Hreidmar
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| Release date | 31 May 2005 (Update) |
|---|---|
| Race | Dwarf |
| Members NPC? | Yes |
| Quest NPC? | The Giant Dwarf; Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf; King of the Dwarves |
| Location | Keldagrim |
| Sells items? | No |
| Gender | Male |
| Examine |
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| Notable features | Leader of The Red Axe |
| “ | The Red Axe is the largest and wealthiest mining company, we have all rights here! | ” |
— Hreidmar, on the reconstruction of King Alvis's statue.
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Hreidmar, the Red Axe Director, is the leader of The Red Axe, a company that (until completion of The Giant Dwarf) has positioned itself as the most powerful company in the Dwarven Consortium. Hreidmar lives in Keldagrim, the dwarven capital city.
History
Background
Hunch-backed, hook-nosed, and older than most dwarves, Hreidmar has long led The Red Axe to success within the Dwarven Realm. Many years ago he gained control of the company, and under his rule it quickly became the most economically powerful in the Consortium.
Hreidmar ruled with an iron fist, eliminating opposition whenever it arose. Many small companies were forced out of business by his actions, and many dwarves were left unemployed. However, many dwarves flocked to his service, feeling that his method of rule was superior to that of the other companies. Before long he had gained a very significant following within the city, although his power was not so great that he could oppose the rest of the Consortium.
However, Hreidmar secretly plotted against the city, establishing powerful allies and rallying a powerful army. Eventually he formulated a complex plot to claim the city.
The Giant Dwarf
Hreidmar's plan required the destruction of King Alvis' statue, a massive dwarven monument that stood at the city's entrance. Rising up from the bustling River Kelda, the dwarves had long seen it as a symbol of their prosperity, for it had been King Alvis that (inadvertently) led them from the dark Age of Kings to their Golden Age.
Keldagrim had only recently been opened to humans, and many dwarves did not trust them fully. Taking advantage of this, Hreidmar bribed a Dwarven Boatman to assist him in the destruction of the statue. The dwarf was instructed to ferry a human to the city from the mines; a common occurrence since the city's opening. When he neared the statue, the boatman pretended to lose control of his boat. The boat crashed into the statue destroying it completely. The human (the player) was arrested by the Dwarven Black Guard, accused of destroying it.
However, the Black Guard's Commander Veldaban did not feel the player was responsible and, instead, asked that they help reconstruct the statue. The player accomplishes this over the course of the quest.
When it is nearly finished, however, a debate arises amongst the Consortium as to who's head should be carved on it. Seizing the opportunity, Hreidmar argues that, as the most powerful company director, he should have his head put atop the statue. The player, though, interferes, and chooses another director instead.
Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf
Enraged by the players' interference, Hreidmar boycotts the Trade Octagon and leaves the city, along with nearly every trace of The Red Axe. Over the course of the quest, the player discovers his intentions to claim Keldagrim in the name of Zamorak.
Hreidmar, in addition to destroying the statue, was already taking a number of actions to prepare for war. Secretly he had allied himself with Glouphrie, the gnome leader of Arposandra. Together, they had begun manufacturing an army of chaos dwarves, perhaps by interfering with the Anima Mundi in much the same way the Poison Wastes were created in southern Tirannwn.
Additionally, Hreidmar had obtained the aid of Colonel Grimsson, an infamous dwarven warrior released from the Black Guard for his brutality. Hreidmar had also gained the support of an ogre shaman that was found nearly dead on Trollweiss Mountain. Using the shaman's magical abilities, he had erased the memories of those that discovered his plot.
Before the end of the quest, the players' memory is erased, leaving them unaware of The Red Axe's plans.
Forgiveness of a Chaos Dwarf
During the quest it is revealed that Hreidmar is far more evil than the other dwarves had thought. He had been abducting dwarves from their homes and using brainwashing magic and machinery, converting them into Chaos dwarves. One unfortunate victim of this process was Hilda, Commander Veldaban's girlfriend. Commander Veldaban is compelled to help the dwarves of east Keldagrim, and to stop the Red Axe once and for all, however, the consortium, caring only for the wealthy dwarves of West Keldagrim, choose to do nothing, prompting Veldaban to leave the Black Guard and work on his own.
King of the Dwarves
In the King of the Dwarves quest, Hreidmar makes a speech to a group of protesters about restoring power to the king. The player and Veldaban track down Meike, the leader of the Monarchist Society. Meike is not taking part in the protests because she realises that if they succeed, Hreidmar will become king and take control of Keldagrim.
Meike, Veldaban and the player break in to the Keldagrim Records Chamber to alter the records to make it look like Veldaban is the heir to the throne. The directors of the consortium decide to cede rule of Keldagrim to the king. Hreidmar excitedly awaits for his name to be called, but instead, it is revealed that Meike altered the records to make Veldaban the heir to the throne. Meike will claim that it was the easiest thing to do as it only required one stroke to change. Hreidmar refuses to accept that Veldeban is the rightful heir and threatens to take over the city with his army of chaos dwarves. Just as he does so, a Black Guard soldier comes bearing news that the troll army have defeated the chaos dwarf army. Veldeban orders the Black Guard to seize Hreidmar, but he manages to slip away through the crowd.
Trivia
- Hreiðmarr (anglicized Hreidmar) is the king of the Dwarves and father of Otr, Regin, and Fafnir in the Völsunga Saga.
- In Christopher Paolini's Inheritence Cycle, more specifically in the third book Brisingr, a character named Hreidamar appears (note the added A). Like Hreidmar, he is the leader of a dwarf organization, in this case the clan Dûrgrimst Urzhad. However, unlike his possible namesake, he does not turn against the other dwarves, instead remaining loyal to Íorûnn, another clan chief whom he had allied himself with in the election of another Dwarf King.