List of The Inheritance Cycle characters

This is a list of characters in The Inheritance Cycle, a fantasy series by Christopher Paolini.

Major Characters

Eragon Bromsson

Eragon Bromson is the son of Selena and Brom. Murtagh is his half brother.

Eragon lived with his uncle (Garrow) until he found a dragon egg which hatched for him. Eragon and the dragon, named Saphira, have been connected mentally ever since. Eragon's first quest begins as a search to find and kill the Ra'zac, who killed his uncle Garrow, Eragon, accompanied by Brom, and becomes a search for the Varden, where he is accompanied by Murtagh.

The two travel to the Varden along with the elf Arya to seek safety. They meed Ajihad, the leader of the Varden, and are welcomed to stay in Tronjheim. Tronjheim is later attacked by a huge group of Urgals, directed by the Shade Durza. Durza was about to finish Eragon off when Arya broke the Ishidar Mithrim and distracts the Shade. Eragon then stabs the Shade in its heart, earning the title of Eragon Shadeslayer.

Eragon has a strong conscience and gripping personality. He travels to the Elves' realm of Du Weldenvarden for training after the battle of Farthen Dur, in which he slew the Shade Durza, but received a huge scar across his back. This scar gives him painful seizures that occur frequently. During the Agaeti Blödhren, a festival held to honor the pact between elves and the Dragon Riders in Ellesméra, Eragon's back is healed by magic and becomes much more elf-like in form and ability. Soon after, Eragon travels to the Varden, where he fights on the Burning Plains. There he meets Murtagh (whom he thought was dead) and his dragon, Thorn. They defeat Eragon and Saphira, but spare them due to previous friendship and he also reveals that he and Eragon are brothers. In the battle he meets his cousin Roran. Afterwards Eragon travels to Helgrind to rescue Katrina, Roran's betrothed. He then runs (literally) back to the Varden. While going back he meets a hermit, Tenga. Arya meets up with him and then they continue on their way. Before going to sleep one night some spirits visit them. When Eragon gets back he is to marry Katrina and Roran but just before the wedding is to begin Murtagh and Thorn along with an army of soldiers who feel no pain confront them. After the wedding Eragon travels to Farthen Dur to witness the crowning of the new king after King Hrothgar's death. While there he is attacked by a clan who oppose riders. After Orik's coronation, Eragon and Saphira fly to Ellesmera to receive further training from Oromis and Glaedr. Eragon makes a riders sword, named Brisingr, for himself there with some help from Rhunön. They depart from Ellesmera and go to Feinster, when the Varden are taking the city. In the city, just before the Varden storm the castle, three wizards create a shade called Varaug, wishing that it would be harmful to the Varden. Eragon kills the shade with Arya's help (more accurately, Arya slays the Shade while Eragon distracts him with a mental battle). Eragon has the same name as the very first rider.

Eragon is in love with Arya, and during the blood oath celebration, when his mind was slightly fuddled by the elves' magic, he boldly expressed his love for Arya, resulting in her avoiding him for the rest of the time she was in the forests.

Eragon was depicted by Ed Speleers in the film adaptation of Eragon.

Saphira Bjartskular

Saphira Bjartskular is a female blue dragon who hatches from an egg stolen from Galbatorix by Brom and Jeod. She is the last female dragon in all of Alagaësia. The egg is ferried between the Elves and the Varden by Arya in an attempt to make it hatch. When Durza tries to steal the egg, Arya teleports it to the Spine, a range of mountains, where Eragon finds it. Soon afterwards, Saphira hatches and grows rapidly. After Garrow's (Eragon's uncle and foster father) death, Saphira accompanies Brom and Eragon in their travels. During these travels Eragon learns to ride her and their bond becomes stronger. In the Battle of Farthen Dur, Eragon rides Saphira and they fight the Urgals (under the control of Durza) with the Varden. While Eragon fights Durza, Saphira breathes fire for the first time, and Eragon slays Durza.

In Eldest, Saphira and Eragon travel to Du Weldenvarden to continue their training. Here, Saphira is regarded as the highest-ranking citizen of Elf culture. Saphira is taught more about fighting by the dragon Glaedr. Their training is interrupted when Eragon and Saphira fly to the aid of the Varden and fight in the Battle of the Burning Plains. During the battle, Eragon and Saphira are defeated by a new Rider and Dragon, Murtagh and Thorn respectively. Murtagh spares Eragon and Saphira's lives, on account of their former friendship and family ties, and then departs with Thorn and Eragon's sword, Zar'roc.

In Brisingr, Saphira and Eragon go to Helgrind and kill the Ra'zac and Lethrblaka. Saphira is forced to separate from Eragon when he finds Sloan and decides to rescue him by himself. Saphira stays with the Varden, while Eragon travels across a significant portion of Alagaesia and then serves as a Varden ambassador to the dwarves, in order to keep an eye on the selection of the new dwarf king. During the coronation, Saphira repairs the Star Sapphire, Isidar Mithrim. Saphira and Eragon then complete their training with Oromis and Glaedr. Here Glaedr reveals that he has a heart of hearts that he can place his consciousness in if he dies or chooses. Saphira helps Eragon craft his new sword, Brisingr. Glaedr gives Saphira and Eragon his heart of hearts, which they promise to keep. Saphira and Eragon join the Varden's siege of Feinster, aiding the Varden in their victory. During the battle, Glaedr and Oromis are killed by Murtagh and Thorn who are controlled by Galbatorix.

