The Arkifane is Vashtorr, a daemon king who rules the Forge of Souls and wants to become the fifth Chaos God. He’s Chaos’s premier arms dealer, and his push for godhood kicked off the Arks of Omen campaign.
Who is the Arkifane?
Vashtorr the Arkifane is a daemon king, a demi-god of inventors, engineers, scientists, and artisans. He rules the Forge of Souls, a domain in the Warp where he trades daemonic weaponry to anyone who’ll pay his price.
He doesn’t serve any of the four Chaos Gods. Instead, he stays useful to them as the Great Game’s premier arms dealer, which keeps their wrath at bay. He’s also made enemies, most notably Be’lakor, who’s interfered with his plans more than once.
Why he matters
Vashtorr is the closest thing Chaos has to a self-made power. He’s grown strong off curiosity and innovation in the Materium, the same kinds of acts that feed Slaanesh and Tzeentch, but stripped of any moral restraint.
He wants to become a fifth Chaos God. To get there, he needs fragments of a mysterious Key, and that search is what dragged him into an alliance with Abaddon the Despoiler and launched the Arks of Omen campaign.
The Cult of the Arkifane
His followers are a mixed bag of damned mortals and Daemon Engines. Individual armies are called Cogs of Vashtorr, and they fight with the same cold precision as their patron.
Plenty of Chaos Space Marines sign up, drawn by the direct, practical boons he hands out. But devotees of the four Chaos Gods can’t join: Khorne’s Berzerkers, Nurgle’s Plague Marines, Tzeentch’s Rubric Marines, and Slaanesh’s Noise Marines are all off the table.
- N’Thragor: Daemon Prince, killed at the Battle of Ulvheim.
- Pestamutadis: Greater Daemon.
- Silik: Daemon of Slaanesh turned into a Soul Grinder.
- Kraverek: Iron Warriors Warsmith.
- Voldire: Dark Mechanicus Heretek.
Key facts at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Titles | The Arkifane, The Infernal Architect, The Great Innovator |
| Species | Daemon |
| Type | Demi-God |
| Role | Ruler of the Forge of Souls |
| Affiliation | Chaos; Cult of the Arkifane |
| Goal | Become the fifth Chaos God |
Key facts
- Vashtorr the Arkifane is a daemon king and demi-god of inventors.
- He rules the Forge of Souls and trades daemonic weaponry to all sides.
- He doesn’t serve any of the four Chaos Gods.
- He wants to become the fifth Chaos God and needs fragments of a mysterious Key.
- His alliance with Abaddon triggered the Arks of Omen campaign.
- His rival Be’lakor has repeatedly interfered with his plans.
FAQ
Is Vashtorr a Chaos God?
No. He’s a daemon king and demi-god, not one of the four Chaos Gods. He wants to become the fifth, and that ambition drives his plans.
Who can join the Cult of the Arkifane?
Damned mortals and Daemon Engines, including many Chaos Space Marines. Devotees of Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh can’t serve him.
What’s the Forge of Souls?
It’s Vashtorr’s domain in the Warp, where he barters souls for daemonic weaponry and builds his Daemon Engines.