Rider's sword
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A Rider's sword was an elegant blade made specially by the elven smith, Rhunön, for each Dragon Rider. All of the blades were crafted so as never to break or dull, and each blade was the color of its bearer's dragon.
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[edit] History
When Eragon I first established the Riders, they may not have used swords forged by Rhunön, for at that time they were merely ambassadors between the elves and dragons.
Later, as the Dragon Riders became Alagaësia's keepers of the peace, the need for weapons became more urgent.
The elf smith Rhunon discovered ore in meteor shards scattered throughout Ellesmera. Using this ore, termed 'brightsteel', Rhunon forged the first Rider Sword for Eragon I. She made the sword to match his dragon Bid'Daum. These swords were unique not only because of the rare (and exceptionally strong, yet flexible) ore used in their construction, but also because of the magic infused into the blade during forging. While constructing a sword, Rhunon would sing spells into the metal while it was still white hot and being formed, therefore altering the characteristics of the metal, enhancing them. Additionally, a large jewel would be placed in the pommel to match the color of the blade and then dragon. These jewels, like all gems in Alagaësia could store massive amounts of magical energy, strengthening the Rider's abilities in magic.
After the destruction of the Riders and rise of the Empire, Rhunön, motivated by despair and disgusted by the acts of the Forsworn, swore an oath in the ancient language to never again create a weapon of destruction. Thus, only a few swords exist: Zar'roc, Morzan's sword, in possession of Murtagh; Naegling, Oromis's sword; Brisingr, Eragon's newly forged sword; and Galbatorix's unknown and unnamed sword. Additionally, an unknown number of swords are held in Galbatorix's "collection"; and two are held by elven families: Támerlein and Arvindr.
[edit] Jewels
All Rider's swords, such as Zar'roc, contained enchanted jewels, in which Riders could store their energy. This gave Riders an advantage over other warriors, as they could draw energy from the jewels to use for magic or other such things. Jewels were used because the Elves discovered jewels and semi-precious stones were capable of holding the most energy without shattering or sending volts of power from whom was unfortunate enough to touch the fully charged object.
[edit] Colors
Each Rider's sword was the same color as their dragons. Brom gave Eragon the red sword, Zar'roc.This sword he looted from the Forsworn 'elite' rider Morzan. Since it was originally Morzan's (who had a red dragon) Zar'roc is red as well. He then obtained a blue sword, which he helped Rhunön-elda craft, which he named Brisingr. Eragon's Brinsingr sword is a hand-and-a-half sword, influenced by Murtagh's sword before he took Zar'roc. It is a blue hue, not bright,metallic, matching the color of Saphira's scales precisely. The blade is made from tempered brightsteel, able to withstand becoming dull, breaking, scratching, and other damage. Eragon has supposedly found his sword's true name, for when he is holding it and casts the spell brisingr (fire) his sword flames, a good advantage for melting metal away. Brisingr is a medium length sword, able to be used with and without a shield, with detailed rune carvings down the blade.
[edit] Why swords?
Many fans have wondered why the Riders choose swords, instead of lances and spears, which would have been more productive. The most likely reason is that the Riders were not meant to fight full-scale battles. Another reason could be that since they didn't expect to fight other riders, they could leave the attacking to their dragon and defend with a sword which is much easier than defending with a spear. They were to be keepers of the peace, not warriors. A sword would be more suitable for law enforcement, as that's all a Rider is supposed to do. When riding on the back of dragons a sword would be easier to handle and keep track of. It is also possible that appearance played a part - the Riders in their heyday were highly respected, with as much standing as nobles and monarchs. Moreover, they stood for universal peace. Swords were the traditional weapons of choice to wear as a symbol of station (nobility wore swords or daggers to most official events), therefore, a man (or elf) with a sword at his belt might not be immediately identified with a warrior in public. On the other hand, a man with a six-foot spear or a stack of throwing weapons was quite sure to. However, as imposing a magic wielding dragon rider might be with any of those, it might also be one of the most efficient weapons to use, as a pommel stone (usually a gem of some sort, and necessary for balancing out a sword) could be used as a magic container, whereas a spear or axe would leave little room for a gem.
[edit] Forging and Materials
All Rider swords, from the founding day of their order, were forged by the elf smith Rhunön, most likely the greatest smith of all time. A unique material was used for all of these swords, and for them only; brightsteel, a metal created by Rhunön from meteoric iron, remains of a star that fell in Du Weldenvarden millennia ago. By the time Eragon requested Rhunön forge him a Rider's sword, there were virtually no more known fragments of the star left; still, hundreds, if not thousands of swords must have been made, for each Rider had his own. Scabbards were made of wood and grips were leather, wire, and wood.
All the swords Rhunön forged, except for Brisingr, were made through a lengthy process consisting almost exclusively of manual work - Rhunön was loath to use magic in her craft unless absolutely necessary. Rhunön usually constructed an ore smelter specifically for the occasion, doing so with bricks and clay and no magic. Then, she would spend a day or more refining the ore, depending on the quality of the given piece. When the ore was pure, Rhunön chose an assortment of harder and softer pieces and from these forged the spine of the weapon (from the softer steel, to make the weapon flexible and able to absorb kinetic shock) and what would become the blade (from the harder steel, for obvious reasons of sharpness and durability). All of the pieces were folded and hammered back out several times, making the steel of the sword layered, giving it superior physical properties. In addition, the blade steel was twisted together from two layered rods. Then, the blade and the spine were forged together while hot and meticulously crafted into the desired shape. The entire process would normally take days to weeks. Rhunön only worked by night to be able to judge the current state of the heated metal by its color. During the entire forging process Rhunön chanted an endless stream of spells over the metal she was simultaneously working, most of which presumably only she knew, giving the metal properties no amount of additional enchanting could grant a normally-forged blade.