As Eragon's dragon, she has a deep emotional bond with him, similar to a two-way parent and child relationship. As a result, she supports him in almost everything he does. Her main goal is to keep Eragon safe, even stating herself that should Eragon be captured, she would go so far as to give herself up to Galbatorix, dooming Alagaesia, just to save Eragon. She is named after Brom's dragon.

While the story centers it's third-person perspective on Eragon most of the time, Roran and Saphira both act as the reader's area of perspective in the second and third books. During the chapters in which Saphira acts as the reader's outlet, they are treated to her unique thoughts. Saphira (and Glaedr at times) is noted to retain unusual mental titles for certain things. These titles are typically a mash up of adjectives and descriptive nouns. Humans are referred to as "two-legged-round-ears", Riders, "partner-of-her-mind-and-heart" and dragons, "daughters-of-the-wind".

Saphira is voiced by Rachel Weisz in the film adaptation of Eragon.

Arya Dröttningu

Arya Dröttningu is a female elf, and the daughter of King Evandar and Queen Islanzadí. She is the sole heir to the Elven throne. She is beautiful and wise and possesses superhuman speed, strength, and grace, like all other elves. In the books, it is said that she has long, black hair and green eyes. She is a master swordswoman and skilled at using magic. Eragon has expressed his deep romantic feelings for her on many occasions; but she has rejected him sometimes cruelly, partly because of she was already 100 years old and it is hinted that it is also because she has romantic feeling for Faolin, even though he is dead.

Arya was banned from Queen Islanzadí's presence when she chose to devote herself fully to the cause of the Varden. She was appointed the carfier of the dragon egg that Brom and Jeod had managed to recover from Galbatorix. Galbatorix sends the Shade Durza to capture Arya and the egg. The Shade manages to capture Arya, but fails to capture the egg when Arya teleports it to The Spine, where it is found by Eragon. Arya is then imprisoned in Gil'ead. In order to prevent her escape she is given a magic-suppressing drug and a dose of a lethal poison that would kill her if she did not receive a daily antidote.

During her imprisonment, Eragon has visions of her in his sleep. When Eragon is imprisoned in the same prison, he saves her during his own rescue, though Arya remains in a self-induced coma to slow the effects of the poison. Mentally communicating with Eragon, she informs him that the Varden have the antidote; without it she would die within days. They manage to reach the Varden in time to save her, and she is healed sufficiently to fight when Farthen Dûr comes under attack from Galbatorix's forces. During the battle, she helps Eragon kill Durza, distracting Durza by breaking a huge star sapphire, named Isidar Mithrim. This earns her the animosity of the dwarves.

After the battle and the death of Ajihad, the leader of the Varden, she accompanies Eragon to Ellesméra, where she is reconciled with her mother, at least in some ways. Arya is afraid of Eragon's feelings for her, because it would distract Eragon from his tasks, and therefore is somewhat cruel to him. After the Blood-Oath Celebration (Agaeti Blodhren in the Ancient Language), she returns to the Varden in Surda and fights in the Battle of the Burning Plains. After Eragon's attack on Helgrind, Arya joins him and they return to the Varden. Arya joins Eragon in the Siege of Feinster, and killed the Shade created by the city's magicians (Varaug) with Eragon's help.

In Brisingr, Arya's relationship with Eragon becomes more friendly. Although she spoke more openly about her past life and feelings to the young Rider, she still stopped Eragon's many advances. She revealed that she already had a close friend, Fäolin, who was slain with Glenwing in the ambush in which she was captured by Durza.

Arya was portrayed by Sienna Guillory in the film version of Eragon.

Brom

Brom is a former Dragon Rider, Eragon's mentor and founder of the Varden. Brom was born in Kuasta. During his years as a Dragon Rider, he was close friends with Morzan, who became leader of the Forsworn. Brom's dragon, Saphira (not to be confused with Eragon's dragon Saphira), was killed. Brom, almost driven mad with pain and loss, killed Morzan and became responsible for the deaths of eight other Forsworn. In an effort to overthrow Galbatorix, Brom helped steal one of the three remaining dragon eggs from Galbatorix. As Eragon grew up in Carvahall, Brom watched over him in the guise of the village storyteller.

When Eragon's uncle Garrow is killed, Brom travels with him and Saphira, training him in swordsmanship and magic. He gives Eragon his sword, which turns out to be Morzan's sword, called Zar'roc. He is killed by the Ra'zac outside Dras-Leona, taking a knife, intended for Eragon, through the heart. Before his death, Brom gave Eragon his blessing and told Eragon seven words in the ancient language, but told Eragon to "use them only in great need"; the text and meaning of his words are yet to be revealed. He is buried in a tomb of sandstone, that was changed into pure diamond through the magic of Eragon's dragon, Saphira. Throughout the second book of the cycle, Eldest, he remains somewhat of an enigma and Eragon retains a strong interest and allegiance to his memory. It is then confirmed in Brisingr, the third book of the Inheritance cycle, that Brom was Eragon's father as Eragon learns about his background from Oromis and Glaedr.

Brom was played by Jeremy Irons in the film adaptation of Eragon, wherein he was not shown to be a storyteller.

