In the 31st millennium, an exchange of words can become so much more. Today we learn the story of Lion El’Jonson and Leman Russ!
Come and see how even in the future two brothers can still come to blows over a few words.
VIa Lexicanum
Few tales have been recorded regarding the Lion and the conduct of his Legion during the Great Crusade. One of them is that which is now known as the saga of “The Lion and the Wolf”.
Sometime during The Great Crusade, the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves assaulted the planet Dulan whose ruled the independent Faash empire. In addition to disrespecting the Emperor, the leader of the rebels had also insulted Leman Russ personally by naming him “The Emperor’s Lapdog”. In response, Leman Russ swore that he would cut the rebel leader’s head from his shoulders and demanded that he be allowed to make an immediate attack on the rebel’s headquarters. This impatient request was refused because The Lion had spent days gathering intelligence on the headquarters’ defenses and had planned a detailed assault of his own.
The Dark Angel attack went forward with few casualties and Russ could only watch from the grounds as Lion El’Jonson killed the rebel leader high on the walls of the fortress. After the battle, Russ stormed into the halls of the headquarters to find El’Jonson and vent his frustrations. During the confrontation Leman Russ struck Lion El’Jonson a blow to his head and the two proceeded to wrestle for a day and night without victory for either combatant.
When the two finally broke apart, Russ began to laugh – humored by the circumstances the two were fighting over. The Lion was not amused however and in what was considered a cowardly act, struck Russ unconscious as he was laughing.
The Space Wolves’ Primarch was carried from the chamber by his men, and when he had regained consciousness the Dark Angels had already escaped the planet to embark on another campaign. Russ swore he would avenge the slight to his honor, and to this day the two chapters fight honor duels in remembrance of this event. Some say these duels have brought mutual respect and a closer bond between the chapters.
On other occasions, however, the rivalry between the two chapters has boiled into open hostility, fueled by mistrust and suspicion.
