Editing Hjalmar Longfang (section)

== Background ==

[[File:300px-Wolf Priest DWFF.jpg]]

===Defense of Outpost #418===

Nine wolves stood in the trench. Behind them, the outpost needed the length of the night to evacuate before the hordes of the chaos marines. And so, they all drank another shot of heavy bourbon and looked up. Hjalmar held a bolter with a combat knife bayonet. His blood claws dangled unpowered by on the arms of his power suit. The men, former men as they were, rejects of the emperor’s will, advanced. Now only 500 meters and closing quick.

“…when she said: ‘I didn’t realize your mouth was as hairy as your arse.’” Sargeant Fjorn’s joke broke the whole squad in laughter. Hjalmar adds: “As I rememb’, hers was the hairiest of the three.” And the group laughs all the harder. Rarvic falls down, unable to bear his side.

Sarge stands straight, and looks into the eyes of each of his men. Silence bears cold still, as they all know battle is coming. “There ‘ill be a half legion of them coming. They want to rape those there lad and lasses at the outpost. They aren’t marines. They aren’t even human. They just want blood of the children of the emperor. And it is the Grey Hunter’s 15th that will be remembered for saving them. You aren’t your name and you aren’t your mom’s lad any more. You are a Wolf.” Everyone lets out a single bark in unison.

“Now who has the most ammo?” Hjalmar responds third with “Two.” The number of clips he has left outside the one loaded in his bolter and pistol already. Everyone else responds in turn, none having even to look down to know their number. Rarvic is last, and responds with “Four.” Everyone stands taller than him for a moment, proud they are. “Here that boys? Rarvic here thinks his claws are all he needs.” Everyone takes a punch at about 80% strength to the youngest member’s face. He leans in with his chin on each one to take the blow. He then pulls out his four clips and splits the ammo in half for each of the others before rising up from the trench first. The sarge hands over in return his power axe, one engraved with the company logo on the top of the axehead. It glows in his hand, showing the connection to his suit as it turns on. “You are a Wolf.” Rarvic responds, and everyone barks twice in unison.

The chaos now is 200 meters away, and almost in range. The green and brown clad former marines begin to fire, but none of the wolves move yet. Then, as if a trip wire was triggered, the whole pack raises their chins to the starry sky above. And they howl.

8 hours later the forces of chaos turned away. Of the 500 that came to the planet, less than a hundred were left. Hjalmar lay upright on a pile of bodies. All eight of his brothers were motionless and breathless on the ground around him. He found a flask and took a shot. “This one is for all of you.” His body was mutilated, but he was alive. A ship flew over, tracking his lone life signature. He raised his one hand that still worked. His suit was gray the night before, but now it was red. For not being human, the chaos marines still bleed red.

===Becoming an Iron Priest===

After being pulled out, Hjalmar was severely wounded and needed much surgery. He might have never been able to fight again, if not for the cybernetics gifted from the Forge Master [https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Harl_Greyweaver Harl Greyweaver]. As most gifts, these came with a price. Hjalmar was a lone wolf. His entire unit had perished. There were two ways to regain honor and be given a new unit. Harl gave him only one. So after a year of apprenticeship under the Iron Priest at Watch Fortress Erioch, Hjalmar went to Mars for three years of training. He also spent time on Saturn and Titan under practical experience with his work - repairing and upgrading weapons, armor, and vehicles for the marines of various planets in the Solar Sector. 

He would talk with Greyweaver regularly and use remote sessions for further training that would apply beyond the priesthood as use as a Space Wolf or a Deathwatch. After his time, he spent two more years at Fang as a Journeyman.

===Enlistment to Deathwatch===

Finally complete, Harl tapped the full Iron Priest to serve a term with the Deathwatch. Of course Watch Fortress Erioch had a Forge Master. But there was much need at the busy Watch Station Sargossa. So Iron Priest Longfang took the next shuttle to Jericho Reach.