Eragon
From The Inheritance Encyclopedia
This is about the character. For the book see Book, Eragon. For the movie see Movie, Eragon.
| Warning: This page or section is a spoiler. Information following this warning has been revealed about upcoming Inheritance information. |
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| About the Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Eragon Bromsson (Shadeslayer in Book Two) |
| Race: | Book 1: Human |
| Book 2: Human-Elf | |
| Birthdate: | Unknown |
| Age: | 15-17 in both books; 17 in movie |
| Loyalty: | Against the Empire |
| Family: | Selena (mother)
Brom (father) Murtagh (half-brother) |
| Actor | Edward Speleers |
Eragon, the main character in the Inheritance Cycle, is a young farm boy who finds an odd stone while hunting in the Spine.
Contents |
Overview
Eragon has brown hair and brown eyes. Through his journeys, his features change: "Any baby fat was gone now, stripped away by traveling, sparring, and training. His cheekbones were more prominent, and the line of his jaw was sharper. There was a slight cast to his eyes that, when he looked closely, gave his face a wild, alien appearance. He held the mirror at arm's length, and his face resumed its normal semblance - but it still did not seem quite his own." (Eragon, pg. 198) In effect, Eragon is ceasing to be a farmboy and instead becoming a warrior.
A major change comes to Eragon's physical description after his transformation at the Agaeti Blodhren: "His face was now as smooth and angled as an elf's, with ears tapered like theirs and eyes slanted like theirs, and his skin was as pale as alabaster and seemed to emit a faint glow, as if with the sheen of magic. I look like a princeling. Eragon had never before applied the term to a man, least of all himself, but the only word that described him now was beautiful. Yet he was not entirely an elf. His jaw was stronger, his brow thicker, his face broader. He was fairer than any human and more rugged than any elf." (Eldest, pg. 471)
Family and childhood
Eragon's parents were Selena and Brom, though he is led to believe he's the son of Morzan. Eragon was abandoned at birth by his mother, who feared Morzan. Eragon grew up in Carvahall with Garrow and Marian, his mother's brother and sister-in-law. Eragon's cousin, Roran, is more like a brother to him than a cousin. In Eldest, Murtagh is revealed to be Eragon's brother, though this is later changed to half-brother in Brisingr.
Synopsis
Eragon
Saphira
Eragon is hunting in the Spine for food for the winter. On the third day, a large blast scares away the doe. Left in the middle of the debris is what appears to be a Blue stone. Annoyed that he had not been able to bag any game, Eragon decides that the stone could pay for some meat, so he takes it to Carvahall hoping that he could use it to buy meat. However, the butcher Sloan refuses and demands that Eragon leaves. Horst, the blacksmith, eventually comes and stops the fight, paying for the meat that Eragon wanted.
Garrow suggests that Eragon finds out what the rock is worth the next time the Traders are around. Eragon brings the stone to a trader named Merlock. Merlock discovers that the stone is hollow, but is unable to tell what is inside. In the middle of the night, Eragon is awoken by odd squeaking sounds; the stone was in fact an egg.
From the egg hatches a dragon. After touching her, Eragon's right hand is given the Gedwey Ignasia. He discovers that they can communicate with each other through a mental link. Eragon is afraid that it is dangerous and his family wouldn't want it, so Eragon raises the dragon in secret. He learns from Brom about dragons and finds the name of his own - Saphira.
Saphira grows fast, and soon her existence becomes obvious. Meanwhile word spreads of shady characters wandering around Carvahall asking for a stone. After a warning from Horst, Eragon quickly warns Saphira, and she in panic she flies him away into the Spine.
Furious at this, Eragon realizes that his uncle Garrow is in danger. The morning after their flight, Eragon manages to convince Saphira to turn back to help Garrow. But Eragon's house is destroyed when they return. Full of anger and despair, Eragon and Saphira search through the rubble for Garrow, and find him covered in bad burns. Eragon drags Garrow up to Carvahall, where he passes out from exhaustion. He wakes up in Gertrude the healer's house two days later, where he slowly recovers from his fever and wounds that he got from digging Garrow out of the fire. However, Garrow soon dies.
