Armies of the Jungle: Keric Quicbrand’s Great Company  by Patrick Eibel
In the From Idea To Reality series, we chronicled the process of creating an army from scratch. In this series, we will showcase the finished results of our labors – the completed armies (as much as any 40K army can ever be considered “completed”). By detailing how the army was collected, how the background and color schemes were developed, and how the army is used on the battlefield, we hope that this series will provide inspiration for those interested in collecting similar armies.

Introduction
The first two armies I ever owned were Orks and Space Wolves, and Space Wolves are the only one I have owned continuously all this time.  I have always liked their distinctive paint scheme, their rich background and fighting style, and all of the Viking imagery.  Since I have been collecting the army for over twenty years, I have models from every generation of the Space Wolves.  When the new codex came out, I was concerned how all of those figures would be adapt to the new rules.  After much reflection, some rearranging of figures, and some much needed paint, I have organized the army into three detachments totaling nearly 9,000 points.  I am still thinking of adding some things (Canis Wolfborn and some Thunderwolf riders, for instance), but I am pretty happy with how the army breaks down right now.

Background
As with most of the armies on the Jungle, much of the background is generated from actual games Kenton and I have played.  The Space Wolves and Fighting Tigers have had friendly relations for over four thousand years.  The two chapters began their association when the Tigers sought aid in rebuilding their forces after being devastated by the war with Warband Bloodcomet, a force of Khorne-worshipping Chaos Marines.  While the task the Tigers asked the Space Wolves to perform, training their new recruits, including female initiates, may have seemed heretical to most chapters, the Space Wolves have never been ones to slavishly adhere to the Codex Astartes. 

The bonds of loyalty and friendship that were forged during this period in both chapter’s histories continue to this day.  The chapters frequently hold training exercises together to hone their skills, swap stories, and share camaraderie.  Another key event in sealing the bonds of friendship between the two armies was their united defense of the planet Bray against the Eldar Warhost “Lotus Storm of Impossible Contemplation.”  The Space Wolves and Fighting Tigers fought valiantly, and even though they did not prevail that day, the Eldar Warhost was severely crippled and never was a serious threat ever again.

Shortly after the fighting on Bray,  the bulk of Keric Quicbrand's force was pursuing a warband of Chaos Space Marines devoted to Tzeentch and were lured into a warpstorm.  The Space Wolves’ battle barges were lost in the Warp for thousands of years, but once they escaped the Warp, they had only aged a few hundred years.  Aside from those who had been lost in the Warp, the only member of the company to have survived was former Iron Priest Ferin Ironhammer, who had been in the process of being encased in a Dreadnought sarcophagus shortly after the battle on Bray, and thus, wasn’t with the rest of the company.

Keric's Great Company has returned, but they were replaced long ago, and there is no formal place for them on Fenris. No matter: Keric and his men exist now outside the formal organization of the Space Wolves and are free to roam the galaxy on various quests.  For example, they have recently dedicated themselves to finding one of their oldest foes: the Dvergar.  The Dvergar are a nefarious race of dwarf-like beings that have been a thorn in the side of the Space Wolves for as long as stories have been told.  The Space Wolves are keen to reacquire artifacts plundered by the Dvergar over the years and cripple the Dvergar power base.

While hunting down the Dvergar, Keric's men were once again called upon to aid the Fighting Tigers.  While the Tigers were away dealing with the Orks on Auros IX, the Dark Eldar of the Ozone Scorpions launched an invasion of the Tigers’ home planet of Veda.  The wily Dark Eldar had devised an ingenious plan using their dormant lairs in the mountains of Veda, but a stalwart defense by the Space Wolves, led by Ferin Ironhammer, repelled the would be invaders.

Keric's Great Company continues its campaign against the Dvergar, as well as its ongoing hatred of the followers of Tzeench.  The Space Wolves also continue to have regular training engagements with the Fighting Tigers, and have recently had training exercises with a company of White Scars.

