The Inheritance Almanac Part 8

THE NAME SAPHIRA IS A PLAY ON SAPPHIRE.

SAPHIRA'S BLUE-TINTED VISION WAS INSPIRED BY PAOLINI'S OWN COLOR BLINDNESS.

The magical act of conjuring up an image of a person, place, or thing by speaking the ancient language over a pool of water, a mirror, or other reflective surface. As with most magic, there are rules and limits to what a spellcaster can do when scrying. If the caster has never before encountered the desired person, place, or thing, he or she will be unable to successfully conjure the image. Also, if the caster has encountered the target but does not know the surroundings, only the target will become visible. Eragon, for some unknown reason, was able to scry the elf princess Arya, imprisoned in Gil'ead, after having seen her only in a dream and without knowing who she was.

SEE SEEING GLa.s.s.

A magical device created by the elves to enhance a magician's scrying powers and enable communication between two scrying pools.

A Varden swordsman wounded during the Battle of the Burning Plains.

The Seithr plant is endemic to a small island off the northwestern coast of Alagaesia and highly prized by jewelers for the oil extracted from its petals, which is a natural preservative for pearls. Seithr oil is rare, given the perilous waters of the North Sea that must be crossed in order to obtain the plant. A blood sacrifice plus certain spoken words can transform the protective oil into a noxious acidlike substance that can eat away flesh while leaving everything else untouched. Torturers and a.s.sa.s.sins particularly favor Seithr oil.

The mother of Eragon and Murtagh, sister of Garrow, daughter of Cadoc, consort of Morzan, and lover of Brom. Selena met Morzan, her first love, and became his devoted-some would say slavish-companion, his personal Black Hand. Morzan trained her in dark magic, armed combat, and mental defense against psychic attack. In her first test, she used only a healing spell and a knife to dispatch twelve warriors, slitting their throats in the process. Selena became such an effective servant that Morzan's enemies in the Forsworn sought to use her against him.

When Selena became pregnant, Morzan hid her within the castle, where she gave birth to Murtagh. The baby was spirited away and raised by a nurse. Selena witnessed Morzan's cruel treatment of her son, which led to their estrangement. After meeting the Dragon Rider Brom, Selena changed from her dark ways and the two fell in love. Thus began Morzan's downfall and his ultimate death at the hands of Brom. It is said Morzan's fatal error was believing Selena would always remain in his power. Apologists for Selena a.s.sert she had been blinded to her husband's true nature. Brom once described her to Eragon as "full of dignity and pride" and added: "She always helped the poor and less fortunate, no matter what her situation." She became an invaluable Varden informant, supplying inside information on Galbatorix, Morzan, and the Empire. Although Brom and Selena never married, they were a devoted couple and considered themselves spiritually bound as husband and wife. When she found herself pregnant with Brom's child, she returned to Carvahall and lived there for five months until the baby, whom she named Eragon, was born. She then disappeared the next day. Eragon, on his second visit to Ellesmera, learned from Oromis that Selena returned to Gil'ead, but the journey left her ill, and she died before she could be reunited with Brom.

SEE BROM, GARROW, MORZAN, AND MURTAGH.

A playing piece in the elves' Runes game.

A tavern in Carvahall.

SEE MORN.

A sorcerer who becomes possessed by the spirits he or she has conjured.

SEE DURZA AND SORCERY.

The t.i.tle given to anyone who manages the rare feat of killing a Shade.

SEE ARYA, ERAGON, IRNSTAD, AND LAETRi.

A small island off the western coast of Alagaesia and southwest of the port city of Teirm. Its name is inspired by its shape.

SEE RAHNA.

One of the five animals unique to the Beor Mountains (plural Shrrgn). These gigantic wolves have razor-sharp fangs and claws.

THE SHRRG IS BASED ON THE TIMBER WOLF. CHRISTOPHER INVENTED THE WORD AFTER THINKING ABOUT THE SOUND OF A DOG'S GROWL.

One of the guards for the dwarf clan chief Undin.

The dragon that hatched from the egg that Galbatorix stole from Castle Ilirea to replace Jarnunvosk, whom he lost when the dragon was pierced through the heart by an Urgal's arrow.

SEE DRAGONS, DU NAMAR AURBODA, GALBATORIX, AND ILIREA.

The elves' name for the Dragon Riders.

