousand years old.
- Wolverine Claws: Wielded Lightning Claws while alive. Has a Dreadnaught-sized version now.
- You Are in Command Now: Became Great Wolf after Leman Russ departed.
Ulrik
The Wolf High Priest (Master of Sanctity in other Chapters) who personally recruited Logan Grimnar into the Chapter, and is the only Space Wolf to turn down an offer for Wolf Lord.
- The Magnificent: The Slayer.
- Red Baron: Grandfather Lupus.
- Skeletons in the Coat Closet: Wears a helmet shaped like a Wolf's skull.
- Villain Respect: Earned this from freaking Angron after Ulrik butchered three of the Daemon-Primarch's most savage Khorne Berzerker champions with nothing but his hands, after said Berzerkers had just hacked down his Jarl.
Njal Stormcaller
The Rune High Priest (Chief Librarian in other Chapters) and a senior adviser to Logan Grimnar.
- Berserk Button: DO NOT break your oaths around Njal Stormcaller. You will live just long enough to deeply, deeply regret it, and not a micro-second longer.
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Managed to beat a Bloodthirster of Khorne with a psychic spell, earning his epitaph "Stormcaller". Note that the Bloodthirsters are daemons of a War God, meaning they're extremely resistant to magic.
- Fiery Red Head
- Pirate Parrot: His pet cyberraven, Nightwing.
- Psychic Powers
- Shock and Awe: Just by being on the field, he calls up a storm.
Lukas the Trickster
A rebellious Space Wolf who delights in playing tricks on both his opponents and his fellow Space Wolves.
- The Casanova: While still a tribesman, he was known to have shared a dozen beds in a single night.
- Combat Pragmatist: The dirtiest fighter among the Space Wolves. When a Word Bearers fleet attacks Fenris Lukas challenges their leader to a Duel. The location he gives them? The Sea of Lost Souls. He doesn't lift a finger as the entire Word Bearers army plunge to their deaths.
- Fiery Redhead
- Meaningful Name: Lukas <-> Loki
- The Prankster: Known, among others, to have trapped an Inquisitorial delegation in a grox pen while they were in heat. The grox, not the delegation. Also poisoned the ale of a Wolf Lord as a joke.
- Taking You with Me: After losing his second heart to a Dark Eldar, he replaced it with a stasis grenade, insuring that who defeats him on the battlefield is trapped in a monument to Lukas' ego, forever staring at his laughing face.
- Weirdness Coupon: He's pissed off half the Wolf Lords, the Inquisition, and whole swathes of others. Why is he still in? Logan Grimnar recognizes that he represents the Space Wolves' rebellious nature, and the other half of the Wolf Lords think he's hilarious.
- Wolverine Claws: Wields a Power Claw.
Arjac Rockfist
A Wolf Guard of the Space Wolves Space Marines Chapter, Arjac is the personal champion of the Great Wolf Logan Grimnar himself.
- The Big Guy
- The Blacksmith: Before and after joining the Space Wolves, but before being selected to join the Wolf Guard. Arjac wishes to return to this profession.
- The Champion: To Lord Grimnar
- Humble Hero
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Carries one into battle with him.
- Named Weapons: Foehammer
- The Quiet One
- Red Baron: Is also known as as The Man-Mountain, Grimnar's Champion and Anvil of Fenris.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Throwing Your Hammer Always Works: Has the option of throwing Foehammer and having it return to his hand.
Ragnar Blackmane (né Thunderfist)
The protagonist of the Space Wolf series of books. A former warrior of the Thunderfist tribe, Ragnar was recruited into the Space Wolves when his village was attacked by the Grimskull tribe.
- A Father to His Men
- The Atoner: For losing the Spear of Russ.
- The Berserker: Hakon thought it was a good quality for a Blood Claw, but was worried that it might be more detrimental when he advanced to Grey Hunter.
- Chainsaw Good
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Threw the Spear of Russ into the Eye of Magnus the Red.
- Fire-Forged Friends: With Sven, and arguably Strybjorn.
- The Hero
- Humble Hero: His unwillingness to brag about his exploits is somewhat out of character with the Space Wolves usually boastful nature.
