The Varagyr, rendered sometimes as "Varangii" in Imperial records, or more literally "Wolf Guard", were the chosen warriors of Leman Russ, hand-picked from his own Great Company to form his personal Honour Guard and close companions in war and council. When Leman Russ was rediscovered by the Emperor's own Principia Imperialis Expeditionary Fleet on the Death World of Fenris, he was swiftly sent to command the VI Legion, but he did not go alone. With Leman Russ went as many as several hundred Fenrisian warriors who had, despite their age, undergone and survived the implantation and gene-processing required to become Astartes, at least to the greater part. Many had died in the attempt, but far less than might have been expected. These men were to be Leman Russ' first Varagyr. They were Russ'