A consummate blend of diplomat and military strategist, Narheim serves the dwarf nation as amba.s.sador to the Varden and acting commander of the army in King Orik's absence.

An elf from Ceris.

The only child of Ajihad, Nasuada succeeded him as Varden leader after his death from an Urgal ambush in the aftermath of the Battle of Farthen Dur. During the fifteen years of Ajihad's rule, Nasuada had been part of the inner circle and trained in physical and mental combat. Although often ignored because of her youth and inexperience, Nasuada came into her own during the Battle of Farthen Dur when she refused her father's order to evacuate with the women and children. She fought bravely and even helped coordinate the defense of the city.

After her father's death, the Varden Council of Elders nominated Nasuada to be leader, a.s.suming that if she was elected, they could control her. Nasuada did become leader, but the council had underestimated her. With a strong will-and the backing of Eragon, Arya, and her other allies-Nasuada moved the entire Varden population to Surda and led a coalition against the Empire in the Battle of the Burning Plains, in preparation for which she even welcomed the feared and hated Urgals into her forces. Before the Siege of Feinster, and with Varden leadership hanging on the outcome, Nasuada was challenged by the warlord Fadawar to the Trial of the Long Knives. Nasuada won, but she was too weakened to lead her troops into battle. Nonetheless, the Varden ultimately took Feinster.

Nasuada has been called Lady Nightstalker by the Urgals in honor of Ajihad, who had been given the name Nightstalker because of both his ferocity in hunting Urgals in the tunnels under Farthen Dur and the color of his skin.

SEE BATTLE OF FARTHEN DUR AND SIEGE OF FEINSTER.

The elf lord Fiolr's mate. She received Tamerlein, the sword of Arva, her brother, before he died in battle during the Siege of Ilirea.

SEE ARVA, SIEGE OF ILIREA, AND TaMERLEIN.

A fur trader of Therinsford.

Mother of Brom and wife of Holcomb.

SEE CARETAKERS.

SEE SOUTHERN ISLES.

A celebrated weaver of the elven queen Islanzadi's house. Niduen made clothes for Eragon on his first visit to Ellesmera.

SEE ELF FAMILIES IN THE APPENDIX.

The thirty-four human, dwarf, and Urgal warriors who make up the personal guard of Nasuada. Six (two humans, two dwarves, and two Urgals) are on duty at a given time. The guard was formed after the Battle of the Burning Plains at the insistence of Jormundur.

SEE KHAGRA.

SEE AJIHAD AND NASUADA.

SEE BIRGIT.

On the western coast of Alagaesia is an ocean so vast it has barely been explored. Although most of the ocean is unknown and unnamed, the waters north of the town of Narda are called the North Sea.

One of the two lovers mentioned in the song "Du Silbena Datia." The other is Acallamh.

An elf poetess and scholar whose celebrated work includes Convocations.

A young Carvahall woman who fell in love with the youth Frewin during the exodus to Surda. Although Odele's family felt her love was an infatuation, they withdrew their criticism after the personal intervention of Roran.

The first dwarf created by the G.o.d Helzvog.

A narrow valley deep within the Beor Mountains that ends at Lake Fernothmerna, near Farthen Dur. The Odred Valley is favored by travelers as the safest route out of the range.

SEE UNULUKUNA.

King Orik, son of Thrisk, nephew and adopted son of King Hrothgar, leader of Durgrimst Ingeitum, and forty-third dwarf king.

Because Orik had a notoriously wild youth, he spent many days in Az Knurldrathn to atone for his bad behavior. Before reaching adulthood, his parents pa.s.sed, but he was adopted by his uncle, King Hrothgar. Young Orik not only received a behind-the-scenes education in political intrigues and affairs of state but also became an unofficial advisor to his uncle and amba.s.sador to the Varden.

