Sepulchre
While looking at the name of the dungeon, I started wondering who or what Dragrimmar was. There are two referrences to the name in the dungeon and the quest related to it. The dungeon name itself, Sepulchre of Dragrimmar, and the Anvil of Dragrimmar. At first, I always thought Dragrimmar was the name of the actual Anvil.
I was curious what Sepulchre meant, so I looked it up:
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sepulchre
noun
a chamber that is used as a grave [syn: burial chamber]
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sepulchre [ˈsepəlkə] noun
a tomb
So Sepulchre means a tomb or burial ground, this is even backed up by the Remnant's skill effect "Diamondshard Grave". Which means that Dragrimmar, despite my first thought, was a living being not a object.
Anvil of Draggrimar
Now, that explains the name of the dungeon, a tomb of a person named Dragrimmar. But what about the Anvil? Well, we know the Anvil's origin:
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You've got the look of one who understands Dwarves. Yes, I think you'd be more suitable. Listen to my tale:
After many years of searching, I have tracked down an artifact of great import to the Dwarven people...the Anvil of Dragrimmar. Some say the Great Dwarf himself stood at this anvil forging great and powerful weapons, much as he forged our people. Alas, time clouds the stories and the anvil's resting place was lost. But we know it lies in wait for the time when our people will need it once again.
We believe that time is nigh, and my research has led me here. I tried to explore the depths of the sepulchre, but the traps befuddled me. At heart I'm a fighter, not a thinker. I need someone with the wit to navigate the traps and the strength to brave the terrors below to escort me to the anvil. If you've a will to help, the Dwarven people would be eternally indebted to you.
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It's true then. The anvil exists! I dared not hope, but... This is great work you've done, friend. As I meditate here I may learn to be a better smith, to be able to help my people in their coming travails. Take this as a sign of the gratitude owed ye by the entire Dwarven nation, friend.
This shows that the Anvil belonged to the Great Dwarf at one point in time.
So, does that mean that the Great Dwarf's name was Dragrimmar, and if he was killed, which is a possibility, his body could have been buried somewhere in this dungeon.
This picture I just took for my own pleasure, and would like to point out to any how the Great Dwarf would have forged weapons down in the ice covered dungeon.
Sage Bollnar
Outside the dungeon, there are two dwarfs, Outrunner Remlok which I quoted, and Sage Bollnar. This is what Sage has to say:
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Legends tell of an anvil of great power called the Anvil of Dragrimmar. Some say it was used by the Great Dwarf himself. Upon its face he forged weapons with the strength of our people and shields as unbreakable as our collective will. There's no doubt the Anvil of Dragrimmar exists, but whether it truly belogned to the Great Dwarf... that mystery may never be uncovered. But I do believe we are now close to reclaiming it. And, who knows? Perhaps the answer to this mystery will finally be found as well. The times grow dark, friend. It doesn't take a scholar to see that, and even I will rest easier knowing this power is back in our hands.
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Aye, there's the rub. The nub of the matter you might say. Of defenses this place has many. I've seen some, at least as far in as Remlok lead us. You will find gates within, all sealed and named for the virtues our people received from the Great Dwarf: strength, kinship, and unity. From what I can tell, the way forward will only open to those who talk the path of the virtues. I've seen devices that open the gates. They are branded the same. When I used one, I heard gates before me opening and the distant sounds of others closing. The way forward must lie in finding the correct path to walk through the virtues.
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Oh, my. Frightful creatures await you inside, manifested of ice and forgotten memories. Not the sort of thing I care for, you know. One story even tells of a guardian known as the Remnant of Antiquities awaiting within the anvil chamber. It is said the creature was shaped and brought to life by the Great Dwarf himself to guard the anvil until such time that our people would once again need its power. The tales also tell of one who would prove worthy of claiming it. I can only wonder at what terror could, watching and waiting for ages innumerable, down in the dark. The thought makes my spine tingle. That place is its domain, friend. I could imagine the air itself turning against you. Best step lightly.
So it seems, at least to Dwarf Legends, and the Great Dwarf had a lot to do with the Anvil and this dungeon. The Great Dwarf hid the Anvil here, even creating puzzles and guardians to protect it until it was needed. Another thing that points to my theory.
Your thoughts and opinions on this.