At this stage the weapon was black, rough and unadorned. Rhunön would continue for weeks and more etching decorative designs into the blade, filing, scraping and polishing it and finally incorporating the gemstone into the hilt, fashioning a grip, a scabbard, and giving the sword its color. The latter was done by unspecified means, probably magic using the scales of the Rider's dragon as a basis for the coloring. Blade, hilt and scabbard of a finished sword were all richly decorated and displayed various tones of the dragon's scale color. Upon being presented with the blade, the Rider was asked to name his new weapon and, as a final touch, the corresponding symbol was magically inscribed upon the blade and scabbard.
Once finished, a Rider's sword was easily a weapon without equal in all of Alagaësia, except for others of its kind. Moreover, the swords were custom-made, their dimensions and parameters personalized to the Rider who would wield them. Thus, while each sword was different, each was the perfect weapon for its owner. This was simultaneously something of a drawback, however, preventing the successful use of a Rider's sword by anyone other than its original owner. The fact that both Eragon and Murtagh were able to wield Zar'roc without much difficulty seems to actually have been a very rare occurrence, especially in Eragon's case, as he was not directly related to Morzan.
Christopher Paolini himself admits that the forging process of a Rider's sword was adapted from the traditional Japanese sword making techniques.
[edit] Exisiting Rider Swords
Most of the swords are reimaged versions of Zar'roc:
[edit] Zar'roc
Zar'roc was a red sword. Its name means "misery" in the ancient language. The first Dragon Rider known to wield it was Morzan, but then Zar'roc was taken by Brom after their battle in Gil'ead. He gave Zar'roc to Eragon early on in their travels. At the Battle of The Burning Plains, Murtagh defeated Eragon and took Zar'roc from him, reclaiming his inheritance.
[edit] Naegling
Naegling was Oromis's bronze-colored sword the same color as his dragon, Glaedr. It was lost during the battle between Oromis and Murtagh which resulted in Oromis's death. It was most likely added to Galbatorix's collection of riders swords or found by an elf.
[edit] Brisingr
Brisingr is Eragon's new hand-and-a-half sword that was forged with the help of Rhunön. The sword was a deep sapphire blue like Saphira, but the sheath was a slightly different shade. Like Zar'roc had a ruby embedded in the hilt, Brisingr had a sapphire embedded. Whenever Eragon said the sword's name, blue flames appeared along its blade. It was believed by Rhunön that Eragon either found the sword's true name or he embedded part of his personality into it while forging it. Either way, when Brisingr set alight, it drew from Eragon's strength, as if he were deliberately using magic. When Eragon let Oromis see the sword he said that Rhunön had out done herself. The sword was the best Rider sword ever created and during the battle, at the end of Brisingr, Eragon used the sword whilst it was alight to cut through a castle's portcullis and then through the door.
[edit] Undbitr
Brom's sword before the fall of the Riders. It is (was) aquamarine blue, the same color of Saphira I. Since Rider's swords are near impossible to destroy, it's probably in Galbatorix's possession. At one point in Brisingr, Eragon asked the elf smith where to find Brom's sword, since Murtagh was using Morzan's sword, it would have been fitting that Eragon used his own father's sword. However the elf smith said that even if they found the sword, it might not suit Eragon because of the way it was made (even though it probably would because Brom taught Eragon how to fight).
[edit] Tamerlein
Tamerlein was the sword of the deceased Elven Dragon Rider Arva. He was killed defending Ilirea by the forsworn Kialandi. He gave his sword to his sister Naudra to defend herself. She escaped to Ellesmera along with another dragon and rider (Glaedr and Oromis most likely). It resided in Ellesmera in the care of Lord Fiolr, Naudra's mate. It was a treasure of the house of Valtharos. It was green, with an emerald set into its pommel. A column of glyphs adorning the crossguard spelled "I am Tamerlein, Bringer of the final sleep." Eragon tried it out after losing his own sword, but he rejected it. He did so because of the fact that it did not fit his hand, was made for someone with a different fighting style than his own, and because Eragon did not like the conditions created by Lord Fiolr. He disliked that Fiolr would not allow him to keep it indefinitely. Fiolr was pleased for he did not wish to relinquish his hold on the sword.
[edit] Arvindr
Arvindr was presumably the sword of an elfish rider. It resided in the elfish city of Nadindel. Nothing else was known about the sword, not even the color of the blade.
| Weapons | |
|---|---|
| Standard weapons | Ascûdgamln | Axe | Bow and Arrow | Broadsword | Dagger | Falchion | Flamberge | Halberd | Hammer | Hand-and-a-half sword |
| Hûthvír | Poison dart | Rapier | Spear | Sword | |
| Siege engines | Ballista | Catapult | Trebuchet |
| Unique weapons | Brisingr | Durza's sword | Naegling | Rider's sword | Roran's hammer | Tamerlein |
| Undbitr | Volund | Zar'roc | |
