The Inheritance Almanac

by Michael Macauley

  SEE DWARVEN CREATION MYTH.

  The renowned brewmaster, bartender, and co-owner (with his wife, Tara) of Seven Sheaves, a cozy tavern in the heart of Carvahall. After the Empire’s siege and destruction of the village, Mom and his family joined the flight to Surda. The burden of the journey was lightened by the good cheer dispensed from the kegs of mead Morn brought along.

  THE TAVERN KEEPER IN CARVAHALL, MORN, WAS NAMED AFTER A LARGE ALIEN FROM THE TV SHOW STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE. THE ALIEN MORN SAT AT THE BAR ON THE SHOW, NEVER SAYING ANYTHING, AND WAS HIMSELF AN ANAGRAMMATIC TRIBUTE TO THE CHARACTER NORM FROM THE TV SHOW CHEERS.

  SEE OROMIS AND GLAEDR.

  The first of the Thirteen Forsworn and confidant of Galbatorix. He was tall and raven-haired, with one blue eye and one black, and he was missing the tip of a finger. Morzan had trained as a Rider under Oromis and was a friend of Brom before being corrupted by Galbatorix. After helping Galbatorix steal a dragon hatchling from Ilirea, Morzan became Galbatorix’s disciple. They stayed in a castle forsaken by the noble Riders, and there Galbatorix taught Morzan the forbid-den secrets of dark magic. By the time the instruction was over, Galbatorix’s hatchling, a black dragon named Shruikan, was full-grown.

  With Morzan at his side, Galbatorix began his war on the Riders, his power increasing with each one they slew. Twelve Riders, lured by Galbatorix’s vision of power, joined Morzan to form the Thirteen Forsworn. Morzan brought others to the dark side, including his consort, Selena, whom he trained as his personal Black Hand. Selena gave birth to Morzan’s son, Murtagh. When Murtagh was three, Morzan, in a drunken rage, threw a sword that left the child with a scar across his back. Morzan, the first Forsworn, was also the last to die, slain by Brom.

  SEE BROM, FORSWORN, ILIREA, MURTAGH, AND SELENA.

  The son of Morzan and Selena, Murtagh was originally an ally of his half brother, Eragon, and the Varden. But, like his father, he would become a Dragon Rider serving the cause of Galbatorix.

  Although Murtagh’s lineage had aroused suspicion of his intentions, when he first met Eragon, he was a stalwart friend, saving him and Brom from the Ra’zac (though Brom ultimately died from the wounds he received in the struggle) and even helping him and Arya escape from the fortress of Gil’ead. (Only later would Eragon learn that he and Murtagh shared a mother.) Murtagh joined them on the journey to the Varden sanctuary and fought bravely at the Battle of Farthen Dûr, where his valor was motivated by a chance to show he was not his father’s bad seed.

  Eragon had believed that his friend had died in the tunnels of Farthen Dûr, but the traitorous spellcasters, the Twins, had captured Murtagh and took him to Galbatorix’s sanctum at Urû’baen. During his incarceration, Galbatorix extracted from Murtagh all he knew about Eragon, Saphira, and the Varden. And once the dragon Thorn had hatched for Murtagh, Galbatorix seized the opportunity to have a Dragon Rider serve him and forced Murtagh and the dragon to profess their loyalty in the ancient language.

  Thus bound to Galbatorix, Murtagh made his first appearance as an Empire warrior and Dragon Rider during the Battle of the Burning Plains, when victory was within the grasp of the Varden forces. The Varden victory turned to dross as the dark Rider raised his left hand and his shining palm—the Rider’s gedwëy ignasia mark—and shot a magic bolt of energy that killed the dwarf king Hrothgar. Murtagh then defeated Eragon, revealed that Selena had been mother to them both, and pronounced that Morzan had been their father. (Where Murtagh received this false information is unclear.) Murtagh let Eragon live, telling him they were mirror images of each other, but he took Zar’roc, Morzan’s sword, and declared, “I take my inheritance from you, brother.”

  Murtagh has since engaged in fierce battles with Oromis and Glaedr as well as Eragon and Saphira. Murtagh’s fealty to Galbatorix is ominous, given the concerns Ajihad had once expressed to Eragon: “[Galbatorix’s] cursed sorcery grows stronger each year. With another Rider at his side, he would be unstoppable.”

  SEE BATTLE OF THE BURNING PLAINS, GEDWËY IGNASIA, MORZAN, AND SELENA.

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

  One of the main elf cities within Du Weldenvarden.

  SEE DRAGON RIDER SWORDS.

  Dwarf chief of the Dûrgrimst Knurlcarathn and Orik’s main opponent in the election for king.

  SEE DWARF CLANS IN THE APPENDIX.

  SEE DRAGON RIDER SWORDS.

  A giant boar that has tusks longer than a person’s forearm and a snout as wide as a person’s head. The Nagra (plural Nagran) is one of the five animals unique to the Beor Mountains. These fierce creatures are hunted only by the bravest dwarves, and prized Nagra meat is reserved for banquets honoring those who have shown great courage.

  A lip balm made of melted beeswax and hazelnut oil.

  SEE SLAVERY.

  The brightly woven cloth that represents the history of Urgal families and is hung by the doorway of every Urgal hut.

  A small town on the western coast of Alagaësia that is isolated from the rest of the Empire and is a center of fishing and farming. As with most towns and villages in the Spine, Narda’s isolation has forced its citizens to be independent and self-sufficient. It is here that Roran commissions three barges to transport the villagers of Carvahall down the coast to Teirm.

  SEE SPINE, THE.

  A consummate blend of diplomat and military strategist, Narheim serves the dwarf nation as ambassador 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 Dûr. 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 Dûr 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, assuming 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 Dûr and the color of his skin.

  SEE BATTLE OF FARTHEN DÛR AND SIEGE OF FEINSTER.

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

  SEE ARVA, SIEGE OF ILIREA, AND TÁMERLEIN.

  A fur trader of Therinsford.

  Mother of Brom and wife of Holcomb.

  SEE CARETAKERS.

  SEE SOUTHERN ISLES.

  A celebrated weaver of the elven queen Islanzadí’s house. Niduen made clothes for Eragon on his first visit to Ellesméra.

  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 Jörmundur.

  SEE KHAGRA.

  SEE AJIHAD AND NASUADA.

  SEE BIRGIT.

  On the western coast of Alagaësia 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 god Helzvog.

  A narrow valley deep within the Beor Mountains that ends at Lake Fernothmérna, near Farthen Dûr. 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 Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, and forty-third dwarf king.

  Because Orik had a notoriously wild youth, he spent many days in Az Knurldrâthn to atone for his bad behavior. Before reaching adulthood, his parents passed, 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 ambassador to the Varden.

  When Eragon and Saphira visited the Varden in Farthen Dûr, Orik was assigned 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 ambassador 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 Dûr, 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 bloody 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 Chetowä (“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 Eldunarí, which was entrusted to Eragon and Saphira before the Siege of Feinster.

  SEE CRAGS OF TEL’NAEÍR 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, Orthíad was once the greatest dwarf city. During the construction of Tronjheim, Orthíad 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 Dûr. The Urgals and Galbatorix refer to Orthíad as Ithrö Zhâda.

  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 Alagaësia. King Palancar began his reign in the valley that would bear his name—Palancar Valley. He was a wise and noble 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 nobles, 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 assassination 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 Alagaësia 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 w
as 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 appetite.