Note: I am not saying that it is fact that the Great Dwarf's name is Dragrimmar, but through looking at this, this seems to be implied. I am just wanting other's ideas on this.|||If you haven't finished eye of the north yet don't open this:
Spoiler
from what we learn in Eye of the north, the great dwarf ain't an individual being, more like a shared entity or a mutation among dwarves|||Like for sequel, don't open if you haven't beaten EN
Spoiler
Not really. That is not the Great Dwarf himself, but the power of the Great Dwarf that we see. It even explains at the end of Destruction's Depths and A Time for Heroes. The Great Destroyer's Mind is spread and connected to the Destroyers just as the Great Dwarf's Power is connected through King Jalis and the Dwarves.|||It would seem to me that if the GD's name was known, they'd use it more directly than this.
It could be that Dragrimmar is a different entity itself, who made the Anvil which the GD then used to forge weapons onto, which would make Dragrimmar an entity of the same level as the GD.
It could also be that Dragrimmar means something in the Dwarven language tha is hard to translate into Basic (the language the players speak).
Another possibility is that the anvil itself is named Dragrimmar or Anvil of Dragrimmar, and that Sepulchre of Dragrimmar refers to the "resting place" of this anvil.|||Interesting thought Az.
I've got one thing to add, might be a bit smartass'ish but mweh.
Both Dwarfs outside the Dungeon specifically say that the Great Dwarf might have used the Anvil, but they never say he was the actual owner of it. Maybe a Dwarven King called Dagrimmar created this Anvil as an offering to the Great Dwarf, and later this Dwarven King was buried at the very same place. After that the Great Dwarf might have taken the Anvil in use, accepting the offering.|||@ Sir Jack, I originally thought the dungeon was named after the Anvil itself, but very few tombs hold only an object.
As for a different entity being named Dragrimmar and he/she/it being the creator of the Anvil, that is the only thing I can see that can be the case to counter.
@Jair, I know that they say that the Great Dwarf did not create the Anvil, but it seems he did own it for a time, and at the very least he used it, as you said.
However, I cannot believe that it was a regular dwarf who created the Anvil. It is too big for even a human to use if you go up to it. The Anvil would have been used for someone of at least a Giant's size, maybe a little bigger.
That aside, if it was an old Dwarf - king, craftsman, or whatever - who made the anvil - if so, with the help of others - then why would it be in an area where dwarves rarely ever are? I would think it would be more south, and don't say that it was moved for hiding. If you look at the surroundings, it would be the perfect place for the Great Dwarf to forge things, so it was obviously put there while he used it, therefor not yet needing hiding.
Also, for the argument that the tomb would be more known if it was the Great Dwarf's can be explained two ways. 1. He left and then died, the dwarves would not know that he would have died and the Norn, or some other race *possibly even the Remnants of Antiquities* buried him there and named the place. 2. *and more likely* It was forgotten through legends that the Great Dwarf was buried here.|||Quote:
@ Sir Jack, I originally thought the dungeon was named after the Anvil itself, but very few tombs hold only an object.
Catacombs of Kathandrax - Kathandrax' Crusher, guarded by Fire Elementals
Heart of the Shiverpeaks - Great Dwarf's Hammah
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc - Little statue at the start, Lost Arc at the end
Seeing as how it's an Anvil used by the GD to forge weapons, it would qualify as an item of Ancient Magic, which makes sense to keep far away from any potential visitors (Norn were never really interested in anything but fighting, their weaponry is pretty savage as well), then guard it by a load of magic so that only those of you kin (Dwarves, but apparently we qualify as well due to the goodness of our heart or something. Oh, and gameplay element) can find, reach and maybe use it.
As a being powerful enough to create a race, keeping your items really well hidden and really well protected seems like a priority issue to me.
So yeah, in this case, a Tomb just for one item seems pretty just.|||Of those three examples you gave, the only one I would say is a good example would be Catacombs of Kathandrax. Heart of the Shiverpeaks is not a tomb, but a dungeon. Indiana Jones, I haven't seen that movie in such a long time so I cannot comment on it.
And I said nothing about giving an entire underground area/cave to one item and it's guardians is not a priority issue. Just stated that those are usually not tombs.
I'm gonna have to look into the Catacombs of Kathandrax for further comments.|||You are epic, Azazel. Your name shall be written down on the Great Godly Tomes resting in the Mists, and be known throughout all eternity.
There we go, I like this new thread of yours.
I'll put in my speculation when the thread develops even more, and do some research on my own.|||Don't encourage him too much.
Anyway, I get the feeling that while this may have been an anvil used by the Great Dwarf, I do not think it carries the Great Dwarf's name. In fact..Even if the dwarves did know the Great Dwarf's name if they were even slightly religious they would not dare say it. As indicated by Alkar:
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If the true name of either is spoken aloud, it would mean the end of the world as we know it.
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