Byrnjolf Daggerfist

Pict-File the Honoured Ancient, Byrnjolf Daggerfist.

"*And here I will stay, confined within this metal husk for the sins I have committed against the emperor. May the Emperor forgive me and grant me sight once again to slaughter those who oppose him.*"
— Byrnjolf Daggerfist before becoming a dreadnought
Among the huge ship metal walls of Morkai's Retribution there lies an ancient warrior, waiting for the days when his wisdom may be used. Or the day when he can once again fight as he did in the days of old - the Honoured Ancient known as **Byrnjolf Daggerfist**. Within the annals of the Abyss Stalkers Space Marine Chapter, this venerable warriors has forged a formidable legend within the Chapter's sagas, whose stories are told on feast days and to aspiring Neophytes.

## History

### The Lone Wolf

Among the Fenrisians, there was a whisper of a warrior who walks in the wilds alone. Only appearing before a disaster to help, before disappearing once again. A man who was said to be able to fight even a mighty Thunderwolf barehanded. Whose mighty visions had saved the lives of many.

These rumors eventually reached even the ears of the Space Wolves, raising suspicions as if even a man existed. Curious, a lone Wolf Priest left the fang in search of this warrior. After ten days of long travel, the Priest tracked what he believed to be the man, though what he saw was nothing like what the people had spoken of. Indeed he walked alone, but he did not look the part of a man of legend. The Wolf Priest followed behind the lone warrior for a week before he showed his true self.

The man met up with some tribesmen of the Daggerfist Tribe, insisting that today was a day that the very sea's would be cursed, as it was foretold in his visions. When the tribe ensisted upon sailing the sea for its fortune, the man joined them swearing to not let a single one of them die on the venture. The seas have unpredictable storms or the mighty creatures from below could attack.

The sea shook as the monstrous creature emerged from the sea, almost tipping the longship. It let out a monstrous roar that sounded like thunder, the mighty gust pushing the ship many meters away. The men of the ship knew that they were no match for such a beast, and so headed for the gap between two glaciers, knowing that the Krakens mass size would not be able to fit in between; and so they put there sails down and raced on.

The waves rose high with the mighty beast swiftly behind them. Every now and then it would slam one of its massive tentacles into the water aiming for the ship, each time the ship narrowly dodging it. But then right before the ship was able to each the gap the massive tentacle smashed against the sail, sending it flying and leaving the ship motionless. The men though mainly fishermen, where warriors as every fenrisian was, and set their spears towards the Kraken hoping for death in battle.

The men's spears did little to the hulking Kraken though, most reflecting off its iron hard skin, and those that did stick weren't able to reach deep enough for any major damage. Byrnjolf noted this and knew that if any of them were to survive something much larger would be needed. He noted the place that once had been used for the ships sail was none but a ripped pole now and might be enough to damage the creature. Around him, he noted the high glacier walls and how if he were to drop some on the creature, the weight could cause it to crash onto the pole. Byrnjolf made haste to tell his tribesmen the plan and soon they split off in every direction using the longboats small safety rafts. Though these rafts were only intended to hold a man during his fishing, they were all they had. Most of the rafts were flipped or destroyed easily by the hulking Kraken and the mighty waves that surrounded it.

As his tribesmen distracted the Kraken Byrnjolf made course for the glacier wall, using his axe and knife to scale the wall. By the time he had reached the top, most of the tribesmen had already fallen to the beast. With a mighty scream, Byrnjolf stabbed his spear into the ice, causing it to crack and slide. As the chunk slid off the glacier Byrnjolf saw what seemed to be the silhouette of a man in the distance for a moment, only for it to disappear the next moment. The last thing Byrnjolf remembered was the hard crash of the chunk hitting the beast and its shrilling cry as the once sails pole stabbed through the head of Kraken.

The force of the crash had caused Byrnjolf to be knocked out and when he awoke he was no longer in the sea, but laying in a cave next to a fire with a large hulking man sitting across from him. The man congratulated Brynjolf for the great slay and told him that he was a Wolf Priest and how he had been chosen by Russ to join the ranks of the Vlka Fenryka. Byrnjolf only had heard legends of such beings, and how they would take men and turn them into gods. He accepted the Priest's request and they made haste to the Fang to begin Byrnjolfs new life.

### Born to the Wolves

Upon returning to the fang Byrnjolf was faced with the trials of becoming a Space Wolf and beginning his new life as one that walks among the stars. Within minutes Byrnjolf was faced in front of the Gate of Morkai, its heat causing beads of sweat to flow from his head. As he began to step he felt as if his body was being ripped apart, as if something from beyond was tearing at him.

