Arya

Major characters

Eragon Bromsson – the human son of Brom and the late Selena, although Eragon's true relationship to Brom is not revealed until the third novel. Eragon is the cousin of Roran Garrowsson and half-brother of Murtagh. Until the age of fifteen, he was raised by his uncle Garrow. After the dragon Saphira hatches for him, he travels to the Varden, where he learns of the evils done by Galbatorix and determines to end the king's rule. He has romantic feelings for the elf Arya, but the two never become a couple as he leaves Alagaësia permanently at the end of the final novel. He is also known as Eragon Bromsson, Argetlam, Shur'tugal, Shadeslayer, Firesword, and Kingkiller.

Eragon has dark brown eyes and hair and fights with a bow and arrow or a sword, especially the sword Brisingr, crafted for him by the master smith Rhunön. After a magic ceremony in the second novel, Eragon takes on the physical characteristics of an elf, although he retains some aspects of his human body (such as the ability to grow a beard). He is a skilled magician.

The author originally intended Eragon's character to serve in an autobiographical capacity. However, Paolini states, "Eragon has done many things that I haven’t—such as ride a dragon, fight monsters, and use magic—and these experiences have made him a different person than me. Eragon is now his own person, similar to me in some respects, but possessing a unique history, likes, dislikes, friends, and family." Eragon was the first character developed by Paolini, and the author's outline of how the character would develop drove the novels' storyline. The name "Eragon" is an aptronym based on the word "dragon", and a play on the phrase "an era gone".

Eragon was portrayed by Edward Speleers in the film adaptation of Eragon.

Saphira Bjartskular ("Brightscales") – a female blue dragon who hatches from an egg stolen from Galbatorix by Brom and Jeod. She is the last living female dragon in all of Alagaësia, although more dragon eggs are found at the end of the final novel. Saphira is wise, fearless, protective of Eragon, and somewhat vain. She is also skilled at aerial acrobatics. Her sire was Iormûngr, a bonded dragon, and her dam was Vervada, a wild dragon. At the end of Inheritance she mates with Fírnen before leaving Alagaësia with Eragon.

Saphira's name is derived from the word "sapphire", and as such serves as an aptronym describing her coloration (blue being Paolini's favorite color). She was voiced by Rachel Weisz in the film.

Princess Arya Dröttningu – a female elf and is the only daughter of King Evandar and Queen Islanzadí. Arya has served as courier of Saphira's egg and the elves' ambassador to the Varden. She becomes queen of the elves after the death of her mother, as well as a dragon rider (bonded to Fírnen), at the end of the final book. She is also known as Arya Svit-kona and Arya Shadeslayer. Eragon rescues her in the first novel when she is being held captive by Durza, a shade. When Eragon first pursues her romantically, she rebuffs his advances, telling him she had recently lost a close friend, Fäolin, and that any relationship would be unwise because of their respective responsibilities and age differences. She holds traditional human gender roles in disdain. At the end of the final novel, she is willing to consider Eragon as a romantic partner, but he leaves before they can begin a relationship. She shows this by telling her true name to Eragon, which she refused to do before.

Arya is over 100 years old. She is beautiful, wise, and possesses inhuman speed, strength, grace, and superior fighting and magical skills (just like most other elves). She has long black hair, slanted cat-like green eyes, and is very tall.

She was portrayed by Sienna Guillory in the film.

Murtagh Morzansson – the human son of Morzan and Selena, and Eragon's maternal older half-brother. Eragon first meets him in Eragon and travels with him to the Varden, where he is mistrusted for being Morzan's son. In Eldest, Murtagh is kidnapped by the Twins and forced to serve King Galbatorix after the dragon Thorn hatches for him. He is an exceptionally skilled swordsman, and has enhanced strength and magic from King Galbatorix, as well as Eldunarí (the source of a dragon's very being and vital essence) to drastically enhance his power. Due to his difficult childhood, he has little empathy for others. He has romantic feelings for Nasuada, but does not pursue a relationship as he feels he can never be accepted by society, even after helping to defeat King Galbatorix. His name is entirely the author's invention. Murtagh encounters a cult named Du Eld Draumar in his own book, Murtagh.

Murtagh was played by Garrett Hedlund in the film.

