Rider War

Rider War
Overview
Part of:	Rider War
Date	N/A
Place	Alagaesia
Result	Anti-Imperial victory The Broddring Kingdom replaces The Empire Reestablishment of the Dragon Riders
Combatants
The Empire Urgals
Varden Elves Urgals Surda Carvahall Werecats
Commanders
Galbatorix† Shruikan† Halstead† Durza† Bradburn Tarrant Murtagh Thorn Garzhvog (withdrew support) The Twins† Lord Barst† Ra'zac† Lethrblaka† Lorana Varaug†
Ajihad† Nasuada Brom† Eragon Saphira Jörmundur Martland Redbeard Hrothgar† Orik Islanzadi† Arya Oromis† Glaedr† Garzhvog Orrin Roran Stronghammer Jeod Longshanks Grimrr Halfpaw
Strength
330,030 Imperial troops 8000 Urgals and Kull
45,000 Varden soldiers 31,500 Dwarves An unknown tens of thousands of elves 30,000 Urgals and Kull 27,500 Surda Soldiers An unknown number of Carvahall villagers An Unknown number of werecats
Casualties
Very Heavy Majority of Imperial Soldiers killed, the rest surrendered
Heavy Many Humans, Elves, Dawrves, Urgals and Werecats slain

The Urgal attack on Farthen Dûr in the video game

The Rider War was the name given to the war in which Eragon fought. The war was fought between the Empire, the established government of Alagaësia, and a rebel organization called the Varden.

After Eragon, a Dragon Rider, entered the conflict on the side of the Varden, the war took a dramatic turn. Both sides attempted to control the remnants of the dragon race, which had been all but exterminated during the Dragon War. Galbatorix, ruler of the Empire, sought to revive the Dragon Riders and conscript them into his own service, and the war became a personal affair for Eragon after his half-brother, Murtagh, became a Rider on the side of the Empire.

Origins

King Galbatorix had taken over a vast swathe of western Alagaësia after he destroyed the Dragon Riders during the Dragon War. A former Dragon Rider by the name of Brom formed a resistance force called the Varden, who allied themselves with the elves, dwarves, and later the Urgals. Galbatorix, however, was supported by a Shade named Durza, who cast a binding spell over the Urgal race.

Pre-war violence

Though the war officially started with the Battle under Farthen Dûr, there was a great deal of violence and death long before the two sides truly declared war. Galbatorix was desperately trying to get his remaining dragon eggs to hatch, while the Varden was trying to kill his candidates or steal the eggs.

The Fall of the Forsworn

The Varden assassinated many of the Forsworn, former Dragon Riders who supported Galbatorix. Brom knew that the Forsworn had to be eliminated before the Empire could be overthrown. Thanks to his efforts and those of the Varden, all of the Forsworn were dead by the beginning of the war, but the unofficial battles were in Morzan's lifetime.

The Mission to Urû'baen

With the help of a Varden agent named Jeod, Brom planned a surprise raid on Urû'baen in order to capture the three dragon eggs in Galbatorix's possession. For an unknown reason, the rebel contact (named Hefring) was not able to complete the mission, and stole only one of the three eggs.

The Race

Hefring, the man sent to steal the eggs, ran from both the Varden and Galbatorix to try to keep the egg. Brom raced Hefring across the country to try to get the egg back. Morzan got there before Brom, killed Hefring and got the egg.

Morzan's downfall

Brom met Morzan at Gil'ead, slaying the Forsworn Rider in a duel and recovering both the egg and Zar'roc. He passed on the egg to the Varden, keeping Zar'roc for himself, and retired to Carvahall.

The Great Ambush

A couple months before the war, the Varden launched a small-scale offensive against the Imperial forces. The result was the loss of three of Galbatorix's brigades. Galbatorix sent Murtagh to destroy a village where the Varden were said to be hiding as a retaliation.

The Empire captures an Elf

As war neared, Galbatorix wanted to make sure he remained the only faction to control the remaining dragons. He assigned his most trusted general, Durza, to capture Arya, the carrier of the stolen dragon egg. Durza took a company of Urgals and ambushed Arya and her guards as they traveled through the outer reaches of a forest in northern Alagaësia; otherwise known as Du Weldenvarden. The Urgals killed the two elf guards and captured Arya. She was able to teleport the egg accidentally to Eragon, however, and prevented it from being captured.

