Tome of Fire/Characters

Characters belong to the Salamanders, both in the background and in the novel series.

Vulkan
One of the twenty Primarchs created by the Emperor of Mankind for the Great Crusade, Vulkan and his brothers were scattered to the stars by the Chaos Gods. Landing on the planet Nocturne, Vulkan was taken in by blacksmith N'Bel. Quickly growing to manhood, Vulkan soon mastered every forging technique his father taught him, and quickly developed new ones. However, Nocturne was frequently raided by the Dark Eldar, and the primitive people of the planet had no means of defense except for hiding. Vulkan, however, refused to run, and when they came, Vulkan slew them and inspired the people to the defense of their homes. In celebration, the people of his city held a competition of skill. By the end of the eight day, only Vulkan and one other remained, a stranger known as the Outlander who had been asked to join. For their final challenge, Vulkan and the Outlander were challenged to kill a Salamander, the largest of the Fire-drakes inhabiting Nocturne. Vulkan killed a great Salamander, but was left hanging from a precipice when the mountain he was on erupted. He was saved by the Outlander, who forfeited his own dead, larger Salamander to do so. While Vulkan was declared the winner, he declared that the Outlander had won. The Outlander then revealed himself to be the Emperor of Mankind, and placed Vulkan in command of Legion XVIII of the Adeptus Astartes. In remembrance of the Emperor saving his life, Vulkan renamed them the Salamanders.

During the Great Crusade, Vulkan served loyally, and the Salamanders gained a reputation as defenders of humanity, not merely executioners of the Emperor's enemies. When Warmaster Horus fell to Chaos and rebelled against the Emperor, Vulkan lead the Salamanders with six other legions to stop them, but four of the Legions turned traitor on the Salamanders, Raven Guard, and Iron Hands. In what became known as the Drop Site Massacre, Vulkan disappeared in the heat of battle. The Salamanders seek out the clues of his fate, hoping that one day he will return.


 * Blade on a Stick: The Spear of Vulkan
 * Badass
 * Badass Bookworm: Within a few months he had managed to develop new metallurgy techniques to raise the people of Nocturne to the Iron Age.
 * Badass Cape: Kesare's Mantle, one of the Artefacts.
 * Badass in Charge
 * Badass Nickname: The Drake.
 * Badass Teacher: Taught his metallurgy techniques to the people of Nocturne.
 * Four-Star Badass
 * Bald Black Leader Guy
 * The Blacksmith
 * Drop the Hammer: His Thunder Hammer, dubbed Thunderhead.
 * Fearless Fool: Refused to back away from the Dark Eldar. And survived.
 * Gentle Giant
 * Power Fist: The Gautlet of the Forge, with attached flamer.
 * Training the Peaceful Villagers: Trained the people of Nocturne to defend themselves from the Dark Eldar.
 * What Happened to the Mouse?: The Salamanders still haven't found out what happened to Vulkan, even after all these years.

Tu'Shan
The Chapter Master of the Salamanders, Tu'Shan is the Master of the Fire-Drakes (First Captain of the Salamanders) and Regent of Nocturne. Becoming Regent of Nocturne at a relatively young age, Tu'Shan has proven himself to be a true hero time and again.


 * Badass
 * Badass Grandpa: Somewhat averted, as he is considerably younger than his contemporary Chapter Masters. He's still probably seen a few centuries, though.
 * Badass Bookworm
 * Badass Cape
 * Badass in Charge
 * Submissive Badass: Had no problem submitting to Lord Commander Dante during the Second War for Armaggedon.
 * Bald Black Leader Guy
 * Bald of Awesome
 * Big Good
 * The Captain: He is First Captain.
 * Drop the Hammer: His favorite weapon Stormbearer.
 * Made of Iron:

Vulkan He'Stan
The former Captain of the 4th Company, He'Stan is the Forgefather, the one who searches the galaxy for the Nine Artefacts of Vulkan. His duties take him to the furthest edges of the galaxy, away from his Chapter.