Galbatorix

Galbatorix is the main antagonist of the Inheritance cycle. He is the immortal and demented ruler of Alagaesia and he is fighting against the Varden and the kingdom of Surda. He is the traitor that led to the destruction of the Riders. When his first dragon, Jarnunvosk, was killed and he was not allowed another one, the enraged Galbatorix turned against the Riders, later using dark magic to bring the dragon Shruikan under his rule after killing Shruikan's own Rider. He spreads war, madness, and chaos throughout Alagaesia, and will not be content unless he rules it all. His unusual (and growing) magical strength is derived from the captured souls of dead dragons, the Eldunarí, which means "heart of hearts". Galbatorix spent decades hunting down said Eldunarí, and he seems to have abandoned this practice in favor of finding the "true name" (though whose or what's true name is unclear - it has been speculated that the name he is searching for is the true name of the ancient language). Galbatorix captured the Eldunarí of the first Rider he killed and subdued it, as it says in Brisingr "likely with the help of Durza". He rarely leaves his citadel in Urû'baen, his capital city and the center of his Empire (which starts at the coast and ends at the Hadarac Desert) which he conquered when he deposed King Angrenost of the Broddring Kingdom. His appearance is not known yet apart from having black eyes, but his personality is known to be charming and persuasive in certain conditions, and violent and intimidating in others, according to Murtagh. It has been said that 3 people have discovered his true name, however he put a spell around his name that kills anyone who uses it.

Galbatorix was played by John Malkovich in the film adaptation of Eragon.

Nasuada

Nasuada is the daughter of Ajihad. Upon her father's death at the beginning of Eldest, Nasuada becomes leader of the Varden. Due to limitation of resources in the Varden's stronghold in Farthen Dûr, she leads the Varden to Surda, a rebel country to the south of Alagaësia, separate from the empire, that holds a secret allegiance to the Varden. Nasuada convinces King Orrin to become open in their allegiance. She persuades Trianna the magician to devise a means of creating lace by magic, which could be sold to raise funds for the Varden, as lace is very expensive, rare, and valued in these books.

Nasuada commands Surda and the Varden's forces at the Battle of the Burning Plains. At that battle, she also declares Eragon her successor as leader to the Varden in case of her death. In Brisingr, Nasuada leads the Varden to capture the city of Feinster from the Empire. She informs Eragon that the Varden plan to march to Belatona, then to Dras-Leona, and finally to Uru'baen, where they plan to kill Galbatorix (though they don't know how they will do this). She has also revealed how much she cares for the Varden by taking part in a ritual called "The Trial of the Long Knives", wherein a contestant cuts his or her own arms until one of the two surrenders, which she won, cutting herself eight times (six on one arm and two on the other.) more than any other contestant in the trial of the Long Knives has endured before.

Nasuada was played by Caroline Chekezie in the film version.

Roran Garrowsson

Roran, known by the surnames Garrowsson and Stronghammer, is Garrow's son and Eragon's & Murtagh's cousin, who grows up in Carvahall with Eragon. He is married to Katrina by the end of Brisingr. Early in Eragon, he leaves Carvahall to work as a miller's assistant in the neighboring town of Therinsford.

Roran plays a more prominent part in Eldest, when the Ra'zac return to Carvahall, intending to take Roran captive and destroy the village. He and his allies are able to kill half of the Ra'zac's human soldiers and build modest fortifications around the village before the Ra'zac capture Katrina through her father (Sloan)'s betrayal of them. Roran then leads the people of Carvahall to Surda. Roran and Eragon meet once more after the Battle of the Burning Plains.

In Brisingr, Roran, Eragon, and Saphira rescue Katrina. Shortly after Katrina finds that she is pregnant by Roran, and they are married. Roran later joins a company of the Varden's soldiers. At first he is refused command because he is untested when fighting beside strangers. Roran ends up defying his commander's plan, saving most of his unit and killing 193 men by himself. For his defiance, he is whipped fifty times for insubordination, although it is recognised that he made the correct decision. He develops a friendship with the magician who rides with his company in all three of Roran's missions, a man by the name of Carn.

Later, Nasuada gives him his own command of 20 men and 20 Urgals, whose respect he earns by defeating an Urgal, named Yarbog, in unarmed combat. She also reveals that, perhaps as a consequence of Roran's most recent mission, the commander of said mission, a man by the name of Edric, has been stripped of his rank as a captain.

Roran was played by Chris Egan in the film.

Murtagh

Murtagh is the son of Morzan and Selena, and brother of Eragon. In Eragon, Murtagh saves Eragon and Saphira from the Ra'zac and accompanies them to Farthen Dûr. Upon his arrival, Murtagh is treated with hostility due to his relation to Morzan. He is eventually set free, and aids the Varden in the Battle of Farthen Dûr. He bears a scar similar to Eragon's, but unlike Eragon, his stays with him, whereas Eragon's is removed by the potent magic of the Agaetí Blödhren (the Blood-Oath Celebration). It also is not said to pain him like Eragon's did. Murtagh received his scar from when his father, Morzan threw a sword at him when he was young.

In Eldest, Murtagh disappears when tracking a group of Urgals. He is captured by Galbatorix's forces. One of Galbatorix's dragon eggs hatches for him. The dragon is named Thorn. Thorn and Murtagh are forced to swear loyalty to Galbatorix. He defeats Eragon at the Battle of Burning Plains, but does not kill him, claiming that they are brothers and that Morzan is also Eragon's father. He also claims Zar'roc, the sword gifted to Eragon by Brom, as his inheritance, before revealing the identity of Eragon's father, Morzan (this is later shown to be false; Brom is actually Eragon's father).