The Northern Massacres

The farming communities in the northern part of the Empire had become angry with the Imperial government for raising the taxes to a nearly unpayable level. Galbatorix saw the northern farmers as a threat, and Urgals under his command slaughtered an entire village for supposedly aiding the Varden. This plan backfired on Galbatorix, however, as it only served to strengthen anti-Imperial feelings.

Battles

• Battle of Daret
• Massacre at Yazuac

Battle of Ithrö Zhâda

The Urgal army under Durza the Shade launched a surprise attack on the abandoned dwarven city of Orthíad, later renamed Ithrö Zhâda by Galbatorix. All but one of the dwarves were killed in the attack. Durza then used secret tunnels found in the city to attack Farthen Dûr.

The Skirmish outside Farthen Dûr

When Eragon, Saphira, Murtagh, and Arya fled to Farthen Dûr, they were followed by a legion of Kull. The party was rescued by Varden warriors and, after the short battle, were taken inside for questioning. Eragon was inspected by the Twins only after insisting Arya be taken cared of (from poisoning due to Shade Durza's torture in Gil'ead). Murtagh refuses to be inspected and is benevolently imprisoned (The term 'benevolently' is used because he was not only an ambiguous threat to the Varden and inhabitants of Farthen Dur, but knowledge of his father as Morzan would have enraged the public and harm Murtagh. This is explained by Ajihad to Eragon in the first novel).

The war

The Battle under Farthen Dûr

The war officially began when Galbatorix ordered his Urgal armies to attack the Varden headquarters at Farthen Dûr, which also served as the dwarves' capital. This battle triggered sympathy for the Varden, and support when they emerged victorious, thanks to Durza's death at the hands of Eragon who was aided by Arya and Saphira.

Aftermath of the battle

Ajihad, third leader of the Varden

Days after the Varden victory, there were still enemy Urgals scattered throughout the many tunnels around Farthen Dûr. Ajihad, Murtagh, and the Twins were chosen to hunt down the remaining Urgals. Their search party was unexpectedly attacked by Urgal warriors, however, and Ajihad was killed. Murtagh and the Twins were captured and presumed dead.

Later, it was revealed that the Twins had been working undercover for the Empire, and took the opportunity to capture Morzan's son. While he was being held captive, the dragon, Thorn, hatched for Murtagh. King Galbatorix then forced Murtagh to swear allegiance to him in the Ancient Language.

The Varden move to Surda

Although the battle was a success for the Varden, the loss of Ajihad and the depletion in the dwarves' supplies forced the new Varden leader, Nasuada, to lead the Varden to Surda and their ally, King Orrin. Their presence in Surda was not readily accepted by all. Most notably, the Silk Guild openly expressed hostility towards the rebel group because of the Varden's production of extrodinarily cheap lace to earn money for the campaign and food.

Spies in Aberon

While the Varden were in Aberon, the Surdan capital, Nasuada was attacked by an Imperial magician associated with a group of spies and magicians known as the Black Hand. Thanks to Elva, the Varden were able to kill two members of the Hand, though the organization would remain a threat to the Varden throughout the course of the war.

The siege of Carvahall

In order to gain information about the location of Eragon, Galbatorix sent agents to Eragon's hometown of Carvahall to interrogate Eragon's cousin, Roran. When the people of Carvahall refused to give Roran up to the Empire, fighting erupted. Roran led the small militia army against the Imperial forces, among whom were the Ra'zac.

The people of Carvahall were able to hold out for many days, but following the arrival of more Imperial troops, Roran managed to convince much of the population of Carvahall to leave the town and cross through The Spine to a port city called Narda. They then sailed to Teirm using barges, where Roran and the villagers pirated an Imperial ship called the Dragon Wing and set sail for Surda.

The Elves enter the war

Shortly before the Second Battle of The Burning Plains, the elves chose to enter the war on the side of the Varden. Previously, they were hesitant to enter the war because when Arya was kidnapped by Durza, Queen Islanzadi refused any outside communication until she was sure that Arya was alive and there was a new Rider willing to fight against the Empire.

The Second Battle of The Burning Plains

The Imperial Army

The Empire again tried to stomp out the rebellion, this time at The Burning Plains, also known as Du Völlar Eldrvarya by the elves. An army of conscripted humans, under the command of Murtagh, was sent to attack the Varden and their Surdan allies.