When Eragon overhears Horst revealing his suspicions of Eragon to Elaine, he panics and he realizes that he had to leave if he doesn't want to give away Saphira. He steals some food and leather, but is caught by Brom, who wants to come along with him. After a long talk with Brom and Saphira, Eragon unwillingly agrees to let Brom come along on his journey to destroy the murderers of his uncle, the Ra'zac.
Throughout their travels, Brom teaches Eragon much that he needs to know now that he's a Dragon Rider. Some of this information includes swordplay, magic, and information about dragons and the old Dragon Riders. Eragon grows through his journeying; maturing mentally, physically, and improving his link through Saphira.
Little One
"Little One" is what Saphira calls Eragon. It is unknown why she calls him this, but it is belived to be because she is several times larger then him. Saphira does not exclusively call Eragon by this diminutive title; in fact, she often calls him by name in times of stress (e.g., battle). "Little One" seems to be Saphira's affectionate name for her Rider. Eragon does not seem to mind this title, probably because she IS larger than him.
"Little One" may also refer to how immature Eragon usually seems compared to Saphira.
Yazuac
Eragon and Brom's first major stop is the town of Yazuac, but they immediately know that something is wrong after stepping foot in the village; there's no sound at all. Cautiously, they progress through the streets until they reach the center, where a morbid sight awaits them. All of the citizens are dead and piled on top of each other. Brom examines some tracks left behind by their killers, and it turns out to be Urgals. To Brom's surprise, the tracks are still fresh. Eragon and Brom try to get out of the town, but two Urgals stop them. They are forced to fight the beasts in order to get out alive, and Brom gets slashed in the arm after an Urgal kicks Snowfire. Eragon hurriedly lures the Urgals into an alley, but then he realizes that he's at a dead end and nocks an arrow in his bow as a last stand. Suddenly, a huge pent up amount of energy is ignited, and after he yells "Brisingr!" the arrow on his bow bursts into blue fire and kills the two Urgals immediately. Eragon doesn't know this until later, but he has just had his first experience of using magic.
Teirm
Eragon, Brom, and Saphira go through the small town of Daret to get supplies. They find a pouch of Seithr Oil belonging to the Ra'zac. They end up going to Teirm to meet Brom's friend Jeod. They reach his house and chat, but Brom dismisses Eragon as he talks to Jeod about more secretive things. Eragon is curious, so he uses magic that he learned from Brom to eavesdrop on Brom and Jeod's conversation. He learns that they have something to do with the Varden and something about a queen, but Eragon doesn't know the importance of this information yet.
Eragon suggests that they track the Ra'zac by seeing the shipments of Seithr Oil from Teirm, and that way they could discover where the Ra'zac lived. Brom supports this idea, and he gets to the task of teaching Eragon to read so that they will be able to read through the shipment scrolls quickly to get the information they need.
Angela the Herbalist
One day on his own in Teirm, Eragon decides to visit the herbalist who lives next to Jeod, Angela. He meets Solembum the werecat first. Angela enters and decides that she will tell his fortune, if he wishes, because Solembum spoke with him. Eragon finds her enigmatic and eccentric, but he agrees to let her tell his fortune. She uses the knucklebones of a dragon to tell his fortune. His fortune comes out to be very mysterious, but Angela manages to discern a few things from it. She tells him that he will have a long life, someone whom he cares for will die, he will leave Alagaesia forever, that he will love a noblewoman, and that a family member will betray him. Solembum also gives him two pieces of advice - to look under the roots of the Menoa Tree when he needs a weapon, and to go to the Rock of Kuthian and speak his name to open the Vault of Souls when hope is lost.
Breaking in the Castle
Finally, the day comes when Jeod, Brom, and Eragon will sneak into Teirm's palace to read through the shipment scrolls. They get in easily, saying that Eragon left something in Jeod's office in the palace. They make a detour to the room where the scrolls are kept, and they read through them hastily, recording any useful information they find. However, Solembum appears and tells Eragon that the guard who let them in told his substitute about them, and that guards are now looking for them. Frantically, Jeod, Brom, and Eragon skim through the last few remaining scrolls as fast as they can and get out of the room. They are nearly caught, but Brom remembers to lock the door at the last second and the guards let them out.