Army List
The army is still a work in progress, but the recent Wolf King campaign has encouraged me to get some things painted.  With two HQ choices per slot, the Space Wolves have more HQ than your average Space Marine army.  I managed to trade for a Logan Grimnar figure, and the new Codex really makes him worth taking; I explain his presence by saying that he takes a personal interest in the activities and performance of the recently-returned Keric.  For Keric himself, I use the old Ragnar Blackmane figure.

I have two Wolf Priests – one is Ulrik the Slayer and the other is the limited edition one from Games Day several years ago.  This is the figure I use for Horsa Drachenbane. The previous Codex allowed Wolf Priests to have a weapon other than a crozius, so I converted the weapons.  Now that they can’t have them, they will just have to “count-as” a crozius because I’m not converting back.

There have been some excellent figures released to support the new codex, and the new Njal Stormcaller is definitely one.  However, as we have noted in other articles, you should try and use the figures you have if you can, so I had to figure out what to do with the two old Rune Priests I already had.  I swapped some of the parts around and changed the pretty ugly old Njal into something I could live with.  I still may get the new Njal, as it really is a great figure, and I have all those HQ slots to fill.

Finally, I have a supply of figures that can act as Wolf Guard Battle Leaders or as regular Wolf Guard, as points allow.  Lars Ulrik is in Terminator armor, and the figure with the plasma pistol will probably given a jump pack to lead some Skyclaws.

I have two squads of Terminators that are the old metal figures on smaller slotta bases.  I am planning on leaving them that way as it is too much trouble to change bases just to bring them in line with the current standard.  The ability to send Wolf Guard off to lead other squads means you can get two special Terminator weapons without having to have ten expensive Terminators. I also have two Dreadnoughts (Ferin Ironhammer and Valnir the Reaver, both of whom use Drop Pods), an Iron Wolf, and a Lone Wolf. 

I have three Scout squads: two outfitted for assault and be sent to outflank, and one with sniper rifles and a heavy bolter.  The sniper squad is not as good as it used to be, but since I already have the figures I might as well keep them.

As we all know, your Troops form the backbone of your army.  I have plenty of options to choose from. I have ten Grey Hunter squads – four with a flamer, three with meltaguns, and three with plasma guns.  Some squads have power fists and some have a dude with the Mark of the Wulfen. I also have two 14-member Blood Claw packs.  There are only 14 so that I can add an Independent Character and a Wolf Guard.

Bike Squads are not a great option for the points, especially when your attached Attack Bike is at Ballistic Skill 3, but again, I have the models so I might as well use them. I also have quite a few Land Speeders, with either heavy bolters or multi-meltas, and I have a Tornado. I also have a fairly big pack of Fenrisian Wolves, just because they're cool.

Long Fangs continue to be the bomb for the points.  Heavy weapons that can target separate targets and cannot be disabled by the vehicle damage table?  What’s not to like? I also have quite a few tanks: two Land Raider Crusaders, two Preds, a Whirlie, and a Vindicator. 

Modeling and Painting
As you can see, the figures are standard GW miniatures, a blend of new and old, some of them going back to the 2nd Edition days. I paint my Wolves a slightly darker shade (Shadow Grey) than most other Wolf players I know. I used Sunburst Yellow on the shoulder pads, so that they'll "pop." I also painted the cloaks of the sniper Scouts in a winter camo pattern.

I usually paint black-and-yellow “hazard” markings on Long Fangs and tanks, to indicate their use of heavy weapons. 

Using the Army
This army was mechanized back before mechanizing was the "in" thing to do. My operating motto with Keric's guys is to be in the enemy's face by Turn 2. Hence, almost all my units have some sort of transport. Being Wolves, they fight in hand-to-hand combat very well, but the army also has a lot of firepower at its disposal.

Related Pages 
Themed Army Idea: Ferin Ironhammer 
Themed Army Idea: Keric Quicbrand's Great Company
 

Originally posted January 2010 
 

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