Ward
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Wards were used to keep individuals from scrying or causing magical harm on other individuals. They are not to be confused with shielding spells, shielding blessings, or shielding curses
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[edit] Description
When a ward was cast, it would usually remain invisible and undetectable, stopping attacks armed at the user.
[edit] Uses
There were two kinds of wards; ones created by magicians and ones created by enchanted jewels. The ones create by magicians were done by one person casting a protective spell on another. Enchanted jewels were simply worn.
Wards could also be used to protect people from mundane and arcane attack. An example of a ward against mundane attack is Eragon's wards on himself during the Battle of The Burning Plains, which cause missiles to stop dead ten feet from him. Arcane wards are more advanced spells used to block magic; he mentions that the war engines would be protected "from any conceivable spell."
However, wards have limiatations. They draw on the magician's strength and will drain some energy every time a ward blocks an attack. No matter how many wards a person erects around themselves, they can still be defeated if they're reserves of strength run out.
[edit] Role in the books
When they kidnapped Murtagh, the Twins placed wards around him and themselves that would prevent anyone from scrying them. Whenever anyone tried, all they saw was darkness.
While in the dwarf city Tarnag, Gannel gave Eragon an enchanted necklace, which resembled a silver hammer, that contained a warding spell against scrying. Because the necklace didn't have an enchanted jewel, it drew upon Eragon's strength whenever it was used. This spell thwarted Murtagh's spells whenever he tried to scry Eragon.
After being released from Gil'ead, Arya created wards that would keep anyone from scrying her. Eragon Shadeslayer bypassed this limitation by scrying the people Arya was with and noting their reactions to her, allowing him to follow her movements.
Eragon learned to use wards while being instructed by Oromis. After that, he used wards before every major battle to protect himself, and even erected wards around Nasuada, Saphira, Orik, Roran, and Arya.
[edit] Users of this magic
Confirmed to use wards:
