rgals (or Urgralgra in their language),[1] were a race of sentient creatures that inhabit Alagaësia. In the first book they had been forced by Durza into the service of Galbatorix, they are considered evil by most humans, but are not inherently so. Though most are uneducated in the normal definition of the word, they make up for this with brute strength, exceptional combat, and commanding skills. They were used as expendable "shock troops" of Galbatorix's army. The Urgal language is a simple, guttural language. Only a few phrases are known to outsiders, and most of those are related to war and combat. Angela, the herbalist, is one of few who can speak their language. As with other races, and ignorantly dismissed by dwarves and humans, they are capable of using magic. With the fall of the Empire the Urgals were made Dragon Riders along with theDwarves.
Contents
Physical description EditUrgals are roughly humanoid in appearance, with grayish skin, bowed legs, and thick arms. They have yellow, piggish eyes, claws on their hands in place of nails, and a pair of long, twisted horns protruding from above their ears. Urgals can be anywhere from six to nine feet tall; an Urgal's height depends mostly on heredity though environmental factors may play a role. Urgals usually have seven toes on each foot as Dwarves do, a similarity that Eragon observes when traveling with Nar Garzhvog, although both rather believe it be the creativity of their gods than any possible relation. In the film, they are portrayed as barbaric, primitive humans. Although Humans and Dwarves think them merely bloodthirsty beasts, according the Heslant the Monk, Urgal dams (mothers) care well for their young. Their entire culture revolves around violence and physical strength; one's prestige being directly connected with how many kills one had or how many opponents they had beaten in combat as well as their size and the size of their horns. Thier horns actually are a sign of pride, if an urgal were to lose his horns it would be considered being stripped of his being and manhood.
In Inheritance, Eragon describes the Urgal children as looking similar to human children (before they get their horns), except for their grey skin and yellow eyes.
On average Urgals have lifespans similar to humans, they are stronger, faster and can run for much longer distances than any human or dwarf. This, as can be observed, makes them subject to tales of beasts among other species.
History EditEarly days EditThe Urgals originally came from the same land as the elves. They followed the Elves over the sea to Alagaësia, "like ticks seeking for blood", in the words of Brom. However, Heslant the Monk noted in Domain adu wyrda
that considerable skill would be required to build and sail ocean-going vessels, so perhaps they were capable of some sophistication. Upon landing, around three centuries after Du Fyrn Skulblaka, they signed peace treaties and indeed the peace was kept for two decades before the Riders drove out the violent Urgals from much of the land. They were looked down on by the other races, for their distasteful appearance and for their love of warfare.
During the era of the Riders, a group of Urgals ambushed the Rider Galbatorix and killed his dragon with a poison dart. This triggered the Second Dragon War and the rise of the Empire.
Rider War EditJust prior to the Rider War Durza the Shade, one of Galbatorix's most trusted servants, cast a binding spell upon the Urgal race, forcing them to serve the Empire against their wishes. The clans united, as was not their way and were forced to do Galbatorix's bidding until he decided to dispose of them at his leisure.
Urgals fought in many major battles during the war. They captured both Arya and Eragon. They brought both their captives to the fortress city of Gil'ead.
Later, when Eragon killed Durza, during the Battle under Farthen Dûr the spell was broken and the Urgals were freed. They then turned on each other.
The Urgals began to hate the Empire and Galbatorix for the sake of the wrong which had been done to them. The hatred became so strong that a group of Urgals under Nar Garzhvog allied themselves with the Varden at the Battle of The Burning Plains, hoping to exact vengeance for the wrong done to them. Afterwards, many other Urgals joined the Varden. Only a few tribes still refuse to work with their old enemies. At the end of the war the Urgals, along with the dwarves were, inducted into the spell so they could become Riders.
Culture EditThe Urgal culture is centered around warfare; the societal ranks of both males and females are decided by their ability to kill. Urgals are a tribal race, and each tribe is under the authority of a warchief, or "Nar" in the Urgal tongue. These tribes often fight each other as well as human settlement or cities. Urgals are known to fight both alone and in groups. The terms for young Urgals is cub, a adult male is a ram, and a adult female is a dam.
Urgal villages are well-hidden and well-defended, residing in well-defended caves, in the central spine region humans avoid. The villages contain carved animal motifs from logs which stand vertical, which the Urgals believe will scare off animals that the motifs represent. Urgal families weave the Namna, an ornate piece of cloth. The namna hangs outside the family's cave and describes their own history. When a male Urgal cubs' horns begin to show, he must go into the wilderness and kill an animal to prove himself. Most young rams hunt mountain goats, wolves, or other less threatening prey. Nar Garzhvog, however, became warchief of the Bolvek Tribe by strangling an Urzhad, a gigantic cave bear, to death when he came of age. In Brisingr, he fashions the Urzhad's stomach into a makeshift pot to cook venison stew. The Urgal diet consisted of mainly meat. Venison, Nagra (giant boar), Bear, Fowl and wild roots, berries and leaves. The meat was usually roasted or put into a stew cooked in a leather pot using hot stones with tubers and leaves. Male Ugralga wore loincloths however during battle they donned leather and metal armour.
Just as humans hated Urgals, Urgals hated humans. Urgal legends portrayed the human race as evil and corrupt. This ages-old hatred led to many wars, with heroes and villains on both sides. Urgals have signed peace treaties with other races, but they rarely last, as the entire Urgal culture is based upon war. The young rams must win a mate by proving themselves in combat, and they often attack those with whom they have treaties.
Eragon endeavored to enter a lasting peace with the Urgals but finding treaties to be an unreliable method (for the above stated reasons), Eragon decided on a new approach. First, he advised the Urgals to enter into a series of interclan games (similar to real-world sports, such as the Olympics) in which the young Urgals can compete. This would allow them to display their skills, and earn status and mates, without resorting to full scale battles, or war. The clan leader to whom Eragon spoke was receptive, but felt that the Urgal nature would not allow this to last forever. Accounting for this, Eragon also chose to amend the spell which bound the Riders to include the Urgals as well as the Dwarves, allowing them to become Dragon Riders. This would have the added benefit of allowing the Urgal culture to "mature" much as it had done with the Humans in the past.
Two ranks in Urgal society are the rank of "Nar" (noble) and "Herndall" (female leader). Individuals who bore this titles were treated with great respect. The Kull leader Garzhvog has the title Nar. Also, the Urgals are very considerate of titles for other non-Urgals, like Ajihad and Nasuada as Nightstalker, Eragon as Firesword and Saphiraas Flametongue. When one wanted to pay respect to another, they would look up and bellow, showing their throat, before butting heads with them (which was avoided by other species).
Notable Urgals
Bolvek tribe The Bolvek tribe was a tribe of Urgals, including some Kull, who were lead by Nar Garzhvog. Like the rest of the Urgal race, they served Galbatorix, through Durza, at the start of the Rider War. After the spell was broken at the Battle of Farthen Dûr they wandered the land for months and later allied themselves with the Varden just before the Burning Plains.
Urgal language All the Urgal species shared the same language. Many Urgal words were deemed unpronounceable by other races.
Translations
Contents
Physical description EditUrgals are roughly humanoid in appearance, with grayish skin, bowed legs, and thick arms. They have yellow, piggish eyes, claws on their hands in place of nails, and a pair of long, twisted horns protruding from above their ears. Urgals can be anywhere from six to nine feet tall; an Urgal's height depends mostly on heredity though environmental factors may play a role. Urgals usually have seven toes on each foot as Dwarves do, a similarity that Eragon observes when traveling with Nar Garzhvog, although both rather believe it be the creativity of their gods than any possible relation. In the film, they are portrayed as barbaric, primitive humans. Although Humans and Dwarves think them merely bloodthirsty beasts, according the Heslant the Monk, Urgal dams (mothers) care well for their young. Their entire culture revolves around violence and physical strength; one's prestige being directly connected with how many kills one had or how many opponents they had beaten in combat as well as their size and the size of their horns. Thier horns actually are a sign of pride, if an urgal were to lose his horns it would be considered being stripped of his being and manhood.
In Inheritance, Eragon describes the Urgal children as looking similar to human children (before they get their horns), except for their grey skin and yellow eyes.
On average Urgals have lifespans similar to humans, they are stronger, faster and can run for much longer distances than any human or dwarf. This, as can be observed, makes them subject to tales of beasts among other species.
