After Mortkin's invasion, Leman Russ was sent by the Emperor to the southern part of the World's Edge Mountains, particularly south of the Badlands, to investigate the ancient Old Ones' ruins, lost Dwarf holds, and Lizardmen cities.
Two locations were specifically marked by the Emperor.
The first was a Dwarf city rumored to be located at the southernmost tip of the World's Edge Mountains, known as Karak Zorn. Whether this Dwarf hold truly existed and what secrets it held remained unknown. All that was known was that before the Great Cataclysm, this Dwarf hold had already lost contact with the northern Dwarf kingdoms. Even the oldest Dwarfs could not recall when Karak Zorn had last communicated with Karaz-a-Karak. After losing a vast amount of historical records, the Dwarfs generally believed that Karak Zorn was a prosperous realm filled with endless gold and mithril.
After extensive research and analysis, especially following the reconquest of Karak Eight Peaks, the Emperor concluded that Karak Zorn was indeed a real place. The Dwarfs there had met a terrible fate, but many treasures remained, including vast quantities of vibranium, mithril, and ancient runic technology.
The second location was the Lizardmen cities in the Southlands, as mentioned earlier. Over the long course of history and the Chaos invasions, most Lizardmen cities had been destroyed. However, a few Lizardmen cities in the Southlands had survived and hidden themselves deep within the rainforests.
The largest of these Lizardmen cities was called Zlatlan, the grandest and one of the few remaining intact temple-cities in the Southlands. The Emperor believed that Zlatlan might still possess a legendary artifact—the Tears of the Old Ones. This miraculous relic, left behind before the Warp was tainted by Chaos, could create "miracles" and alter life, death, and fate.
Leman Russ set out confidently, but even the Primarch himself did not expect that his years-long exploration would end in near disaster.
Russ first arrived in Bretonnia, then traveled south through Estalia to reach several port cities in northern Araby controlled by Bretonnian expeditionary forces. There, he received a warm welcome and replenished his supplies.
However, as he ventured deeper into the desert, Russ encountered significant trouble. The endless skeletons that could reassemble at any moment, the ambushes by Necromancers, and the Tomb Kings who constantly summoned sandstorms and hurricanes all rose to confront this powerful enemy. When they realized they could not effectively stop Russ, they summoned a sandstorm and altered the terrain, forcing him to wander in circles.
Unfortunately, Russ got lost. It took him a long time to escape the desert. During this time, the only notable achievement he managed was defeating and destroying three Tomb Kings' legions led by Queen Khalida of Lybaras, severely weakening her forces and forcing her to retreat to Lybaras to recuperate. This also gave Queen Neferata of Lahmia a chance to catch her breath.
However, Russ himself was not in good shape. He was injured by the venom of the Serpent Goddess Asaph. While fleeing into the mountains, Russ received aid from the Dwarfs of Karak Azul, the ancestral home of the Dwarfs, which now had only about 300 Dwarfs remaining.
The venom of the Serpent Goddess Asaph could kill tens of thousands of mortals, but Russ recovered after a few months of rest in Karak Azul. In return, Russ defeated and killed the Necromancers and Orc bosses within a 50-kilometer radius of Karak Azul. He also managed to "borrow" a large amount of supplies from Arabyan merchants for the Dwarfs before continuing his journey south.
Soon, Russ found the Empire's colony of Sudenburg in the Southlands. After speaking with the locals, he learned that there were indeed rumors of a Lizardmen city in the south, though its existence had never been confirmed. The city was said to be called Zlatlan, a prosperous city filled with gold.
Thus, Russ continued south, entering the rainforest in search of the Southlands Lizardmen.
Unfortunately, Leman Russ got lost again, this time in the tropical rainforest. Of course, this wasn't entirely the Primarch's fault. The Slann of Zlatlan had detected the arrival of this Son of the Old Ones. However, the Southlands Lizardmen had been separated from their Lustrian counterparts since the first Chaos invasion, with no communication between them. Their understanding of the "Great Plan" also differed. Unlike Mazdamundi, who saw Fulgrim as a "tool sent by the Old Ones," the fifth-generation Slann of Zlatlan, most of whom were only 6,000 to 8,000 years old (quite young for Slann), decided to deny Russ entry after psychic contact. They used magic to alter the forest's terrain but did not attack him.