When Eragon and Saphira visited the Varden in Farthen Dur, Orik was a.s.signed by Ajihad to be their guide during their stay. The three quickly became friends, and when Eragon and Saphira left for Dragon Rider training among the elves at Du Weldenvarden, Orik accompanied them. Orik was not only the de facto dwarf amba.s.sador to the elves, but also among the few of the non-elven races allowed within the sacred forest and the first dwarf in nearly a century to meet with elven royalty. (He is also believed to be the only dwarf ever to have ridden on the back of a dragon.) Orik would become the leading advocate for Eragon and the lineage of Dragon Riders among his people.

After the training at Du Weldenvarden, Orik accompanied Eragon and Saphira to Surda. There they joined the Varden army and the dwarven soldiers led by Hrothgar in the second great engagement against Galbatorix and the Empire. In that battle, Hrothgar was slain by the dark Dragon Rider Murtagh.

When Orik returned to Farthen Dur, he saw that his uncle was laid to rest among the past kings. He became leader of his clan and, after a fierce political struggle at the clanmeet, was elected king. During this eventful time, Orik managed to marry his longtime companion, the beautiful Hvedra of the Ingeitum clan.

SEE BATTLE OF THE BURNING PLAINS AND DWARVES.

THE PUZZLE RING ORIK GIVES ERAGON IS BASED ON A PUZZLE RING THAT A LIBRARIAN GAVE PAOLINI DURING A BOOK TOUR FOR THE SELF-PUBLISHED EDITION OF ERAGON.

The father of the dwarf clan chief Gannel.

The last Rider and dragon to survive the Fall of the Riders. Oromis and his dragon, Glaedr, had been exceptional students when they trained in the Dragon Rider capital on the island of Vroengard and were exemplary guardians of peace and justice. After years of faithful service, they became teachers, training many apprentice dragons and Riders. When Galbatorix began his b.l.o.o.d.y quest for power, Oromis and Glaedr returned to duty and fought in many of the ensuing battles.

At one point, Oromis was captured and tortured by Galbatorix's Forsworn, escaping only after being mentally crippled and stripped of most of his magical powers. His ensuing seizures earned him the name Togira Ikonoka, "The Cripple Who Is Whole." He is also called Osthato Chetowa ("The Mourning Sage"). Glaedr, too, sustained heavy wounds and the loss of one leg. The pair realized that for the survival of their lineage, they had to go into hiding and try to stay alive so that if a dragon egg hatched, they would be able to train the new Rider.

Oromis and Glaedr lived among the elves for a century in Du Weldenvarden. Their hope for a return to past glory was rewarded as they trained and advised Eragon and Saphira. A sometimes stern taskmaster, Oromis was a careful teacher: he showed Eragon how to open his mind to the forest around him, trained him in the art of magically transporting objects over great distances, and taught him swordsmanship. Eragon, while already a skillful swordsman, was in awe of Oromis, whose body had all the innate elven qualities of speed and strength and whose very blood seemed suffused with magic. It was during his second visit to Du Weldenvarden, before the Siege of Feinster, that Eragon learned from Oromis and Glaedr the secrets of his past, with the dragon revealing that Brom-not Morzan-was Eragon's father.

While Eragon was fighting with the Varden at Feinster, Oromis and Glaedr encountered Murtagh and Thorn at Gil'ead. In the midst of the battle between the two Riders and dragons, an "unseen force" propelled them all high into the air, and Galbatorix spoke through Murtagh, using his wiles and his magic against Oromis and Glaedr. Oromis suffered a seizure, lost his sword Naegling, and then was struck a fatal blow. Glaedr's physical body was slain by Thorn, but Glaedr lives on through his Eldunari, which was entrusted to Eragon and Saphira before the Siege of Feinster.

SEE CRAGS OF TEL'NAEiR AND GLAEDR.

King of Surda, son of King Larkin, of the House of Langfeld. While King Orrin lives a spartan life befitting a wartime ruler, his one indulgence is the scientific laboratory he maintains in Borromeo Castle. He is a childhood friend of Nasuada, although there have been power struggles and differences between the king and the Varden leader.