History EditEarly days EditThe Urgals originally came from the same land as the elves. They followed the Elves over the sea to Alagaësia, "like ticks seeking for blood", in the words of Brom. However, Heslant the Monk noted in Domain adu wyrda
that considerable skill would be required to build and sail ocean-going vessels, so perhaps they were capable of some sophistication. Upon landing, around three centuries after Du Fyrn Skulblaka, they signed peace treaties and indeed the peace was kept for two decades before the Riders drove out the violent Urgals from much of the land. They were looked down on by the other races, for their distasteful appearance and for their love of warfare.
During the era of the Riders, a group of Urgals ambushed the Rider Galbatorix and killed his dragon with a poison dart. This triggered the Second Dragon War and the rise of the Empire.
Rider War EditJust prior to the Rider War Durza the Shade, one of Galbatorix's most trusted servants, cast a binding spell upon the Urgal race, forcing them to serve the Empire against their wishes. The clans united, as was not their way and were forced to do Galbatorix's bidding until he decided to dispose of them at his leisure.
Urgals fought in many major battles during the war. They captured both Arya and Eragon. They brought both their captives to the fortress city of Gil'ead.
Later, when Eragon killed Durza, during the Battle under Farthen Dûr the spell was broken and the Urgals were freed. They then turned on each other.
The Urgals began to hate the Empire and Galbatorix for the sake of the wrong which had been done to them. The hatred became so strong that a group of Urgals under Nar Garzhvog allied themselves with the Varden at the Battle of The Burning Plains, hoping to exact vengeance for the wrong done to them. Afterwards, many other Urgals joined the Varden. Only a few tribes still refuse to work with their old enemies. At the end of the war the Urgals, along with the dwarves were, inducted into the spell so they could become Riders.
Culture EditThe Urgal culture is centered around warfare; the societal ranks of both males and females are decided by their ability to kill. Urgals are a tribal race, and each tribe is under the authority of a warchief, or "Nar" in the Urgal tongue. These tribes often fight each other as well as human settlement or cities. Urgals are known to fight both alone and in groups. The terms for young Urgals is cub, a adult male is a ram, and a adult female is a dam.
Urgal villages are well-hidden and well-defended, residing in well-defended caves, in the central spine region humans avoid. The villages contain carved animal motifs from logs which stand vertical, which the Urgals believe will scare off animals that the motifs represent. Urgal families weave the Namna, an ornate piece of cloth. The namna hangs outside the family's cave and describes their own history. When a male Urgal cubs' horns begin to show, he must go into the wilderness and kill an animal to prove himself. Most young rams hunt mountain goats, wolves, or other less threatening prey. Nar Garzhvog, however, became warchief of the Bolvek Tribe by strangling an Urzhad, a gigantic cave bear, to death when he came of age. In Brisingr, he fashions the Urzhad's stomach into a makeshift pot to cook venison stew. The Urgal diet consisted of mainly meat. Venison, Nagra (giant boar), Bear, Fowl and wild roots, berries and leaves. The meat was usually roasted or put into a stew cooked in a leather pot using hot stones with tubers and leaves. Male Ugralga wore loincloths however during battle they donned leather and metal armour.
Just as humans hated Urgals, Urgals hated humans. Urgal legends portrayed the human race as evil and corrupt. This ages-old hatred led to many wars, with heroes and villains on both sides. Urgals have signed peace treaties with other races, but they rarely last, as the entire Urgal culture is based upon war. The young rams must win a mate by proving themselves in combat, and they often attack those with whom they have treaties.
Eragon endeavored to enter a lasting peace with the Urgals but finding treaties to be an unreliable method (for the above stated reasons), Eragon decided on a new approach. First, he advised the Urgals to enter into a series of interclan games (similar to real-world sports, such as the Olympics) in which the young Urgals can compete. This would allow them to display their skills, and earn status and mates, without resorting to full scale battles, or war. The clan leader to whom Eragon spoke was receptive, but felt that the Urgal nature would not allow this to last forever. Accounting for this, Eragon also chose to amend the spell which bound the Riders to include the Urgals as well as the Dwarves, allowing them to become Dragon Riders. This would have the added benefit of allowing the Urgal culture to "mature" much as it had done with the Humans in the past.
Two ranks in Urgal society are the rank of "Nar" (noble) and "Herndall" (female leader). Individuals who bore this titles were treated with great respect. The Kull leader Garzhvog has the title Nar. Also, the Urgals are very considerate of titles for other non-Urgals, like Ajihad and Nasuada as Nightstalker, Eragon as Firesword and Saphiraas Flametongue. When one wanted to pay respect to another, they would look up and bellow, showing their throat, before butting heads with them (which was avoided by other species).
Notable Urgals
- Garzhvog, a Kull leader who joins the Varden.
- Otvek, a Kull leader who joins the Varden.
- Khagra, a Kull leader who joins the Varden.
- Tarok, an Urgal commander under Durza at Farthen Dur.
- Gashz, an Urgal commander under Durza at Farthen Dur.
- Skgahgrezh, Garzhvog's blood brother and a Urgal commander.
- Yarbog, an Urgal who challenges Roran for the leadership of Roran's command
- Dazhgra, an Urgal spellcaster under Roran's command.
- Kulkarvek, the one and only Urgal kin
Bolvek tribe The Bolvek tribe was a tribe of Urgals, including some Kull, who were lead by Nar Garzhvog. Like the rest of the Urgal race, they served Galbatorix, through Durza, at the start of the Rider War. After the spell was broken at the Battle of Farthen Dûr they wandered the land for months and later allied themselves with the Varden just before the Burning Plains.
Urgal language All the Urgal species shared the same language. Many Urgal words were deemed unpronounceable by other races.
Translations
The Ra'zac (or Lethrblaka when full-grown) were one of the several ancient races that were thought to have followed the humans across the sea to Alagaësia. They were a race that fed on humans and likely came from the same homelands. Ra'zacs' breath have the power to paralyze humans in a dream-like state, however, it barely clouds the minds of dwarves and is ineffective against elves altogether.
The last two Ra'zac to live before the extinction of their race in Alagaësia (as well as the remaining two Lethrblaka) were servants of Galbatorix, living in their black towers at Helgrind. They were used by King Galbatorix to investigate any rumors of dragons who might have escaped the downfall of the Dragon Riders. They were called by some the king's personal "dragon hunters." They were especially effective against Dragon Riders because their minds were shielded from mental powers.
Unbeknownst to the main characters, Galbatorix hid several Ra'zac eggs throughout Alagaësia, though the only ones found were beneath Dras-Leona. These two were destroyed and killed shortly after hatching by Solembum.
The Ra'zac commonly used Seithr Oil, and with it killed Garrow, and countless others. The Ra'zac used bows and arrows usually coated in Seithr Oil. They also used ancient leaf-bladed swords. They had probably been using the swords against their enemies for years without them breaking, in which case the blades would have to be either stolen from elves or heavily enchanted. This enchanting would need to be done so by a very skilled enchanter, since ordinary blades augmented with magic for durability require a magician to renew the spells protecting them, and the Ra'zac cannot use magic. There was a taller and smaller Ra'zac (this could correspond with age or gender). The last of the Ra'zac hid in Helgrind, and were warded by Galbatorix's spells. They kept both Seithr Oil and torture devices inside their lair. The Ra'zac are known to be mortally afraid of water and the sun, as they cannot swim and sunlight burns their skin and eyes.
Life-cycle When a Ra'zac is hatched, it is referred to as a pupa. It develops a roughly human exoskeleton, allowing it to remain somewhat inconspicuous in the company of its favorite prey, humans. During the pupae stage, they wear black cloaks to help hide their true form. In this stage, Ra'zac feed exclusively on human beings, but upon maturing will kill and eat anything that moves.
When the pupae reaches the first full moon of its twentieth year, it sheds its exoskeleton,spread its wings that have developed from a bulge on its back, emerging as a fully grown Lethrblaka, said to resemble a type of "monstrous dark dragon". The flying mounts used by the Ra'zac were actually their parents, the Lethrblaka. Lethrblaka had the intelligence of a dragon, albeit a cruel and twisted one, but they are much more intelligent than the younger Ra'zac and could give out ear-splitting shrieks that most are not able to stand. Magic users, however, could counter it by casting a spell to "empty their ears". The Lethrblaka then reproduce oviparous, renewing their cycle of life.