Despite this, Russ managed to destroy a Lizardmen Horned One regiment, causing significant losses to Zlatlan and disrupting the Slann's Great Plan and astral rituals.
Russ spent several months wandering the rainforest without finding a way out. Finally, the Primarch decided to charge in one direction, which eventually led him out of the rainforest.
After months of wandering in circles, Russ was filled with pent-up frustration. When he finally emerged, he encountered a High Elf outpost. A group of High Elf guards stationed there were shocked to see a human appear in such a remote location. Upon seeing Russ's appearance—wearing wolf pelts, with golden hair, blue eyes, and a topknot—they immediately assumed he was a Chaos-worshipping barbarian.
What else could he be?
The High Elves, true to their nature, immediately opened fire with arrows and ballistae.
Russ, also true to his nature and filled with frustration, responded in kind.
The outcome was that Russ personally slaughtered the entire High Elf outpost, including its one hundred guards, and destroyed the outpost. Only then did he feel some relief.
However, as Russ sat on the ruins of the High Elf outpost, enjoying their fine food and counting his spoils, the Primarch of the Space Wolves quickly realized he had made a grave mistake.
This High Elf outpost was crucial for maintaining the Great Ward created by the Old Ones. After the Lizardmen left, the High Elves believed it was their duty to protect and maintain the Old Ones' gift, the Great Ward.
Russ soon discovered that he had single-handedly destroyed a key node of the Great Ward!
Three Chaos Daemon legions seized the opportunity to manifest in the mortal world, led by the Great Unclean One—Septicus.
Russ fought alone against the three Chaos Daemon legions for a day and two nights before finally defeating and driving them away. The Primarch of the Space Wolves knew he had made a grave mistake and feared the Emperor's disappointment. Having already been severely reprimanded by the Emperor once before, Russ decided to lay low in Barak Varr, slowly disposing of his spoils and investigating to avoid further trouble.
Coincidentally, Bjorn the Fell-Handed, the last of Russ's Wolf Guard from the Great Crusade and later the Great Wolf of the Space Wolves, had been reforged by the Emperor and sent to this world to assist him.
After scouting the Chaos Wastes, Bjorn headed south and reunited with his Primarch in Barak Varr.
What followed was simple. The unemployed Leman Russ and the migrant worker Bjorn the Fell-Handed reunited in Barak Varr after ten thousand years and naturally got drunk, consuming ten barrels of Bugman's XXXXX.
During this time, Russ expressed his concerns, fearing that the High Elves might come after him. Bjorn suggested, "Why not go out and do something to cover our tracks and earn some funds?" Russ agreed, and the Primarch and his Wolf Guard soon approached the Barak Varr Slayers' Guild to acquire tools and prepare for their next venture.
A demigod and a peak Saint-level warrior quickly caught the attention of the Barak Varr Dwarfs.
A few days later, the Ironbreakers of Barak Varr reported to King Byrnoth that the giant barbarian and his assistant had taken out several sharp cleavers and tools in the middle of the night.
At 4:55 a.m., their "Fenris Deep Well Ice Roast" shop opened for business.
After a few months of operation, Russ and Bjorn had become local celebrities. The Primarch had planned to close shop after another month or two and continue his exploration of the Southlands. However, just then, a large group of High Elves arrived!
What were they here for? Were they here for revenge?
Russ was nervous. He quickly went to the tavern where the High Elf delegation was staying to gather information.
He was feeling guilty!
The Caledorian Dragon Prince Torondil wanted to remain haughty, but facing a living demigod, the gap in power was too vast. Torondil could only muster a weak response: "This has little to do with you, sir."
