Post by Murtagh, son of Morzan on Feb 13, 2007 21:12:47 GMT -5
Name: Murtagh
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Race: Human
Affiliation: Varden
Weapon: Zar'roc
Guild: Dragon Riders
Personality:
Murtagh is extremely intelligent and ambitious, a logical, sharp-minded and hard young man who can often understand and gauge a situation more clearly than the main protagonist, Eragon, can. Accustomed to being in danger from the day he was born, Murtagh is constantly on edge, wary of strangers and even friends and reluctant to trust anyone. Murtagh is cool and ruthless, with a very high level of emotional maturity - this is shown often in the books, with Murtagh staying calm and controlled even in the most trying circumstances, although Eragon's childish behavior does sometimes make him lose his temper. His ambition leads to a love of power, and he revels in the dark magic Galbatorix teaches him, and scorns Eragon for fearing it. He is intensely private and strong willed. Murtagh is also a loyal comrade and, despite his hardness, a very compassionate person. He has inner strength, greater even than Eragon's, that enables him to survive the countless hardships he faces in his life. When he becomes a Rider, he rises from being Eragon's sidekick to being Eragon's powerful adversary; in Eldest, his virtual imprisonment (through magic) by the King leads to Murtagh's cold anger and destructive power surfacing, suppressing his better qualities. However, he does retain some of his friendship for Eragon and when reminded of it, finds a loophole in his orders and lets Eragon go.
History:
Murtagh was a highborn into the elite Broddring Kingdom, one of two known children of the Forsworn. His father was Morzan, the powerful leader of the Forsworn and the King's most loyal and dangerous Dragon Rider. His mother was a peasant woman, Selena, the unfortunate companion of Morzan.
Murtagh explains parts of his past to Eragon in Eragon and Eldest. As the child of the dangerous and twisted Dragon Rider Morzan, Murtagh experienced an unpleasant childhood. He was born to Selena, a common woman who desired to receive Morzan's love, whom Morzan used as a spy against the other Forsworn. For his own safety from the twelve other Forsworn, the estate was protected by magic so that the boy was never seen, except by a few chosen servants. Outside of this, only King Galbatorix knew of the boy's existence. Murtagh was often physically abused by his father. The long scar on his back bears testament to this; at the age of three, Murtagh received the wound when Morzan threw his sword, Zar'roc, at him in a drunken fit of anger. The sword tore into the child's back and nearly killed him, but he was miraculously saved by skilled healers.
When Morzan was killed by Brom, Selena mysteriously disappeared. She returned after many months and died, leaving the boy an orphan with only a few of Morzan's trusted servants as his guardians. By this time all the Forsworn were dead. The king brought Murtagh to the royal palace at Urû'baen. There Murtagh was educated and taught swordsmanship by Tornac, a man loyal to Murtagh. Murtagh avoided the courts as much as possible during his years at the palace, although he kept himself informed of the power struggles and politics that went on among the nobles. When he was around eighteen, the king called Murtagh to have a private dinner with him. Unable to refuse, Murtagh agreed; the ensuing meal was almost completely silent as Murtagh's attempts to make polite conversation failed, and the king watched him intently and speculatively.
After dinner the king asked Murtagh if he would serve him and fight for him as his father Morzan had. Murtagh knew the terrible power of Galbatorix and privately disapproved of some of the king's actions, yet when Galbatorix began to speak of his vision for the Empire and its people, Murtagh found himself seduced by the power of Galbatorix's words, and his sweet persuasive voice. By the end of the king's speech, Murtagh was intrigued and moved by the idea Galbatorix had painted, and immediately and eagerly agreed to serve him. Months after that meeting, the king summoned Murtagh in a terrible rage, and ordered him to lead an army to crush a rebellion in a certain province. When Murtagh asked whether he should imprison the civilians, Galbatorix answered that everyone, rebels and civilians alike, should be killed, and the area destroyed. The veil was lifted from Murtagh's eyes, and he was disgusted by the king's mad passions, irrational cruelty and clear lack of foresight. Murtagh could tell that a king who could not control his own passions had no hope of controlling a kingdom, much less a great empire; he decided that it would be folly to serve Galbatorix.
