Ra'zac
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Ra'zac are superhuman beings in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance trilogy. The only two notable Ra'zac of the trilogy so far remain unnamed and untitled. They are capable of speech, and speak with hissing.
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[edit] Description
Physically, the Ra'zac are extremely powerful, carnivorous, non-human beings that are unable to use magical attacks. They are encased in an exoskeleton that they hide in their dark, black cloaks so they may blend in with humans and attempt to hunt them, their favorite prey. The elves believe the humans that inhabit Alageaesia immigrated to avoid the Ra'zac. These Ra'zac are suspected to be the last of their kind. They work for the evil King Galbatorix as his personal dragon hunters.
Other than dragons, they are one of the only other intelligent creatures that can fly.
[edit] Lifecycle
Ra'zac are pulled from the ground by durza, at first they are known as pupae. They develop a roughly human exoskeleton that allows them approach truely human people without attracting attention. As described in Eldest, they have shining black skin, a hunched back (where future wings may be hidden), a sharp beak, a barbed purple tongue, and huge lidless eyes the size of a fist (with no pupils or irises). In the movie, they look like a clump of maggots and worms.
At twenty years of age, on the night of a full moon, the pupae shed their exoskeletons and emerge as fully grown Lethrblaka. The Lethrblaka have great wings, tight, hairless, gray leathery skin with huge, corded muscles, a sharp killing beak, and hind legs strong enough to crush a boulder. Although Lethrblaka offspring are narrow-minded the Lethrblaka themselves can have all the intelligence of a dragon. They eat any creature that may inhabit Alageaesia.
If Lethrblaka are fully grown they may lay eggs to produce their offspring.
[edit] Abilities
The Ra'zac have many terrifying abilities including: the ability to see on a cloudy night, track scents like a dog, fight with super-human strength, and jump higher and move quicker than any Biped. Their most potent weapon is their foul breath, which is known to fog the mind of humans. Dwarves, however, are resistant to it and Elves are immune to it. Ra'zac have a morbid fear of deep water due to their inability to swim and they have a strong aversion to light.
Lethrblaka possess tremendous muscular strength and are sometimes as intelligent as a dragon. They act as the Ra'zac's mounts. The Ra'zac use a very high piched scream to call them. They have the ability to lock all creatures in a certain area with crippling terror, as is shown when they are first seen by Roran at the Empire's soldier's camp near Carvahall. This was shown again near Narda, where they scared an entire deer herd into fleeing from a nearby forest.
[edit] History
Supposedly, the Ra'zac originated in the lands south of Alagaësia, from whence the humans came.
The Ra'zac were discovered by Galbatorix and enlisted in his service. The Dragon Riders, seeing their arrival as a threat to peace, sought to destroy them. Despite this, at least two Lethrblaka and their pupae escaped and, after the Fall of the Riders, were housed at Helgrind, near the city of Dras-Leona.
[edit] Synopsis
In Eragon, the Ra'zac were the murderers of Garrow, Eragon's uncle, and Brom, Eragon's mentor and friend. In murdering Garrow, they used an unusual liquid, Seithr Oil, which had the ability to decompose flesh while leaving all other materials unharmed. It is only dangerous after a very complex ritual. Before the ritual, it is a harmless oil used for polishing gemstones, making it easy to store and difficult to track. This is what the Ra'zac use to torture and get information from the people. The oil is unique and is hard to get. Only rich people, like the evil king Galbatorix, are able to acquire such a valuable substance. Eragon and Brom later used the sale records of this oil to track the Ra'zac down. While they were searching for the Ra'zac, Eragon and Brom were ambushed by them, and then Brom killed them, in the movie adaptation.
The Ra'zac returned to Carvahall later to capture Eragon's cousin Roran. When Roran refused to give himself up, the Ra'zac led a number of Imperial troops to attack Carvahall. They even ate one of Carvahall's inhabitants, Quimby the Brewer, as a challenge. Roran, in reply, swore to slay them. Later on as everyone is starting to leave, Sloan betrayed them and let the Ra'zac into the city because he was mad about Katrina and Roran's engagement. The Ra'zac injure Roran's arm and kidnap Katrina and her father.
[edit] Comparisons
Comparisons have been drawn between the Ra'zac and the Nazgûl from The Lord of the Rings. The Ra'zac are under the influence of Galbatorix and used as elite henchman, much like the Nazgûl serving Sauron. Additionally, the Nazgûl and the Ra'zac both have an "evil breath" that overpowers their adversaries.
In the film portrayal of Eragon, the Ra'zac resemble Orcs in shape and appearance and actually die.
The Ra'zac may also be compared to the Myrddraal of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.
As portrayed in the film, the Ra'zac, with there distinctive posture and movements, disadvantage near water, and extending wrist blades (not to mention their "hunter" role in everything) bear a striking resemblance, both in appearance and style, to the Yautja, more commonly known as the Predator.
| 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 | Battle of the Burning Plains | Battle for Carvahall | Battle under Farthen Dûr | Dagshelgr Invocation | The Fall |
