Artefacts of Vulkan

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Vulkan He'stan, current Forgefather of the Salamanders wielding the Spear of Vulkan, Gauntlet of the Forge and Kesare's Mantle.[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 Isstvan V.[4]

The Nine were, according to Salamanders lore of the 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 Captain from one of the companies. He renounces his name and takes his Primarch's name, Vulkan, and is given the title of Forgefather. So far, 5 of the artefacts have been located.[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.[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.[4] Vulkan's Sigil, a hammer icon that formed part of the primarch's Draken Scale, was later recovered by Pyre Captain Artellus Numeon at Isstvan V.[5] T'kell chose to save the Unbound Flame, the Obsidian Chariot, the Spear of Vulkan, the Song of Entropy, the 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.[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.[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 and the Sons of Horus had arrived before them.[6d] Embattled in the vault, they were rescued by elements of the Shattered Legions under Iron Father Kastigan Ulok.[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.[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.[6h] The remaining Salamanders aboard entered stasis to watch over the artefacts as they drifted through the void.[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.[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.[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.[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 Companies in the search, while other Chapters have sent smaller forces. All have done so, as a sign of respect for their Founding Chapter.[8]

Known Artefacts

Recovered Artefacts

Unrecovered Artefacts

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.[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.[6b]

  • Vermillion Sphere[4]
  • Light of Unmaking[4]
  • Igneous Hammer[6b]
  • Anvil of Desolation[6b]

Other Artefacts

Sources

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