BRISINGR THE THIRD BOOK - THE INHERITANCE TRILOGY AND ERAGON

A message from Christopher Paolini:

"I am pleased to tell you that the title of Book Three in the Inheritance cycle is Brisingr. Sometimes one's first thought is best, and so it was with naming this book. After many months of trying to sum up a complex story in a single word, it struck me that I had had the name all along. For reasons that will become clear when you read Brisingr, this title is perfect.

Brisingr is an Old Norse word for "fire." As you may remember, in Eragon, Brom uses the word brisingr to start a fire. This is the first time Eragon hears an ancient language word, a word of magic. Later, when Eragon is cornered by Urgals in Yazuac, he shouts "Brisingr!" to great effect (see Eragon-chapters "Revelation at Yazuac" and "Admonishments"). "

---CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

* Eragon: Main character. Eragon is a smart and resourceful fifteen year old. He is named after the first dragon Rider. Along his quest he becomes an official member of the Varden (rebels), an adopted dwarf, slayer of Durza, and a Dragon Rider.
* Sloan: Butcher of Carvahall who hates Eragon's family. He despises the Spine because his wife died there. He is Katrina's father.
* Katrina: Daughter of Sloan and Roran's beloved.
* Horst: Horst is the father of Baldor and Alberich, and is a father figure to Eragon and Roran when Garrow dies. He is a blacksmith.
* Roran: Eragon's cousin and Garrow's son. His relationship with Eragon borders on brotherhood. He is Katrina's beloved.
* Garrow: Farmer of Carvahall, Eragon's uncle, and Roran's father.
* Saphira: Eragon's Dragon and best friend. Saphira granted on Eragon the Gedwey Ignasia-or "shining palm" in the ancient language-the mark that all Riders possess given at first touch between Rider and Dragon. It is the mental link that allows Eragon and Saphira to talk to each other. She is the first dragon to hatch since Galbatorix's rule began.
* Brom: Carvahall's supposedly humble storyteller. He accompanies Eragon on Eragon's journey. He has extensive knowledge about dragons and their riders. Right before he dies of a knife wound from a Ra'zac, he reveals that he was previously a Dragon Rider. He killed Morzan to get the egg containing Saphira.
* Angela: A powerful witch who supports the Varden; she tells Eragon his future; part of her prophecy including that Eragon would have an epic romance with someone of royal blood.
* Jeod: A merchant of Teirm, Jeod is Brom's old friend, and also member of the Varden.
* Solembum: The werecat who lives with Angela; he gives Eragon a prophecy and much advice. He takes the form of a shaggy haired boy with a black dagger when he helps Eragon in Farthen Dur.
* Murtagh: Son of Morzan, who was a Forsworn (betrayer of the Dragon Riders); he becomes good friends with Eragon and travels with him to the Varden's hideout.
* Arya: The guardian elf of Saphira's egg. She is saved by Eragon from the clutches of King Galbatorix and Durza. Eragon has feelings for her. She is also the daughter of the elven Queen.
* Durza: A powerful Shade that ravaged the land and controled the Urgal army before being killed by Eragon. He is recognized by the long, thin scratch on his blade.
* Orik: A dwarf and the nephew of Hrothgar; he befriends Eragon

When a Rider finished their training, the elves would present the Rider with a Rider's Sword. It was three feet long and would be the same color as the Rider's Dragon. It would also have a gem in its pummel that was the same color as well. These swords were very special; they were made by magic and hard work. The elves' method of forging them has remained a secret.

* General Sword Information

The Dragon Rider's swords were eternally sharp and never stained. The Elves' custom was to have the sword's color match the color of the Rider's Dragon. The swords were usually three feet long, and were perfectly balanced so that it was like an extension of the arm for a Dragon Rider.

* Creator of Dragon Rider Swords

The only known creator of Dragon Rider swords in the history of Alagaesia is Rhunon. She swore an oath after Galbatorix went insane and was using her intelligence to kill freely. She never wanted that to happen again. When Eragon confronts her about making a sword, she explains her reasons for not making him one.

(article courtesy of www.shadeslayer.com)

Ajihad's death, the disappearance of Murtagh and the Twins (they are captured and thrown into the Pit of Doom, supposedly dead), and the election of a new leader of the Varden - Nasuada, to whom Eragon swears fealty. Meanwhile, in Carvahall, Roran is being pursued by Galbatorix, who has sent the Ra'zac and a unit of Imperial soldiers to capture him and thus lure Eragon out. After repelling many attacks, they manage to drive the army away, but Katrina, Roran's fiancée, is captured. They decide to leave Carvahall and travel to Surda. Roran earns the name "Stronghammer" because he defended Carvahall bravely with a hammer given to him by Horste. By that time, Eragon has decided to go to Du Weldenvarden to further pursue his training. After many adventures on the way, he comes to his destination and meets Islanzadí, the Elven queen.