It is unknown where the Ra'zac originated, but they are not native to Alagaësia. It is most likely they came from whatever place humans abandoned, and they may be the reason that the humans abandoned this place.
For many years the creatures roamed wild, killing and devouring humans before the Dragon Riders agreed to put an end to it. During the bloody Ra'zac War, nearly the entire Ra'zac race was exterminated, except for two Lethrblaka, who survived. After his victory over the Riders, Galbatorix sought out the Lethrblaka and their newborn Ra'zac and bartered for their services in exchange for his protection and a limitless supply of their favorite food: human flesh. They then continued their savage eating habits as they did before, finding human flesh a plenty. He also granted them a new home in Helgrind.
History Role in Eragon EditThe Ra'zac were sent to search for the dragon egg that had been teleported by Arya into the Spine. They torturedGarrow with Seithr Oil and burned his farm in their quest for the egg. They were then tracked by Eragon, Brom, andSaphira to Dras-Leona. The trio was ambushed and captured. However, when the shorter Ra'zac tried to kill Brom, arrows fired by a hiding Murtagh saved them. As they left, the shorter Ra'zac kicked Eragon, wounding him, and the taller one threw a dagger. Brom jumped in the way and was left with a fatal injury.
Role in Eldest The Ra'zac returned to Carvahall, attempting this time to kidnap Roran, who was wanted by The Empire. They threatened the villagers with slavery, most of whom rallied behind Roran and escaped to Surda. Unfortunately, the Ra'zac were able to kidnap Katrina and Sloan, who they took to Helgrind. Eragon learned about the strengths and weaknesses of the Ra'zac from Oromis and felt that he would be more than a match for them the next time that they met.
Role in Brisingr Eragon, Roran, and Saphira traveled to Helgrind, where the Ra'zac's secret lair was located.
Roran killed one of the Ra'zac, which was revealed to be female, before freeing Katrina, while Saphira slew both of the Lethrblaka. After Roran, Katrina, and Saphira departed, Eragon confronted the last Ra'zac. It spoke with him before fighting, saying that Galbatorix would defeat Eragon even if they should fall, because, "He has more heartsss than you do", probably referring to the Eldunarí in Galbatorix's possession.
The last Ra'zac then requested that Eragon ensure that they were remembered by the human race with the image they had always represented: fear, the monsters in the dark. In return, it offered to tell Eragon a secret; Galbatorix was close to finding "the true name." Eragon refused to parley with the Ra'zac, saying the information was not definite enough to warrant a favor. The Ra'zac cursed Eragon in anger, saying "Curssse you, Rider! I curssse you! May you find no roossst nor den nor peace of mind in thisss land of yours. May you leave Alagaësia and never return!". The Ra'zac attacked Eragon, who won the ensuing fight by killing the Ra'zac.
Role in Inheritance While Eragon, Roran, and Saphira were successful in defeating the Ra'zac, they did not manage to exterminate them completely: a pair of Ra'zac eggs were kept in secret by the clergy of Dras-Leona, who worshiped the Ra'zac as gods. These eggs were hatched in a ceremony, during which Eragon and Arya were nearly killed by the infant Ra'zac, but the timely arrival of the herbalist Angela resulted in the destruction of the hatchlings, with one being killed by Solembum and the other by Eragon. Galbatorix mentioned there were more eggs that he had hidden elsewhere. After Galbatorix's downfall, Eragon tried to find more information on these eggs, yet found only old accounts from other Riders.
Surviving Ra'zac Although this Ra'zac was the last of its kind to have crossed the Silver Sea, others may yet survive beyond the ocean. It was never confirmed that the entirety of the Ra'zac race crossed, and as other humans would still be present in their homeland crossing would make little sense for the Ra'zac as much of their prey would still be available in their homeland. It is possible that there are eggs kept and hidden by the clergy of Dras-Leona or Galbatorix.
Powers The Ra'zac had no access to magic, but they were very effective against magicians because their minds could not be observed or possibly their minds were so alien to magicians that they could not sense them at all. The Ra'zac had a human ally in Galbatorix, who would cast protective wards over them.
The Ra'zac possessed superhuman strength, speed, agility, and stamina, equal to an elf. However, they also possessed an ability no elf, Shade, or even Dragon Rider had; an evil breath that fogs the minds of humans (most likely a poisonous gas) and make most people incapable of doing anything. A Dragon Rider is almost completely immune due to their bond with their dragons, who are not affected at all. The Ra'zac also had strong exoskeletons which was as hard and strong as armor, and protected the Ra'zac from weak blows without slowing them down with bulky excess weight.
In addition to these abilities, their senses were very strong; they could track scents like hounds, see on a cloudy night or even in complete darkness. But perhaps the Ra'zac's greatest power was the special shields that protected their minds. Even the best human mindbreakers could not detect a Ra'zac's mind. This made it impossible to breach or control them with mental powers, unless the Ra'zac consented to it. It also made the Ra'zac excellent assassins, for not even magicians would be able to detect them until it was too late.
The Ra'zac spoke in their own language of sharp clicks, clacks, clucks, shrieks, chirps and other bird-like sounds. None of this language was translated and the calls may have been unintelligible and even unpronounceable to all but the Ra'zac.
However, the Ra'zac had weaknesses as well. Because their eyes were so sensitive to brightness, strong light pained them, though it was not fatal and wouldn't stop a Ra'zac if they were determined. Powerful light, such as that conjured by the "kveykva" spell would momentarily stun a Ra'zac. Ra'zac also were unable to swim, possibly because of their exoskeleton, as a result, they had a morbid fear of (deep) water and thus kept away from it.
Gender One of the inconsistencies in the Inheritance Cycle involved the Ra'zac. During the confrontation outside Dras-Leona, Christopher Paolini described both Ra'zac as 'he'. However, when Eragon is facing down the second Ra'zac before battling it, it describes the late Ra'zac as 'she'. In order to make them reproduce, one of them had to be a female. It is not known for sure which Ra'zac is which, but it is more likely that the shorter one was female. During the first appearance of the Ra'zac, the taller Ra'zac was described as a "man", while no such description was attached to the shorter one. It should be considered, however, that all descriptions of the Ra'zac as a "he" or a "man" come from the point of view of Eragon, who would have no way of knowing the gender of the two. It is possible that both Ra'zac could be female. Another possibility is that they were hermaphrodites, and thus had no gender but mated with any other being of their species.
Personality Both Ra'zac were cunning and cruel, but rather narrow-minded. They were capable of conscious thought and consideration, but were not as intelligent as humans, dwarves, elves, or dragons.
The shorter Ra'zac has been consistently portrayed as more blunt, cruel, and impulsive than the taller one; both traits could correspond to age. When talking with Sloan, the shorter one was significantly more threatening than their taller counterpart. When they captured Eragon and Brom, the shorter one suggested just killing Brom, rather than drugging him and putting up with the trouble he caused.
The last two Ra'zac to live before the extinction of their race in Alagaësia (as well as the remaining two Lethrblaka) were servants of Galbatorix, living in their black towers at Helgrind. They were used by King Galbatorix to investigate any rumors of dragons who might have escaped the downfall of the Dragon Riders. They were called by some the king's personal "dragon hunters." They were especially effective against Dragon Riders because their minds were shielded from mental powers.
Unbeknownst to the main characters, Galbatorix hid several Ra'zac eggs throughout Alagaësia, though the only ones found were beneath Dras-Leona. These two were destroyed and killed shortly after hatching by Solembum.
The Ra'zac commonly used Seithr Oil, and with it killed Garrow, and countless others. The Ra'zac used bows and arrows usually coated in Seithr Oil. They also used ancient leaf-bladed swords. They had probably been using the swords against their enemies for years without them breaking, in which case the blades would have to be either stolen from elves or heavily enchanted. This enchanting would need to be done so by a very skilled enchanter, since ordinary blades augmented with magic for durability require a magician to renew the spells protecting them, and the Ra'zac cannot use magic. There was a taller and smaller Ra'zac (this could correspond with age or gender). The last of the Ra'zac hid in Helgrind, and were warded by Galbatorix's spells. They kept both Seithr Oil and torture devices inside their lair. The Ra'zac are known to be mortally afraid of water and the sun, as they cannot swim and sunlight burns their skin and eyes.
