Plot introduction
Burgundian warrior Hagen of Tronje holds the crisis-ridden kingdom together through his dedication and unyielding harshness. In doing so, he suppresses his adoration of the king’s daughter Kriemhild and represses his own dark past. When the legendary dragon-slayer Siegfried of Xanten appears in Worms and recklessly threatens the established order, Hagen becomes more and more of a tragic figure. Young King Gunther, still reeling from the sudden death of his father, believes Siegfried can help him save the kingdom and win him the affection of the Valkyrie Brunhild. When Kriemhild falls in love with none other than Siegfried — Hagen’s adversary — the latter must choose between love and loyalty to the king.
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