Brom
From The Inheritance Encyclopedia
 | |
| About the Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Brom |
| Race: | Human |
| Location: | During life Brom traveled all over Alagaesia. |
| Actor | Jeremy Irons |
| Warning: This page or section is a spoiler. Information following this warning has been revealed about upcoming Inheritance information. |
Contents |
Background Information
Brom's life, from his simple start with a family of illuminators (book illustrators) in Kuasta, to his time as a Dragon Rider, to his guise as Carvahall's storyteller many years later, has taken a myriad of twists and turns, ultimately affecting the entire history of Alagaesia. "I have played many roles to many people-I've a complicated past." (Brom, pp. 106 Eragon)
Early Life
Brom was born to a family of illuminators in Kuasta approximately twenty to twenty-five years before the rise of Galbatorix. Kuasta is a village isolated by the Spine, and even after leaving Brom was bound by the superstitious customs he had practiced there.
Family
"His mother was Nelda and his father Holcomb." (Eldest, pp 280) His family were illuminators. Brom was most likely not married. However, there is evidence to show that he did have a romance at one time. "He loved a woman, but it was his affection that caused her undoing." (Eragon, pp 435)
Physical Description
Brom was a rider for several years before his dragon's death so his ears had elf-like points. He also had a long white beard. His most prominent facial feature was a large hooked nose.
Childhood
Little is known of Brom's childhood. At the age of ten Brom touched a dragon egg, which hatched for him. Not long after that he began his training with his dragon, under Oromis and Glaedr in the elvish city of Ilirea. In his youth, Brom had idolized Oromis' other student: Morzan. When Morzan betrayed the riders, Brom was devastated. "You cannot begin to imagine the effect Morzan's betrayal had on Brom until you understand the depth of Brom's affection for him. And when Galbatorix at last revealed himself and the Forsworn killed Brom's dragon, he focused all his anger and pain on the one whom he felt responsible for the destruction of his world, Morzan." (Eldest, pp 280)
Adulthood
Brom lived well over one hundred years. During that time he played the roles of "...firebrand, revolutionary leader, and assassin..."(Eldest, pp 280) as well as Rider, magician, warrior, and village storyteller.
Founding the Varden
Brom, wanting revenge for his dragon's's death, founded the Varden in the confusion that followed Galbatorix's rise to power. He led them for a few years before surrendering the position to another so that he was free to pursue his mission to be Morzan's downfall. Brom eventually did destroy Morzan and took the sword Zar'roc from him, which he later gave to Eragon.
Stealing the Last Three Dragon Eggs
Brom and the Varden met Jeod, who had discovered a secret passageway into Uru'Baen. They sent an agent to infiltrate and steal the 3 dragons eggs. However, the agent made some sort of mistake and did not manage to obtain the eggs and return to the Varden. Brom and Jeod made a mad dash across Alagaesia against Morzan and the Ra'zac. Brom ended up in a store room in Gil'ead where he happened upon the egg. He encountered and slew Morzan in battle and couldn't search for Jeod so he returned to the Varden.
Hiding in Carvahall
"Until the day that my skills would be needed, I had to disappear. No one could know I was alive…So, I went North and hid in Carvahall." (Brom, pp. 183, Eragon) Brom hid his identity until the residents of Carvahall believed him to be no more than a wizened old storyteller.
Eragon
Fulfilling His Promise to the Varden
Brom saves Eragon from the Ra'zac and then decides to help him hunt them down. Upon leaving Carvahall, Eragon questions Brom's motives for traveling with him. "To put it bluntly, I'm a storyteller and I happen to think that you'll make a fine story. You're the first rider to exist outside of the king's control for over one hundred years, what will happen? Will you perish as a martyr? Will you join the Varden? Or will you join King Galbatorix? All fascinating questions. And I will be there to see every minute of it no matter what I have to do." (Eragon, pp 106) This is the half-truth that Brom tells Eragon to keep him from his continuous questions and gain the boy’s trust. Brom teaches Eragon swordplay and what it takes to be a Dragon Rider.
Brom's Death
The search for the Ra'zac finally leads Eragon, Brom, and Saphira to Dras-Leona. Eragon is discovered by the Ra'zac and the two are forced to flee for their lives. Unfortunately, they are ambushed and captured by the Ra'zac. A man named Murtagh manages to drive the Ra'zac off. As they run, one of the Ra’zac hurls his knife at Eragon. Brom jumps in front of Eragon and is wounded. Eragon and Murtagh travel with the ailing Brom until Saphira discovers a cave they can take refuge in. Eragon splashed wine onto Brom's hand at his command. The wine reveals Brom’s Gedwey Ignasia, the mark of a Dragon Rider. After telling Eragon seven secret words, Brom is no more.
Eldest
Despite Brom's death, his legacy still lives on in the training he instilled in Eragon and Saphira. Eragon also recieves Brom's ring, Aren, from Islanzadi.
Quotes
"There's a reason we were born with brains in our heads, not rocks." (Eragon, pp 237)
"May your swords always stay sharp" Brom to Trevor. (Eragon, pp 155)
"You have more questions than leaves on a tree." (Eragon)
"It's considered bad manners to interfere with another's dragon." (Eragon page 116)
Theories
| Warning: This page or section is a theory. Information following this warning has not been confirmed, or stated directly in any book. Theories are user created and modified. |
- There has been evidence that it may have infact been Selena, Eragon and Murtaghs mother. This is clear when you work out Blagden's riddle(see below) in Eldest. However, the riddles may also mean that Brom is Eragon's father, as 'Father and son, both blind as Bats,' could mean that Brom was blind to Morzan's betrayal and Eragon was blind to Murtagh's betrayal.
(to above) An interesting idea I suppose however if Selena and Brom had been the parents of Eragon and Murtagh then Murtagh definately wouldn't have been raised by Morzan because Murtagh was born when Morzan was a part of the Forsworn and Brom wouldnt let his son be raised by Morzan.
- More "evidence" that Brom is Eragon's father (still debatable) is the fact that Morzan and his son had red dragons, and Brom and Eragon have blue dragons, however that may be a concidence.
- Fans also point out how "He loved a woman, but it was his affection that caused her undoing." (Eragon, pg 435). This spectulation is about how an affair with Brom could put Selena in danger with Morzan.
Are your theories true? Try rereading the section of Eldest when Murtagh and Eragon fight, and Murtagh claims that Eragon is his brother.(Eldest, pg 648)
Though Murtagh said that Eragon is Morzan's son in the Ancient Language, that doesn't mean that what he said was necessarily true. As long as Murtagh believed that it was true, it didn't count as lying. Also, Eragon would be Murtagh's brother, even if only his half brother.
Blagden's Riddle: "While two may share two,
And one of two is certainly one,
One might be two."
- Interestingly, when Brom guards his sword's blade with magic, "... a small red spark jumped between his fingers." Eragon, pg. 159. This may indicate that a Rider's magic might not need to be the same colour as their dragon. Or it could mean that Brom's anger for Morzan and the Empire was so strong that it tainted his magic.