Life-cycle When a Ra'zac is hatched, it is referred to as a pupa. It develops a roughly human exoskeleton, allowing it to remain somewhat inconspicuous in the company of its favorite prey, humans. During the pupae stage, they wear black cloaks to help hide their true form. In this stage, Ra'zac feed exclusively on human beings, but upon maturing will kill and eat anything that moves.
When the pupae reaches the first full moon of its twentieth year, it sheds its exoskeleton,spread its wings that have developed from a bulge on its back, emerging as a fully grown Lethrblaka, said to resemble a type of "monstrous dark dragon". The flying mounts used by the Ra'zac were actually their parents, the Lethrblaka. Lethrblaka had the intelligence of a dragon, albeit a cruel and twisted one, but they are much more intelligent than the younger Ra'zac and could give out ear-splitting shrieks that most are not able to stand. Magic users, however, could counter it by casting a spell to "empty their ears". The Lethrblaka then reproduce oviparous, renewing their cycle of life.
It is unknown where the Ra'zac originated, but they are not native to Alagaësia. It is most likely they came from whatever place humans abandoned, and they may be the reason that the humans abandoned this place.
For many years the creatures roamed wild, killing and devouring humans before the Dragon Riders agreed to put an end to it. During the bloody Ra'zac War, nearly the entire Ra'zac race was exterminated, except for two Lethrblaka, who survived. After his victory over the Riders, Galbatorix sought out the Lethrblaka and their newborn Ra'zac and bartered for their services in exchange for his protection and a limitless supply of their favorite food: human flesh. They then continued their savage eating habits as they did before, finding human flesh a plenty. He also granted them a new home in Helgrind.
History Role in Eragon EditThe Ra'zac were sent to search for the dragon egg that had been teleported by Arya into the Spine. They torturedGarrow with Seithr Oil and burned his farm in their quest for the egg. They were then tracked by Eragon, Brom, andSaphira to Dras-Leona. The trio was ambushed and captured. However, when the shorter Ra'zac tried to kill Brom, arrows fired by a hiding Murtagh saved them. As they left, the shorter Ra'zac kicked Eragon, wounding him, and the taller one threw a dagger. Brom jumped in the way and was left with a fatal injury.
Role in Eldest The Ra'zac returned to Carvahall, attempting this time to kidnap Roran, who was wanted by The Empire. They threatened the villagers with slavery, most of whom rallied behind Roran and escaped to Surda. Unfortunately, the Ra'zac were able to kidnap Katrina and Sloan, who they took to Helgrind. Eragon learned about the strengths and weaknesses of the Ra'zac from Oromis and felt that he would be more than a match for them the next time that they met.
Role in Brisingr Eragon, Roran, and Saphira traveled to Helgrind, where the Ra'zac's secret lair was located.
Roran killed one of the Ra'zac, which was revealed to be female, before freeing Katrina, while Saphira slew both of the Lethrblaka. After Roran, Katrina, and Saphira departed, Eragon confronted the last Ra'zac. It spoke with him before fighting, saying that Galbatorix would defeat Eragon even if they should fall, because, "He has more heartsss than you do", probably referring to the Eldunarí in Galbatorix's possession.
The last Ra'zac then requested that Eragon ensure that they were remembered by the human race with the image they had always represented: fear, the monsters in the dark. In return, it offered to tell Eragon a secret; Galbatorix was close to finding "the true name." Eragon refused to parley with the Ra'zac, saying the information was not definite enough to warrant a favor. The Ra'zac cursed Eragon in anger, saying "Curssse you, Rider! I curssse you! May you find no roossst nor den nor peace of mind in thisss land of yours. May you leave Alagaësia and never return!". The Ra'zac attacked Eragon, who won the ensuing fight by killing the Ra'zac.
Role in Inheritance While Eragon, Roran, and Saphira were successful in defeating the Ra'zac, they did not manage to exterminate them completely: a pair of Ra'zac eggs were kept in secret by the clergy of Dras-Leona, who worshiped the Ra'zac as gods. These eggs were hatched in a ceremony, during which Eragon and Arya were nearly killed by the infant Ra'zac, but the timely arrival of the herbalist Angela resulted in the destruction of the hatchlings, with one being killed by Solembum and the other by Eragon. Galbatorix mentioned there were more eggs that he had hidden elsewhere. After Galbatorix's downfall, Eragon tried to find more information on these eggs, yet found only old accounts from other Riders.
Surviving Ra'zac Although this Ra'zac was the last of its kind to have crossed the Silver Sea, others may yet survive beyond the ocean. It was never confirmed that the entirety of the Ra'zac race crossed, and as other humans would still be present in their homeland crossing would make little sense for the Ra'zac as much of their prey would still be available in their homeland. It is possible that there are eggs kept and hidden by the clergy of Dras-Leona or Galbatorix.
Powers The Ra'zac had no access to magic, but they were very effective against magicians because their minds could not be observed or possibly their minds were so alien to magicians that they could not sense them at all. The Ra'zac had a human ally in Galbatorix, who would cast protective wards over them.
The Ra'zac possessed superhuman strength, speed, agility, and stamina, equal to an elf. However, they also possessed an ability no elf, Shade, or even Dragon Rider had; an evil breath that fogs the minds of humans (most likely a poisonous gas) and make most people incapable of doing anything. A Dragon Rider is almost completely immune due to their bond with their dragons, who are not affected at all. The Ra'zac also had strong exoskeletons which was as hard and strong as armor, and protected the Ra'zac from weak blows without slowing them down with bulky excess weight.
In addition to these abilities, their senses were very strong; they could track scents like hounds, see on a cloudy night or even in complete darkness. But perhaps the Ra'zac's greatest power was the special shields that protected their minds. Even the best human mindbreakers could not detect a Ra'zac's mind. This made it impossible to breach or control them with mental powers, unless the Ra'zac consented to it. It also made the Ra'zac excellent assassins, for not even magicians would be able to detect them until it was too late.
The Ra'zac spoke in their own language of sharp clicks, clacks, clucks, shrieks, chirps and other bird-like sounds. None of this language was translated and the calls may have been unintelligible and even unpronounceable to all but the Ra'zac.
However, the Ra'zac had weaknesses as well. Because their eyes were so sensitive to brightness, strong light pained them, though it was not fatal and wouldn't stop a Ra'zac if they were determined. Powerful light, such as that conjured by the "kveykva" spell would momentarily stun a Ra'zac. Ra'zac also were unable to swim, possibly because of their exoskeleton, as a result, they had a morbid fear of (deep) water and thus kept away from it.
Gender One of the inconsistencies in the Inheritance Cycle involved the Ra'zac. During the confrontation outside Dras-Leona, Christopher Paolini described both Ra'zac as 'he'. However, when Eragon is facing down the second Ra'zac before battling it, it describes the late Ra'zac as 'she'. In order to make them reproduce, one of them had to be a female. It is not known for sure which Ra'zac is which, but it is more likely that the shorter one was female. During the first appearance of the Ra'zac, the taller Ra'zac was described as a "man", while no such description was attached to the shorter one. It should be considered, however, that all descriptions of the Ra'zac as a "he" or a "man" come from the point of view of Eragon, who would have no way of knowing the gender of the two. It is possible that both Ra'zac could be female. Another possibility is that they were hermaphrodites, and thus had no gender but mated with any other being of their species.
Personality Both Ra'zac were cunning and cruel, but rather narrow-minded. They were capable of conscious thought and consideration, but were not as intelligent as humans, dwarves, elves, or dragons.
The shorter Ra'zac has been consistently portrayed as more blunt, cruel, and impulsive than the taller one; both traits could correspond to age. When talking with Sloan, the shorter one was significantly more threatening than their taller counterpart. When they captured Eragon and Brom, the shorter one suggested just killing Brom, rather than drugging him and putting up with the trouble he caused.
Elves were a race of beings who migrated to Alagaësia from Alalëa in the distant past; around 5217 AC. Humanoid in appearance, they had noticeably
angular features, slanting eyebrows, and pointed ears, and a feline face; they
were generally tall and always slim, and were, according to legend, the fairest
people of the land, partly because of the physical
transformation caused by the dragons' influence on them (and were thus called
the Fair Folk). Most elves were more gifted with magic than the other races, and had an innate
knowledge of their true names, thus making them more powerful than
other races.