SEE VACHER.

Situated near the western edge of the Beor Mountains, Orthiad was once the greatest dwarf city. During the construction of Tronjheim, Orthiad became the temporary capital of the nation. The city was abandoned upon completion of Tronjheim, and the Urgals took shelter there prior to their attack on the Varden during the Battle of Farthen Dur. The Urgals and Galbatorix refer to Orthiad as Ithro Zhada.

SEE TRONJHEIM.

This westernmost elf city in Du Weldenvarden is the hub of an agricultural area that is the proverbial breadbasket for much of the elf nation. It was near this city that Arya and her royal guard were bearing the dragon egg when they were ambushed by Durza and his Urgals.

SEE ARYA.

SEE OROMIS AND GLAEDR.

A member of the Varden sentenced to death and executed for betraying the recent alliance between Varden and Urgals.

A warrior of the Urgal tribe and one of three Urgals who submitted to a mind search when the tribe pledged its allegiance to the Varden. Otvek continues to fight alongside the Varden.

The pioneering leader of the first humans to settle in Alagaesia. King Palancar began his reign in the valley that would bear his name-Palancar Valley. He was a wise and n.o.ble ruler for a time, but he violated his own peace pact with the elves and initiated a disastrous unprovoked war for control of the region between the Spine and Du Weldenvarden. Some believe this rash act was precipitated by the early stages of madness. King Palancar was eventually overthrown by his n.o.bles, who had been against the war and signed a secret treaty with the elves; the king was banished as a condition of the truce, but he refused to leave the valley. The elves then constructed the tower of Ristvak'baen to keep watch over the deposed king. Palancar was killed by one of his sons, and a family legacy of a.s.sa.s.sination and betrayal ensued.

SEE BRODDRING KINGDOM.

PAOLINI NAMED PALANCAR VALLEY AFTER THE ARTIST JOHN JUDE PALENCAR, THOUGH HE DID ALTER ONE VOWEL. LATER, PALENCAR WOULD BECOME THE JACKET ARTIST FOR THE INHERITANCE CYCLE.

The name given the Carvahall villagers who, after the siege of their village, sailed by barge and ship via the southern Great Sea to the haven of the Varden. The "pirates" moniker is apt-the villagers stole the vessels they needed, aided by sailors from Narda and Teirm.

A large valley in northern Alagaesia along the Spine. It was here that the first human immigrants settled, and it is named for their leader, King Palancar. The valley's towns and villages include Carvahall and Therinsford, and natural wonders include the Anora River, which runs from the base of half-mile-high Igualda Falls, through the valley, and onto the plains beyond. At the mouth of the valley is Utgard, once a Dragon Rider watchtower. It was in Palancar Valley that Eragon, future Dragon Rider and Shadeslayer, was born.

SEE UTGARD MOUNTAIN.

SEE SOUTHERN ISLES.

One of several Surdan cities along the independent nation's northern border. It's a major trade city, whose commerce includes the smuggling of war supplies between Surda and the Empire.

SEE BIRGIT.

The son of Merrin and a talented dwarf chef who feeds Varden and dwarven troops. At one war camp, Eragon personally visited the cook to see if he could provide a meal of livestock and a barrel of mead for Saphira. Quoth is intimidated by Saphira's gargantuan appet.i.te.

G.o.ddess of the Urgals, referred to as "mother of us all," hailed as the inventor of weaving and farming. It is said that in primordial days, when fleeing a great dragon, Rahna raised the mighty Beor Mountains. Also known by the t.i.tle She of the Gilded Horns.

SEE MAGHARA.

A tribesman who, with Naako, attends the leader Fadawar.