- One-Steve Limit: Zigzagged. Initially when Ragnar first meets Berek, he assumes they're from the same tribe. Turns out the "Thunderfist" in Berek's name is because of his Power Fist.
- Red Baron: His surname as a Space Wolf comes from the giant wolf's pelt he added to his uniform after killing it hand-to-hand as an initiate.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Sven and the Wolfblade.
Ranek Icewalker
A Wolf Priest of the Thunderfist Great Company, Ranek is the one who recruited Ragnar and Strybjorn.
- The Mentor: To Ragnar.
Sven
A Space Wolf who was part of Ragnar's Blood Claw pack. He and Ragnar have a rock relationship.
- Artificial Limbs: Lost a hand on Garm.
- Big Eater: Constantly talking about how hungry he is.
- Fire-Forged Friends: With Ragnar.
- Gasshole
- Sir Swearsa Lot: Bloody loves saying "bloody" nearly every bloody time he bloody speaks.note
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Ragnar.
Strybjorn Grimskull
A former warrior of the Grimskull tribe. He and Ragnar had an intense rivalry over the circumstances of their recruitment.
- Fearless Fool: Actually took up Hakon's challenge to fight him. Even Ragnar was impressed.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Not on the level of Sven and Ragnar, but Strybjorn and Ragnar arguably get past their rivalry.
- The Rival: To Ragnar.
- The Stoic: Rather serious for a Space Wolf.
- You Killed My Father: Ragnar wholly suspects this. And yes, he did. They also killed each other in the battle that got them selected to be Space Wolf candidates.
Hakon
The training Sergeant at Russvik (where Ragnar, Sven, and Strybjorn trained). Following their original sergeant's death, Hakon became their squad commander.
- Chainsaw Good
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: He wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't push the Blood Claws to their limits and beyond.
- Career-Ending Injury/Fate Worse than Death: He receives brain damage during the battle of Garm, and while he survives cognizant, he can no longer fight.
- Sergeant Rock
- Veteran Instructor
Alderek
The Rune Lord (Chief Librarian) at the time Ragnar Blackmane was a Bloodclaw.
- Pirate Parrot: Has a cyberaven.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: For Njal Stormcaller. Or would Njal be a Substitute since Alderek is older?
Berek Thunderfist
The Wolf Lord of the Great Company that Ragnar, Sven, Strybjorn, Hakkon, and Ranek belong to. He is a major player among the Wolf Lords, seen as a possible successor to Logan Grimnar.
- Artificial Limbs: After losing his right hand to Kharn the Betrayer, he replaced it with a Power Fist.
- Boisterous Bruiser
- The Captain: Well, the Wolf Lord.
- Glory Seeker: Part of the Space Wolves beliefs, and Berek is always at the forefront of his attacks, but Ragnar suspects that his actions may be just as much to impress the Wolf Lords as they are to achieve victory.
- One-Steve Limit: Zigzagged. Initially when Ragnar first meets him, he assumes they're from the same tribe. Turns out the "Thunderfist" in Berek's name is because of his Power Fist.
- Power Fist
- Reasonable Authority Figure
- Red Baron: Thunderfist
- The Rival: With Sigrid Trollbane
Mikal Sternmark
Captain of Berek Thunderfist's Wolf Guard, and Berek's lieutenant.
- Body Horror
- The Chains of Commanding: Once thought of rising to the post of Wolf Lord. Three weeks substituting for Berek on Charys completely destroys those ambitions.
- I Call It "Vera": Redclaw.
- Number Two: To Berek.
- Was Once a Man: Now a Wulfen.
Torin
A member of the Wolfblade (the group of Space Wolves who guard House Belisarius), Torin volunteered for the assignment.
- Cultured Badass: He has taken to "civilization", something Haegr taunts him about.
- Expy: Of Fandral the Dashing as the token "classy" space viking that drinks goblets of wine instead of tankards of ale, especially given he's constantly paired with Volstagg expy Haegr.
- The Magnificent: Torin the Wayfarer.
- The Mentor: To Ragnar when he first joins the Wolfblade.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Haegr.
