Iron Priest

Iron Priests are a unique specialist position within the Space Wolves Space Marine Chapter, essentially serving in the same capacity as Techmarines of other Chapters. The Iron Priests look after the many technical systems within the Fang, supervising engineering projects and all the other complex technical tasks undertaken every day. The skills of these grim and taciturn artisans are both respected and feared by their fellow Space Wolves, most of whom view the mechanical arts as a dark and frighteningly arcane science.

History
The Iron Priests are masters of the forge, armoury, war engines and the machine spirits, maintaining the weapons and technology of the Space Wolves. Their expertise lies with technical matters and their role is akin to that of Techmarines in other Chapters. Like Techmarines they spend several years with the Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars where they learn the innermost secretes of arcane mechanics. It is the Iron Priests who forge each blade and bless each bolter, and it is they who appease the spirits of plasma and flame. They belong to a brotherhood older than the Chapter itself. Without Iron Priests, the Sons of Russ would be reduced to wearing plated mail instead of powered suits of armour. Without Iron Priests to maintain the Chapter's spacecraft they would be unable to take to the Star-sea. Without them, the Aett would crumble, and the Chapter itself would die.

Amongst the native tribes of Fenris, there are those who serve as each tribe's smith. It is these masters of the forge who worship the Gods of Iron, legendary figures said to reside within the volcanic islands adrift in the Boiling Sea. Legends say that these gods have molten metal that runs through their veins, that fire dances at their command and that they in turn worship at the altar of the brazen god of technology. Those smiths that are particularly gifted may make the lonely pilgrimage to the smoke-shrouded isles of Iron, determined to see these gods with their own eyes. Those with the wit and strength to complete the arduous journey do indeed meet with these living gods, for this is the guise that is maintained by the Iron Priests when dealing with mortal men.

Immediately, these prospective candidates are put to work in the scalding and blistering heat of the lava forges, labouring to create the finest swords within the mouth of the volcano. They are forced to wear bulky iron gloves over their dextrous hands, their muscles screaming with exertion as they attempt to transform the crude metal around them into deadly tools of war. This is known as the Test of the Iron Gauntlet. If the pilgrim's work still proves to be of masterful standard, and should he pass the arduous tests laid before him, then he may be taken on as an apprentice and initiated into the Space Wolves. Later he will journey to the forges of Mars, where he will learn the ways of the machine under the tutelage of the arcane and insular Adeptus Mechanicus. Only once he has fully embraced the mysteries of the Omnissiah will he be allowed to return to Fenris and take his rightful place amongst the Iron Priests, bringing growling engines of war to life in the service of his Chapter.

But for every Aspirant that succeeds in the Test of the Iron Gauntlet, a hundred will fail. Such unfortunate creatures will be taken into the dungeons and transformed into a creature known as a Thrall-Servitor, a grotesque fusion of man and machine. Bound to the will of the Iron Priests, they known not fear or courage, and their bodies are cut open and rebuilt to fulfil one task and one task alone. In status they reside even lower than the bionic Cyberwolves that the Iron Priests create to accompany them to battle, for a failed aspirant has committed the unforgivable sin of wasting the time of the Gods of Iron. In efficacy alone they can atone for their failures. Rebuilt either to aid the Iron Priests in battlefield repairs or to serve as living weapons, a Thrall-Servitor will eventually repay his debt to the Iron Priest he has failed, perhaps even earning himself a glorious death in the process.

Wargear

 * '''Artificer Power Armour
 * Servo-arm - Servo-arms are powerful manipulators tipped with crushing pincers, useful for field repairs and punishing enemies. Ports for these detachable appendages are installed at the shoulder, and the Battle-Brother’s armour must also be upgraded with more powerful gyro-stabilisers to use one effectively. So supported, a servo-arm can lift one side of a Rhino APC to repair a broken tread link. A servo-arm can extend up to 1.5 metres. The limb’s gripping mandibles allow the Techmarine to lift heavy objects or anchor himself in an emergency. Astartes servo-arms are more than just repair tools, and make deadly weapons. Iron Priests use this power tool to crush the skulls of those that come too close.
 * Bolter
 * Omnissian Power Axe (Astartes Pattern) - Often carried by Techmarines to show their devotion to the Omnissiah, this weapon has a long staff-like body tipped with half of the circular Adeptus Mechanicus skull and cog icon. The symbol forms a blade and is sheathed in a power field. Arcs of energy illuminate the ridged blade and light the skull’s eyes with a hungry glow, leaving little doubt that—even while covered with inscribed circuitry designs indicating its sacred nature—this religious icon is also a deadly weapon in a Space Marine’s powerful hands. The Ommnisian axe also functions as a combi-tool.
 * Thunder Hammer - Iron Priests often go into battle with formidable melee weapons known as Thunder Hammers. These weapons release a terrific burst of energy when they strike an opponent, their concussive impact as loud as a thunderclap, from which their name originates. Enemies that survive the pulverising blow are likely to be incapacitated by the shockwave that follows. Many Battle-Brothers balance the clumsy nature of attempting to parry with a thunder hammer by pairing it with a Storm Shield.

Notable Iron Priests

 * Rorik - A senior member of the Chapter's Iron Priests, Rorik serves as an advisor to the Great Wolf Logan Grimnar.
 * Jurgen - Iron Priest currently serving with Ragnar Blackmane's Great Company.
 * Ulf Blackbrown - At the Battle of Rust World, the Rune Priest Njal Stormcaller saved the life of Iron Priest Ulf Blackbrow from the jaws of Morkai with a deadly accurate axe throw. The great blacksmith, a fierce man who did not like to owe anything to anyone, repaid the debt by forging Njal the psyber-raven Nightwing that has saved Njal's life more than once, pecking out the eyes of those enemies that dare attack his master.
 * Garjek Arfang - Iron Priest that served in the 12th Great Company during the 32nd Millennium.
 * Berensson Gassijk Rendmar - Senior Iron Priest during the 32nd Millennium.