The Ra'zac are the size of men but have the physical characteristics of insects and are considered the most evil race in Alagaesia. It is believed the Ra'zac not only followed the first humans who migrated to Alagaesia but were the reason humans fled their native land. As the elven Rider Oromis once said of them to Eragon: "They are the monsters in the dark, the dripping nightmares that haunt your race." Following the Fall of the Riders, the Ra'zac made an alliance with Galbatorix and served as a.s.sa.s.sins for the dark king. Two Ra'zac were the agents who first came to Carvahall in search of the dragon egg that the elf princess Arya had magically transported and that had been discovered by young Eragon. The creatures killed Eragon's uncle, Garrow; it was to avenge his uncle's death that Eragon left Palancar Valley with Brom. And it was the Ra'zac who killed Brom, furthering Eragon's desire to pursue and eliminate them.

A Ra'zac has a beak and fist-sized black eyes; its breath is foul, its back is humped. The Ra'zac keep themselves cloaked when among humans. Ra'zac are in a pupal state until, on the first full moon of their twentieth year, they burst out of their exoskeleton as winged creatures ready to feed on any living being. The mature creatures are called Lethrblaka and have an intelligence far superior to that of their offspring; Oromis has likened their intelligence to that of a "cruel, vicious, and twisted dragon." The Lethrblaka serve as mounts for their offspring. When Ra'zac first began haunting the land, the elves attempted to eradicate them and were nearly successful, but two Lethrblaka escaped with their pupae to continue the species.

Ra'zac cannot harness the ancient language and thus are unable to practice magic, although they can block a spellcaster's mental attacks. Because of their sensitivity to light, they favor fighting at night and do so in packs, using stealth to gain an advantage. They track by scent and can see through the darkness of a cloudy night, but they fear water, as they cannot swim. It is dangerous to come within a few feet of a Ra'zac, for its poisonous breath will stun and immobilize its potential victim.

Their numbers dwindled until only two Ra'zac (plus two Lethrblaka) lived within a hidden series of tunnels and chambers at Helgrind. Now, following the battle in which Eragon fulfilled his vow to take revenge against the creatures, they are believed to be extinct. Before the last Ra'zac died, however, it cryptically told Eragon that Galbatorix had almost "found the name" It also cursed Eragon, saying, "May you leave Alagaesia and never return," echoing Angela's fortune-telling in Teirm.

SEE LETHRBLAKA.

THE RA'ZAC ARE BASED ON JERUSALEM CRICKETS.

The southernmost coastal city of Surda and a major port. Reavstone is also another key entry point for goods smuggled between the Varden and the Empire.

One of the three barges that Roran and the villagers of Carvahall took from Narda.

The greatest smith of the elves, said to have been taught the ancient art by the fabled Futhark. Rhunon forged all the Dragon Rider swords that exist today using brightsteel, a metal smelted from ore extracted from fragments of a falling star. Upon the Fall of the Riders, Rhunon swore an oath to never craft another Rider sword. Even Brom, who had lost his original sword and was forced to use Zar'roc, begged for a new sword, but Rhunon stuck to her vow. Also, she had run out of brightsteel. For Eragon, who with Saphira collected brightsteel from the roots of the Menoa tree, she relented, circ.u.mventing her oath by guiding Eragon's hands from within his mind so that technically he was the creator of the great blue sword-Brisingr.

A series of elven exercise techniques, also known as the Dance of Snake and Crane, involving stretching into and maintaining strenuous positions. Originally conceived for elven Dragon Riders, Rimgar has since become the favored exercise program for all elves.

THE RIMGAR IS SIMILAR TO A SEQUENCE OF YOGA ASANAS (POSES).

The dwarf responsible for leading the investigation into the attempted a.s.sa.s.sination of Eragon that occurred during his meeting with the dwarves' new king. Rimmar and his team eventually implicated Grimstborith Vermund in both the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt and the death of Kvistor.