Haegr
A member of the Wolfblade, Haegr suffers from a defect which causes him to eat vast amounts of food, becoming actually fat. But don't let it fool you, there is plenty of muscle in him.
- Big Eater
- Body Guard Crush: Implied toward Gabriella
- Expy: Of Volstagg the Voluminous as a big, hungry space viking Boisterous Bruiser.
- Heroic Sacrifice
- Leeroy Jenkins
- The Magnificent: Haegr the Mountain.
- Mighty Glacier: Slow, but very strong.
- Third-Person Person: Mighty Haegr approves.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Torin
Sigurd
A young Wolf Priest who helps lead the counterattack on Charys.
- Badass Preacher
- Blue Blood: Son of a Jarl on Fenris.
- Break the Haughty: Oh, man, he is thoroughly broken by the end of Wolf's Honour.
- Combat Medic
- Older and Wiser: By the time Ragnar is Wolf Lord.
Bulveye
Wolf Lord of the Thirteenth Great Company, they have been crusading in the Warp since the Horus Heresy.
- The Captain: Well, Wolf Lord.
- Time Abyss: He's over ten thousand years old thanks to his time stuck in the webway of Prospero.
Torvald
Chief Rune Priest of the Thirteenth Company
Ivan Sternberg
An Inquisitor who saved the life of Logan Grimnar. He comes to Fenris seeking an Eldar talisman in hopes of finding a cure to a plague affecting his world.
Kareh Isaah
The Inquisitor apprentice of Sternberg. She makes an impression on Ragnar that leaves him with "un Space Wolf" feelings.
Commander Gul
Captain of the Light of Truth, a Inquistorial naval vessel used by Sternberg.
- The Dragon: To Botchulaz.
- Large and in Charge
- The Mole
- Off with His Head!
Gabriella Belisarius
A Navigator of House Belisarius, a Navigator house of the Navis Nobilite, who are long time allies of the Space Wolves.
- Aristocrats Are Evil: Averted, as Gabriella is one of the nicer Navigators.
- Blue Blood
- Extra Eyes: Part of the Navigators mutation.
- Psychic Powers
Cezare Ferraci
The Lord of House Ferraci, one of the houses of the Navis Nobilite and an ancestral enemy of House Belisarius.
- Aristocrats Are Evil
- Big Bad: Of Wolfblade.
- Cain and Abel: He's suspected of having murdered his brother to become Lord Ferraci.
- Extra Eyes
- Karma Houdini: He doesn't experience any concrete retribution for his actions, but Torin points out that plans going back decades have been irreparably ruined by Ragnar's action.
Xenothan
An assassin of the Callidus Temple of the Officio Assassinorum employed by Cezare Ferraci and an unknown patron with the Administratum.
- The Dragon: To Cezare.
- Fantastic Racism: Hates all Navigators, including the Ferraci.
- Professional Killer
- Shapeshifter
Cadmus
The Commander of the PDF on Hyades. Actually one of the Fallen Dark Angels and secret ally of Madox.
- Face–Heel Turn
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice
- The Mole
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves
- Unwitting Pawn
Jeremiah Gieyus
A captain of the Deathwing, the first company of the Dark Angels chapter. Also, commander of a Kill-Team sent to investigate and retrieve one of the Fallen Angels.
- The Captain
- Clock King: A non-villainous example
- Enemy Mine: With Ragnar and the Wolfblade.
- I Gave My Word
Madox
A Sorcerer of the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marine legion, Madox is initiating a complex plan to take revenge on the Space Wolves for the destruction of Prospero.
- Arch-Enemy: To Ragnar
- Big Bad: For most of the series.
- The Chessmaster: He is a Thousand Son.
- Chronic Back Stabbing Disorder: He is a Thousand Son.
- Death Is Cheap: Ragnar has killed him several times, he always comes back.
- Evil Sorcerer: He is a Thousand Son.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice
- Manipulative Bastard: He is a Thous--...oh, you get the idea.
Botchulaz
A Great Unclean One of Nurgle, he was imprisoned by the Eldar in a temple on Aerius.
- Big Bad: Of Ragnar's Claw.
- Fat Bastard
- Plague Master: He is a Great Unclean One.
- Sealed Evil in a Can
