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Vulkan He'stan is the Forgefather of the Salamanders. He has given his life to finding the nine artefacts the Primarch Vulkan hid across the galaxy. The Tome of Fire teaches that Vulkan will return once all nine are recovered, so the Chapter's hopes rest on his quest.
He wields the Spear of Vulkan, the Gauntlet of the Forge and the Kesare's Mantle, relics of the Primarch. He travels the galaxy searching for the remaining artefacts of Vulkan, often aiding other Imperial forces along the way. He has recovered several of the artefacts, but others remain hidden. Vulkan He'stan is the Forgefather of the Salamanders, charged with the quest to recover the nine Artefacts of Vulkan. The Promethean Cult's Tome of Fire says the primarch will return when they are all found. He carries three of them: Kesare's Mantle, the Spear of Vulkan and the Gauntlet of the Forge. Before becoming Forgefather, he was a captain famed for his tireless defence of Nocturne.
Origins
Even as a Scout he showed the qualities the Salamanders prize most. He was later honoured with the title of Forgefather and with the name of his Primarch.
Even as a Scout, He'stan stood out. He was the only member of his recruit class to slay a mottled tri-horn salamander for his mantle, and his skill at the anvil impressed the Chapter's master artificers. Promoted to the Firedrakes and then to Captain, he became a hero to Nocturne's people for his tireless defence during the Ork raids and seismic upheaval of the Fire Year.
As a Scout he stood out even among Salamanders. Of all his recruiting class he alone took a unique beast for his mantle, a mottled tri-horn, one of the most vicious and cunning of Nocturne's reptiles, which can defeat teams of veteran drake-hunters. The Chapter's master artificers would stop to admire his work at the anvil. He led the 4th Company for a century before the Chapter Council asked him to set aside his captaincy and become Forgefather. With the new office he took the name Vulkan He'stan and gave up the name he was born with.
Key events
- Was a Salamanders veteran before being chosen as Forgefather, the keeper of the quest for Vulkan's Nine Artefacts.
- Was named Forgefather and charged with deciphering the Tome of Fire's riddles.
- Has helped recover five of the nine artefacts. He personally bears three of them, including the Spear of Vulkan and the Gauntlet of the Forge.
- Has pursued the quest through daemon-haunted and plague-stricken worlds.
- Continues the hunt in the Era Indomitus, though many believe the Great Rift has made it impossible.
His guide on the quest for Vulkan's nine artefacts is the Tome of Fire, which is notoriously difficult even to interpret. Unlike a captain, he can call on any Salamanders he needs, and the Chapter will happily cleanse part of a world on the strength of a rumour. In Nick Kyme's novel Firedrake he joins Herculon Praetor's Firedrakes in rescuing Chaplain Elysius and recovering Vulkan's Sigil. The mission takes them through the Webway into a Drukhari city, where the Forgefather reveals that he speaks his enemies' language. Codex: Space Marines (6th edition) records his duels with Trazyn the Infinite, who covets the relics: He'stan defeated the Necron in 878.M41 and again during the Tochran Crusade in 943.M41.
Battles & campaigns
- The Fire Year: He defended Nocturne's citizens during Ork raids and seismic upheaval.
- The quest: By the end of the 41st millennium, five of the nine artefacts had been recovered.
- Era Indomitus: He continues his quest in a divided galaxy.
Personality
Patient, humble and compassionate. Like Vulkan, he values protecting the innocent.
He is humble and compassionate, valuing the lives of innocents over victory. He is patient and determined, willing to search for years to find a single artefact. His faith in Vulkan's return sustains him.
Weapons & Vehicles
The iconic auramite halberd-and-bolter of the Adeptus Custodes and Deathwatch Watch Masters, marrying a crackling power spearhead with …
A volatile liquid-promethium projector that floods bunkers, trenches and xenos swarms in clinging, self-oxidising gouts of cleansing ch…
A short-ranged thermal sub-molecular agitation weapon that flash-melts battle tank armour, bunker doors and heavy walkers into bubbling…
A massive warhammer whose head releases a deafening concussive shockwave and disruption blast on impact, shattering Terminator plate an…
An armoured orbital-insertion capsule fired like a shell from a Space Marine Strike Cruiser, slamming into the heart of the enemy battl…
Explore all 48 entries in the Weapons & Vehicles armoury.
Connections
Characters (2)
Trazyn the Infinite enemy · NecronsTrazyn has twice launched attacks on He'stan to seize the artefacts of Vulkan.
Factions
- Salamanders primary faction
Some links are thematic parallels (marked "parallel") rather than recorded meetings. See the connections web.
Legacy
He'stan embodies the Salamanders' hope of their Primarch's return. His quest for the artefacts is a pilgrimage of faith and duty rather than conquest. His compassion for ordinary people reflects Vulkan's teachings and sets the Salamanders apart from many of their colder brother Chapters. The Salamanders see him as the closest living echo of their Primarch: warrior, smith and protector of ordinary people at once. He'stan's quest gives the Salamanders hope that Vulkan will return.
Many now believe that the Great Rift has made his quest impossible. He'stan sees it as Vulkan's final tempering of his sons. Following a clue to the Unbound Flame, he went to the world of Zero with the Hammers of Nocturne and the Covenant of Fire. There the Alpha Legion had infiltrated the Hammers and turned much of the world. The Salamanders drove them off but found no trace of the Flame, and He'stan has pushed deeper into the Imperium Nihilus.
Appearances & sources
- Codex: Space Marines (Salamanders background)
- The Tome of Fire trilogy (Nick Kyme)
- Salamanders short fiction