In Brisingr, Murtagh fights Eragon in Surda, but this time he is defeated and forced to flee. It is revealed that Murtagh uses Eldunarí lent to him by Galbatorix to increase his strength. Murtagh and Thorn participate in the battle of Gil'ead while possessed by Galbatorix, killing Oromis and later his dragon, Glaedr.

Murtagh was portrayed by Garrett Hedlund in the film adaptation.

Thorn

Thorn is the red male dragon bound to Murtagh.

When Murtagh is captured by the Empire, one of the two remaining dragon eggs hatches for him. Immediately following that Galbortorix makes that dragon and Murtagh his slaves through the use of their true names. This dragon is named Thorn. He is trained by Shruikan; although he is much younger than Saphira he is able to effectively fight her, due to accelerated bodily growth through Galbatorix's magic, and by the Eldunari. Galbatorix has complete control of Thorn and Murtagh, until he chooses to release them.

Thorn and Murtagh defeat Eragon and Saphira in the Battle of the Burning Plains, but spare their lives. During the Battle of Gil'ead in Brisingr, Galbatorix takes control of Murtagh and Thorn and uses them to kill Oromis and Glaedr.

Orik

Orik is a dwarf, a member of the clan Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, and the adopted heir and nephew of King Hrothgar. He is a smith, a warrior, and a guide to Eragon and Saphira. Orik is first encountered when Eragon, Murtagh, Saphira, and the gravely injured Arya come to Farthen Dûr, seeking the aid of the Varden. Orik later persuades the Twins to allow Murtagh to stay with the Varden. He develops a friendship with Eragon that continues into the second book. After Hrothgar dies, he becomes the new king of the dwarves. He loves alcohol and a good fight, just like all dwarves and is a loyal friend to Eragon.

Characters associated with the Varden

Ajihad

Ajihad is the leader of the Varden and Nasuada's father. He has been in power for around fifteen years, leading the Varden to victory in many battles. He lives in Tronjheim in the Beor Mountains, depending on the dwarves who assist them in their fight against Galbatorix. Shortly after the Battle of Farthen Dûr, he is killed by Urgals. He was betrayed by his personal guards, the Twins, who recruited the Urgals to slay him. His daughter, Nasuada, succeeds him as leader of the Varden.

Ajihad was played by Djimon Hounsou in the film version of Eragon.

King Orrin

Orrin is the King of Surda. He allows the Varden to remove to his country when the resources of Farthen Dûr become scarce. In the Battle of the Burning Plains, he and the Surdan cavalry are a crucial part of the Varden's victory. As the King of Surda, he secretly resists Galbatorix until the events of the Battle of the Burning Plains, in which he openly allies himself to the Varden. He is an enthusiastic, if unsystematic scientist whose interest is mostly in the conduction of curious experiments.

Elva

Elva is an orphaned baby Eragon attempts to bless but accidentally curses; as a result, Elva is compelled to protect other people from harm at the cost of her own peace of mind. (Eragon intends to say 'May you be shielded from harm' but accidentally says 'May you be a shield from harm'.)Due to the curse Elva has to increase her size to better protect those around her. At the end of Brisingr she is less than two years old, but her body is said to be at the development of around six years old, whereas her mind develops adult faculties. Her abilities develop until she is able to anticipate events in detail two to three hours in advance. She has been taken on as one of Nasuada's bodyguards.

In Brisingr, Elva continues to advise Nasuada. This and Elva's loyalty to the Varden are terminated when Eragon, attempting to remove the spell he placed on her, instead modifies it to the extent that although she is aware of others' suffering, she is able to ignore it without pain to herself. He also unintentionally allows Elva to turn off her conscience, which she uses against him. She remains with the Varden, under the care of Angela, who has rendered herself by a spell immune to Elva's powers.

The Twins

The Twins are powerful human magicians who claim to support the Varden. Little about them is revealed; their names are unknown and are called 'the Twins' throughout, as they are identical twins. They are responsible for mentally probing all who come to Tronjheim. They show animosity towards Eragon.

Early on in Eldest, an Urgal party attacks the unprepared Varden, killing Ajihad and kidnapping the Twins and Murtagh. Oromis reveals that the Twins had turned traitor before the Battle of Farthen Dur. They had intentionally failed to protect Eragon during the battle so that Durza could capture him. It is learned that the Twins had survived the Urgal attack, having taken control of a group of Urgals with the intent of killing Ajihad and capturing Murtagh. They take Murtagh to Urû'baen, where he is forced to swear loyalty to Galbatorix. They then fight with the Empire in the Battle of the Burning Plains, but are killed by Roran when he slams a hammer down on their skulls.

Trianna

Trianna is one of the few magic users that serve the Varden. After the disappearance of the Twins in Eldest, Trianna leads the Du Vrangr Gata, a group of magicians. Trianna is put in charge of Nasuada's plan to use the making of lace to finance the Varden's war efforts. She leads the magicians in the Battle of the Burning Plains. Eragon and Trianna carry shared authority over the Varden's magicians in the events of Brisingr.