 * Ancestral Weapon
 * Blade on a Stick: The Spear of Vulkan, which can cut through Ceramite.
 * Power Fist: The Gauntlet of the Forge.
 * Badass
 * Badass Bookworm
 * Badass Cape: Kesare's Mantle, a legendary drakescale cloak.
 * The Captain
 * Shrouded in Myth
 * Waling The Cosmos: Travels along the galaxy find Vulkan's artefacts.

Hazon Da'kir
A Brother-Sergeant in the 3rd Company, Hazon Da'kir hails from Ignea, the subterranean continent beneath Nocturne, and not from one of Nocturne's Sanctuary Cities. He is at the center of a prophecy in the Tome of Fire called the "Fire Sword".


 * The Hero
 * Flaming Sword: After he takes on a force sword.
 * I Call It Vera: Draugen, his force sword.
 * Psychic Powers:
 * Dishing Out Dirt
 * Playing with Fire
 * Shock and Awe
 * The Rival: With Tsu'gan.
 * Sergeant Rock
 * The Rival: With Tsu'gan.
 * Sergeant Rock

Zek Tsu'gan
A Brother-Sergeant in the 3rd Company, Zek Tsu'gan is the rival of Hazon Da'kir, loathing him as an outsider. He was very close to Captain Kadai, and took his death hard.


 * Chainsaw Good: Uses a chainsword.
 * Combat Sadomasochist: Develops masochist tendencies after Kadai's death.
 * The Rival
 * Sergeant Rock
 * What Have I Become?: He genuinely asks this.
 * What Have I Become?: He genuinely asks this.

Sol Ba'ken
The heavy weapons specialist in Da'kir's squad, and Da'kir's closest friend. Ba'ken is later promoted to Sergeant upon Da'kir's induction to the Librarium.


 * Badass
 * Gladiator Games: He sometimes fight in Themis's gladiator pits to keep him sharp.
 * Large and In Charge: Is quite large, even for a Space Marine.
 * Sergeant Rock
 * Veteran Instructor
 * You Are in Command Now: Is given command of the squad when Da'kir goes onto the Librarium.
 * You Are in Command Now: Is given command of the squad when Da'kir goes onto the Librarium.

Pyriel
An Epistolary (or Codicier) from the Librarius, he becomes Da'kir's teacher in the Librarius. Also the former Mentor of Nihilan.


 * Badass Bookworm
 * The Mentor: To Da'kir
 * My Greatest Failure: Nihilan.
 * Psychic Powers:
 * Playing with Fire
 * Power Glows
 * Shock and Awe
 * Simple Staff
 * Simple Staff

Vel'cona
The Chief Librarian of the Salamanders.


 * Badass Bookworm
 * Due to the Dead:
 * My Greatest Failure: Not stopping Nihilan before he got too powerful.
 * Psychic Powers:
 * Dishing Out Dirt
 * Playing with Fire
 * Power Glows
 * Shock and Awe
 * Simple Staff

Herculon Praetor
The Veteran Sergeant of the First Company, and acting leader when Tu'Shan is absent.


 * Drop the Hammer
 * Large and In Charge
 * Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me
 * Number Two: To Tu'Shan.
 * Sergeant Rock

Elysius
Chaplain of the 3rd Company, noted for his fiery rhetoric and rarely removing his mask except in private.


 * Absolute Xenophobe: "Suffer not the alien to live!"
 * Badass Preacher
 * Bishonen: Surprisingly, he's not only scarless, but quite handsome. Helspereth is quite attracted to him.
 * Energy Weapon: His Crozius Arcanum, and the Power Fist he starts using.
 * Large Ham: "Quail, base traitors!"
 * Odd Friendship: With Argos.
 * Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red, with Argos.
 * Talking Is a Free Action: Starts quoting catechisms left and right during battle.

Argos
The Master of the Forge, and once a member of Elysius's scout squad. He suffered horrible burns on his face due to two encounters with genestealers.


 * Cyborg
 * Made of Iron: Getting his face burned by genestealer acid twice. And living both times.
 * Machine Worship
 * Odd Friendship: With Elysius.
 * Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue, with Elysius.
 * Scars Are Forever: When it's caused by genestealers, yes they are.

Fugis
The Apothecary of the 3rd Company.