Brom, Eragon, and Saphira resolve to go to Dras Leona, which frequently recieves shipments of Seithr Oil. Wishing Jeod a fond farewell, Eragon and Brom proceed on to Dras Leona.
Dras Leona
Brom and Eragon arrive at Dras Leona relatively unnoticed. They sneak around to try and find some information, but they have a little success. The next day, Brom goes out to search more, and tells Eragon that he may do as he pleases. Eragon decides to take a look at Dras Leona's cathedral. He soon regrets this decision, for the Ra`zac were inside the cathedral. Eragon manages to escape, and he meets up with Brom. They ride out as fast as they can, but are ambushed and caught.
The two are imprisoned on Helgrind, a mountain near Dras Leona and the lair of the Ra'zac. Arrows fly through the air and alarm the Ra'zac, making them flee, but not before one of the Ra'zac turns and throws a knife at Eragon. Brom takes the knife for Eragon, and Eragon blacks out.
Murtagh
Their mysterious savior was Murtagh, a young man fleeing from the Empire like Eragon. He helps Eragon recover and tries to help Brom, but even with the combined efforts of Eragon, is unable to keep Brom alive. Before he dies, Brom reveals that he was a Dragon Rider, and that his old dragon's name was Saphira. Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh bury him, and Saphira turns his tomb into diamond.
Murtagh turns out to be quite competent in swordplay, and he and Eragon spar nightly just like Eragon did with Brom. They are equally matched in skill, so neither one of them is able to win over the other. Eragon soon finds Murtagh's company welcoming, and they see each other as brothers the more they travel with each other.
Gil'ead
Brom had entrusted Saphira with some information in case he passed away, and Saphira now shares this information with Eragon. Brom's instructions are to go to Gil'ead and seek the help of a friend, so Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh journey to Gil'ead. Once they get there though, Murtagh goes alone to find the person Brom specified, but returns quickly because someone recognized him. However, they soon get attacked by Urgals, and Eragon is knocked out.
When Eragon regains consciousness, he has been drugged and imprisoned. He is unable to use magic because of the drugs. He learns that he is imprisoned by Durza the Shade after Durza comes to visit Eragon. Eragon discovers that an elf who he saw in his dreams is imprisoned too. Eragon comes up with a plan to escape, but he cannot eat or drink anything in case it had the drug in it. After the drug wears off, he escapes from his cell. He finds Murtagh, who is on his way with the keys to the cells. Eragon forces a guard to tell him where the elf's cell is located. Eragon frees her and Murtagh gathers Zar'roc and the elf's weapons. They begin to escape, but they're delayed by Durza. Eragon and Durza engage in a fiery battle, but Durza proves to be stronger. Murtagh aids Eragon by shooting an arrow between Durza's eyes, making the Shade disappear temporarily. Then Saphira breaks into the castle, and Murtagh, the elf, and Eragon escape from Gil'ead.
Fighting Against Time
Eragon communicates with the elf through telepathy. She introduces herself as Arya, and tells him that she is severely poisoned, and that the only way to save her life was to get her Tinuvor's Nectar before three or four days is over. Fighting against the odds, Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh follow Arya's instructions to get to the Varden. They manage to get to the Varden stronghold, dodging an incoming group of Urgals and Kull, just before Arya succumbs to the poison.
The Varden
Eragon and his companions are not immediately welcomed into the Varden's headquarters, Farthen Dur. Eragon and Murtagh had to be tested by two twin magicians to make sure that they are not enemies. After meeting the leader of the Varden, Ajihad, the next day, their hospitality is noticeably increased. Ajihad recognizes Murtagh as the son of Morzan, and keeps him imprisoned. Eragon is treated impressively. The Varden come to him for blessings, but he only blesses a certain baby.
During his stay with the Varden, Eragon meets Nasuada, Ajihad's daughter; Orik, a dwarf; and Hrothgar, the dwarf king. Word comes that a large number of Urgals are coming into Farthen Dur, and Eragon and the Varden are forced to prepare for battle.