Just prior to the battle, the Varden allied themselves with a group of their former enemies, the Urgals, who desired vengeance for the wrongs perpetrated against them by the Empire. The witch Angela also poisoned a large amount of the Empire's food and drink, to further weaken their forces.

Thanks to the timely arrival of men from Carvahall and a dwarf army under King Hrothgar, the battle resulted in another victory for the resistance, though great losses were sustained by both sides. Hrothgar himself died at the hands of Murtagh.

The First Battle of the Burning Plains was a skirmish between the Riders and the Forsworn. During the battle, the dragon's fire set alight deposits of peat under the soil, hence the name "The Burning Plains".

Siege of Ceunon

The elves, now an active combatant in the war, headed to Ceunon. Their spellcasters destroyed the gates of the city and the elves poured in, killing countless humans and destroying many lands and homes. Lord Tarrant of Ceunon resisted fiercely, but in the end the elves were victorious.

Murtagh's raid

Murtagh, most powerful of all the Empire's magicians and warriors, and his dragon Thorn led a raid to destroy the Varden. They battled Eragon and Saphira, while 300 of Murtagh's soldiers fought the Varden. Murtagh and Thorn were far beyond Eragon's ability to defeat because of the Eldunari Galbatorix had given him, but with the aid of Arya and twelve other elf spellcasters, Eragon and Saphira managed to drive Murtagh and Thorn off. Murtagh swore that he would return, more powerful then ever, and defeat Eragon and Saphira then. The battle may have ended differently because Eragon forgot the ring Aren , which had more power than Murtagh stored in it.

During and shortly after this, his soldiers were all killed. However, because they had been manipulated biologically to resist pain, they inflicted grave casualties on the Varden before being defeated, and even wounded King Orrin. Nasuada considered the skirmish a painful defeat, even though the enemy force was wiped out.

Siege of Feinster

In order to advance further into the Empire, Nasuada sent warriors south to captured Aroughs, while she attacked Feinster with King Orrin's force. They Varden attacked for three days, but could not break Feinster. Finally, when Eragon and Saphira arrived, the gates were opened from within, though it nearly cost the Varden several elves, including Arya and Blödhgarm.

Once the gates were open, the Varden ransacked the city, burning houses, stealing and pilaging anything they could find, and killing anyone in their path. The soldiers of Feinster were steadily beaten back.

A group of Imperial magicians sworn to serve Murtagh and Galbatorix hatched a plan to throw the Varden back. In order to destroy the Varden, no matter the cost, they created a Shade known as Varaug and sent him upon the Varden. He proved to be more than a match for Eragon, but was slain by the combined efforts of Eragon and Arya. Because she struck the final blow, Arya became a Shadeslayer.

After the Shade and most of the soldiers had been defeated, Lady Lorana of Feinster surrendered, and Feinster was captured by the Varden.

Battle of Gil'ead

After capturing Ceunon, the elves targeted Gil'ead. They battled and seemed to overwhelm the Imperial forces at Gil'ead, but Murtagh and Thorn arrived on the scene, a beacon of hope to the people of Gil'ead and a shadow of doom for the elves. But even with the young Eldunarí (which Galbatorix has seen fit to trust Murtagh with) Murtagh and Thorn were unable to match the combined strength and knowledge of Glaedr and Oromis. Even though the smaller Thorn was faster they were still losing the battle. When it seemed that shortly Oromis and Glaedr would overwhelm Murtagh and Thorn, Galbatorix himself assisted with the battle and with the strength of the Eldunarí that he had captured, he immobilized Glaedr and Oromis and using Murtagh's hands, struck down Oromis and Glaedr, simultaneously dealing a titanic blow to the morale of the elves. Despite the deaths of Oromis and Glaedr the elves successfully captured Gil'ead as mentioned in the last chapter of Brisingr. What happened to Murtagh and Thorn after the deaths of Oromis and Glaedr is unknown, but it is most likely that Murtagh and Thorn either returned to the capital or withdrew from Gil'ead to avoid being captured.

Battle of Belatona

After moving north from Feinster, the Varden arrived in Belatona. During the battle, Roran's life was briefly endangered by a falling wall and Saphira was attacked with the ancient Dauthdaert Niernen. The battle ended when Eragon and Arya subdued the Imperial lord Bradburn.