Skills Edit
Elves possessed inhuman physical abilities, such as speed, strength, agility,
and endurance. It was said by Brom that even the weakest elf can overpower any
human
with ease. Elves mainly prefered to use a bow and arrow, spears, and swords (though all well-crafted swords were
created by the elf Rhunön), rarely "bothering" to make any other
kind of weapons. They were exceptional swordfighters, and during the Siege
of Feinster two elves held off over a hundred human swordsmen.
The elves had special skills of working with metal but they never shared them
with any other race. They also had a natural affinity with nature, and could
bend it to their will, though they respected it greatly.
Also, all elves had amazing gifts with singing; they could use it to weave a
spell, uphold a spell like at the Blood-Oath Celebration, or just for leisure,
however their songs always held some meaning or
power. They also enjoyed the music of harps, flutes and drums.
History
Origins and Du Fyrn Skulblaka
The elves originally inhabited the country or continent of Alalëa, but
eventually crossed the sea in their silver ships, either seeking new lands to
settle, or as Heslant the Monk stated, "to avoid the consequences of a terrible
mistake." When they first arrived in Alagaësia, they viewed the dragons as mere
animals; a grave mistake, for when a rash elven youth tracked and killed a dragon as he
would a deer, it sparked a terrible war, Du Fyrn Skulblaka, between the two races. The war
lasted many years; though the elves repeatedly attempted to alleviate the
misunderstanding, they had no way of communicating with the dragons, until an
elf named Eragon found an abandoned dragon egg and raised the dragon that hatched
from it as his own.
When the dragon, named Bid'Daum, was strong enough to support his
weight, Eragon acted as an intermediary between the two races, and came to be
known as a Shur'tugal, or Dragon Rider. As a result of the pair's
peacemaking work, which resulted in a permanent pact between elf and dragon, it
was decided to establish the order of the Dragon Riders to maintain stability in
Alagaësia.
Elves were originally mortal, only gaining their immortality and magical
power from the bond with the dragons, much as human Riders do. It is not clear,
however, how the effects of a bond with the dragons influenced all the elves,
rather than just those of them that bonded with a dragon to become a Rider.
The Era of the
Dragon Riders
The new found link between the races was mutually beneficial; it granted the
dragons the gift of speech, and elves the gift of immortality, though not all
dragons bonded with a rider, as some chose to become a Wild dragon, (without direct language, except for
showing pictures or feelings with the mind).
Later, Anurin, head of the Riders, decided to include
humans into the pact with the dragons, even though Dellanir, the elf queen, did not approve of it.
She evicted the Riders from Du Weldenvarden, later allowing a select few
entry. Each human Rider, over the course of time, became more elven in
appearance, in addition to gaining immortality.
The elves faced great devastation during the war with Galbatorix, during which at least four elven
Riders - Kialandí, Formora, Glaerun, and Enduriel - joined the Forsworn along with their dragons, betraying
the dragon and elven races. Vrael, the elven leader of the Riders, was slain
though treachery by Galbatorix and the Forsworn, and the last three
dragon eggs (2 of which hatched for humans) were captured by Galbatorix.
Following the calamity, the elves effectively withdrew from contact with the
outside world, settling deep into the Du Weldenvarden, in their woodland capital
city of Ellesméra, where none but the elves could
dwell.
Warfare
The Elves' superior senses, strength, and speed gave them almost
insurmountable advantages in battle against the other races of Alagaësia. Elves
were skilled in all the arts of war, particularly swordsmanship (all swords of
elven making are stronger and harder than dwarf or human swords, and they never
dull or stain) and archery (their bows were crafted with ease and never broke),
unlike the armies of humans, which were normally divided up into infantry,
cavalry (most notably King Orrin's knights), and artillery (such as the
catapults used by the Empire at the Battle of the Burning Plains). Most Elves seem to
prefer fighting on foot, or, in rare circumstances, such as during Arya's capture by Durza, from horseback. It is somewhat in question
why an elf would fight from horseback, since, as Arya showed, Elves can run as
fast as horses. The Elves do not seem to have any rigid command structure beyond
obeying their monarch, or even a formal military. Queen Islanzadí stated that
elves do not even march in formation due to the damage that it inflicts on the
environment.
Afterward
When Arya accepted the Yawë, she became one of the few elves to venture
beyond the borders of Du Weldenvarden, and she earned the disfavor of her
mother, Queen Islanzadí, by doing so. Arya, along with
her guardians Fäolin and Glenwing, became the courier of the one dragon
egg that had been recovered by Brom and Jeod, and spent many years transporting the egg
back and forth between Osilon and Farthen Dûr. Through Arya's actions, the elves
maintained an alliance with the Varden, while not openly supporting it.
During the Rider War, for the first time in hundreds of
years, the elves abandoned Du Weldenvarden in order to fight against the
Empire.
Post-Empire Era
After the war finished, the elves returned to Du Weldenvarden. As Islanzadí
was killed during the Battle of Urû'baen, Arya took her place as Queen
of the elves. Her place as Ambassador to the Varden was taken by Vanir.
Culture
Both men and women had equal rights in elvish society; both could be warriors
and leaders. There have been both male and female monarchs. Elves did not follow
any form of religion; strict agnostics to the point of atheism, they
maintained that there was not enough proof for the existence of a deity. When Eragon asked Oromis a question regarding the
Elves' religion, Oromis replied that Elves did not believe in
anything higher than their race, dragons, or magic.
The elves loved art and music, filling their homes with beautiful things.
Poetry, such as that of Earnë, was likewise appreciated and organizations
such as the Äthalvard were dedicated to preserving these
songs.
The elves were strict vegetarians, believing that all forms of life should be
respected. They would not kill anything after being inside its mind and knowing
what it felt like for it to be alive. They also had a great love of nature,
evidenced by their architecture.
Elves did not practice marriage, but took mates for as long as they wanted.
This resulted in many short partnerships, which meant that elven children were
rare and cherished; at the time of Eragon's training with Oromis there were only
two in Ellesméra, Alanna and Dusan. However, the children were more powerful and
were said to have a "sheen of energy". An elf's childhood power and grace was
said to "wither" over time. Elves did not tend to hold grudges, knowing that
they could be kept for possibly millennia.
Relationships between humans and elves were rare, due to the different
species, culture, but mostly the lifespan of both races; however, due to the
effects of the Agaetí Blödhren, Eragon Shadeslayer became a half-elven being,
acquiring the elves' physical and mental strength, but still retaining
many human qualities, such as the ability to grow a beard. Christopher
Paolini has stated in a recent interview that half-human,
half-elven offspring were not immortal like their elf parent. Instead, they had
long lives and most weren't able to have children of their own.
Effects of
the Dragon Rider bond Edit
While it was at first assumed that elves always looked as they did, after his
transformation by the Dragon Spirit during the Blood-Oath
Celebration, Eragon acquired an elf-like appearance and as well
as their abilities. This suggests that much of the power and 'beauty' of the
elves was related to their pact with the dragons, as otherwise, Eragon would not
have been able to gain abilities like theirs from the dragons alone. It was also
stated that human Riders gain more elf-like features the longer they live and
are bonded with their dragon. Oromis taught Eragon that the elves sing to
themselves in the Ancient Language to appear as they wish, if they
see fit to change their physical appearance. This is evident in the case of
Blödhgarm, as well as the elves Eragon met during the Agaeti Blödhren. Some were
described as extremely tall with black eyes, having dragon-like scales, having
fur, or gills.
angular features, slanting eyebrows, and pointed ears, and a feline face; they
were generally tall and always slim, and were, according to legend, the fairest
people of the land, partly because of the physical
transformation caused by the dragons' influence on them (and were thus called
the Fair Folk). Most elves were more gifted with magic than the other races, and had an innate
knowledge of their true names, thus making them more powerful than
other races.
Skills Edit
Elves possessed inhuman physical abilities, such as speed, strength, agility,
and endurance. It was said by Brom that even the weakest elf can overpower any
human
with ease. Elves mainly prefered to use a bow and arrow, spears, and swords (though all well-crafted swords were
created by the elf Rhunön), rarely "bothering" to make any other
kind of weapons. They were exceptional swordfighters, and during the Siege
of Feinster two elves held off over a hundred human swordsmen.
