Durza
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| Inheritance Trilogy character | |
 Robert Carlyle as Durza in the film Eragon |
|
| Durza | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Crimson |
| Eye colour | Maroon |
| House | Unknown |
| Allegiance | Empire |
| Film portrayer | Robert Carlyle |
| First appearance | Eragon |
Durza (pronounced dehr-ZA) is a Shade, one of the antagonists of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy. He is the chief antagonist in Eragon.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Durza was born Carsaib (pronounced car-say; the "b" is silent). Early in his life, he was member of a nomadic tribe. Carsaib and his parents were abandoned by the tribe when Carsaib's father was accused of being an "oathbreaker". Following his parents' deaths, Carsaib found his way into the desert and was discovered by Haeg, a sorcerer, who taught Carsaib how to use spirits and spells.
Haeg was murdered by bandits, and, in his rage over his mentor's death, Carsaib summoned up avenging spirits too powerful to control. The spirits took possession of his mind and body, transforming him into the Shade named Durza.
He is described in the book as having "crimson hair and maroon eyes", pointed teeth, and skin so thin it appeared as though it was "stretched over a skull to give the imitation of life".
[edit] Abilities
Durza, being a Shade, has incredible magic powers (as read in the book when he incinerates a half-mile of forest in his attempts to catch Arya). He is able to wield control over the Urgals through linking spirits. He is also powerful enough to defeat Arya and quite possibly Saphira, yet he is weaker than Galbatorix. In the movie, he summons a flying shadow-creature to fight Eragon and Saphira. He also is an incredible swordsman, easily defeating Eragon, who mastered the art of swordsmanship. One of the Shade's most potent powers is his resistance to death. If a Shade is not killed by a thrust to the heart, he will merely regenerate elsewhere stronger than the previous appearance. While a dragon rider has limits to his magic, so far by what we have seen a Shade has very little.
[edit] Role in Eragon
Durza is first introduced in the prologue of Eragon, Shade of Fear, when he attacks Arya, an Elf, in an attempt to steal the dragon egg she guards. He is able to capture her, but not before Arya teleports the egg to The Spine, where it is found by Eragon. Eragon later encounters Durza in Gil'ead. They have a brief physical battle, and Eragon realizes that he does not have nearly enough strength to defeat the Shade. Fortunately, Durza is disembodied when Murtagh shoots him between the eyes, but he does not die. Later, during the Battle under Farthen Dûr, Eragon is forced to duel with Durza once again, and this time the two of them use magic and mental powers. As they fight, Eragon breaks into Durza's mind and Eragon sees visions and flashes of Durza's life. As he absorbs these images, Durza charges and wounds Eragon heavily before Arya and Saphira are able to distract Durza. Eragon seizes the opportunity and strikes Durza in the heart, killing him once and for all. As Durza dies, three dark spirits leave his body, releasing the Urgals from his controlling link.
Eragon does not escape unscathed from his deed; Durza's memories continue to plague Eragon's mind until Oromis, or "The Cripple Who Is Whole", intervenes. In addition, Eragon bears a long, agonizing scar on his back, similar to that borne by Murtagh, which causes constant fits of immeasurable pain. In Eldest, the scar is finally removed by magical means while he trains with the elves in Ellesmera.
[edit] Other
Durza's sword is marred by a long scratch upon the blade, a reminder of the time Ajihad, leader of the Varden, tried to kill him. Durza is depicted as the antagonist in a poem Eragon writes for the Blood-Oath Celebration; the poem receives much acclaim from the Elves and an honored place in one of their institutions.
[edit] See also
| Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Trilogy | |
|---|---|
| Books | Eragon | Eldest | Book 3 |
| Films | Eragon |
| Games | Eragon |
| Main Characters | Eragon | Brom | Arya | Galbatorix | Murtagh | Roran | Durza | Ajihad | Nasuada | Angela | Saphira | Oromis | more... |
| Places | Alagaësia | Beor Mountains | Ellesméra | Farthen Dûr | Teirm | Inheritance Trilogy locations | more... |
| Events | Blood-Oath Celebration | Battle of the Burning Plains | Battle for Carvahall | Battle under Farthen Dûr | Dagshelgr Invocation | The Fall |