Upon entering it seemed as if the whole world vanished, as Byrnjolf was faced with his biggest regret. The vision that he had not prophesied, the vision that led to the destruction of his whole tribe. Everywhere around him was destruction, the sky black as a storm raged, the sea's mighty waves crashing into the shore. The noise drowned out everything and allowed a rival tribe to sneak in and begin to raid the camp. In what seemed like an instant Byrnjolf was once faced with the faces of people he was called brothers, all screaming for help. Even the face of his wife and children, their screams ripping his soul apart once again. The screams filled his head, causing him to go mad, he fell to his knees screaming for it to stop. But against his wishes, it went on, the memories that he had buried long ago resurfacing, the demons he had left haunted him for what seemed like an eternity. But when all hope seemed lost, Vidar remembered what he was told by his mentor, "There will be times when everything around you is gone, when it will only be you. This is the curse of the sight, the curse of being only able to save yourself". He put his hand into the mud feeling the ground, before standing with anger in his eyes. Suddenly lightning began to spark from his fist, Byrnjolf went into a blind fury killing every last enemy in sight. The storm seemed to have bent to Byrnjolf's will during the rage, helping him destroy all those he had so chosen. In an instant Byrnjolf felt the cold stone of the Aett's floors, have finally crossed the gate, passing the trial. The lightning still flickered from his body, showing his psychic powers had finally matured, this pleased the council of Rune Priest watching from above.

It was time for him to try to final trial and become one of the wolves, to finally rise and walk in the footsteps of Russ. Byrnjolf was dropped a thousand miles from the Aett and was told to drink from the cup of the wulfen. Afterwards, he was told to return to the Aett, and that he must overcome his own true demon, only then would he become a true Vlka Fenryka. Byrnjolf walked across the snowy plains of Fenris for weeks before being forced into a cave because of a storm, its winds causing the snow itself to rip and tear at his flesh. The cave he entered was quiet, its icy walls reflected him giving him a full view of himself. Byrnjolf settled down for the night, knowing that the pains of his bodies wouldn't allow him to sleep, no matter how much he wanted to. Time seemed to stand still for a moment before his eyes slowly fluttered shut, there was something hypnotizing about the cave, its peaceful nature caused him to sleep even though his body ached. Byrnjolf woke to a loud crash, as the entrance he had used had collapsed, causing him to be stuck in the cave. For days Byrnjolf walked around the room looking for a way out, he even clawed at the once large opening until his nails bled, trying to desperately make an opening. Eventually, Byrnjolf accepted his fate and sat to wait out the rest of his days, when a White Wolf appeared out of a crack in the wall. To Byrnjolf's surprise, it didn't attack him, it just sat across from him and stared at him, its deep blue eyes slowly drifting him away. Suddenly Byrnjolf awoken in a nightmare, his body began to feel as if it was being ripped apart as the Canis Helix finally began to mature in his body.

Though the pain was intense, what Byrnjolf saw troubled him more. Everything was destroyed, piles of bodies lied everywhere. The sky was red and ripped in half, and fire raged all around him. In the distance he saw the great Leman Russ himself being devoured by what could only be described as a demon itself, its two heads tearing him limb from limb. Byrnjolf recognized the beast as Morkai himself. After devouring the primarch it stared Byrnjolf, and as it did Byrnjolf felt his body transform more and more. His bones began to fuse, and nails grew, the nightmare began to haunt him more and more. All around he saw death, and the eyes of Morkai began to rip his soul apart. No matter how much he tried Vidar couldn't change his gaze, the cursed wolves eyes burned into his soul. The pain was so great it cause it to begin to tear at his eyes, trying to force them to change their focus, he eventually was able to tear one out, and as it hit the ground it changed black, its iris changing to a deep yellow. The nightmare ended, and Byrnjolf woke, his body being completely different then it was when he fell asleep. Byrnjolf recognized the dream as one of his visions and had a new goal to warn the Wolves of its dark intentions. To his surprise, the white wolf still sat there just staring at him.

As Byrnjolf approached the wolf stood and began to walk towards a crack in the wall, as if to tell him to follow. Byrnjolf did as instructed and as if a sign from Russ the wolf led him out into the wilderness. Byrnjolf thanked the wolf and offered it to follow him, claiming it was a gift of Russ, and was meant to lead him to greatness. Within a couple of days, Byrnjolf was faced in front of the Fang, being greeted by the Wolf Priest that brought him there. He was led into the Aett where his brothers where feasting, Byrnjolf though didn't want to join telling the Priest of the vision. Byrnjolf was taken into the deepest depths of the fang where the vision was studied alongside the eye, whose reflection showed only destruction. This study was to no avail though, as the memories were torn and were unable to be put back together. Though the vision was seen as a bad omen, and the Wolf Priests began to study what they had been able obtained from his memories.