The Arsenal of Ferrus Manus: Inspecting Weapons and Armor
Table of Contents:
Introduction
1.1 The Iron Hands and Their Primarch
1.2 The Legacy of Ferrus Manus
Ferrus Manus: The Gorgon
2.1 The Iron Hands' Primarch
2.2 The Gorgon's Character and Leadership
Weapons of the Gorgon
3.1 The Forgebreaker
3.2 The Gorgon's Wrath
3.3 The Harrow Hand
3.4 The Tempered Wrath
Armor of the Gorgon
4.1 The Iron Halo
4.2 Terminator Armor
4.3 Gravis Armor
Ferrus Manus' Legacy
6.1 The Iron Hands' Suffering
6.2 The Unyielding Spirit
6.3 Ferrus Manus in the Grimdark Universe
Conclusion: The Iron Resilience of Ferrus Manus
1. Introduction
1.1 The Iron Hands and Their Primarch
The Iron Hands, one of the renowned Space Marine Chapters in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, are known for their unwavering determination, stoicism, and unyielding pursuit of perfection. Central to their identity is their Primarch, Ferrus Manus, the Gorgon, who played a pivotal role in shaping the chapter's character and ethos.
1.2 The Legacy of Ferrus Manus
Ferrus Manus' legacy extends beyond his leadership and the tragic events of the Horus Heresy. It is also manifested in the formidable weapons and armor he wielded. This blog post aims to delve into the arsenal of Ferrus Manus, exploring the iconic weapons and armor that made him a legendary figure in the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000.
2. Ferrus Manus: The Gorgon
2.1 The Iron Hands' Primarch
Ferrus Manus, one of the Emperor's twenty Primarchs, was the leader of the Iron Hands Legion. His upbringing and the circumstances of his discovery of the volcanic world of Medusa shaped him into a formidable warrior and a charismatic leader.
He was the third of the Primarchs to be discovered by the emperor on official records of the Imperium. He managed to unify and lead on his home world Medusa before the Emperor of mankind integrated him as one of his commanders into the Adeptus Astartes.
2.2 The Gorgon's Character and Leadership
Ferrus Manus' character was defined by his unyielding determination and his belief in the importance of self-improvement and the pursuit of perfection. His leadership style and character had a profound impact on the Iron Hands, making them a force to be reckoned with in the galaxy.
A main difference between him and other primarchs was that he mainly focused on practicalities in battle. There was little room for prestige, beauty, or secrecy entering the calculations of Ferrus. The main objective was to win the battle at hand with the least amount of resources lost. This left Ferrus open to intrigue , spying and other forms of warfare not directly related to the battlefield, mustering, and maintenance of a fighting force.
3. Weapons of the Gorgon
3.1 The Forgebreaker
The Forgebreaker, Ferrus Manus' iconic weapon, was a massive two-handed Warhammer that exemplified his strength and combat prowess. Its construction and the materials used in its creation reflected the Gorgon's affinity for the art of blacksmithing.
Forgebreaker is the legendary thunder hammer wielded by Ferrus Manus. Forged as a gift by his brother Fulgrim the weapon has an ebony shaft embroidered with gold and silver. The head of the weapon has the form of a mighty eagle. Its beak forms the striking face of the hammer to be pointed at the enemies of the Iron Hands.
Forgebreaker and Fulgrim‘s sword Fireblade was the result of a friendly competition between the two Primarchs in the early stages of the Great Crusade. In the end, the battle brothers exchanged weapons to seal their bond.
The great crusade passed and the dawn of the Horus Heresy was afoot. While Horus and Lorgar fell to Chaos Fulgrim grew more and more estranged with Ferrus. When Horus asked Fulgrim to persuade Ferrus to join the rebellion failed and showed his treachery during the attempt to persuade.
The resulting counteroffensive at Istvan 5 after Horus had killed the Emperor’s loyalist within his ranks peaked in the battle of the two Primarchs. Forgebreaker and Fireblade crossed in battle in which the Phoenician succeeded and decapitated Ferrus with the Blade of Laer. The first of the Primarchs had fallen leaving a gaping wound in the Iron Hands chapter while they joined the ranks of the shattered legions.