Battle at Farthen Dur
Eragon finds out that he will be the most important person on the battlefield. Eragon and Saphira are given the best armor, and he awaits the sound of the horn that will announce the start of the battle.
During the battle, Eragon perceives that a force is making them fight in an organized manner. Eragon soon finds out the source of this: the Shade Durza. Eragon is forced to exert all his skills in both magic and blade as he battles the Shade. As the battle draws on, Eragon tires, and Durza manages to catch him unaware and almost slices open his back. He would have lost if not for Arya and Saphira, who break through the Isidar Mithrim in the ceiling and distract Durza long enough for Eragon to plunge Zar'roc through his heart. And with that victory over the Shade, Eragon gains the name "Shadeslayer."
While he is unconscious, Eragon is contacted by "the Mourning Sage," Oromis, who tells Eragon to find him. Eragon wakes and Angela has healed him, but he is left with a long scar on his back.
Eldest
Swearing Fealty
Ajihad unexpectedly gets killed in the beginning when he is coming back from exterminating the remaining Urgals. Murtagh and the Twins also disappear after the attack. Arya goes to search for Murtagh, and comes back with scraps of clothing that was strewn near a ditch. Eragon assumes that Murtagh died and mourns for his companion.
With the death of their leader, the Varden had to choose a replacement. The Council of Elders, a group of Ajihad's trusted people, summon Eragon to a meeting to decide whom to choose. The Council votes Nasuada, for she, they say, will make be popular. Eragon sees the trap though - the Council wants someone inexperienced so that they can tell him or her what to do. The Council also wants Eragon swear fealty to the Varden, and Eragon realizes that they want to control him as well. He agrees to swear fealty at Nasuada's inauguration.
The Council summon Nasuada and express their condolences to her for losing her father. When they leave, Nasuada tells Eragon to stay so that she may talk to him. She reveals that she is aware of the fact that the Council is trying to control her, and that she will not let that happen. Eragon reveals his twist to the Council's words by swearing fealty to Nasuada. Nasuada accepts, and thus Eragon is pledged to her.
Later on, Hrothgar presents Eragon with a gift - a helmet with his clan's symbol on it. Accepting the gift would mean becoming part of Hrothgar's clan. Not wanting to insult the dwarven king, Eragon agrees.
Tarnag
Eragon journeys to Ellesmera to seek out "the Cripple Who is Whole" with Arya and Orik. During his journey from Farthen Dur, he stops at Tarnag, a Dwarvish city. He is welcomed by the lord Undin, an important Dwarf, who prepares a feast for Eragon. Eragon also makes some enemies in the dwarven clan called Az Sweldn rak Anhuin because he accepted Hrothgar's gift to be part of Hrothgar's clan. Eragon decides to leave Tarnag as quickly as he can so that he does not cause trouble.
Ellesmera
Eragon, Orik, and Saphria get to Ellesmera, the capital of the Elves in Du Weldenvarden. He is welcomed by Queen Islanzadi, who treats them like guests of honor. Eragon finds out that Arya is Islanzadi's daughter, and therefore a princess.
Training with Oromis
Queen Islanzadi soon reveals to Eragon the greatest secret of the elves - a Dragon Rider by the name of Oromis is still alive. Eragon cannot believe his eyes when he meets the Rider, Oromis, and his dragon, Glaedr, for he know know that he is no longer the last Dragon Rider living aside from Galbatorix. It is with Oromis and his dragon Glaedr that Eragon and Saphira will continue training to be a full-fledged Dragon Rider and Dragon.
Eragon studies mostly with Oromis, and Saphira with Glaedr. Eragon learns how to control and use magic more efficiently. He also has to become physically and mentally fit and how to act like a Dragon Rider. Oromis's training is much more than anything Brom ever did, and Eragon resents it at first. Sometimes his scar pains him during the exercises Oromis has him preform. Nonetheless, Eragon progresses rapidly. Saphira also learns to control her fire, improve her flight, and improve her fighting. Together, Eragon and Saphira are well on their way to live up to the legend of the Dragon Riders.