The elves had special skills of working with metal but they never shared them
with any other race. They also had a natural affinity with nature, and could
bend it to their will, though they respected it greatly.
Also, all elves had amazing gifts with singing; they could use it to weave a
spell, uphold a spell like at the Blood-Oath Celebration, or just for leisure,
however their songs always held some meaning or
power. They also enjoyed the music of harps, flutes and drums.
History
Origins and Du Fyrn Skulblaka
The elves originally inhabited the country or continent of Alalëa, but
eventually crossed the sea in their silver ships, either seeking new lands to
settle, or as Heslant the Monk stated, "to avoid the consequences of a terrible
mistake." When they first arrived in Alagaësia, they viewed the dragons as mere
animals; a grave mistake, for when a rash elven youth tracked and killed a dragon as he
would a deer, it sparked a terrible war, Du Fyrn Skulblaka, between the two races. The war
lasted many years; though the elves repeatedly attempted to alleviate the
misunderstanding, they had no way of communicating with the dragons, until an
elf named Eragon found an abandoned dragon egg and raised the dragon that hatched
from it as his own.
When the dragon, named Bid'Daum, was strong enough to support his
weight, Eragon acted as an intermediary between the two races, and came to be
known as a Shur'tugal, or Dragon Rider. As a result of the pair's
peacemaking work, which resulted in a permanent pact between elf and dragon, it
was decided to establish the order of the Dragon Riders to maintain stability in
Alagaësia.
Elves were originally mortal, only gaining their immortality and magical
power from the bond with the dragons, much as human Riders do. It is not clear,
however, how the effects of a bond with the dragons influenced all the elves,
rather than just those of them that bonded with a dragon to become a Rider.
The Era of the
Dragon Riders
The new found link between the races was mutually beneficial; it granted the
dragons the gift of speech, and elves the gift of immortality, though not all
dragons bonded with a rider, as some chose to become a Wild dragon, (without direct language, except for
showing pictures or feelings with the mind).
Later, Anurin, head of the Riders, decided to include
humans into the pact with the dragons, even though Dellanir, the elf queen, did not approve of it.
She evicted the Riders from Du Weldenvarden, later allowing a select few
entry. Each human Rider, over the course of time, became more elven in
appearance, in addition to gaining immortality.
The elves faced great devastation during the war with Galbatorix, during which at least four elven
Riders - Kialandí, Formora, Glaerun, and Enduriel - joined the Forsworn along with their dragons, betraying
the dragon and elven races. Vrael, the elven leader of the Riders, was slain
though treachery by Galbatorix and the Forsworn, and the last three
dragon eggs (2 of which hatched for humans) were captured by Galbatorix.
Following the calamity, the elves effectively withdrew from contact with the
outside world, settling deep into the Du Weldenvarden, in their woodland capital
city of Ellesméra, where none but the elves could
dwell.
Warfare
The Elves' superior senses, strength, and speed gave them almost
insurmountable advantages in battle against the other races of Alagaësia. Elves
were skilled in all the arts of war, particularly swordsmanship (all swords of
elven making are stronger and harder than dwarf or human swords, and they never
dull or stain) and archery (their bows were crafted with ease and never broke),
unlike the armies of humans, which were normally divided up into infantry,
cavalry (most notably King Orrin's knights), and artillery (such as the
catapults used by the Empire at the Battle of the Burning Plains). Most Elves seem to
prefer fighting on foot, or, in rare circumstances, such as during Arya's capture by Durza, from horseback. It is somewhat in question
why an elf would fight from horseback, since, as Arya showed, Elves can run as
fast as horses. The Elves do not seem to have any rigid command structure beyond
obeying their monarch, or even a formal military. Queen Islanzadí stated that
elves do not even march in formation due to the damage that it inflicts on the
environment.
Afterward
When Arya accepted the Yawë, she became one of the few elves to venture
beyond the borders of Du Weldenvarden, and she earned the disfavor of her
mother, Queen Islanzadí, by doing so. Arya, along with
her guardians Fäolin and Glenwing, became the courier of the one dragon
egg that had been recovered by Brom and Jeod, and spent many years transporting the egg
back and forth between Osilon and Farthen Dûr. Through Arya's actions, the elves
maintained an alliance with the Varden, while not openly supporting it.
During the Rider War, for the first time in hundreds of
years, the elves abandoned Du Weldenvarden in order to fight against the
Empire.
Post-Empire Era
After the war finished, the elves returned to Du Weldenvarden. As Islanzadí
was killed during the Battle of Urû'baen, Arya took her place as Queen
of the elves. Her place as Ambassador to the Varden was taken by Vanir.
Culture
Both men and women had equal rights in elvish society; both could be warriors
and leaders. There have been both male and female monarchs. Elves did not follow
any form of religion; strict agnostics to the point of atheism, they
maintained that there was not enough proof for the existence of a deity. When Eragon asked Oromis a question regarding the
Elves' religion, Oromis replied that Elves did not believe in
anything higher than their race, dragons, or magic.
The elves loved art and music, filling their homes with beautiful things.
Poetry, such as that of Earnë, was likewise appreciated and organizations
such as the Äthalvard were dedicated to preserving these
songs.
The elves were strict vegetarians, believing that all forms of life should be
respected. They would not kill anything after being inside its mind and knowing
what it felt like for it to be alive. They also had a great love of nature,
evidenced by their architecture.
Elves did not practice marriage, but took mates for as long as they wanted.
This resulted in many short partnerships, which meant that elven children were
rare and cherished; at the time of Eragon's training with Oromis there were only
two in Ellesméra, Alanna and Dusan. However, the children were more powerful and
were said to have a "sheen of energy". An elf's childhood power and grace was
said to "wither" over time. Elves did not tend to hold grudges, knowing that
they could be kept for possibly millennia.
Relationships between humans and elves were rare, due to the different
species, culture, but mostly the lifespan of both races; however, due to the
effects of the Agaetí Blödhren, Eragon Shadeslayer became a half-elven being,
acquiring the elves' physical and mental strength, but still retaining
many human qualities, such as the ability to grow a beard. Christopher
Paolini has stated in a recent interview that half-human,
half-elven offspring were not immortal like their elf parent. Instead, they had
long lives and most weren't able to have children of their own.
Effects of
the Dragon Rider bond Edit
While it was at first assumed that elves always looked as they did, after his
transformation by the Dragon Spirit during the Blood-Oath
Celebration, Eragon acquired an elf-like appearance and as well
as their abilities. This suggests that much of the power and 'beauty' of the
elves was related to their pact with the dragons, as otherwise, Eragon would not
have been able to gain abilities like theirs from the dragons alone. It was also
stated that human Riders gain more elf-like features the longer they live and
are bonded with their dragon. Oromis taught Eragon that the elves sing to
themselves in the Ancient Language to appear as they wish, if they
see fit to change their physical appearance. This is evident in the case of
Blödhgarm, as well as the elves Eragon met during the Agaeti Blödhren. Some were
described as extremely tall with black eyes, having dragon-like scales, having
fur, or gills.
Dwarves (Knurlan in Dwarvish, singular knurla and
Dvergar in the Ancient Language once known to all creatures)
were one of the only races native to Alagaësia. Known as lovers of rock and stone,
dwarves had a long lifespan and often lived in large, underground cities in the
Beor Mountains. One of the most famous dwarf
cities was located in Farthen Dûr ("Our Father" in dwarvish).
The city itself, Tronjheim, was the secret hiding place of the Varden
up until the Battle under Farthen Dûr. The dwarves had many clans such as the Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin and the Dûrgrimst
Ingeitum. With the fall of the Empire the Dwarves were accepted
into the Dragon Riders along with the Urgals.
History Edit
Before elves and humans came into Alagaësia, the dwarves and dragons
fought in many battles against each other. Though never
escalating into a full-scale war, these battles nevertheless left the two races
with a rivalry.
The dwarves were not a part of the blood-oath pact between elves, men, and
dragons. As a result, it was impossible for a dwarf to become a Dragon Rider. During Galbatorix's uprising, however, this proved to be
something of a blessing, because the dwarves escaped the downfall of the Riders
and the subsequent havoc wreaked by the new king and his minions.
Society and customs
Edit
The dwarves were split into thirteen distinct, miniature societies called
clans. Each clan had its own clan chief, who was a member of the Council. The
thirteen clan chiefs were responsible for electing a king; the king was the
final authority over all the clans.