The Varden leader Nasuada, weakened by the arduous Trial of the Long Knives, asked Eragon to lead the attack against the coastal city of Feinster, an Empire stronghold considered pivotal to their cause. (Once the Varden took Feinster, they could march on the cities of Belatona and Dras-Leona and from there attack Galbatorix's stronghold of Uru'baen.) It was also a key battle, as the alliance of Varden and Urgals was fraying and Nasuada wanted to keep the coalition together. Although Nasuada wanted Eragon and Saphira to lead the fight, believing the appearance of a dragon and Rider would cause their opponents to lose heart, Eragon felt that to defeat Galbatorix, Saphira and he needed more training from Oromis and Glaedr in faraway Ellesmera. It was a risk to let the dragon and Rider go, as Lady Lorana, ruler of Feinster, was already sending war parties out to hara.s.s the Varden troops. If Eragon and Saphira did not return in time, the Varden would have to go to battle without them. But Nasuada agreed to delay their attack. In the meantime, she placed Roran, who had just suffered the lash for his insubordination under Captain Edric, in command of a combined group of humans and Urgals in order to maintain the Urgals as allies.

The attack on the city was under way when Eragon and Saphira returned from Ellesmera and an eventful visit with Rhunon, who had worked through Eragon to forge his mighty sword, Brisingr. Saphira announced their arrival with a shattering roar and a burst of blue fire, and immediately helped Arya, who had scaled the walls of the embattled city. The first to fall to Brisingr was the captain of the soldiers guarding the city gates, who had leveled a serious curse on Eragon: "May you leave Alagaesia and never return." This was the same curse that the last Ra'zac gave just before Eragon killed it. Thereupon, the gates were opened and the Varden coalition fought their way through the city, not reaching the western end until the following dawn.

Victory was theirs by the time they reached Lady Lorana and received her surrender. But there was one last obstacle to overcome, perhaps the most dangerous of all. With Galbatorix having failed to send reinforcements, three magicians of Feinster, who had sworn allegiance to the evil king, created a Shade, Varaug. During a ferocious battle, Arya killed Varaug with the help of Eragon, making the elven royal a Shadeslayer.

When the ancient city of Ilirea fell to Galbatorix, the Empire truly began. Ilirea had been given to the humans by the elves after the end of the war that Palancar had foolishly initiated. The city, renowned as a center of Dragon Rider training, made it an obvious target of Galbatorix's campaign. But it was also the seat of power for the Broddring Kingdom. Galbatorix and his Thirteen Forsworn laid siege to the city, captured it, and deposed King Angrenost.

SEE ARVA AND SURDA.

Situated deep within Du Weldenvarden, this elven city on the western sh.o.r.e of Lake Ardwen is considered second only to the capital of Ellesmera in greatness.

A peaceful forest on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Tudosten. In this idyllic place, the Dragon Rider Oromis was born.

SEE OROMIS AND GLAEDR.

Dwarven G.o.ddess of earth who brought forth human beings to populate the land after the giants who ruled the earth were vanquished.

A talented dwarf jewel crafter and architect of the Gedthrall clan. Skeg was a.s.signed by King Hrothgar to oversee rea.s.sembly of the shattered Isidar Mithrim. Although Hrothgar would not live to see it, after thousands of hours of piecing together the fragments, Saphira magically repaired the great jewel sculpture in time for the coronation of the new king, Orik.

The blood brother of Nar Garzhvog and rightful ruler of the Bolvek tribe, Skgahgrezh a.s.sumed control over Urgal forces within the Varden when his brother was escorting Eragon to the dwarves.

SEE GARZHVOG.

A deadly poison favored by the Empire's a.s.sa.s.sins.

SEE TuNIVOR'S NECTAR.

Slavery came to Alagaesia with the arrival of humans. The dismal trade continues to this day in Dras-Leona and other Empire cities that boast thriving slave markets. Indeed, slavery is part of the imperial culture. There are even so-called name slaves, subjects who have been forced to swear fealty to Galbatorix in the ancient language, an oath that has been taken by most of the Empire's soldiers.

During a trek along the eastern border of the Hadarac Desert, Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh encountered a band of slaves led by Torkenbrand. Because of this fateful encounter, Eragon vowed to free all slaves and abolish slavery forever.

