Roran
From The Inheritance Encyclopedia
| Roran Garrowson | |
|---|---|
| Inheritance Cycle character | |
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| Chris Egan, the actor of Roran in the Eragon movie (shown here in one of his other movies) More pictures at the [Shur'tugal Galleries] | |
| First appearance | Eragon |
| Last appearance | Brisingr |
| Portrayed by | Chris Egan |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Stronghammer |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 18 |
| Specialty | Hammer |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Family | Garrow, Selena and Eragon |
| Spouse(s) | Katrina |
| Nationality | Empire |
| Alliegance | Varden |
| Enemies | |
| Birgit | |
| Ra'zac (Deceased) | |
| Galbatorix | |
Roran Stronghammer (as known in Eldest)...once a young man off to find a future and now a man engulfed within the war between the Empire and the Varden. Roran has been attacked by misfortune after misfortune, and the only way to get through them is to fight his way through by physical means. Roran Garrowson is renamed Roran Stronghammer because of his maturity and leadership, a new man with only one thing on his mind: to save his beloved Katrina.
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[edit] Family
Roran is the son of Garrow and Marian. Eragon is his cousin, so Selena, Eragon's mother, would be Roran's aunt (she's Garrow's sister). Brom is Eragon's father and Murtagh is Selena's son so he is also Roran's cousin.
[edit] Physical Description
Roran, Eragon, was "muscular, sturdy, and careful with his movements." [1] He was a young man, unsure of what his future was going to be, with the only thought being that he could get money to marry Katrina.
This changes in Eldest. The Ra'zac threaten to destroy Carvahall, and Roran must act to this quickly. War rages between the Empire and his town, and during an attempt to save Katrina from the Ra`zac, Roran gets his shoulder split open. In Eldest, Roran sees himself as a "man in ragged, blood-stained clothes, with a humped back and a crooked arm tied across his chest. His neck and cheeks were scumbled with an impending beard, while his hair was matted into snarled ropes that writhed in a halo around his head. Most frightening of all, though, were his eyes, which had sunk deep into the sockets, giving him a haunted appeareance. From within those two morbid caverns, his gaze boiled like molten steel, full of loss, rage, and an obsessive craving."[2]
In Brisingr, Roran steps up and becomes a warrior of great significance. He shows his great leadership with the Varden, and gives the soldiers hope while Eragon is gone attending to the clanmeet with the dwarves as they choose their next king.
"The blood-splattered warrior shook his head. 'I lost count after thirty-two. Perhaps another can say. What you did, Stronghammer... Never have I seen such a feat before, not by a man of human abilities. The dragon Saphira chose well; the men of your family are fighters like no others. Your prowess is unmatched by any mortal, Stronghammer. However many you slew here today, I -' 'It was one hundred and ninety-three!' cried Carn . . . ." [3] indicating Roran as a very strong warrior.
[edit] Childhood
Roran and Eragon grew up alongside each other as brothers. They helped Garrow farm and harvest the land, gathering crops for when trading nomads would come. Marian, Roran's mother, passed away when he was young. That's all the known childhood of Roran.
[edit] Adulthood
As Roran grows up, he begins to realize that life won't end happily ever after with him making money, marrying Katrina, and living on a farm. After Eragon leaves with Brom and Roran is given the crudge message written by Brom, he knows that he's going to be embroiled in the troubles with the Empire and the Varden.
[edit] Leading Carvahall
As he's hunting with Baldor one day, Roran stumbles upon the camp of the Ra'zac and Empire soldiers. He realizes that they've come for him, and he warns the village and makes plan for the upcoming battle that will wage if he doesn't give himself up. The Empire attacks once, but the townspeople manage to fend them off. Roran realizes that if he plans to keep defending Carvahall, he must make defenses. He gathers up many of the townspeople and together, they fortify Carvahall with a trench, a log wall, and thorns. However, this won't keep the Empire out for long. The Ra'zac attack secretly, stealing Katrina while she's with Roran during the night. Roran finds out that Sloan has betrayed Carvahall and turned to the Empire's side. With his only thing worth living for gone, Roran grudgingly makes the choice to travel away from Carvahall, for he no longer wishes to bring harm upon the village. He delivers a grand speech to the townsfolk, convincing most of them to travel with him through the Spine and to safety. That's when the real adventure begins for Roran.
[edit] Katrina
Roran's love of his life is Katrina, the butcher Sloan's daughter. She is the reason that he left with Dempton to work in Therinsford so that he could raise enough money to propose to her. His plans are changed though, with Brom's note. In Eldest, Roran's only way of getting comfort is through her, and he faces a hard decision, for if he doesn't propose to Katrina soon, Sloan will find her a better man. In the end, Roran asks Katrina to come with him through the Spine to safety, and when Sloan finds out, he's furious. However, Katrina gives up her family for the man she loves, and decides to go with Roran. But then, the Ra`zac capture Katrina unexpectedly, leaving Roran with a hole in his heart. Now, the only fuel that keeps him going is the hope that he might rescue Katrina.
