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THE RA'ZAC
Characteristics, Appearance and History
The Ra'zac are formidable foes. Darkness surrounds their existence, and even their origin is unknown. However, they are definitely not human or native to Alagaësia.
The Ra'zac are hideous in appearance. “The skin was shiny black, like a beetle carapace. The head was bald. Each lidless eye was the size of [Roran's] fist and gleamed like an orb of polished hematite; no iris or pupil existed. In place of a nose, mouth, and chin, a thick purple beak hooked to a sharp point that clacked over a barbed purple tongue.” (Eldest pg. 195) They bring about connotations of all things unwanted and detested. Their large, probing eyes show an ounce of their cunning in their appearance, which is useful to them when hunting or tracking.
But the Ra'zac are only the juvenile form of their species. Lethrblaka are the fully grown form of Ra'zac and are vastly intelligent, have wings and are even more dark and menacing. The metamorphosis of Ra'zac to Lethrblaka can be compared to that of a caterpillar and a butterfly.
The Ra'zac can speak in the human tongue, however, it is not known how, as they have no mouth, just a beak. “The words were smooth, like oiled glass, and seemed to worm their way through the air. Underlying the speech was a strange hiss that made his scalp prickle”. (Eragon pg. 67) They manage to speak relatively normally, except for dragging out the letter ‘s' in their words, which adds to their overall frightening demeanor. To one another, they communicate with clicks.
In battle, they have been seen using swords, daggers, and shields. Their most formidable weapon is Seithr Oil, which is made into a deadly weapon by a long and gruesome process. The Seithr Oil is a poison that eats away at living things, which suits the hateful creatures perfectly. But their true power lies in their ability to intimidate their foes. Weaker beings can be manipulated at a whim, and even the strongest beings are affected by their presence, especially in close proximity.
Role in the Novels>
The Ra'zac have plagued the lives of both Eragon and his cousin Roran since the beginning of the Inheritance series. When they were first introduced to the series, they were immediately a threat. They have been sent to Eragon's hometown of Carvahall to search for a dragon egg, which was stolen from Galbatorix. Galbatorix found a pair of Ra'zac after a war that nearly drove them to extinction. He took them under his command and has used them ever since as dragon hunters.
The Ra'zac effectively rain devastation in Eragon's life. They travel to his Uncle's farm on the outskirts of Carvahall, and destroy his house, fatally injuring Garrow, Eragon's Uncle, in the process by torturing him with Seithr oil. This mindless act of brutality provokes Eragon to go on a quest to hunt them down, seeking revenge for Garrow's death.
The next time the Ra'zac are seen is in Dras-Leona, after they have been tracked by Eragon, Brom, and Saphira. Dras-Leona is the home to Helgrind, the Ra'zacs' lair. Helgrind is a massive mountain that overlooks the city of Dras-Leona. It is an ideal base, as the sheer size of the walls makes it impossible to penetrate by anyone on foot. Its vast size and appearance give the mountain a powerful look, akin to that of the Ra'zac.
Their cunning and intelligence is displayed when they manage to ambush and capture Eragon, Brom, and Saphira. The trio manages to escape with the help of Murtagh, which shows that they are not invincible. However, the smaller of the two Ra'zac throws a knife at Eragon, and to save Eragon's life, Brom puts himself in the firing line resulting in a fatal wound. This portrays the Ra'zacs' mercilessness and their need for utmost control. Although their mission was to bring Eragon to Galbatorix, when they saw they had been outsmarted, they had to deal the final blow, even if it meant violating the King's wishes.
The role of the Ra'zac in Eldest is just as sinister as it is in Eragon. This time, they are the pursuers, as they come to Carvahall with a group of soldiers at their command, charged with the location and capture of Roran. They hope that he will give them an idea of where Eragon might be hiding. Their terror is renewed as they eat Quimby, a member of the village. The horror of the Ra'zac is revealed at this point. Even the soldiers under their command threaten to mutiny. However, the Ra'zac quickly put an end to their complaining as they murder one of the soldiers. Shortly after, they take off with Roran's fiancé; Katrina. Again, their ruthlessness is displayed in full force as they kidnap the defenseless, young woman.
Role in the Future
Death and despair travel in their wake, wherever they travel in the Empire. Their sinister nature is going to be the crux of the beginning struggles in Brisingr, since Roran and Eragon will start their looking for the Ra'zac, and trying to save Katrina.
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