The son of Alden and owner of the butcher shop in Carvahall, Sloan was forced to raise his daughter, Katrina, alone when his beloved wife, Ismira, died in an accidental fall off Igualda Falls. Although a loving parent, Sloan maintained a simmering rage at his loss. He was so obsessed with protecting his daughter-and so distraught that she intended to marry Roran without his consent-that during the siege of Carvahall, he betrayed his townspeople in exchange for the Empire guaranteeing Katrina's safety. Sloan ambushed and murdered Byrd, a villager serving as a watchman during the siege. But Sloan was double-crossed: the Ra'zac kidnapped him and Katrina, imprisoned them within Helgrind, and plucked out Sloan's eyes. In his and Roran's rescue of Katrina, Eragon found Sloan alive. However, he told Roran that Sloan was dead (and Roran told Katrina). After seeing Katrina safely on her way to the Varden with Roran (and ordering Saphira to go with them), Eragon returned to Helgrind alone, killed the last Ra'zac, and carried Sloan out of their lair. In trying to determine what to do with Sloan, Eragon searched the butcher's mind and found his true name. Eragon then punished Sloan by decreeing that Sloan would never again meet Katrina and compelling him to travel to Ellesmera and remain in a benign captivity with the elves.

The horse Brom bought for himself from Haberth near Therinsford as he and Eragon set out from Carvahall in search of the Ra'zac. After Brom's death, Snowfire pa.s.sed to Eragon, who in turn gave the great horse to Roran.

After the Empire's crus.h.i.+ng defeat by the Varden at the Battle of the Burning Plains, Galbatorix asked for volunteers to undergo a spell that would render them incapable of feeling pain and thus fearless in battle, promising security for their families in return.

In their first meeting on an open plain, the Varden had a thousand soldiers against three hundred of Galbatorix's men. Not realizing that the soldiers were enchanted, the Varden soldiers lost their nerve when severely wounded men kept advancing-and laughing-despite wounds that should have disabled them. The obscene spectacle ended when King Orrin chopped off a soldier's head, proving they could be stopped for certain if beheaded. Although the three hundred were slain, it was at such a cost to the Varden that Nasuada p.r.o.nounced the engagement "a grievous defeat."

Roran, on his raiding mission with Martland Redbeard, encountered a band of these soldiers camped near a nameless river. Though Martland and Roran drove the soldiers into the water and finally defeated them, the soldiers' laughter in the face of mortal wounds was unsettling. The enchanted warriors are also known as the laughing dead.

SEE BATTLE OF THE BURNING PLAINS.

The mysterious werecat companion of Angela the herbalist. Although Solemb.u.m has been known to take the form of a young male human, he usually appears as a big cat, similar to a caracal (see this page), with golden eyes and dark fur. The witty but acerbic Solemb.u.m took a rare liking to Eragon and Saphira when he met them in Teirm. Solemb.u.m has even been seen napping on Saphira's neck. Solemb.u.m has the power to foretell the future, and has already made two prophecies to Eragon, one of which-about looking under the roots of the Menoa tree when in need of a weapon-has come true. The other-"when all seems lost and your power is insufficient, go to the Rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of Souls"-still remains unfulfilled.

SEE ANGELA THE HERBALIST AND WERECATS.

SEE GERAND.

In contrast to magic, Dragon Rider Oromis has defined sorcery as "a dark and unseemly art" whereby a sorcerer seeks to control supernatural beings to do as he or she commands. A magician desiring to be a sorcerer must spend at least three years of study to learn how to summon spirits and control them. It is a dangerous business, as trapped spirits spend every moment seeking to escape their captivity and take vengeance on their mortal captors. A sorcerer so possessed becomes a Shade.

SEE DURZA AND MAGIC.

Off the southwestern coast of Alagaesia lies a cl.u.s.ter of five islands presumed to have been claimed by the Empire: Beirland, Illium, Parlim, Nia, and Uden. Beirland is the largest island in the chain, and the only populated one. It is said that magical phenomena have occurred in the area near Eoam, the island's coastal village. Beirland's notable feature is the Floating Crystal of Eoam, a rare example of what the Dragon Rider Oromis calls wild magic.

The second-largest mountain range in Alagaesia, the Spine covers the entire length of the continent's western coast. Humans have lived here ever since the first settlers arrived in 7203 AC. Villages include Carvahall and Therinsford.

Landmarks range from Edur Carthungave, also known as Rathbar's Spur, which marks the Spine's southernmost tip, and Igualda Falls, a waterfall at the northern end of Palancar Valley. Measuring over half a mile from top to bottom, the falls are known to have claimed several careless wanderers, including Ismira, wife of Sloan of Carvahall. The unforgiving nature of the region is ill.u.s.trated by reports of those who venture into the mountains and never return. Even Galbatorix's forces are not immune-a story is told that half his army simply disappeared amid the mountains of the Spine.