King Galbatorix – the human monarch and tyrant of the Empire. When his first dragon, Jarnunvösk was killed by Urgals, Galbatorix began a quest for revenge against the Riders which ultimately resulted in their extinction and his rise to power in the human kingdom. He stole a dragon hatchling named Shruikan and bound their minds in a crude approximation of a Rider's bond. He has derived incredible magical strength from the captured souls of dead dragons, the Eldunarí. He is at least 120 years old. He is killed in the final novel. Galbatorix's name means "Big King" in Celtic.

He was played by John Malkovich in the film adaptation of Eragon.

Nasuada – the daughter of Ajihad and Nadara, human members of the Wandering Tribes. Upon her father's death at the beginning of Eldest, Nasuada becomes leader of the Varden. She is Eragon's liegelord. She allies the Varden with several other groups against the King Galbatorix, and manages to lead them to a victory against him. She is very cunning and trusted by both her people and Eragon, which leads her to become queen of the Empire over her allies in Inheritance.

Nasuada was played by Caroline Chikezie in the film version of Eragon.

Roran Garrowsson (Stronghammer) – Eragon's cousin and father of Ismira, who grew up with him in Carvahall with Eragon. Roran has an almost obsession with his eventual-wife, Katrina, which leads him to travel with the whole of Alagaësia to join the Varden. He becomes an excellent motivational speaker as a result. Although he at first resents his cousin for inciting war and bringing about Garrow's death, the two make up and become quite close.

Roran was played by Chris Egan in the film Eragon.

Orik Thrifksson (also known as Grimstborith Orik and King Orik) – a dwarf, a member of the clan Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, and the nephew of King Hrothgar. He becomes king (Grimstnzborith) and leader (Grimstborith) of Ingeitum after Hrothgar's death. Orik is a smith, a warrior, and Eragon's guide. He adopts Eragon into his clan in Eldest. Orik later marries Hvedra, the Grimstcarvlorss of Ingeitum.

Humans

Brom – Eragon's father and first mentor. He is known for his craftiness, surviving long after his dragon's death despite being hunted by Galbatorix for more than 100 years. Brom was the co-founder of the Varden. He had white hair and a long white beard, carried Morzan's sword Zar'roc, and could work basic magic. He was gruff yet kind towards Eragon. He is revealed to be a former Dragon Rider (bonded to the first Saphira) as he lays dying by the Ra'zac's hand in Eragon. Later, in Brisingr, it is revealed that he was Eragon's father.

Brom was played by Jeremy Irons in the film adaption of Eragon.

King Orrin – the king of Surda, a minor human empire not yet ruled by Galbatorix. Orrin's royal line comes from the Broddring Kingdom, the human's first empire. He is an enthusiastic scientist, viewed by Nasuada as somewhat childish and undisciplined. Orrin secretly supports the Varden, and he allows them to move to his country in Eldest. He often comes into conflict with Nasuada when she encroaches on what he believes to be his rightful power, and develops a drinking problem in the final novel which she cites as a reason he should not replace Galbatorix.

Irwin is the Prime Minister of Surda and opposes King Orrin's open support of the Varden.

Elva – an orphaned baby whom Eragon attempts to bless in the first novel. From his misworded "blessing" Elva is compelled to protect other people from misfortune or danger. During the battle against Galbatorix, he mutes her and Elva therefore is of no help. However, previous to the battle she proves useful and helps Eragon, Arya, Saphira, and their spellcasters navigate Galbatorix's traps leading up to the throne room. Eragon tried to remove the curse, but failed. As a result, Elva is not forced to help others, but she can still sense their pain.

Ajihad (AH-zhi-hod) – leader of the Varden and Nasuada's father. He is responsible for the Varden's alliance with the Dwarven nation. Shortly after the Battle of Farthen Dûr, at the beginning of Eldest, he is killed by Urgals.

Ajihad was played by Djimon Hounsou in the film version of Eragon. His name is entirely Paolini's invention.

Riders

The Dragon Riders are the humans, elves and dwarves who bonded with dragon hatchlings, as well as a kind of police force existing in the time before Galbatorix's rise to power. They began with the first Eragon, an elf who adopted a newly hatched dragon during a massive war between their two species. Their rule ended 100 years before the events of Eragon with the death of Vrael.