 * Combat Medic
 * Despair Event Horizon: A combination of Kadai's death and failing to secure a fallen Marine's progenoid causes him to give into despair.
 * Walking the Earth: Goes on the "Burning Walk" to regain his faith.
 * Walking the Earth: Goes on the "Burning Walk" to regain his faith.

Emek
A member of Da'kir's squad who later joins the Apothecarion.


 * Despair Event Horizon
 * The Medic
 * Scars Are Forever
 * Scars Are Forever

Cerbius Iagon
A sociopathic Salamander, who is using Tsu'gan to gain power and influence.


 * Sociopathic Soldier
 * Sociopathic Soldier
 * Sociopathic Soldier
 * Sociopathic Soldier
 * Sociopathic Soldier

Va'lin
A young boy from Scoria who became a Salamander Aspirant.


 * Determinator
 * Sixth Sense: For danger.
 * The Strategist: Noted as being quite skilled in tactics.
 * Took a Level in Badass: Becoming a Space Marine Aspirant does this.

Lorkar
A Sergeant in the Marines Malevolent. He joins Nihilan's warband with tacit approval from his chapter over the Archimedes Rex.


 * Bald of Evil
 * Disproportionate Retribution: His response to losing armour that they later got back? Joining a warband whose goal is the destruction of the Salamanders.
 * Revenge
 * Revenge
 * Revenge
 * Revenge
 * Revenge

Vinyar
A Captain of the Marines Malevolent, and Lorkar's superior.


 * Deal with the Devil: He agrees to help the Salamanders on Scoria in return for giving them the armor and arms of the Archimedes Rex.
 * Lack of Empathy: During the Third War for Armaggedon, he ordered his Whirlwind artillery launchers to fire on a group of hostages held by the Orks.

Sonnar Illiad
The overseer of the Scorian colony.


 * Cool Old Guy
 * Reasonable Authority Figure

Zartath
A member of the Black Dragons Chapter, who was hunted by the Dark Eldar for sport for over six years.


 * Absolute Xenophobe: If he didn't hate aliens before, he certainly does now.
 * Blade Below the Shoulder: Black Dragons can cause spikes to extend from their arms.
 * Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: And he was the game.
 * Revenge Before Reason:
 * Revenge Before Reason:

An'scur
Archon of a Dark Eldar Kabal allied with the Dragon Warriors.


 * Evil Overlord
 * Lightning Bruiser
 * Rasputinian Death: Of fifteen assassination attempts, three succeeded, yet he came back completely fine.
 * Unholy Matrimony: With Helspereth.
 * White-Haired Pretty Boy
 * White-Haired Pretty Boy

Helspereth
A Wych queen who is allied with An'scur.


 * Dark Chick
 * Death by Sex: Few rarely survive a night with Helspereth for long. An'scur is one of the rare exceptions.
 * In Love with Your Carnage: Is positively aroused when Nihilan strikes down a Berserker of Khorne.
 * Stalker with a Crush: Towards Elysius.
 * Stripperiffic: Justified in that Wychs disdain wearing armor.
 * Unholy Matrimony: With An'scur.
 * White-Haired Pretty Girl
 * White-Haired Pretty Girl

Malnakor
A dracon serving An'scur.


 * Cain and Abel: With An'scur.
 * The Dragon
 * The Starscream
 * The Starscream

Kravix
A Haemonculus serving An'scur, and the supposed key to his constant survival.


 * Death Is Cheap: One of his jobs is making sure An'scur is resurrected if he is killed..
 * Evil Genius
 * Too Kinky to Torture
 * Too Kinky to Torture

Nihilan
The Chaos Lord of the Dragon Warriors, Nihilan is a fallen Librarian who was once part of the Salamanders. He was converted to the cause of Ushorrok, a fallen Chaplain from the Black Dragons.


 * Big Bad
 * Evil Sorcerer
 * Psychic Powers
 * Playing with Fire
 * Shock and Awe
 * Undying Loyalty: To Ushorrok.

Engel'shakk
A Daemon of the Warp who was banished by Vulkan long ago, but has returned to take revenge of on the Salamanders.


 * Big Bad: With Nihilan.
 * Demon Lords and Archdevils
 * Eldritch Abomination
 * Our Dragons Are Different
 * Our Dragons Are Different