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{{SalamandersPortal}}
[[File:VulkanHestanArt.jpg|250px|right|thumb|[[Vulkan He'stan]], current [[Forgefather]] of the [[Salamanders]] wielding the '''Spear of Vulkan''', '''Gauntlet of the Forge''' and '''Kesare's Mantle'''.{{Fn|1}}]]
The '''Artefacts of Vulkan''' are approximately (see below) nine artefacts forged by the [[Primarch]] [[Vulkan]], the only survivors of what was once a vault of thousands. Of these, seven were chosen by the first [[Forgefather]], [[T'kell]], whilst the others were carried by Vulkan to [[Dropsite Massacre|Isstvan V]].{{Fn|4}}

'''The Nine''' were, according to [[Salamanders]] lore of the [[M41|41st Millennium]], scattered throughout the galaxy, and the [[Tome of Fire]] gives clues as to their locations. The one tasked with finding these artefacts is a [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] from one of the companies. He renounces his name and takes his [[Primarch|Primarch's]] name, Vulkan, and is given the title of [[Forgefather]]. So far, 5 of the artefacts have been located.{{Fn|1}}

==History==
Before heading to battle against Horus following the events at [[Isstvan III]], [[Vulkan]] traveled to [[Prometheus]] to meet with [[Forgemaster]] [[T'kell]]. After discussing how weapons could be abused, and how Horus's fall represented that even the best of them could fall, Vulkan decided that he must destroy all of his artefacts, the weapons he was created to make. Vulkan took T'kell into his vault and allowed him to see the many weapons, ranging from simple blades to mighty machines, created within. Vulkan tasked T'kell with their destruction, but T'kell pleaded, saying that they represented Vulkan's legacy and could possibly be used for good just as they could be used for evil. Vulkan relented on the order, declaring that T'kell would be his Forgefather, bound to Nocturne and unable to travel with them to [[Isstvan V]].{{Fn|4}}

This disturbed T'kell, but Vulkan allowed him to choose 7 artefacts which he would preserve as Vulkan's legacy. If Vulkan was to fall, then the artefacts would be hidden. The rest, those not chosen, would have to be destroyed before Vulkan returned from battle. T'kell was then left with the task to choose; Vulkan took his hammer ''[[Dawnbringer]]'', the ''[[Gauntlet of the Forge]]'', and ''[[Kesare's Mantle]]''.{{Fn|4}} [[Vulkan's Sigil]], a hammer icon that formed part of the primarch's ''[[The Draken Scale|Draken Scale]]'', was later recovered by Pyre Captain [[Artellus Numeon]] at Isstvan V.{{Fn|5}} T'kell chose to save the [[Unbound Flame]], the [[Obsidian Chariot]], the [[Spear of Vulkan]], the [[Song of Entropy]], the ''[[Chalice of Fire (Salamanders)|Chalice of Fire]]'', the [[Eye of Vulkan]], and the [[Engine of Woes]]. Their names were not always the original ones given by Vulkan; some were named after the legend that formed around them.{{Fn|6a}}

Within the ''Chalice of Fire'', T'kell destroyed many of the artefacts in the ship's massive furnace, watching the inferno through armoglass as he despaired over the loss. He felt that it was a second loss of Vulkan after the loss on Isstvan. He explained to the Firedrake Captain [[Rahz Obek]] that two of the items to be spared were the ship itself and a weapon upon its hull, in addition to five other artefacts. The forge of the ship was so hot that nothing made could stand against it. Obek believed that it was for the best that the weapons be destroyed instead of possibly falling to the traitors, and T'kell speculated that it was probably why Obek and his men were left behind to guard Prometheus and oversee their destruction.{{Fn|6c}}

When [[Artellus Numeon]] returned Vulkan's body to [[Nocturne]], T'kell gathered the garrison, known as the 'Unscarred', to accompany him to the [[Wrought]], a weapons cache in which Vulkan had told him to seal the artefacts if he did not return from [[Isstvan V]]. When the Salamanders arrived at the Wrought, they discovered that [[Regulus (Dark Mechanicum)|Regulus]] and the [[Sons of Horus]] had arrived before them.{{Fn|6d}} Embattled in the vault, they were rescued by elements of the [[Shattered Legions]] under [[Iron Father]] [[Kastigan Ulok]].{{Fn|6e}} When the Iron Father discovered the nature of the relics the Salamanders carried, he demanded they be surrendered to him so that he could use them to find and kill [[Horus]].{{Fn|6f}} The Eye of Vulkan was fired at the [[Iron Hands]]' [[Battle Barge]], destroying it and killing the Forgefather who was still aboard. In the aftermath of the battle, the ''Chalice of Fire'' was severely damaged, operating under failing reserve power.{{Fn|6h}} The remaining Salamanders aboard entered stasis to watch over the artefacts as they drifted through the void.{{Fn|6i}}

The first of the artefacts was not recovered until [[M41]], when a force of Salamanders under the direction of Forgefather [[Vulkan Dir'san]] discovered the drifting ''Chalice of Fire''. The Eye of Vulkan was still attached, but the other artefacts had been stolen from the breached vault.{{Fn|6j}} Vulkan He'Stan, the current Forgefather, carries three of his Primarch's relics with him in his quest to find the remaining four: Kesare's Mantle, the Spear of Vulkan and the Gauntlet of the Forge.{{Fn|1}}

Sometime after the [[Great Rift]]'s creation, [[Vulkan He'Stan]] journeyed to the world known as [[Zero]], in hopes of finding a clue to the [[Unbound Flame]]'s location.{{Fn|7b}} For the first time in history, the [[Salamanders]] are now no longer alone in their search for the Artefacts, as several of their [[Ultima Founding]] [[Successor Chapters]] have joined the efforts. The [[Covenant of Fire]] and [[Hammers of Nocturne]] have deployed multiple [[Space Marine Company|Companies]] in the search, while other Chapters have sent smaller forces. All have done so, as a sign of respect for their [[Founding Chapter]].{{Fn|8}}

