During the Last War, Haldren was responsible for some of Aundair’s most memorable victories. He captured the city of Cragwar and its mines not once but twice—once from Breland and once from Thrane. He even enjoyed some success in the Eldeen Reaches, proving that his was one of the few military minds in Aundair who could comprehend the guerrilla tactics of the Reachers, anticipate their movements, and strike effectively against them. Sometimes, in fact, he struck entirely too effectively, putting villages of innocent citizens to the torch (or the fireball) in order to smoke out guerrillas. His ruthless treatment of civilians resulted in a Thronehold Tribunal inquiry after the war; Queen Aurala’s postwar campaign to rid herself of ambitious and “insufficiently” loyal vassals led to his extradition, conviction, and sentencing as a war criminal. Indeed, Haldren is one of the Tribunal’s few successful prosecutions.

Many officers of Aundair’s military are sympathetic to Haldren and would gladly serve under him if he were restored to command. In their eyes, he embodies a dedication to the Aundairian nation and a no-nonsense approach to fighting battles that they feel is lacking in the current leadership. Others whisper that he orchestrated the slaughter of civilians as massive sacrifices to the Devourer or another of the Dark Six, and that he would have been better executed rather than thrown in Dreadhold, lest he somehow escape even that impregnable prison.

In truth, Queen Aurala was correct. Haldren ir’Brassek sees himself as sort of a reincarnation of Galifar I, destined to forge a new empire from the ashes of the old. In his mind, the walls of Dreadhold cannot hold him for long.