Battle of Aroughs

While the main body of the Varden moved north from Surda to attack Feinster and Belatona, Nasuada sent a smaller force south to capture Aroughs. When the Varden failed to capture the city in a timely manner, she sent Roran with some reinforcements, including Carn, his spellcaster companion, and orders to capture the city. Even with Roran and his companions, the Varden attackers remained well outnumbered.

While camped outside the city, a small company of horsemen from Aroughs led by Tharos the Quick attempted to attack the Varden. Roran, with help in the form of magical illusions from Carn, talked his attackers into returning to the city. He pretended that he was a drunken man that could do no harm to anyone. Tharos the Quick, the heir to the throne at Aroughs, foolishly believed him and rode back to the city.

Roran then devised a plan to capture barges with a portion of the Varden's men and sail them into the city before dawn, thus rendering pointless the city's defenses and preventing excessive casualties. Roran's company fought through the city, eventually capturing it. The most notable casualty of the battle was Carn, who was killed in a duel with another magician. Roran was later on shot in the back by an arrow. His second in command tended to his wounds while Baldor, one of Horst's sons, led the rest of the eight hundred to victory.

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Battle of Urû'baen

The main allied army breaks through the walls of Urû'baen led by Roran and nearly securing the city when Lord Barst enters. Roran at one point notes that Galbatorix wouldn't hire a fat man to lead the defense and realizes that an Eldunarí must be under his bulging breast plate. A pitch battle ensues. The army is pushed back to the walls with Lord Barst's force. Islanzadí attacks him herself and is killed by a swing of his mace to her neck. After this, Roran, with the help of the besiegers, has catapults fire rocks at Lord Barst to make his wards weaker. When hit with the catapults, Lord Barst appears on the ground when the dust settles. Roran, a group of Urgals, and a group of werecats charge the vulnerable Lord Barst and start to wear him down even more. An Urgal manages to dent his armor, but Lord Barst blocks Nar Garzhvog's mace from crushing his head. He grabs on to an Urgal and escapes the group when the Urgal steps back in suprise. Lord Barst retrieves his mace and kills all of the werecats and Urgals that assaulted him except for Nar Garzhvog and Roran. Roran charges Lord Barst and they start to wrestle on the cobblestones. Lord Barst elbows Roran, breaking some of his ribs. Roran squeezes Lord Barst as tightly as possible and shatters the Eldunari inside of his breastplate. When the Eldunarí shatters, Lord Barst is killed in a very bright flash of light.

Meanwhile Eragon, the Eldunarí, Arya, Elva, Saphira, Blödhgarm, and a team of elves enter Galbatorix's citadel. Inside, they encounter several traps that, with Elva's help, the team overcomes. Arya knocks on the large, golden doors to Galbatorix's throne room, setting a trap that encases the team of elves, including Blödhgarm, and are led to another room by an unknown force. The throne room opens, and Galbatorix is sitting on the far side of the room, with Vrangr, formerly Islingr, on his lap, and Shruikan behind him. Eragon, Arya, and Elva attempt to attack Galbatorix but are stopped when he shouts the Name of Names. Galbatorix brings two children and threatens to kill them if they do not stop their attempts to attack. Later, Eragon negotiates with Galbatorix to battle Murtagh without any magic or assistance. During their duel, Galbatorix brings out Nasuada, whom Murtagh has fallen in love with. This changes Murtagh's name and after Eragon defeats him, Murtagh uses the Name of Names to strip Galbatorix of his wards and allows Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Elva, and the dragons a chance to attack. Although they fail, Galbatorix is gravely wounded and attacks Eragon's mind. Eragon seizes the opportunity and casts an Empathy Spell that allows Galbatorix to feel all of emotions of the people around him. With this, Arya and Saphira attack Shruikan, and Arya kills him when she stabs the Dauthdaert through his eye. Galbatorix uses a suicidal spell, hoping to wipe out Eragon and the others. The resulting explosion is stopped by Eragon's spell that protects Saphira, Thorn, Murtagh, Elva, Arya, and Nasuada but destroys Galbatorix's castle.

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Aftermath

In the aftermath of the Battle of Uru'baen, Nasuada was elected by the Varden leaders as the new High Queen of Alagaesia. Although King Orrin of Surda attempted to contest her claim, he agreed to concede when she offered new lands to Surda namely Aroughs, Feinster, Eoam and Melian. All rulers of the human lands of Alagaesia were to swear fealty to Nasuada to create a sense of unity. She was then crowned Queen by Eragon in the capital which was renamed Ilirea.