After the Drop Site massacre, Forgebreaker and the head of Ferrus Manus were offered up to Horus by Fulgrim. Horus then gifted Forgebreaker to the Primarch of the Iron Warriors, Perturabo, to welcome him to the ranks of the rebellion against the emperor.
To this day Forgebreaker is believed to be in possession of Perturabo.
3.2 The Gorgon's Wrath
The Gorgon’s wrath can be easily mistaken as one of Ferrus Manus's weapons. It is currently in possession of Feirros of the Iron Hands. It is a heavy bolter that is strapped to the back of his Gravis Armour.
If you play a narrative game it is a good option to proxy Feirros as Ferrus Manus. There is also the old Resin model of the Primarch himself.
3.3 The Harrow Hand
The Harrow Hand is the axe that is currently equipped by Feirros. Depending on which edition you have played it is a decent combat weapon to put into your enemies. As Forgebreaker is currently not with the Iron Hands Feirros is equipped with this upgraded version of an axe that the usual Techmarine carries.
4. Armor of the Gorgon
4.1 The Iron Halo
The Iron Halo was an important component of Ferrus Manus' armor. It served as a protective force field, deflecting incoming attacks and enhancing his resilience on the battlefield.
The Iron Halo is a piece of equipment that you were able to find on most data sheets in earlier editions of Warhammer for Space Marine characters. It usually would provide the bearer with a 4+ invulnerable safe which expresses the extra protection characters get.
An invulnerable denies the saving throw to be negatively modified beyond a 4+ on a D6 dice by the armor penetration characteristic of your opponent.
4.2 Terminator Armor
The armor of Ferrus Manus was based on the terminator armor chassis enlarged for use by a Primarch. Terminator armor is the armor of choice of veterans and first company shock assault troops which go into close-range combat using thunder hammers, lighting claws, and power fists.
Terminator armor has been designed to withstand firepower to the level of a tank. On the tabletop, this is expressed by granting them a 4+ invulnerable save which even tanks do not have. From a lore perspective, every veteran could earn the right in a space marine chapter to wear Terminator armor. To upgrade them even more you can earn the crux terminatus which is said to encase a splinter of the armor of the emperor when he defeated Horus.
Terminators are among the most fearsome infantry units in the arsenal of the space marines and Ferrus towered over these as one of the Primarch before he met his premature death.
4.3 Gravis Armor
It is worth mentioning Gravis armor which is the current apparel of choice for Feirros. With the evolution of suits, the tactical dreadnaught armor of the Terminators was harder to make as it was based on ancient technology that was hard to obtain and maintain. The Gravis armor tried to circumvent that by being based on the more readily available technology of more recent power armor.
With the release of the MkX armor, the Adeptus Astartes also gained access to the Gravis variation of the armor. This armor provides similar protection to the Terminator armor but leaves more flexibility for moving around.
5. Ferrus Manus' Legacy
5.1 The Iron Hands' Suffering
Ferrus Manus' death and the events of the Horus Heresy left an indelible mark on the Iron Hands. They continued to bear the burden of their Primarch's legacy and the scars of their past.
5.2 The Unyielding Spirit
Despite the challenges and tragedies they faced, the Iron Hands maintained their unyielding spirit and commitment to perfection. They drew strength from their Primarch's teachings and the enduring legacy he left behind.
5.3 Ferrus Manus in the Grimdark Universe
Ferrus Manus' influence extended beyond his death, resonating in the grim and unforgiving universe of Warhammer 40,000. His weapons, armor, and unwavering determination continue to inspire and shape the narrative of the Iron Hands.
6. Conclusion: The Iron Resilience of Ferrus Manus
Ferrus Manus, the Gorgon, left an enduring legacy that transcends his tragic end. His weapons and armor, along with his unyielding spirit, serve as a testament to the indomitable will of the Iron Hands. The Arsenal of Ferrus Manus is a reflection of his character, his dedication to perfection, and the enduring impact he had on the Warhammer 40,000 universe.alis
