Dragon Rider (Inheritance Cycle) - Notable Dragon Riders

Notable Dragon Riders

The novels mention the existence of previous Riders including:

• Arya - A female elf, and the rider of the green dragon on the cover of Inheritance. Her dragon is a male named Fírnen.
• Anurin - an elf who was a leader of the Riders millennia before the events in Eragon. Although only mentioned once in the Inheritance books, Anurin played a highly significant role in the history of the Riders by convincing the elvish queen to allow humans into the Dragon Rider bond, which previously had only included elves and dragons. He was also responsible for moving the Riders to the island of Vroengard.
• Brom - an ex-Dragon Rider; his blue dragon, Saphira (whom Eragon unknowingly named his dragon after), was killed at the battle of Doru Araeba. Vowing vengeance, he led attacks against the Forsworn, of whom he killed three (including Morzan, his archenemy) and caused the deaths of five others. When the new dragon hatched, Brom took her Rider Eragon far from Carvahall and taught Eragon through the ways of the Dragon Riders. When captured by the Ra'zac, Brom sacrificed his life to save Eragon and Saphira. Before dying, he revealed to Eragon that he too was once a Dragon Rider, and gave him the sword, Zar'roc. His sword "Undbitr", was lost in the Fall. After slaying Morzan, he took his blade, "Zar'roc" and claimed it for himself.
• Eragon I - an elf who became the first Dragon Rider. Along with his white dragon, Bid’daum, Eragon ended the war between the elves and dragons, and then established the Dragon Riders.
• Eragon Bromsson - Named after the first Dragon Rider. He and his blue dragon, Saphira, are the first new Riders since Vrael's death over a century ago. He is also known as "Shadeslayer", "Firesword", "Shur'tugal" ("Dragon Rider" in the ancient language), and "Argetlam" ("silver hand" in the ancient language). His blade was "Zar'roc" until it was taken from him by Murtagh. With the help of Rhunön he forged a new blue blade, "Brisingr".
• Galbatorix - a highly gifted Rider who was rendered mentally unstable after his dragon Jarnunvösk was killed. He later stole another dragon, killed the Riders who refused to serve him as well as the human king Angrenost, and has ruled for a century ever since. His new dragon, Shruikan, was stolen as a hatchling from a Rider in Ilirea and enslaved by unbreakable oaths and black magic. He draws energy from Eldunari that he has stolen so he can be more powerful. He was killed by Eragon in "Inheritance".
• Morzan - first of the thirteen Riders (called the 'Forsworn' or the 'Thirteen Servants') who allied with Galbatorix and killed the other Riders. He, as well as Brom, was once a student of Oromis. He is Murtagh's father, and is stated to be Eragon's father as well, though this is later told to be false. Morzan also threw Zar'roc at Murtagh when he was drunk. Zar'roc was taken from Morzan when Brom slew him.
• Murtagh - Morzan's son and Eragon's half-brother. He was forced into Galbatorix's service against his will and bound oaths through the ancient language, then Thorn, a red dragon hatched for him. Under the king, he and his dragon learned enough to overcome Eragon and Saphira on the Burning Plains. Murtagh took Zar'roc from Eragon on the Burning Plains.
• Oromis - an elven Rider, the last of the old order still alive, except for Galbatorix. Oromis and his gold dragon Glaedr are disabled in different ways, and so they suffer great disadvantages in battle. Oromis was Morzan's and Brom's tutor, and hid himself during The Fall. Later, he and Glaedr became Eragon and Saphira's tutors. After Eragon's return they join the elves in their battle and die at the hands of Galbatorix, who was controlling Murtagh's body. Glaedr lives on, his soul preserved in his Eldunari or "heart of hearts" which was entrusted to Eragon in "Brisingr" before Oromis and Glaedr died.
• Vrael - the last leader of the old order of Riders, and Rider of the white dragon Umaroth. He was the only one to have overpowered Galbatorix, but hesitated to kill him, allowing the younger Rider to escape. Vrael was subsequently killed when Galbatorix, during a later combat, slew his elder by beheading him. Galbatorix took his sword Islingr after killing him.
• Kialandí - One of the Forsworn, a male elf. He assisted in capturing and torturing Oromis and Glaedr with the help of the stolen Eldunari of a female dragon named Agaravel. He also killed the owner of Támerlein (a dark green Rider's sword) Arva. His dragon was purple.
• Formora - One of the forsworn, a female elf. Assisted in capturing and torturing Oromis and Glaedr with the help of the stolen Eldunari of a female dragon named Agaravel. Her dragon was named "an ugly brown thing" by Glaedr. Formora was the Forsworn who cut off one of Glaedr's forelegs.