==Known Artefacts==
===Recovered Artefacts===
*[[M41]] - The ''[[Chalice of Fire (Salamanders)|Chalice of Fire]]'', a forgeship said to be "the maker of the sublime and enduring."{{Fn|6a}} One of the first two artefacts recovered, done so by [[Vulkan Dir'san]], it is now based at [[Prometheus]].{{Fn|6j}} Its vast manufactoria provide the Salamanders with their weapons of war.{{Fn|6i}}
*M41 - The [[Eye of Vulkan]], a laser whose "gaze is as death";{{Fn|6a}} discovered to be mounted on the ''Chalice of Fire'' and hence recovered simultaneously by [[Vulkan Dir'san]],{{Fn|6j}} it is now employed as an orbital defence laser above Prometheus.{{Fn|2}}
*M41 - The [[Spear of Vulkan]], a spear which burns with such heat that it can set fire to and melt even [[ceramite]]. It is said that only a primarch can harness its true power.{{Fn|6a}}
*M41 - [[Kesare's Mantle]], a legendary, particularly strong [[salamander (creature)|drakescale]] cloak worn by Vulkan at the [[Dropsite Massacre]].{{Fn|4}}
*722.M41 - The [[Gauntlet of the Forge]], an armoured gauntlet incorporating a [[heavy flamer]], worn as part of Vulkan's [[The Draken Scale|Draken Scale]] armour.{{Fn|4}} It was recovered by [[Vulkan He'Stan]] after he ripped it from the grip of the [[Eldar]] [[Eldar Corsair|Pirate Lord ]] [[Iath Bloodweaver]].{{Fn|2}}

===Unrecovered Artefacts===
*The [[Engine of Woes]] - its "wrath has never been unleashed."{{Fn|6a}}
*The [[Obsidian Chariot]] - said to have "armour near impregnable."{{Fn|6a}}
*The [[Song of Entropy]] - a drake-headed staff that produces an entropic beam{{Fn|6g}} which "no defence can resist."{{Fn|6a}}
*The [[Unbound Flame]] - "a device both terrible and wonderous",{{Fn|6a}} a stasis capsule used as Vulkan's casket.{{Fn|3}}

Of these unrecovered artefacts, only the names are known to the Salamanders of M41. Their size, form, and location are locked within the riddles and encrypted passages of the Tome of Fire, there to be uncovered once Vulkan's prophecies come to light.{{Fn|1}}

===Destroyed Artefacts===
The following names are attributed to artefacts within the vault, presumably destroyed by T'kell in the furnaces of the ''Chalice of Fire''.{{Fn|6b}}
* Vermillion Sphere{{Fn|4}}
* Light of Unmaking{{Fn|4}}
* Igneous Hammer{{Fn|6b}}
* Anvil of Desolation{{Fn|6b}}

===Other Artefacts===
*[[The Draken Scale]] was Vulkan's personal armour; it incorporated [[Vulkan's Sigil]] and [[Kesare's Mantle]]. While the first is not recovered and the latter two are, only the Mantle is considered one of the Nine - the recovered sigil and unrecovered suit are not.
*The [[Talisman of Seven Hammers]] - A planet-killing explosive device that was eventually installed on the [[Golden Throne]].
*The [[Tome of Fire (Relic)|Tome of Fire]] - A collection of texts and items related to Vulkan's other artifacts.{{Fn|7a}}
*[[Dawnbringer]] - Forged for Horus upon his ascension to [[Warmaster]], but used against his forces (along with the [[Gauntlet of the Forge]]) as it became clear he had fallen to [[Chaos]].{{Fn|4}} Its current location is unknown; after his resurrection, Vulkan took up [[Urdrakule]], a weapon he had forged but did not remember making.{{CME}}
*[[Urdrakule]], [[Dawnbringer]]'s replacement hammer, forged at the psychic urging of the [[Emperor]]. Its location is also unknown; at some point, Vulkan replaced it with [[Doomtremor]].{{CME}}
*[[Doomtremor]], [[Urdrakule]]'s replacement hammer. Last seen in Vulkan's hands as both were seemingly obliterated.{{CME}}

==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]], pg. 93
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Nocturne (Novel)]], Chapter Eight
*{{Endn|3}}: [[The Unremembered Empire (Novel)]], pg. 251 (e-book) {{CME}}
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Artefacts (Short Story)]]
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Vulkan Lives (Novel)]], Ch. 24
*6: [[Sons of the Forge (Novella)]]:
**{{Endn|6a}}: Interior Description, "Vulkan the artificer"
**{{Endn|6b}}: Prologue
**{{Endn|6c}}: Chapter One
**{{Endn|6d}}: Chapter Three
**{{Endn|6e}}: Chapter Seventeen
**{{Endn|6f}}: Chapter Twenty-Four
**{{Endn|6g}}: Chapter Twenty-Five
**{{Endn|6h}}: Chapter Twenty-Seven
**{{Endn|6i}}: Chapter Twenty-Eight
**{{Endn|6j}}: ''The Broken Chalice''
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Old Earth (Novel)]] Chapter 32
*7: [[Codex Supplement: Salamanders (8th Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|7a}}: pg. 13
**{{Endn|7b}}: pg. 36 - ''Vulkan He'stan''
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (10th Edition)]], pg. 18 - ''Zero''

[[Category:Imperial Relics]]
[[Category:Salamanders]]

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