Oromis is Eragon's second teacher after Brom. He is an elf and the last remaining Dragon Rider of the old order. He is also known as "Osthato Chetowa, the Mourning Sage" and "Togira Ikonoka, the Cripple Who is Whole" because of a curse placed upon him by one of the Forsworn. He is bonded to Glaedr.

The Forsworn were a group of 13 Riders (and their dragons) who joined Galbatorix during the Fall. When the dragons learned that thirteen of their kind were willingly helping to exterminate the rest of their race, they banded together and erased the Forsworn's dragons' names and identities. After "The Banishing of the Names" the Forsworn's dragons became beastlike and some of the Forsworn themselves went insane.

Morzan was a Dragon Rider, long dead by the start of Eragon; he is actually the father of Murtagh. Brom later killed him with his own sword.

Kialandí was a male Rider. (deceased, pre-series)

Formora was a female elven Rider. (deceased, pre-series)

Glaerun was a male elven rider and one of the Forsworn. He died during a nuclear-like explosion caused by the elven Rider Thuviel sacrificing himself at Doru Areba.

Enduriel was a Dragon Rider and one of the Forsworn. It's implied that Enduriel died after the event of the destruction of Ilirea and Vroengard. He may have been killed by Brom or the Varden. (deceased, pre-series)

Saerlith was a male human Dragon Rider.(deceased, pre-series)

Dragons

In the books, the dragons are grouped into those bonded to Riders and wild dragons. The wild dragons are far more fierce, while the bonded dragons are more intellectual. All dragons hatch from eggs, in which they can remain for a very long time; once hatched they have a nearly infinite lifespan and continue growing their whole lives. They can breathe fire and reproduce at about six months old. When a dragon dies, it has the option to transfer its consciousness into a diamond-like organ inside its body called an Eldunarí. If it disgorges its "heart of hearts" before its death, the dragon has no choice but to retreat into it when it dies. Such Eldunarí will live on until another creature destroys them. Dragons are a variety of colors, which do not appear to be related to their parents' colors.

Glaedr is the gold dragon bonded to Oromis. He is at least three times as large as Saphira but lost his left foreleg in battle with Formora. After escaping the Forsworn, Glaedr and Oromis went into hiding in Du Weldenvarden to teach the first of the new generation of Riders. He disgorges his Eldunarí shortly before his and Oromis's death in Brisingr, and is thus forced to live on after his body dies.

Thorn is a red male dragon bound to Murtagh. He has been magically grown to large proportions, but still has the mind of a child. Saphira refers to him as "Red-Shrike-Thorn". Thorn is later revealed to have developed claustrophobia due to Galbatorix’s torture in the Murtagh novel.

Shruikan is Galbatorix's black dragon, the largest of all the dragons to appear in the series. He was twisted into the king's service through black magic. The dragon's name is a play on the word "shuriken".

Jarnunvösk was Galbatorix's first dragon, who was royal purple. She was killed by Urgals (deceased, pre-series).

Saphira is a female dragon bound to Eragon and a central character of the series. Eragon first encountered her as an egg (believing her to be a rare stone) while hunting in the wilderness of the Spine Mountains early in the first book. Her name is a play on the word "sapphire", due in part to her deep blue coloration.

Elves

The elves are one of the oldest races, but not native to Alagaësia. They came from a land called Alalea. They are very gifted in magic and live in the forest called Du Weldenvarden.

Queen Islanzadí is queen of the elves until her death in the final novel. She lives in the elven capital Ellesméra. She is the widow of the former king of the elves, Evandar, and the mother of Arya.

King Evandar was the mate of Islanzadí and Arya's father. He was ruler of Du Weldenvarden before Islanzadí was. He died in the elves' and Riders' final siege of Urû'baen. (deceased, pre-series)

Queen Tamunora was the elven queen who worked with the dragons to create the pact that would lead to the formation of the Dragon Riders, ending Du Fyrn Skulblaka.(deceased, pre-series)

Queen Dellanir was queen of the elves when Anurin decided to add humans to the pact so that there would be human Dragon Riders. (deceased, pre-series)

Lord Däthedr is a counselor of Islanzadi.

