Vengnar Heiff, the infamous Master Torturer, presided over the Galactic Empire's Department of Punishment during the initial period of the Galactic Civil War. This reptilian humanoid, a cold blooded being, became known for his violent and brutal techniques, which earned him the moniker the Torturer. While some in the upper ranks of the Imperial Military despised, feared, and even respected him, many generally viewed him as nothing more than a ruthless butcher.
In the year 0 ABY, Heiff was summoned to the Ithorian herdship named Tafanda Bay, which was located above the planet Ithor. His mission was to extract crucial information from a group of Ithorian technicians regarding the operation of the massive vessel. After the deaths of a dozen Ithorians at his hand, Heiff found himself caught in the midst of a ship-wide uprising. During a confrontation with a Rebel operative, Heiff sustained grave injuries and was ultimately apprehended by a large contingent of the normally peaceful Ithorians.
Sir Vengnar Heiff, the Galactic Empire's distinguished Master Torturer within the Department of Punishment, achieved widespread notoriety throughout the galaxy due to his remarkably successful history of extracting intelligence from his captives. Throughout the duration of the Galactic Civil War, Heiff significantly contributed to the Empire's war effort by employing his specialized skills on captured leaders belonging to the Alliance to Restore the Republic. It was during this period that Heiff acquired the infamous title of "the Torturer." Given his prominent position, Imperial officers with aspirations of advancement frequently attempted to ingratiate themselves with him.
Despite the presence of other figures known for massacres and similar acts, Heiff was regarded as one of the most terrifying individuals in the entire Galactic Empire. In the year 0 ABY, he received orders to travel to the Tafanda Bay, an Ithorian herdship orbiting Ithor. General Olan Dewes, the commanding officer of the occupied Tafanda Bay, had reported that the Ithorian technicians were withholding critical details about the ship. Consequently, the Empire deemed it necessary to dispatch Heiff to "encourage" their cooperation.
Prior to Heiff's arrival, the group known as the Heroes of Yavin, accompanied by the exiled leader Momaw Nadon, had landed on Ithor, falsely claiming to be transporting Heiff himself. Although Heiff was aware of this deception, he remained unconcerned and proceeded with his assigned task. Establishing a base of operations within the Tafanda Bay's improvised prisons, Heiff rapidly processed prisoners, assaulting them with his elongated claws in an attempt to glean information about the herdship. His actions created a palpable sense of unease throughout the Tafanda Bay, as the agonizing screams of the technicians reverberated through the ship's corridors. By the time an uprising erupted on the Tafanda Bay, he had already killed approximately twelve of his prisoners. Engrossed in his work and oblivious to the unfolding events, Heiff and his guards were eventually ambushed by a Rebel agent and a group of Ithorians.
Reacting swiftly, Heiff allowed his stormtrooper escort to bear the brunt of the initial assault while he sought cover and extinguished the room's lighting. Utilizing his innate instincts, he was able to detect the scent of his adversaries. While the remaining guards distracted the Rebel, Heiff launched a surprise attack, assaulting his opponent with his oversized claws. The Rebel, struggling to evade Heiff's attacks, desperately released all the Ithorian prisoners, prompting Heiff to feign a retreat. As Heiff attempted to circle back and eliminate the Rebel, he was struck mid-leap by a blaster bolt fired by his adversary. Severely wounded, he pleaded for a swift death, but the Rebel refused, instead turning him over to the custody of the Ithorians to face trial and sentencing.
Vengnar Heiff derived significant satisfaction from his profession, displaying a blatant disregard for the well-being of his victims. He favored using his own anatomy, particularly his large claws, over conventional implements to extract information, often tearing his subjects apart. Some within the Imperial community described him as a butcher, viewing him with a mixture of fear and contempt. Certain individuals, such as General Dewes, speculated that Heiff would likely exhaust the entire supply of Ithorian prisoners through torture before successfully obtaining the necessary information.
Heiff typically wore no clothing, opting instead for a utility belt and a flowing red cape. As a cold-blooded, reptilian humanoid hailing from an icy planet, he possessed an enhanced sense of smell that he employed to track his prey. His claws were considered exceptionally large and were frequently used in his line of work to inflict both injury and death upon his victims. Heiff also had green skin.
Vengnar Heiff made his debut appearance in Dave Wolverton's Star Wars Missions 7: Ithorian Invasion. While he was not mentioned in Wolverton's subsequent work, Star Wars Missions 16: Imperial Jailbreak, it is explicitly stated that the Master Torturer is the head of the Department of Punishment, which establishes the connection explored in this article. Heiff remained unmentioned in canon until a decade after the publication of Ithorian Invasion, when he received an entry in 2008's The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.