Many historic events have happened in the range, beginning with the establishment of those first human settlements. The Spine is where Jarnunvosk, Galbatorix's first dragon, was killed, the tragedy that led to Galbatorix's madness and quest for power. It is where Eragon discovered the dragon egg that made him the first new Dragon Rider in more than a century and a leader in the fight against the Empire.

Sentient beings composed of pure energy. They can communicate with physical beings and a.s.sume many guises and usually induce a rapturous sense of communion in mortals. Eragon himself had an encounter with a spirit that filled him with joy and transcendent happiness-until he realized the supernatural creature was taking over his consciousness. Since spirits are completely unpredictable, it is dangerous for those on the mortal plane to even converse with them.

SEE DURZA AND SHADE.

SEE ISIDAR MITHRIM.

SEE ISIDAR MITHRIM.

A monolithic tower of basalt north of Ellesmera that rises a hundred feet above the forest and was an ancient habitation of dragons. Towers at the top have black "caves" clawed out of the basalt by the talons of ancient dragons, their floors littered with the remains of their kills. It is a notorious place from the ancient war against dragons and elves. It was here that elves tracked some dragons and killed them in their sleep, tore their nests to pieces, and used magic to shatter the eggs. That day it rained blood in the forest below, Saphira told Eragon. No dragon has lived here since.

SEE DU FYRN SKULBLAKA.

SEE RORAN.

This free kingdom of humans, formed in defiance of the Empire, lies on the southern edge of Alagaesia and is today ruled by King Orrin of the House of Langfeld, whose royal lineage reaches back to King Palancar.

Galbatorix is now known to have allowed the secession of Surda, as he was biding his time to strike back. Even Galbatorix's knowledge of Surda's secret alliance with the Varden did not become known until after the Battle in Farthen Dur. Surda has since taken a leading role in the battle against Galbatorix, with King Orrin dedicated to preserving the Varden alliance and also providing safe haven for refugees and those opposing the Empire.

SEE LARKIN.

An Urgal G.o.d.

A popular ballad, of which many versions exist.

SEE DRAS-LEONA.

The sword of the Dragon Rider Arva, which he pa.s.sed to his sister, Naudra, just before his death. Naudra wielded Tamerlein while valiantly fighting by Arva's side during his final day. Tamerlein pa.s.sed into the possession of Lord Fiolr, of the elven House Valtharos, who offered to lend the sword to Eragon.

SEE ARVA, DRAGON RIDER SWORDS, FIOLR, AND NAUDRA.

The elf queen who signed the original pact with the dragons.

This dwarf surface city is connected to other dwarven cities by a network of tunnels carved throughout the Beor Mountains. Tarnag has been home to three clans: Az Sweldn rak Anhuin, Quan, and Ragni Hefthyn. Despite its thick ramparts, Tarnag fell to Galbatorix's attacks during his war against the Dragon Riders, which led the dwarves to abandon this and other surface cities. After Morzan's death, the dwarves returned to their fabled city.

Dwarven engineering built Tarnag by cutting away terraces of stone upon the mountain, constructing tier upon tier of multicolored stones and interlocking buildings, forming a pyramidal shape topped by a gigantic dome glistening like polished moonstone-Celbedeil, greatest temple of the dwarf nation and home of the Quan clan, whose members serve as messengers to the G.o.ds. The buildings themselves are elegantly designed, often decorated with carvings of animals and other figures. At night, the city is illuminated by the multicolored lights of the famous flameless lantern. Eragon visited this city on his way to Ellesmera after the Battle of Farthen Dur.

SEE CELBEDEIL.

The third-ranking commander of Galbatorix's Urgal army. Tarok served under Durza and Gashz and oversaw the Urgals during the Battle of Farthen Dur. After the Empire's defeat at Farthen Dur, Tarok was missing in action and is presumed dead.

SEE CEUNON.

The traitorous resident of Aberon, Surda's capital city, whose murder plot against a fellow Surdan was telepathically overheard by Eragon, who ensured that Tathal was stopped before he committed his crime.

SEE ANHUIN.

The Empire's largest port city, on the west coast of Alagaesia at the mouth of the Toark River and surrounded by the Spine. Unlike such disorganized and sprawling cities as Dras-Leona, Teirm is one of the best-planned cities in Alagaesia.

Legend holds that Teirm was the landing place for several waves of immigration, from elves to human colonists (although the latter's s.h.i.+ps could not make landfall). Although Teirm is the heart of commerce and trade for the Empire, war regularly disrupts business. Espionage and sabotage against the Empire often occur here, as was the case with Jeod, the prosperous Teirm merchant who secretly operated as an agent of the Varden.