The forty-second dwarf king, Hrothgar, was in power at the time of the Rider War. Unfortunately, he did not live to see
the end of the war as he was killed at the Battle of The Burning Plains by Murtagh. Orik, as Hrothgar's heir, was made clan chief of
the Ingeitum and subsequently elected as the next king.
During the Rider War, the dwarves supported the Varden, allowing them to stay at Tronjheim in
Farthen Dûr, and fighting along side them at the Battle under Farthen Dûr. One
of the most treasured possessions of the dwarves was the contents of the library
at Tronjheim, which contained many books and scrolls written in the same runes
that humans used. Another of the dwarves' treasures was the Isidar Mithrim.
The dwarves believed that when a dwarf dies they must be sealed in stone so
that they can join their ancestors in the afterlife. They refuse to say more
than that to outsiders. They take great lengths to ensure burial in this way,
for they believe that shame falls on the family or clan that does not bury their
dead in this fashion. Under Farthen Dûr is a chamber for all the dwarves who
have died while in the city. They consider this chamber a sacred grotto, and a
special alcove there was set aside for Ajihad after his death. Unlike Ajihad, however,
Eragon may choose to be buried with the dwarves
and "sealed in stone", as Eragon is a part of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum.
Some dwarves, the deep dwellers, abhorr the surface world and spend
all their time below ground.
The dwarves elected their new leaders in an amphitheater, as did the Varden.
The dwarven throne room was lined with statues of the kings of the past.
Dwarves have thicker bones then humans and elves, allowing them to drill
through their knuckles and insert a metal piece that allows the dwarf to place
spikes on their knuckles, known as Ascûdgamln. The procedure is very dangerous
though, and if done wrong, can cost the dwarf the use of his/her hands.
Therefore, many dwarves are reluctant to have the procedure done.
Dwarvish religion
The dwarves were polytheists, believing in multiple deities. These
included Gûntera, king of the gods, a warrior and scholar;
Kílf, Gûntera's queen and the goddess of water;
Urûr, master of the heavens and the air; Morgothal, the god of fire; Sindri, "mother earth"; and Helzvog, the dwarves' favorite god, who created
the dwarves from the roots of the mountains. Dwarves were not fond of elves, as
they did not share in their religious beliefs and often reminded the dwarves of
that. Whenever Arya visited a dwarf city, she often engaged in
an argument with a priest.
Dvergar in the Ancient Language once known to all creatures)
were one of the only races native to Alagaësia. Known as lovers of rock and stone,
dwarves had a long lifespan and often lived in large, underground cities in the
Beor Mountains. One of the most famous dwarf
cities was located in Farthen Dûr ("Our Father" in dwarvish).
The city itself, Tronjheim, was the secret hiding place of the Varden
up until the Battle under Farthen Dûr. The dwarves had many clans such as the Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin and the Dûrgrimst
Ingeitum. With the fall of the Empire the Dwarves were accepted
into the Dragon Riders along with the Urgals.
History Edit
Before elves and humans came into Alagaësia, the dwarves and dragons
fought in many battles against each other. Though never
escalating into a full-scale war, these battles nevertheless left the two races
with a rivalry.
The dwarves were not a part of the blood-oath pact between elves, men, and
dragons. As a result, it was impossible for a dwarf to become a Dragon Rider. During Galbatorix's uprising, however, this proved to be
something of a blessing, because the dwarves escaped the downfall of the Riders
and the subsequent havoc wreaked by the new king and his minions.
Society and customs
Edit
The dwarves were split into thirteen distinct, miniature societies called
clans. Each clan had its own clan chief, who was a member of the Council. The
thirteen clan chiefs were responsible for electing a king; the king was the
final authority over all the clans.
The forty-second dwarf king, Hrothgar, was in power at the time of the Rider War. Unfortunately, he did not live to see
the end of the war as he was killed at the Battle of The Burning Plains by Murtagh. Orik, as Hrothgar's heir, was made clan chief of
the Ingeitum and subsequently elected as the next king.
During the Rider War, the dwarves supported the Varden, allowing them to stay at Tronjheim in
Farthen Dûr, and fighting along side them at the Battle under Farthen Dûr. One
of the most treasured possessions of the dwarves was the contents of the library
at Tronjheim, which contained many books and scrolls written in the same runes
that humans used. Another of the dwarves' treasures was the Isidar Mithrim.
The dwarves believed that when a dwarf dies they must be sealed in stone so
that they can join their ancestors in the afterlife. They refuse to say more
than that to outsiders. They take great lengths to ensure burial in this way,
for they believe that shame falls on the family or clan that does not bury their
dead in this fashion. Under Farthen Dûr is a chamber for all the dwarves who
have died while in the city. They consider this chamber a sacred grotto, and a
special alcove there was set aside for Ajihad after his death. Unlike Ajihad, however,
Eragon may choose to be buried with the dwarves
and "sealed in stone", as Eragon is a part of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum.
Some dwarves, the deep dwellers, abhorr the surface world and spend
all their time below ground.
The dwarves elected their new leaders in an amphitheater, as did the Varden.
The dwarven throne room was lined with statues of the kings of the past.
Dwarves have thicker bones then humans and elves, allowing them to drill
through their knuckles and insert a metal piece that allows the dwarf to place
spikes on their knuckles, known as Ascûdgamln. The procedure is very dangerous
though, and if done wrong, can cost the dwarf the use of his/her hands.
Therefore, many dwarves are reluctant to have the procedure done.
Dwarvish religion
The dwarves were polytheists, believing in multiple deities. These
included Gûntera, king of the gods, a warrior and scholar;
Kílf, Gûntera's queen and the goddess of water;
Urûr, master of the heavens and the air; Morgothal, the god of fire; Sindri, "mother earth"; and Helzvog, the dwarves' favorite god, who created
the dwarves from the roots of the mountains. Dwarves were not fond of elves, as
they did not share in their religious beliefs and often reminded the dwarves of
that. Whenever Arya visited a dwarf city, she often engaged in
an argument with a priest.
Dragons hatched from eggs. It is unclear if all dragons were the same size at
birth as the size of their eggs varied. When dragons reached about six months
old, they gained the ability to breathe fire. Predators by nature, they hunted
large animals, with an occasional fish or fowl and some plants, such as Fireweed, which eased bad breath and indigestion.
Dragons started to mate when they were young. They were unfading and did not
die, unless by wounds in battle or by sickness. There was no limit to a dragon's
size, as they grew continuously. Brom said that the most ancient dragons could
be confused for hills or small mountains because of this; a dragon's size
directly correlated to the size of the Eldunarí. The largest known dragon was Raugmar the Black. Once dragons grew large, they
spent most of their time asleep in a dream stage.
When the Unbound Dragons delivered one of their eggs to the Riders, certain
words were said over it. These ensured that the dragon would only hatch for the
one destined to be its Rider.
If a dragon's Rider was ever killed, they would go on rampage to avenge their
death. Afterwards, they often died from grief. If they so chose to, after dying,
they could retain their conscious mind in their Eldunarí, or their jeweled "heart of hearts".
This allowed anyone with the Eldunarí - if the dragon gave it up to someone - to
speak to the dragon and draw energy from them. It was revealed by the elf Oromis
that Galbatorix, during his rebellion, acquired all the Eldunarí from the
dragons he killed, which was the source of his amplified power. He also gave
some of them to Murtagh, which explains his increased power.
However, though Galbatorix did collect all the avalible eggs and Eldunarí,
there were many hidden in the Vault of Souls underneath the Rock of Kuthian on
Vroengard, which Galbatorix was oblivious of due to an enchantment that caused
one to forget about it.
History Edit
Early years Edit
Along with the dwarves and the Grey Folk, dragons were one of the three races
native to Alagäesia. The dwarves and the dragons constantly had skirmishes,
and neither ever found any liking for the other race. Additionally, there were
never any dwarf Dragon Riders because the dwarves were not included in the Blood
Oath.
Du Fyrn Skulblaka
Edit
Main article: Du Fyrn Skulblaka
After a dragon was killed by a rash elf, the long and bitter Fyrn Skulblaka started between the two races.