However, unrest still plagued the land. Many had sworn oaths of fealty to Galbatorix in the ancient language and, although Eragon unbound them, many remained devoted to the cause of the deceased king. The troubles also came from the magicians and spies that Galbatorix had set up around the Empire which attempted to assassinate Nasuada although Murtagh had warned Eragon to protect her from such attempts.

Negotiations also had to be made to prevent local nobles from trying to seceed. This was shown when Lord Risthart of Teirm demanded that his city become a city-state and have its own laws and leaders. Nasuada agreed but he would have to swear fealty to her as High Queen and abid by her laws on magicians. However, other towns like Narda and Kuasta posed no resistance.

Other nobles refused to recognize the new Queen and uprisings occured in both the North and South, one led by a noblemen named Hamlin who gathered his own personal army and attempted to seize Gil'ead, and another led by Tharos of Aroughs who caused far more troubles but was quickly repressed by Nasuada. In an effort to keep control also, Nasuada made some of her former commanders nobles in parts of the land that had lost theirs or never had any such as Palancar Valley where she made Roran an earl.

Among the most notable reforms made by Nasuada was her decision to bring all magicians in the land under her control. Believeing that they would cause trouble should they remain free, she planned to have a group maintain them in check. Although he disagreed, Eragon agreed to its creation because he realized that she was right. He refused command of the group however when she offered it.

The biggest post-war decision however came when Eragon and Saphira decided to leave Alagaesia with the dragons and the Eldunari believing there was nowhere to keep them safe in the known lands. The only dragons to remain in Alagaesia would be Thorn, Murtagh's dragon would was in exile in the north, and Firnen, Arya's dragon. Two eggs would remain: one for the dwarves and one for the Urgals so as to keep peace and equality between the different races.

Factions

The Empire

Durza, hero of the Empire, bane of the rebellion

In the Empire, support for Galbatorix wavered during the course of the war, while hatred for the Imperial government grew in the north.

As the Empire was confident that they would achieve a quick and easy victory, Imperial citizens initially supported the war, but after the Empire suffered two defeats, support for the war waned. Some, however, still viewed the Empire and its king as a savior and protector, and the Varden as terrorists and crime lords who should be punished. Others merely served to protect their families, as Galbatorix had promised to keep their loved ones safe.

The Varden

Fear of reprisals from the Empire prevented other nations from joining the Varden's alliance; this became one of the rebels' biggest obstacles. In Surda, many of the people feared that they would face destruction if they openly aided the Varden. Moreover, many elves and dwarves did not feel obligated to help with what they considered the humans' own problem.

Those who supported the Varden's war effort sought to rid the world of Galbatorix's evil and tyranny.

Dragons

Thorn, the red dragon bonded to Murtagh

Before the war, only one healthy dragon remained: Galbatorix's black dragon, Shruikan. After the discovery of Saphira by Eragon, however, a new Dragon Rider entered the war on the side of the Varden.

Later, a crimson dragon named Thorn hatched for Murtagh. Both Thorn and Murtagh were forced to swear allegiance to Galbatorix in the Ancient Language.

Eragon wanted to find a mate for Saphira to restore the once-glorious Dragon Riders. Galbatorix, on the other hand, wanted Saphira, the last female dragon in existence, to mate either with Thorn or the yet-unhatched green dragon, and thus establish his own group of Riders.

During the Rider War Eragon was instructed on the ways of the dragon riders by a crippled rider Oromis, and Saphira was instructed by Oromis's crippled dragon Glaedr.

Major battles

• Mission to Urû'baen
• Great Ambush
• Mission in Du Weldenvarden
• Battle under Farthen Dûr
• Raid in Aberon
• Battle of Carvahall
• Battle of The Burning Plains
• Battle of Feinster

Battles in Inheritance (book)

The following are battles that occur in Inheritance.

• The Battle of Dras-Leona (The Empire versus The Varden, and dwarves)
• The Battle of Aroughs (The Empire versus The Varden)
• The Battle of Belatona (The Empire versus The Varden, dwarves)
• The Battle of Urû'baen (The Empire versus The Varden, Urgals, dwarves, werecats, and elves)

Trivia

• An actual name for the war in the Inheritance cycle is never given.
• The Varden and their supporters have never lost a major battle, despite the fact that the Empire is far superior in numbers.

See also

• Eragon
• The Empire
• Varden
• Imperial Army

Rider War
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