Jörmundur

Jörmundur is second-in-command of the Varden troops. He commands a battalion in the Battle of Farthen Dûr. His skill and wisdom in battle make him valued by the Varden. He is also a member of the Varden's Council of Elders and wants to control the Varden by telling the new leader, Nasuada, what to do; however, upon Nasuada's appointment, he showed his loyalty, and didn't attempt to control her. The Varden's leader, Ajihad, appointed Jörmundur second in command.

Angela

Angela is a witch, herbalist, and a friend of Eragon's. She is accompanied by a werecat named Solembum. She makes most of her living by fortune-telling for the richer people of Teirm and selling potions. She tells Eragon that he will fall in love with someone of noble birth, that someone in his family will betray him, that someone close to him shall die, and that he will someday depart and never again set foot on Alagaësia. At the end of Brisingr, only the final prophecy has yet to happen.

Angela later appears in Tronjheim, where she has taken up residence and where her skill outstrips that of all other local magic users, with the exceptions of Eragon and Arya. She fights with the Varden in the battle of Farthen Dûr. Angela heals most of Eragon's injuries after the Battle under Farthen Dûr, though is unable to completely heal the wound on his back from Durza. She also watches over Elva. During the Battle of Burning Plains, she poisons the enemy army's food and water supply. In Brisingr, it is revealed Angela learned her skills from a man named Tenga, an eccentric mystic who now lives alone. She is implied to be much older than can be deduced from her appearance and behavior.

Angela is based on the author's younger sister, Angela Paolini. She is portrayed by Joss Stone in the film adaptation.

Jeod Longshanks

Jeod Longshanks is a wealthy merchant and scholar of Teirm and a good friend of Brom's. He is an agent of the Varden, whom he supported with his business until he was exposed to the Empire, causing him to suffer heavy losses. He and Brom steal Saphira's egg from the Empire.

Despite his misfortune, he aids Eragon and Brom in finding out the location of the Ra'zac. In Eldest, Jeod meets Roran and offers him assistance. Jeod, his wife Helen, and Roran escape Teirm on a pirated ship, taking the villagers of Carvahall to Surda. He remains there and among the Varden thereafter, seeking to support the Varden and maintain his often strained relationship to Helen.

Carn

Carn has served with Roran throughout all the missions in Brisingr, and remains a close friend. Carn is a spellcaster. Not thought to be a particularly strong magician, he compensates by inventing extraordinarily clever spells and excelling at worming his way into his opponents' minds.

Martland Redbeard

Martland Redbeard is Roran's commander during his first mission into the Empire when they ambush a caravan. Towards the end of the fight Martland's hand is cut off by a soldier. Carn offers to heal it, but Martland orders him to help others. It is evidently then too late to reattach his hand, and is giving a position as an advisor to Nasuada.

Galbatorix's followers

Shruikan

Shruikan is Galbatorix's black dragon. After being denied a new dragon after his was killed by Urgals, Galbatorix stole a new dragon egg, then used a dark ritual in an attempt to recreate the bond forged by elves and dragons and force Shruikan to serve him.

The Forsworn

The Forsworn were a group of 13 corrupt Dragon Riders who joined Galbatorix during "The Fall". When the dragons learned that thirteen dragons had willingly joined Galbatorix and was helping to extermniate the rest of their race, every dragon not of the foresworn banded together and through their strange magic forced everyone to forget the names of the foresworn's dragons. They spared Shruikan because he didn't have a choice in his servitude. Morzan was the first Rider to defect, and the last to be killed. The Forsworn were killed by the Varden. Brom is known to have orchestrated the deaths of five of the Forsworn and killed three others personally, including Morzan.

Morzan

Morzan is a Dragon Rider, long dead by the start of Eragon. He was described as "strong of body, but weak of mind" by Brom.

Galbatorix convinces Morzan to betray the other Riders. Morzan swears fealty to Galbatorix, becoming the first of the thirteen Forsworn. He helped Galbatorix to get a new dragon, Shruikan, by leaving a door open in the Dragon Riders' Headquarters. For many years, Morzan serves Galbatorix. During this time, he meets Selena, who falls in love with him. Selena gives birth to Murtagh, who grows up in his father's estate. Morzan shows no compassion toward his son: Murtagh is nearly killed at the age of three when Morzan throws his sword at him in a drunken rage. Fearing that similar misfortunes may occur to her second child, Eragon, whose father is actually not Morzan but Brom, Selena gives birth to him in Carvahall. She gives him to her brother Garrow, keeping Eragon's existence a secret from Morzan.

Though initially idolizing him, Brom becomes enraged at Morzan's betrayal and holds him responsible for the death of his own dragon. Morzan is killed by Brom when hunting for the dragon egg stolen by Brom and Jeod.

At the end of Eldest, Murtagh claims that Morzan is Eragon's father; however in Brisingr, Saphira shows Eragon a memory that Brom told her, showing that he is Eragon's father.

The Ra'zac

The Ra'zac are extremely powerful, anthropophagous beings. On the first full moon of their twentieth year, they shed their exoskeletons and become pteranodon-like beasts called the Lethrblaka, who are more intelligent and dangerous than their immature form, ready to hunt all races. The two Ra'zac who appear in the books are suspected to be the last of their kind (as the Riders enacted a campaign of genocide against the species when their numbers began to pose a threat to Alagaesia's human population). They work for Galbatorix as his personal dragon hunters. When not on his business, the pair and their parents reside in a lair under the rock formation, Helgrind, by the city of Dras-Leona. They are ultimately slain by Eragon, Saphira, and Roran and the species is now extinct. Before killing it, Eragon learns from the last Ra'zac that Galbatorix is seeking and has almost found "the name", which may be Galbatorix's own name or Eragon's name in the Ancient Language, the true name of the Ra'zac, or the name of the Ancient Language itself (most likely the latter because he already has the Ra'zac under his control, because he cast a spell stopping anyone using his true name which implies that he knows it, and because he doesn't know Eragon well enough to guess his true name).