The strategic port city has historically known threat-it was once almost razed by pirates. The city has since gone to extraordinary lengths to build up its defenses, including a hundred-foot-tall, thirty-foot-thick stone wall that surrounds the city and is lined with sentries, archers, and patrolling soldiers. Within its walls, the tiered layout of buildings with flat roofs allows archers to be stationed for another line of offense. Teirm's signature architectural landmark is a citadel built of giant stones with a tower that serves as the city's lighthouse. However, many of Teirm's cobblestone streets are choked with weeds, and housing in the poorer districts is ramshackle at best. The wealthy and powerful live on the West Side, a district that has been home to Jeod and the shop of Angela the herbalist. Both Eragon and Roran have pa.s.sed through Teirm. Eragon stopped here with Brom and met Jeod Longshanks and Angela the herbalist for the first time. Roran stole a s.h.i.+p from Teirm to carry the people of Carvahall down the coast. It was here that he learned Eragon is a Dragon Rider.

SEE DRAS-LEONA.

Ingvar's son and a hermit dweller within a tower of the Edur Ithindra ruins, which Tenga has claimed as a library for his scrolls and books. Proficient in the ancient language and skilled in magic, Tenga mentored Angela the herbalist. Tenga has dedicated his solitary existence to divining the secrets of the elemental forces of trees, other plants, fire, and light. Eragon met Tenga on his way back to the Varden after killing the Ra'zac in Helgrind. He helped the old man garden, noted his wordless use of magic, marveled at his library, shared a lunch with him, and saw some wooden animal statues-but after some odd conversation, Eragon concluded that Tenga was mad and slipped away quietly. Later, when Eragon asked Angela about Tenga, she noted that Tenga is deranged but brilliant, although the werecat Solemb.u.m has derisively said of the hermit, "He is a man who kicks at cats."

SEE ANGELA THE HERBALIST.

SEE BRODDRING KINGDOM.

Mountain where the Ingeitum clan built Bregan Hold.

A small village of the Empire in the heart of Palancar Valley notorious for its poor planning. Surrounded by rich farmland, Therinsford is accessible by a bridge across the Anora River. Just south of Therinsford is the lonely mountain of Utgard with its watchtower Edoc'sil. Roran left his father's farm to become a miller's apprentice in Therinsford and was there when the Ra'zac killed Garrow. Eragon and Brom bought horses just outside of Therinsford as they left Palancar Valley in search of the Ra'zac.

SEE BRODDRING KINGDOM.

SEE FORSWORN.

Dwarf chief of the Durgrimst Nagra.

SEE DWARF CLANS IN THE APPENDIX.

The husband of Himinglada, the father of Hvedra.

The youngest dragon in Alagaesia, hatched from one of the three dragon eggs to survive the Fall of the Riders. Thorn had rested within his egg for a century but hatched for Murtagh soon after the Battle of Farthen Dur. Galbatorix then forced both Rider and dragon to swear (in the ancient language) their loyalty to him. Knowing their true names, Galbatorix has the power to enslave them. With his blood-red scales, snow-white spikes, and muscular body, this dragon strikes fear into those who face him and Murtagh. During the Battle of the Burning Plains, Eragon wounded Thorn, but Murtagh mysteriously healed him in just a few seconds and proceeded to capture Eragon.

Arya explained to Eragon that Galbatorix probably used magic to accelerate Thorn's physical growth, leaving him with the mind of a youngling but the body of an adult. By the second encounter between Eragon-Saphira and Murtagh-Thorn, when the latter sought out the former at the Varden camp, Thorn had grown rapidly again. In that fight-with wounds and healing magic on both sides-Eragon and Saphira prevailed with the help of the elven guard. Murtagh and Thorn retreated to Galbatorix's army, having failed to achieve their goal of capturing Eragon and Saphira.

At Gil'ead, when Oromis and Glaedr emerge from Ellesmera, Thorn and Murtagh defeat them, slaying Oromis and also Glaedr's physical body, though his Eldunari lives on.

SEE MURTAGH.

One of the guards of the dwarf clan chief Undin.

A renegade dwarf warrior of Durgrimst Ingeitum, Thrand achieved renown as Eragon's lead guard and captain of a small band of dwarves during Eragon's visits to Farthen Dur. The one attack upon Eragon by dwarf a.s.sa.s.sins was repelled by Thrand and his guards with minimal losses.

The father of Orik.