It is revealed that Arya is Islanzadí's daughter. Eragon is introduced to another Dragon Rider, Oromis; the Mourning Sage or Osthato Chetowa: The Cripple Who Is Whole, Togira Ikonoka; who shielded Eragon in the first book. Eragon and Saphira begin their training with Oromis and his dragon Glaedr. Eragon learns how to read and fluently speak the Ancient Language, as well to use various spells and magic skills. While Eragon's feelings for Arya increase, he continues to train under Oromis's wing and suffers repeated bouts of pain from the scar on his back. Nevertheless, he and Saphira grow steadily more powerful. On a traditional Elvish celebration day of the pact with the dragons, called the Blood-oath Celebration, or Agaetí Blödhren in the ancient language, Eragon is healed of his wound and, as a gift from the dragons, gains elfish qualities that enhance his strength and agility.

Jeod, as a member of Varden, helps Roran lead his group of Carvahall villagers to Surda and tells Roran and the villagers about Eragon and Brom, knowing this because Brom was his best friend. Eragon arrives to find the situation poised on the edge of battle. The armies of the Varden, together with the army of Surda, camp on a plain opposite the vast armies of Galbatorix. Before the battle, four Kull offer to act as a bodyguard to Eragon during the fight. Angela the herbalist poisons the enemy's drinks and bread, killing many soldiers, and causing the officers to hallucinate. Meanwhile, Roran, Jeod, the people of Carvahall and Uthar, the head sailor, take command the new empire ship, the Dragon Wing, leading it to Surda. They manage crossing a big vortex, and arrive in time in Surda. The battle begins, and Eragon is able to repel the opposing armies for some time with his new forces, but the tide soon turns. During the fighting, Roran arrives at Surda, and his group of villagers join themselves to the forces of the Varden. Then, with the appearance of the dwarves from the east, the situation changes again, until the appearance of an unknown Dragon Rider who kills Hrothgar, the dwarf king. Also at the same time Eragon feels two new, powerful, spellcasters arrive on the field of battle and recognizes them for the Evil twins thought dead. The twins systematically start killing off the Varden's group of mages and sorcerors who are under Eragon's command. But Eragon faces off with the unknown rider in both aerial and ground fights and ultimately unmasks his opponent, revealing Murtagh. Murtagh tells Eragon that the Twins had betrayed the Varden and taken him to Galbatorix. Galbatorix made Murtagh and Thorn, his red dragon, swear to try to capture Eragon; Galbatorix knows the true names of both Murtagh and his dragon, and thus is able to control them. Murtagh also reveals that Galbatorix is working to save the dragon race by capturing Saphira and having her mate with the third dragon hatchling, still lying dormant in its egg. He and Thorn prove to be more powerful than the battle-weary Eragon and Saphira, while Murtagh displays the great and terrible potency of his magical prowess, using spells that would have killed a normal human. Murtagh decides to have mercy on them, but before leaving them, he reveals that Eragon was the youngest son of Morzan and Selena, and that therefore Murtagh is Eragon's elder brother. Murtagh takes Zar'roc away from Eragon.

* Eragon (The first dragon rider) - He was the first Dragon Rider. During the Elf and Dragon War Eragon found a dragon egg, and hatched it in secrecy. He then used the dragon to form a pack between the elves and dragons. It is a mystery if the dragons left the egg for him, or if the parents of the egg were killed by an Elven ambush.
* Eragon - The last sane Dragon Rider that is known of. Killed the shade Durza in the battle of Tronjheim. Brought back the Dragon Riders' race.
* Brom - Slayer of Morzan. Found the dragon egg that hatched Saphira. Teacher of Eragon. Possible father of Eragon. Gave his life to save Eragon.
* Irnstad the Human - First Dragon Rider to slay a shade.
* Laetri the Elf - Second Dragon Rider to slay a shade.
* Vrael - Only one that was able to resist Galbatorix and the Thirteen Forsworn, until he was killed by Galbatorix in an ill battle in which Galbatorix killed Vrael.
* Morzan - Killed by Brom. A foolish young man that was twisted by Galbatorix to follow him. Father of Murtagh, and possibly Eragon.
* Galbatorix - Insane king of Alagaesia. An evil Dragon Rider that was driven insane by the death of his beloved first dragon. That used terrible magic to twist another dragon whose rider was dead into being his dragon.
* Oromis - Second Teacher of Eragon, oldest Dragon Rider alive during the time of the Inheritance Trilogy.

(article courtesy of www.shadeslayer.com)