Lord Fiolr is Arya's friend and leader of Sílthrim. He is well trained in magic. It is implied that he fought at Ceunon and Gil'ead. He lives in the House of Valtharos. He is the owner of Támerlein, one of the last swords of the Dragon Riders that was his wife's brother's sword. Later in Inheritance, Arya adopts this sword (with a few modifications) after she becomes a rider.

Rhunön is an ancient elf who created all of the Dragon Riders' swords. After the betrayal of the Forsworn, Rhunön swore never to make another sword. In Brisingr, Eragon works with her to circumvent that oath and forge his sword Brisingr.

Blödhgarm (translated in an appendix as "Bloodwolf") is an elf who has magically edited his body to appear beast-like. He is the leader of a small group sent to protect Eragon and Saphira.

Dwarves

The dwarves are one of the humanoids native to Alagaësia. Their mythology holds that they were born from the rock of the mountains there.

King Hrothgar – the King of the dwarves, controlling the thirteen dwarf clans and Tronjheim, the city within Farthen Dûr. He admits Eragon as a member of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, an honor that had never previously been bestowed upon a non-dwarf. He is killed with magic by Murtagh in the Battle of the Burning Plains. His name comes from that of a legendary Danish king who lived in the 6th century and who appears as a character in the Anglo-Saxon epics Beowulf and Widsith. He is succeeded by his nephew Orik.

Vermûnd is the Grimstborith of Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, a clan that lost everything during the Fall. Vermûnd orders the assassination of Eragon when he stays in Tronjheim during Brisingr. Because of his crime, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin are banished from the dwarves by Orik and the other clan chiefs until Vermûnd is replaced. Vermûnd himself is branded a traitor and shall be ignored until he dies.

Gannel Ormsson is Grimstborith ("clan chief") of Dûrgrimst Quan, the religious clan of the dwarves. He is also the head priest of the dwarves. He gives Eragon a necklace that will prevent anyone from scrying him. He supports Grimstborith Nado for the dwarven kingship, and later summons the chief dwarf god, Gûntera.

Korgan was the first dwarf king. He discovered Farthen Dûr while tunneling for gold. (deceased, pre-series)

Ûndin Derûndsson Grimstborith of Dûrgrimst Ragni Hefthyn — "the River Guard", host of Eragon's party in Tarnag. He original voted for Gannel as the dwarves new king, but switched his vote to Grimstborith Nado under Gannel's orders.

Hadfala is Grimstborith of Dûrgrimst Ebardac. She original supported Gannel as king, but converted her vote to Orik after the attempt on Eragon's life.

Other characters and creatures

Angela is a fortune teller, herbalist, witch, and a friend of Eragon's. She is accompanied by a werecat named Solembum. She makes most of her living by fortune-telling for the richer people of Teirm and selling potions. It is implied that she is not entirely human and has lived for an incredibly long time.

Her character is loosely based on Paolini's sister.

Angela is portrayed by Joss Stone in the film Eragon.

Werecats are sentient creatures who can shapeshift between what appears to be a small, childlike human form and a lynx-like cat form. They are wise, magical, and have mild prophetic abilities. They get along very well with dragons.

Solembum is a werecat who journeys with Angela. In Tierm, he gives Eragon an important prophecy: "When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree. Then, 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". Solembum has red (sometimes blue or yellow) eyes and his ears are tipped with black tufts when in cat form; as a human, he appears as a small dark-haired boy and fights with a dagger.

Grimrr Half-Paw - the werecat's current "king".

Maud is a werecat that lives in Ellesméra and is a friend of Solembum.

Carabel is a werecat who lives in the court of the lord of Gil’ead. She sends Murtagh on a quest to save a kidnapped a werecat child named Silna (who’s later revealed to be her daughter), in exchange for information about the Draumar.

Silna is the kidnapped daughter of Carabel.

The Ra'zac are extremely powerful beings of indeterminate origins who work for Galbatorix, in exchange for a supply of human flesh. They arrived in Alagaesia from the land the humans had migrated from; the Riders tried but failed to exterminate them. They have evolved to be the perfect human predators. It is impossible to sense their life force, which made it easier to sneak up on riders and kill them. Similar to insects, the Ra'zac have a three-staged life: first as eggs, then as humanoid youngsters and finally, after the first full moon of their twentieth year, they shed their skin and become huge beasts called the Lethrblaka.