The Forsworn
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The Forsworn (or Wyrdfell) were thirteen corrupt, power-hungry Dragon Riders with Galbatorix at their head. They spearheaded a rebellion "out of desire for power and revenge against perceived wrongs". This rebellion was later known as The Fall.
[edit] History
Morzan was the first of the Forsworn. It was he who left a gate unlocked in Ilirea (later named Urû'baen), enabling Galbatorix to steal Shruikan and slaughter the black dragon's rightful Rider. Eventually, twelve more dissolute Riders came to support Galbatorix's cause. With their help, Galbatorix defeated the armies of the elves and dwarves, and murdered Vrael, head of the Riders. Another dragon rider of the forsworn, Kialandi, was mentioned in Brisingr, not much is known about him.
At some point the Forsworn captured the elven Dragon Rider Oromis, and somehow altered something that effected his hold on magic. Whatever they altered prevented Oromis from using any but the smallest spells. Oromis somehow escaped from the Forsworn and went into hiding in Du Weldenvarden along with his dragon Glaedr. The two that captured Oromis were Kialandi and Formora.
Eventually, the Forsworn died out due to in-fighting (they often vied among themselves for power and favour), suicide, overuse of magic, and the efforts of Brom and the Varden. Morzan and two other Forsworn were personally killed by Brom; five died as an indirect result of Brom's zeal.
Morzan, Formora and Kialandi are the only Forsworn who have been named. Morzan was also the only one who had children: he fathered Murtagh, but did not know that Selena was pregnant with Eragon.
In Brisingr, it was revealed that after the dragons who were not part of the Forsworn learned that their kin had betrayed them, they combined their magic together and performed the Banishing of Names. If someone looks at the name of a dragon or remembers their name it is instantly forgotten. The traitorous dragons lost eveything that made them dragons. They became no more than beasts with magic they did not know how to use. Their Riders could only watch as they sunk even further. Five of the Wyrdfell (Elven name for the Forsworn) became insane. The Dragons spared Shruikan,because he was forced to serve Galbatorix and Jarnunvosk, Galbatorix's first dragon.
One hundred years later in a tragic irony, Murtagh took his father's place as a Forsworn, although unwillingly, along with his dragon, Thorn.
[edit] Comparisons
The Forsworn may be compared to the Sith of the Starwars trilogy and to the Nazgûl of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, in that they were corrupted by the promise of power. They are more similar, however, to the Forsaken of the Wheel of Time series, both in name, number (there were thirteen Forsaken, as well), and in the fact that they often fought among themselves for positions and status. Only three of the Forsworn have been mentioned by name, Morzan, Kialandi and Formora.