Durza

Durza is a Shade, a sorcerer possessed by the spirits he summons. He is the chief antagonist in Eragon after Galbatorix himself. He is initially an orphaned desert nomad named Carsaib, who is discovered by a sorcerer and becomes his apprentice. When the sorcerer is killed by raiders, Carsaib summons spirits to aid in his revenge. These spirits are too powerful for Carsaib and possess him, causing him to become Durza. A Shade, Durza has magic powers outstripping those of a Rider, in addition to superhuman strength and finesse in combat.

At the beginning of Eragon, Durza is given the task of retrieving Saphira's egg. He captures Arya, but she teleports the egg away from Durza. Later, Urgals capture Eragon and Durza questions him in Gil'ead, though he escapes with help from Murtagh. During the Battle of Farthen Dur, Durza is killed by Eragon, being distracted by Arya and Saphira.

Varaug

Varaug is the Shade that is created from a soldier during the siege on the city of Feinster. He is created by three spellcasters as a final attempt to wreak havoc upon the Varden; Eragon and Arya killed two of the spellcasters, but not quite in time. Varaug proves to be a more powerful Shade than Durza. However, Eragon attacks Varaug's mind and distracts him for long enough for Arya to stab the Shade in the heart, which is the only way to kill a Shade.

Characters from Carvahall

Garrow

Garrow, whose wife Marian recently died, is Roran's father, Eragon and Murtagh's uncle and Selena's brother. He lives on a farm, away from the rest of the village. After giving birth to Eragon, Selena left Eragon in the hands of Garrow and his wife, but gave them no explanation. Garrow raises Eragon alongside his own son Roran. He is killed when the Ra'zac stormed the farm he kept outside Carvahall.

When Eragon brings back a polished blue stone from the mountains, Garrow immediatelty suggests that they sell it. When Eragon is unable to get a reasonable price for the stone, he decides to keep it. The stone then hatches into a baby blue dragon, unbeknownst to Garrow and Roran. Roran then announces soon after that he is going away to a neighboring village to take a job to support his girlfriend Katrina whom he hopes to marry. The day of Roran's departure, Eragon is whisked away by the dragon. While he is gone, two strangers known as the Ra'zac come by, asking for the stone. When Garrow does not give them the answers they want, they destroy the house and wounded him badly. Garrow dies a few days later from complications from his injuries. It is Garrow's murder that leads Eragon on his quest for vengeance.

At the end of Eldest, the second book, Eragon mentions him as his father, not Morzan as Garrow brought him up and taught him the ways of life. Garrow is finally avenged in Brisingr as the Ra'zac and their parents are killed by Eragon, Roran, and Saphira.

Sloan

Sloan is Carvahall's butcher and Katrina's father. Sloan dotes upon his daughter and is highly possessive of her. When Carvahall comes under attack, Sloan initially defends Carvahall; however, he later betrays the villagers and is captured, along with Katrina, by the Ra'zac.

In Brisingr, Eragon discovers Sloan in a cell in Helgrind, blinded and alone. Wishing to keep Sloan safe, Eragon lies to Roran and Katrina, saying that Sloan is dead. He discovers Sloan's true name and thereby forces him to enter Du Weldenvarden, where his damaged personality and ruined eyesight may be healed. Eragon punishes Sloan by banning him from seeing Katrina again. Sloan is shown in Du Weldenvarden in a later chapter, but does not manifest many signs of healing or repentance.

Katrina Ismirasdaughter

Katrina Ismirasdaughter is the daughter of Sloan and Ismira. When she got engaged to Roran without her father's blessing, Sloan was so enraged he tried to strike at Roran and denied Katrina of her mother's inheritance and his dowry.

When Carvahall is under siege, the Ra'zac infiltrate the village and capture Katrina and Sloan. Although Roran and his friends try to follow, the Ra'zac escape on the Lethrblaka. It is later revealed that Katrina is held captive in Helgrind. Katrina is rescued by Roran and Eragon from Helgrind in Brisingr. Shortly afterwards, she and Roran get married, at which time Katrina is already pregnant with Roran's child. She tells Roran that if the war is not over once the child is born, she will leave for Dauth or Aberon for the sake of their child.

Horst

Horst is a blacksmith in Carvahall. Roran leaves his house and moves in with Horst in Eragon. He lives there until the moving of Carvahall in Eldest. He travels with the other villagers of Carvahall to Surda, where he joins the Varden. Horst is the husband of Elain and the father of Baldor, Albriech, and an unborn third child.

Selena

Selena is the mother of Eragon and Murtagh, the consort of Morzan and the sister of Garrow. She is also known to many people as The Black Hand. Selena falls in love with Morzan, who trains her in magic and other warrior arts. Morzan turns her into his spy and assassin serving under Galbatorix. She gives birth to Murtagh, keeping his existence a secret from all but Morzan and Galbatorix. She met Brom and fell in love with him, forgetting the love she had once known for Morzan. Shortly after her extramarital affair with Brom, she travels to Carvahall where she gives birth to Eragon. She entrusts Eragon to her brother Garrow and his wife before returning to Morzan. She dies soon afterward. She never revealed Eragon's existence to Morzan, hoping to shield Eragon from Morzan's wrath.