Oromis also asks Eragon to spar daily in the morning with a young and rash elf named Vanir. At first, Vanir always has the upper hand because elves are naturally more skilled than humans. After Eragon's transformation through the Agaeti Blodhren, Vanir is finally conquered. After that, Eragon gains the elf's respect.
Arya
Eragon falls deeper into love with Arya. He tries hard to gain her affection, but she doesn't accept him. She turns him down because she is an elf, older than him, and likely to outlive him. She encourages him to find someone else but Eragon is persistent. He tries to give up until she journeys to Surda.Eragon is also encouraged by the prophesy Angela foretold about a romantic love with one of noble birth.
The Agaetà Blödhren
The Agaetà Blödhren, or the Blood-Oath Celebration, is a time when the elves celebrate the history and establishment of the Dragon Riders. All elves are required to make a gift and present it during this celebration, and Eragon creates a long poem describing the events throughout his journey. Saphira burns a giant rock to near the melting point and creates a design on it using her tongue, which is her talent.
The most important part of this ceremony though, were the dancing Caretakers, Iduna and Neya. They're two elves with a tattoo of a dragon running along their bodies, and as they danced, the dragon seemed to move and dance with them. They moved together in such a synchronized pattern that the dragon tattoo on their bodies seemed to nearly be alive.
As Iduna and Neya reached the peak of their dance, the dragon tattoo came out of their skin and flew up in the air, staring at Eragon. It speaks to Eragon, saying, "Our gift so you may do what you must." (Eldest, pg. 469) Then, it floods Eragon with power. The next day, Eragon discovers that the dragon had given him the gifts of the Dragon Riders prematurely. Eragon gains Elvish skills and abilities and physical features.
He afterword broke his bow praticing.
Battle of the Burning Plains
Eragon finds out in Ellesmera through scrying that the Varden in Surda are preparing for a large battle. Eragon is determined to aid them. Oromis gives his permission, a bottle of faelnirv to sustain energy, and the Belt of Beloth the Wise, an amulet that helps the user store energy; and a copy of Eragon's poem. Islanzadi gives Eragon an Elvish bow. Then Eragon, Saphira, and Orik fly down to Surda.
The battle day comes quickly, as Empire forces approach rapidly. Eragon, with the help of Du Vrangr Gata|the other magicians, are able to overtake many enemy magicians to help the Varden gain advantages. Eragon and Saphira work their way through the ranks of the Empire, killing and burning all that come within their path. Eragon is much stronger through his transformation, but his magical energy is being sapped up and his body is getting tired from fighting.
Roran comes by ship and begins to help the Varden. It seems that the Varden are winning, but before they can celebrate, an enemy red dragon appears, and on its back is a Dragon Rider. Eragon is alarmed at this, and he and Saphira engage in a battle against the new Dragon Rider. After an intense fight in the sky between Saphira and the other dragon, Eragon and the Rider take the battle to the ground, where Eragon is defeated. Before he gives up, he knocks off the enemy's helm, and the Rider is none other than Murtagh.
Murtagh agrees to not capture Eragon as Galbatorix ordered him to. During this time, they watch Roran kill the twins, allowing the Varden to gain another advantage over the Empire. Murtagh tells Eragon that his mother was Selena, so both their fathers were Morzan. Eragon was in denial and doesn't believe him however, Murtagh repeated his words in the ancient language, confirming that he was not lying. Murtagh takes Zar'roc, his heirloom, and departs. Eragon found it a nightmare that his father was Morzan and refuses to believed that Morzan was his father. The only one he acknowledges to be his righful parent was none other than Garrow and Roran who was his brother, not Murtagh.
Quotes
"What wisdom can I give people that they haven't already learned? What feats can I achieve that an army couldn't do better? It's insanity!" (Eragon, pg. 429)
"What a tragedy that so many must die to thwart a single madman." (Eldest, pg. 654)
"Because no matter how much damage we can do, it will never be as bad as what Galbatorix has already done." (Eldest)
Theories
Visit Eragon's theories page.
External Links
- Alagaesia.com Official Site
- Eragon in Wikipedia
- Eragon in Inheriwiki
- Edward Speelers at IMDb
- Shruikan Forums
