The Empire Hellhammer is a modified variant of the more common Empire Wargalley that has been re-purposed for use as a powerful siege-ship. Sigismund the Mad, a grey-haired alchemist, scientist and explosive specialist reporting directly to Emperor Karl Franz himself, is reputed to have incepted the concept of the Hellhammer after visiting the Sunken Vaults of the Dwarf Engineers deep within the tunnels of the World's Edge Mountain. After many failed attempts, Sigismund was able to create the first successful Hellhammer into service.[1a]