Characters from Du Weldenvarden

Oromis

Oromis is Eragon's second teacher after Brom. He is an elf and the last remaining Dragon Rider of the Older Order. Although his age is never explicitly stated, it can be deduced from the events he witnessed that he is at least eight hundred years old. He lives with his dragon, Glaedr, in Du Weldenvarden. Oromis is said to have been "crippled" when he was captured by the Forsworn, and now he is only able to use the weakest of spells. Also, and possibly relatedly, he suffers from a rare physical disorder, which the elves have no cure for and which caused him painful seizures, not unlike epilepsy. In Brisingr, Oromis decides to fight alongside the elves in battle, having taught Eragon all he really needed to know. He and Glaedr are set upon by Murtagh and Thorn who, unable to defeat the veterans, are put under Galbatorix's mind control, and kill Oromis and Glaedr. The opportunity for this is provided by one of Oromis's seizures, which causes him to drop his sword, in which most of his spare energy for magic is stored and which contains his protective magics.

Lord Fiolr

Lord Fiolr is Arya's friend and leader of Sílthrim. He is well trained in magic. It is implied that he fought at Ceunon and Gil'ead. He is the owner of Támerlein, one of the last swords of the Dragon Riders. He lives in the House of Valtharos.

Glaedr

Glaedr is the dragon bonded to Oromis, and from battles of the past has lost one of his legs. They have hidden in Du Weldenvarden to teach the first of the new generation of Riders. He serves as Saphira's mentor and helps teach Eragon about dragon riders. During the elves' Siege of Gil'ead, Glaedr and Oromis take on Murtagh and Thorn. As they seem to gain the upper hand, Galbatorix possesses Murtagh and Thorn, and uses them to kill first Oromis and then Glaedr. Glaedr's consciousness is transferred to his Eldunari, heart of hearts, which he had given to Eragon shortly before he died.

The Menoa Tree

The Menoa Tree is one of the oldest and largest trees in Du Weldenvarden. The tree is imbued with the spirit of the elf Linnëa, whose consciousness controls the tree from her magical singing for three days while binding with the tree. In Eldest, Eragon experiences the change of the blood oath celebration under this tree. In Brisingr, Saphira attacks the Menoa Tree and awakens her, so that Eragon can convince the tree to give them brightsteel, an extraterrestrial metal necessary to forge a new sword, in return for any favor it wishes. The tree gives them brightsteel, but withdraws its mind from Eragon before telling Eragon what it wants in return.

Queen Islanzadí

Islanzadí is queen of the elves. She lives in the elven capital Ellesméra. She is the widow of the former king of the elves, Evandar, and the mother of Arya. Islanzadí originally pulls her support away from the Varden following Arya's capture. In Eldest, she recognizes Aren, Brom's ring which Eragon is given, as a symbol of Elven friendship, stating Brom had been an elf-friend, and grants Eragon the true right to wear it, pronouncing him elf-friend. Islanzadí also lead the elves into battle when they attacked Ceunon and Gil'ead. Islanzadí is considered very protective of the trees within Du Weldenvarden, and was estranged from Arya when she agreed to ferry Saphira's egg and be the elves ambassador to the Varden, but is reunited with her, whereupon Islanzadí apologizes for her behavior. She sometimes acts irrationally. In Brisingr, when Eragon asked for advice in what to do with Sloan, she told him off, stating that killing the butcher was the best way, showing that she could be merciless and overly logical. This behaviour irrates Orik.

King Evandar

Evandar was the mate of Islanzadí and Arya's father. He was king of Du Weldenvarden before Islanzadí was. It is said that he died while making a final stand against Galbatorix when he led the elven army and the remaining free Riders in a siege of Uru'baen, however, his body was not found. This was following the destruction of Vroengard and Doru Araeba. He blessed Blagden in return of saving his life once in a battle.

Vanir

Vanir is a young elf, who is Eragon's sparring partner during his training in Eldest. He initially considers Eragon unworthy of the title Dragon Rider because of his lack of skills in comparison to the elves and due to Eragon's acquired disability, but is awed when Eragon, enhanced by magic, defeats him. His name is shared with that of a supposed pantheon of Nordic gods.

Rhunön

Rhunön is an ancient elf who is said to have created all of the Dragon Riders' swords. After the betrayal of the Forsworn, Rhunön swore never to make another sword. In Brisingr, Eragon requests that she make him a Rider's sword. Because of her oath, Rhunön creates it through a psychic merging with Eragon, wherein she guides his movements. Eragon then names it Brisingr.

Maud

Maud is a werecat that lives in Ellesmera. She knows of Solembum, and is assumed to be much older than he. She is more mysterious than Solembum and seems to have a place among Islanzadí's advisors. Maud is also seen caring after Alanna and Dusan, two elf children, while Eragon was creating his new sword, Brisingr. Eragon first meets Maud shortly after his very first audience with Queen Islanzadí in Eldest. She also goes by the names of: Quickpaw and The Dream Dancer.