"What do you mean it has little to do with me?" Russ, also feeling guilty, retorted, "You've come to my territory, and it has nothing to do with me? Tell me, what are you here for?"
What do you mean your territory? This is Barak Varr. If anything, this is the Dwarfs' territory, specifically King Byrnoth's. Torondil was under immense pressure but couldn't back down, leaving him speechless.
Fortunately, the Dwarf envoy Dorgrim Ironhelm stepped in to mediate: "Sir, the High Elves are here to mend old wounds with us Dwarfs."
"Mend old wounds?" Russ was momentarily confused.
"Yes, by Grungni, we are willing to sit down and discuss past grievances in the name of Valaya," Dorgrim stroked his brown beard, trying to remain diplomatic. "The Little Everqueen has traveled all the way from Ulthuan, visiting the Knightly Kingdom and Tilea, and now Barak Varr. I am an envoy from Karaz-a-Karak, sent by High King Thorgrim to welcome them. They are our guests."
"Guests?" Russ was again confused, his fierce expression making the High Elves wary.
"Sir, is there something we can help you with?" The Little Everqueen Alarielle stepped forward, offering a respectful curtsy to the demigod.
"Oh? Ah, nothing much. I was just curious to see so many pointy-ears in Barak Varr," Russ's gaze lingered on Alarielle for a moment, seemingly confirming that the High Elves weren't here for revenge. The Primarch didn't say much more: "It's quite rare, so I came to take a look."
"If our negotiations succeed and we can turn swords into plowshares, you may see more pointy-ears in Barak Varr in the future," Alarielle replied gracefully, offering a serene smile.
"Oh, so you're here for negotiations," Russ sighed in relief, gesturing that everything was fine before striding out of the tavern.
Both the High Elves and Dwarfs breathed a sigh of relief. Demigods were often eccentric or reclusive, and their logic and thought processes were difficult for mortals to comprehend. It was a relief that this demigod had simply come to inquire.
As Russ left the tavern, Bjorn approached and asked, "Well? My lord, are they here for revenge?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Russ shook his head, still feeling a bit uneasy. "These pointy-ears seem to be here just to negotiate with the Dwarfs. Maybe they haven't traced the outpost's destruction back to me, or perhaps they haven't even received the news yet."
"Or they might think it was the work of Chaos Daemons or Skaven," Bjorn, now freed from his Dreadnought and reunited with his Primarch, calmly analyzed. "My lord, your direct approach was a bit..."
"I know what you're trying to say, Bjorn. I know," Russ, who understood his son well, bared his fangs and smiled. "That's why I decided to keep you around. You possess the calm and wisdom that others lack."
"If possible, I wish it were someone else who stayed," Bjorn shook his head. "What should we do now, my lord?"
"Perhaps the pointy-ears haven't figured it out yet, but it's best not to linger here," Russ thought for a moment before saying seriously, "Let's prepare to set sail for Araby tomorrow morning and continue our exploration."
"Yes, my lord," Bjorn hesitated slightly before adding, "My lord, I sense that he has arrived."
"Him? Oh, that sorcerous fool under the Red-Eyed Ogryn? Isn't he busy solving the Rubric issue? Why would he come to this world?" Russ immediately understood who Bjorn was referring to.
"He's here to find his Primarch and a solution to the Rubric, but he's destined to find nothing," Bjorn casually remarked. "He should leave soon. Also, due to his unique attire and powerful sorcery, most people mistake him for a Tzeentch Daemon Prince."
"Whatever he is, it doesn't matter. Go back and pack up, gather our things, and contact the Slayers' Guild. We'll set sail tomorrow morning," Russ didn't care.
What followed was simple. The next day, Russ and Bjorn boarded a passenger ship bound for Araby, embarking on their second adventure.
Meanwhile, the Everqueen's delegation, led by the Dwarf envoys, continued their journey from Barak Varr toward Karaz-a-Karak.
A few days later, they arrived at a Border Princes' town called Bravoska.
Someone had been waiting for them for quite some time.
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