Seithr oil

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Seithr oil was a liquid substance taken from the petals of the Seithr plant, which grew on a small island in the frigid northern seas. The oil was normally harmless and mainly used for preserving pearls, but when a certain incantation was spoken over it, along with the offering of a blood sacrifice, it became a deadly, caustic poison. It ate away anything living or previously alive, but strangely left everything else with which it came in contact untouched. Because of this, it was frequently used by assassins and Ra'zac.

The Ra'zac presumably used Seithr oil to murder Garrow, and there also was Seithr oil on the dagger the Ra'zac use to try to kill Eragon with. Brom died from taking the Seithr oil-covered dagger for Eragon. Eragon and Brom also used shipping records of the oil to track down the Ra'zac.

Also, Eragon and Brom were able to track the Ra'zac further as Eragon found Seithr oil during their travel.

The word "Seithr" in the Ancient Language means witch, so the Seithr oil is actually named Witch Oil.

[edit] Real-world Connections

Seithr oil can be compared to acid liquid, strong enough to melt or burn skin.