Blödhgarm

Blödhgarm (translated in an appendix as "Bloodwolf") is a blue-furred elf, and has a musky scent that attracts females. He is the leader of a small group sent to protect Eragon and Saphira on the orders of Islanzadí. They do so at the siege of Feinster, but are separated from Eragon.

Blagden

Blagden is a raven blessed by Evandar after pecking out an urgal's eyes when the elf king stumbled during the fight. The magic made him as clever as any man or elf, turned his feathers pure white, gave him the ability of speech (though he primarily speaks in riddles and doggeral) and acquired a strange ability of sometimes predicting the future. He probably knew Brom as he stated both Brom and Eragon were "blind as bats". According to Oromis, he might have spied on his conversation with Brom about Eragon's parentage, as he hinted that Eragon and Murtagh only shared a single parent.

Arva

Arva was an elf Dragon Rider who fought with Evandar at the elves last attempt to defeat Galbatorix. He was mortally wounded and gave his sword, Tamerlain, to his sister who used to get back to Du Weldenvarden.

Characters from the Beor Mountains

Hrothgar

Hrothgar was the King of the dwarves, controlling the thirteen dwarf clans and Tronjheim, the city within Farthen Dûr. He admits Eragon as an honorary member of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, an honor that had never previously been bestowed upon a non-dwarf. He is killed by Murtagh in the Battle of the Burning Plains. His name is derived from "Hroðgar", the name of a legendary Danish king who lived in the 6th century and who appears as a character in the Anglo-Saxon epics Beowulf and Widsith. He is succeeded by his nephew Orik.

Orik

see Major Characters

Gannel

Gannel is Grimstborith ("clan chief") of Dûgrimst Quan, the religious clan of the dwarves. He is also the head priest of the dwarves. He gives Eragon a necklace that will prevent anyone from scrying him. He supports Grimstborith Nado for the dwarven kingship, and later summons the chief dwarf god, Gûntera.

Vermûnd

Vermûnd is the Grimstborith of Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, a small and mysterious clan. Vermûnd orders the assassination of Eragon when he stays in Tronjheim. Because of his crime, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin are banished from the dwarves by Orik and the other clan chiefs, until Vermûnd is replaced.

Urgals

Nar Garzhvog

Nar Garzhvog is a Kull commander who joins the Varden. He fights in both battles of the Burning Plains and accompanies Eragon on a later journey.

Yarbog

Yarbog is an regular Urgal (not a Kull) who challenges the authority of Roran (his commander) during a mission. Roran defeats him and since then they each hold respect for each other.

Ancient Characters

Eragon I

Eragon I was the first of the old order of the dragon riders. During this time there was a war between elves and dragons because a young elf hunted down a dragon as it was a common misconception at the time that dragons were dumb beasts. He ended the war by raising a white dragon that he had named Bid'daum and creating a treaty between the elves and dragons. This later led to the formation of the Dragon Riders between elves and dragons, which later led to the elves becoming imbued with magic, and the balance between races were formed. It is not revealed whether or not Eragon dies, or how he and his dragon were connected, or whether or not he had a gewdey ignasia or "silver hand".

Bid'daum

Bid'daum was the dragon egg that Eragon I found and nurtured. Bid'daum is loyal to Eragon I and together they flew across Alagaesia, putting an end to the war between elves and dragons. Bid'daum and Eragon were the first Dragon Rider pair; but little else is known.

Linnëa

Linnëa was an elf who lived before the war between elves and dragons, when they first migrated to the new land. She was skilled at changing the shapes of plants by song until she became enamored and was later cuckolded by her mate. Linnëa thereafter killed her rival and united herself with a pine tree, which became the character Menoa Tree.

Vrael

Vrael was the last leader of the Riders of Old. He was one of the last Riders able to defeat Galbatorix in combat, but hesitated, allowing Galbatorix to severely injure him. Vrael fled to the mountain of Utgard where he hoped to regain his strength, but Galbatorix found and killed him. Vrael's death then allowed Galbatorix to become King of Alagaësia.

Anurin

Anurin was an Elven Dragon Rider, and leader of the Dragon Riders before Vrael. He was the leader of the Riders when humans entered the pact between elves and dragons. Anurin was also responsible for moving the Dragon Riders headquarters away from the elven city of Illirea (now Uru'baen) to the island of Vroengard, because he believed the Riders must be equal toward all races, not only to the elves. Anurin's successor was the Rider Vrael. It is not said how or even whether Anurin died.

King Palancar

Palancar was the first king of the humans when they first migrated and established a settlement in Alagaesia. He founded the Broddring Kingdom, but was defeated by the Dragon Riders when he attempted to annex elvish territory. His lieutenants betrayed him and signed a treaty with the elves, confining Palancar and his house to a valley in the Mountain range, where the Riders could keep watch on him. Shortly after his deposing and banishment, Palancar is said to have been killed by one of his sons. The valley within the Spine where Carvahall and Therinsford are located was named after King Palancar and is referred to as Palancar Valley.

King Korgan

Korgan was the first dwarf king and discovered Farthen Dur while tunneling for gold. He was the first dwarf king when the dwarves migrated to the Beor Mountains from the then-forming Hadarac Desert. Korgan also forged Volmund, the golden mace that has been passed down to every dwarf ruler since. Korgan was a member of Durgimst Ingeitum.

References

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

External links

Inheriwiki, the site of the Inheritance Cycle Wikia