[edit] Eragon
Roran doesn't make much of an appearance Eragon. He meets up with Dempton in Carvahall and decides to go with him to make money so that he can ask Katrina to marry him. He leaves soon afterwards, before the Ra`zac attack the farm. That's all we see of Roran in Book One.
[edit] Eldest
Roran has a larger role in Eldest, leading the Carvahall villagers out of harm and seeking the Varden to safety. The beginning of his accomplishments in Eldest is up in the "Adulthood" section.
[edit] The Journey to Surda
Roran tricked a man named Clovis at Narda to get barges that would transport the villagers to Teirm. Roran blackmailed Clovis, not willingly, but Clovis in the end agreed to help them, and he became much friendier to the villagers through the trip.
Once they got to Teirm, Roran gained the information that someone by the name of Jeod Longshanks might be willing to take them on the trip to Surda. Eager to find out more information and be gone from Alagaesia as quickly as possible, Roran finds Jeod and consults him with information. However, during the meeting, Nolfavrell, a young boy, lets out a slip about Gertrude, the healer of Carvahall. With that small mistake, Jeod learns of Roran's real identity, and he tells them all he knows about Eragon, Brom, and Saphira. Roran and the villagers are highly doubtful at first with Jeod and his story, but they have no choice but to trust Jeod if they wish to get to Surda as fast as they can.
However, there was no boat in Teirm large enough to transport all the villagers except for one - the Dragon Wing, which was under official use. Roran has no choice but to steal it. With help from Jeod, the villagers and Roran, along with Jeod and Helen, manage to steal the boat, but not without a large battle against the Teirm soldiers. In the end though, while leaving Teirm in flames, Roran sets off for Surda at last.
[edit] The Boar's Eye
The crew aboard the Dragon Wing are forced to find a place to land quickly after a large storm catches the ship and supplies get low. The quickest way would be going around the Boar's Eye to Surda, which is what Roran suggests they do.
The Boar's Eye is a huge whirlpool. "The Eye forms as the result of tidal currents that collide between Beirland and Nia. When the tide waxes, the Eye rotates north to west. When the tide wanes, it rotates north to east...on average, the center of the Eye is a league in diameter, while the arms of the pool can be anywhere from ten to fifteen miles across. Ships unlucky enough to be snared by the Eye are borne down to the floor of the ocean and dashed against the jagged rocks..."[4]
Nonetheless, Roran decides the take the chance and sail around the whirlpool. It was an intense battle between ship and whirlpool, but eventually, luck was with them and the Dragon Wing managed to sail clear of the Boar's Eye and continue on to their nearing destination - Surda.
[edit] Battle Against the Empire
Roran and the villagers arrive at Surda at the precise position of the fiery battle against the Varden and the Empire. When reports of a ship heading up the Jiet River spread, Eragon decides to take a look. He discovers aboard the ship is Roran, and after a brief mental talk with his cousin, Eragon goes back into the battle, while Roran makes preperations for battle. The villagers help out in the battle by using the ballista aboard the ship to fire flaming arrows in the Empire's tents, eliminating many soldiers. Roran himself gets off the ship and bravely approaches the Twins. At this time, Eragon and Murtagh are engaged in battle, and they witness Roran get up and kill the Twins. This is probably Roran's most heroic event throughout Eldest.
[edit] Meeting Up With Eragon
Roran's still angry with his cousin at first when they meet up after the battle. However, this anger doesn't last long as Eragon tells his story to Roran. Roran understands why his cousin did what he did, and in return, he tells Eragon his story about his journey to Surda. Eragon and Roran both forgive each other, and Eragon promises to help Roran look for Katrina. Then, at the end, they agree that they will both together destroy the Ra'zac and avenge Garrow.
[edit] Known Enemies
- Birgit
- Ra'zac (Deceased)
- Galbatorix
[edit] Quotes
Cheer up!You may not have to worry about living forever. Roran to Eragon, Brisingr page 29.
A wise man would ignore the future and drink and carouse while he still has an opportunity to enjoy this world, Roran to Eragon, Brisingr page 29.
[edit] Theories
| Theory | |
| 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. Please do not post opinions, questions, or minor theories. Theories should include a {{discuss}} tag with a proper link to the appropriate article on Inheritance Forums. |
One interesting theory that is being discussed right now is the possibility of Roran turning evil in book four.
| Discuss: This topic is being discussed on Inheritance Forums. Click here to join in. |
[edit] References
- ↑ Christopher Paolini, Eragon (Alfred A. Knopf, 2003), 20
- ↑ Christopher Paolini, Eldest (Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 258-259
- ↑ Christopher Paolini, Brisingr (Alfred A. Knopf, 2008), 524
- ↑ Christopher Paolini, Eldest (Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 563
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