The governor of Teirm and resident of that city's great citadel. It is believed that Lord Rishart swore fealty to Galbatorix in the ancient language and that he personally orchestrated the mysterious attacks on trading ships suspected of supplying the Varden.

SEE UTGARD MOUNTAIN.

A mysterious landmark, mentioned in the werecat Solemb.u.m's advice to Eragon in Teirm.

Jeod Longshanks's butler.

The son of Garrow and Marian, cousin of Eragon, and husband of Katrina. When Roran was two, Garrow and Marian adopted Garrow's nephew Eragon, the son of Brom and Selena, and raised him like a son, whereby he became like a brother to Roran. After Marian's death, Roran lived with Garrow and Eragon on a farm ten miles from Carvahall in Palancar Valley. Upon falling in love with Katrina, Roran left home to become a miller's apprentice in Therinsford so that he could have a trade and marry. Thus, he was away when the Ra'zac killed Garrow and ravaged the farm and when Eragon left Palancar Valley. Brom sent word to Roran, though, and Roran returned to Carvahall, living with Horst and Elain.

When Carvahall came under siege from the Empire, Roran emerged as leader of the refugees during the escape to refuge with the Varden. Roran, inspired by the legendary warrior Gerand, took as his weapon of choice a hammer, which earned Roran the name of Stronghammer. It was with his hammer that Roran slew the traitorous Twins during the Battle of the Burning Plains. It was just before that battle that Roran arrived on the Jiet River in the ship Dragon Wing, bearing Jeod Longshanks and others. Though Roran was embittered after having learned from Jeod that Garrow's death was precipitated by the Empire's desire to capture his cousin, Eragon, the two met and Roran forgave Eragon. Eragon then vowed to help Roran rescue his true love, Katrina.

Katrina was captured by the Ra'zac during the Empire's siege of the village after Katrina's father, Sloan-angry about Roran and Katrina's decision to marry against his will-betrayed Roran to the Ra'zac. Roran, Eragon, and Saphira rescued Katrina from Helgrind and the clutches of the Ra'zac after the Battle of the Burning Plains. Eragon discovered Sloan alive in Helgrind but lied to Roran, telling him Sloan was dead; Roran, believing Eragon, conveyed the news to Katrina. Katrina was pregnant with Roran's child and, once the two were safely in the Varden's camp in Surda following the Battle of the Burning Plains, a hurried wedding was arranged. Eragon blessed the bride and groom.

Roran has served under such able Varden commanders as Martland Redbeard. During this time, he had an unnerving encounter with Galbatorix's seemingly deathless enchanted soldiers, battering them with his hammer until their faces were nothing but pulp even as they kept advancing, streaming blood and emitting their ghoulish giggles. He also saw Redbeard lose his hand to the sword of one of the enchanted soldiers.

Roran defied the command of Varden captain Edric, who had ordered what Roran felt was a virtual suicide mission. On his own terms, Roran led eighty-one warriors who chose to stand with him into battle and only lost nine men, while Edric had already lost some hundred and fifty men before he was rescued. Despite being vindicated-even Nasuada admitted that if Roran hadn't defied Edric's command, no one might have survived-he had disobeyed an order from a commanding officer. As discipline was vital to maintain order, Nasuada regretfully ordered he receive fifty lashes, which Roran stoically accepted-the thought of Katrina and their unborn child bolstered Roran's spirit in the midst of his ordeal. The Varden leader ordered Angela the herbalist and the sorceress Trianna to use their powers to heal his wounds in time to lead the Siege of Feinster.

Although a natural leader, Roran has made enemies and has had his leadership contested. Carvahall villager Birgit blamed him for the death of her husband and vowed revenge. When leading a war party of Bolvek Urgals, Roran was challenged to hand-to-hand combat by the Urgal Yarbog, but Roran used his strength and wits to defeat the Urgal and retain command.

SEE GERAND, KATRINA, MARTLAND REDBEARD, AND SOLDIERS WHO CANNOT FEEL PAIN.