Each side did things they would regret; at one point, elves ambushed dragon
mothers in a forested nesting-place (Stone of Broken Eggs), killing them and breaking
their eggs. Eventually, however, an elf named Eragon I (namesake of the current Eragon)
discovered an abandoned dragon egg and raised the dragon as his own. Together,
the pair acted as mediators for the dragons and Elves, and were able to
eventually resolve the conflict. Afterward, they established a pact and created
the order of the Dragon Riders. The dragons and their Riders were tasked with
maintaining the peace in Alagäesia. Humans were later added to the blood oath when
they arrived.
The Dragon Rider Era
Edit
The dragons agreed to give some of their eggs to the Riders so that the order
could continue. With the protection and assistance of the Riders, the dragons
experienced an age of peace. Though they still had contentions with the dwarves,
a full-scale war never again erupted between races.
The Fall Edit
During and after Galbatorix's rebellion, most of the dragons, along with
their Riders, were killed. The Forsworn began a mass genocide of the
dragons, leaving them on the brink of extinction. Galbatorix's dragon was
thought to be the only surviving dragon. However, Galbatorix still held three
dragon eggs, and there was another surviving dragon, Glaedr, living in Du
Weldenvarden. By Eragon's time, there were only five known
dragons in existence:
New hope Edit
When Eragon discovered the blue dragon egg in the Spine and eventually became Saphira's Rider,
some hope was restored for the dragons. Galbatorix also wanted to reestablish
the dragon race and the Riders to serve him.
Saphira was the last known female dragon in existence. As revealed by
Murtagh, it was Galbatorix's desire to reestablish the order of Dragon Riders.
Therefore, it was likely that Saphira would have become the "mother" of their
race.
However, in the Vault of Souls, Eragon found that Vrael, Oromis, and a few
other elders had realized that Galbatorix was too powerful, and decided to hide
away 136 Eldunarí and 243 dragon eggs, 26 of which were saved for the new
generation of Dragon Riders, and then the Eldunarí cast a spell like that of the
Banishing of Names, that erased the memory of the Rock of Kuthian from everone's
minds, including that of the Riders, and the mothers of the dragon eggs. This
spell would also prevent anyone who entered and left the vault from remembering
the dragon eggs in the vault until the demise of Galbatorix. Eragon took these
eggs with him at the end of Inheritance.
Naming Edit
In response to a fan question, Christopher Paolini stated that dragons would
normally choose their own names once they were old enough to understand the
concept.[1] Additionally, it wasn't
unheard of for a dragon to change his or her name over the centuries. In a
perversion of the normal custom, Galbatorix gave Shruikan his name.
In the first book, when Eragon asked Brom about dragons and the Dragon
Riders, he asked him about the names of the former dragons before the fall of
the order. Amongst them was Saphira, the name of Brom's former dragon. Later,
Eragon shares the list of names with her, and she chooses Saphira. Also, when
Murtagh explains why his dragon is named Thorn, it is unclear whether Thorn
chose his name or Murtagh. Christopher Paolini has stated in an interview that
Thorn did indeed choose his own name.[2]
birth as the size of their eggs varied. When dragons reached about six months
old, they gained the ability to breathe fire. Predators by nature, they hunted
large animals, with an occasional fish or fowl and some plants, such as Fireweed, which eased bad breath and indigestion.
Dragons started to mate when they were young. They were unfading and did not
die, unless by wounds in battle or by sickness. There was no limit to a dragon's
size, as they grew continuously. Brom said that the most ancient dragons could
be confused for hills or small mountains because of this; a dragon's size
directly correlated to the size of the Eldunarí. The largest known dragon was Raugmar the Black. Once dragons grew large, they
spent most of their time asleep in a dream stage.
When the Unbound Dragons delivered one of their eggs to the Riders, certain
words were said over it. These ensured that the dragon would only hatch for the
one destined to be its Rider.
If a dragon's Rider was ever killed, they would go on rampage to avenge their
death. Afterwards, they often died from grief. If they so chose to, after dying,
they could retain their conscious mind in their Eldunarí, or their jeweled "heart of hearts".
This allowed anyone with the Eldunarí - if the dragon gave it up to someone - to
speak to the dragon and draw energy from them. It was revealed by the elf Oromis
that Galbatorix, during his rebellion, acquired all the Eldunarí from the
dragons he killed, which was the source of his amplified power. He also gave
some of them to Murtagh, which explains his increased power.
However, though Galbatorix did collect all the avalible eggs and Eldunarí,
there were many hidden in the Vault of Souls underneath the Rock of Kuthian on
Vroengard, which Galbatorix was oblivious of due to an enchantment that caused
one to forget about it.
History Edit
Early years Edit
Along with the dwarves and the Grey Folk, dragons were one of the three races
native to Alagäesia. The dwarves and the dragons constantly had skirmishes,
and neither ever found any liking for the other race. Additionally, there were
never any dwarf Dragon Riders because the dwarves were not included in the Blood
Oath.
Du Fyrn Skulblaka
Edit
Main article: Du Fyrn Skulblaka
After a dragon was killed by a rash elf, the long and bitter Fyrn Skulblaka started between the two races.
Each side did things they would regret; at one point, elves ambushed dragon
mothers in a forested nesting-place (Stone of Broken Eggs), killing them and breaking
their eggs. Eventually, however, an elf named Eragon I (namesake of the current Eragon)
discovered an abandoned dragon egg and raised the dragon as his own. Together,
the pair acted as mediators for the dragons and Elves, and were able to
eventually resolve the conflict. Afterward, they established a pact and created
the order of the Dragon Riders. The dragons and their Riders were tasked with
maintaining the peace in Alagäesia. Humans were later added to the blood oath when
they arrived.
The Dragon Rider Era
Edit
The dragons agreed to give some of their eggs to the Riders so that the order
could continue. With the protection and assistance of the Riders, the dragons
experienced an age of peace. Though they still had contentions with the dwarves,
a full-scale war never again erupted between races.
The Fall Edit
During and after Galbatorix's rebellion, most of the dragons, along with
their Riders, were killed. The Forsworn began a mass genocide of the
dragons, leaving them on the brink of extinction. Galbatorix's dragon was
thought to be the only surviving dragon. However, Galbatorix still held three
dragon eggs, and there was another surviving dragon, Glaedr, living in Du
Weldenvarden. By Eragon's time, there were only five known
dragons in existence:
- Saphira: Eragon's dragon, a blue female
- Shruikan: Galbatorix's dragon, a black
male - Thorn: Murtagh's dragon, a red male
- Fírnen: Arya's dragon, a green male
- Glaedr: Oromis's dragon, a gold male (died
during the elven invasion of Gil'ead in Brisingr, later resided in his Eldunarí)
New hope Edit
When Eragon discovered the blue dragon egg in the Spine and eventually became Saphira's Rider,
some hope was restored for the dragons. Galbatorix also wanted to reestablish
the dragon race and the Riders to serve him.
Saphira was the last known female dragon in existence. As revealed by
Murtagh, it was Galbatorix's desire to reestablish the order of Dragon Riders.
Therefore, it was likely that Saphira would have become the "mother" of their
race.
However, in the Vault of Souls, Eragon found that Vrael, Oromis, and a few
other elders had realized that Galbatorix was too powerful, and decided to hide
away 136 Eldunarí and 243 dragon eggs, 26 of which were saved for the new
generation of Dragon Riders, and then the Eldunarí cast a spell like that of the
Banishing of Names, that erased the memory of the Rock of Kuthian from everone's
minds, including that of the Riders, and the mothers of the dragon eggs. This
spell would also prevent anyone who entered and left the vault from remembering
the dragon eggs in the vault until the demise of Galbatorix. Eragon took these
eggs with him at the end of Inheritance.
Naming Edit
In response to a fan question, Christopher Paolini stated that dragons would
normally choose their own names once they were old enough to understand the
concept.[1] Additionally, it wasn't
unheard of for a dragon to change his or her name over the centuries. In a
perversion of the normal custom, Galbatorix gave Shruikan his name.
In the first book, when Eragon asked Brom about dragons and the Dragon
Riders, he asked him about the names of the former dragons before the fall of
the order. Amongst them was Saphira, the name of Brom's former dragon. Later,
Eragon shares the list of names with her, and she chooses Saphira. Also, when
Murtagh explains why his dragon is named Thorn, it is unclear whether Thorn
chose his name or Murtagh. Christopher Paolini has stated in an interview that
Thorn did indeed choose his own name.[2]