A character serving as a letter in an alphabet. The Dwarvish alphabet is composed of runes, and they have three such methods of writing. The oldest is called both Hruthmundvik, after Hruthmund, whom the G.o.ddess Sindri gave the knowledge of writing, and Gnostvik, after the first five letters of the alphabet. While the old alphabet is suited to chisels, Thrangvik, the second mode of writing, is a "soft" variation of Hruthmundvik that is designed for brushes and quills. The third system, Mahlvikn, contains the secret letters that compose virtually a second language. It is used by the Quan clan for writing the holy texts of the race.

SEE DWARF CLANS IN THE APPENDIX.

An elf game. The dwarf Orik enjoys playing Runes in Ellesmera.

A rough translation of a Dwarvish word for those who regularly inspect the ancient tunnels of Farthen Dur and the Beor Mountains, looking for cave-ins or other disturbances.

SEE COUNCIL OF ELDERS.

A family of the wandering tribe into which the warlord Fadawar was born.

A Varden warrior.

The dragon who hatched under the watchful eye of Eragon. Her sire was Iormungr and her dam Vervada. Saphira's egg, one of the three known dragon eggs in existence, was in the possession of the elf princess Arya when the Shade Durza and his Urgal agents almost recaptured it in an ambush. Arya succeeded in magically transporting the precious egg to a wild area of the Spine, where Eragon, alone on a hunting expedition, discovered it. Eragon had trouble naming his blue-scaled dragon until he realized that the hatchling was female; as he went through the names the storyteller Brom suggested, the dragon herself indicated her name: Saphira.

As with all dragons and Riders, Saphira and Eragon communicate telepathically and their bond is a deep and everlasting one. Saphira carries the wisdom of her race, and Eragon often turns to her for guidance and comfort.

Saphira and Eragon, along with Brom, left Carvahall to seek out the Varden, learning from the old storyteller along the way. When he perished at the hands of the Ra'zac, Saphira used magic to create a diamond tomb for Brom. Eragon later learned that before Brom died, he had entrusted Saphira with the secret of Eragon's parentage.

Together, the dragon and Rider have played a major role in all of the recent great battles against the Empire-the Battle of Farthen Dur, the Battle of the Burning Plains, and the Siege of Feinster. During the Battle of Farthen Dur, the revered Isidar Mithrim jewel of Trojheim was shattered by Saphira and the elven princess Arya to distract Durza, who was locked in mortal combat with Eragon. A painstaking restoration effort ended when the thousands of shattered fragments were collected, pieced together by the dwarves, and magically repaired by Saphira.

When Eragon and Saphira first arrived in Ellesmera for formal training, the dragon Glaedr took charge of the young blue dragon. Saphira became infatuated with Glaedr during their training together, but the older dragon rebuffed her and firmly kept her focused on the more important tasks at hand. Glaedr's Rider, Oromis, said of Saphira, "I've rarely seen a dragon so naturally suited to the sky."

After the Varden's victory on the Burning Plains, Eragon and Saphira undertook a rescue mission of Katrina with Roran. They confronted the Ra'zac at Helgrind, where Katrina was being held, and Saphira killed both Lethrblaka.

Eragon and Saphira sometimes faced painful periods of separation, such as when Eragon had to attend the dwarf clanmeet in Farthen Dur.

Saphira is known by the ancient language t.i.tle Bjartskular (which means "Brightscales") and the Urgal name Flametongue.

One time, Saphira, sensing Eragon's unease and uncertainty about the future, shared her own dark premonitions and hopes: The world is stretched thin, Eragon. Soon it will snap and madness will burst forth. What you feel is what we dragons feel and what the elves feel-the inexorable march of grim fate as the end of our age approaches. Weep for those who will die in the chaos that shall consume Alagaesia. And hope that we may win a brighter future by the strength of your sword and shield and my fangs and talons.

SEE BROM AND DRAGONS.