That very night, Murtagh and Tornac fled the palace on their horses. The king seemed to have anticipated it, for soldiers waylaid them. Although they fought bravely, Tornac was killed. Murtagh escaped on his horse, a swift grey stallion named Tornac in honor of his friend. (It is quite possible that the horse was already named Tornac, as he had been gifted to Murtagh as a foal).
Filled with grief, Murtagh escaped to an old friend's estate, where he was sheltered. While in hiding at the estate, Murtagh kept track of the king's movements and began to plan out his future. He then heard rumors that the king's elite dragon hunters, the Ra'zac, were searching for someone, and he remembered the king's plans for the Riders. Murtagh therefore set out to track the Ra'zac, in the hope that they would come across a Dragon Rider. He then came across Eragon.
Eragon first meets Murtagh when he, Brom and Saphira are ambushed by the Ra'zac. Murtagh had been able to drive the Ra'zac away with his arrows, but not before Brom is fatally wounded. Murtagh explains how he had been hunting for the Ra'zac in hopes of meeting the new Dragon Rider, Eragon, who had been stirring up so much trouble for the king. When the two young men meet, Murtagh is tracking the Ra'zac. Eragon wonders who he is, for Murtagh has an air of authority, is dressed and armed like a prince, and rides a noble horse. Eragon can't think what he is, speculating that Murtagh is either a thief or "accustomed to money - and lots of it". Murtagh is cagey about his past at first. Much later, when the two of them spar, they are equally excellent swordsmen. Murtagh wields a hand-and-a-half sword.
Brom dies, and Eragon, Murtagh, and Saphira continue fleeing the Ra'zac. They travel to Gil'ead together in hopes of coming in contact with the Varden. During this time, Eragon and Murtagh become very good friends, although they continue to keep their pasts hidden from one another. When Eragon is captured at Gil'ead, Murtagh saves him from captivity by paying a steep bribe to enter the prison by stealth, and then kills the guards before rescuing Eragon and signalling to Saphira to come and fly them away. Meanwhile, Eragon breaks out of his cell with magic and is assaulted by prison guards, who are shot down by Murtagh. As they escape, Durza the Shade appears and is temporarily disembodied after being shot between the eyes by Murtagh. This secures their getaway; Murtagh, Eragon, Saphira, and Arya (a captive elf whom Eragon insisted on rescuing) safely depart the city.
Murtagh somewhat reluctantly agrees to accompany them on their quest to find the Varden; though as they approach the fortress of Farthen Dûr, the Varden's stronghold, Murtagh becomes increasingly uneasy and makes it clear that it was against his will to come there. Eragon is curious as to why, but Murtagh will say no more. They are imprisoned for a time, though Arya is recognized as the dragon-egg courier, and Eragon demands to know why Murtagh does not wish to stay with the Varden. Grudgingly, Murtagh reveals that he is the son of Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn. Although Murtagh has proven himself to be trustworthy and genuine, he faces distrust and scrutiny because of his heritage, and is imprisoned by Ajihad when he, Eragon, and Saphira finally arrive at Tronjheim. However, the "prison cell" Ajihad puts him in is in fact a very nice bedroom where sumptuous meals are frequently delivered, as well as anything Murtagh wants from the Tronjheim Library.
In the battle of Tronjheim, Murtagh is allowed to join in the fight, and he defends the dwarf-city valiantly, charging the Urgals on his steed Tornac. The dwarves are heartened by his skill and courage. In the scouring of the dwarf tunnels immediately following the battle (the scouring is shown in Eldest) Ajihad allows Murtagh to accompany him. He is captured by Urgals, along with the Twins.
Galbatorix, a Dragon Rider and an extremely powerful magic user, tortures Murtagh severely because he ran away from the palace, and then uses magic to forcibly extract everything Murtagh knows about Eragon, Saphira and the Varden. Then the ruby dragon Thorn hatches for Murtagh. Galbatorix wants another Rider to work for him, and so forces both Thorn and Murtagh to swear allegiance to him in the Ancient Language, a binding magical oath. In addition, Galbatorix discovers Murtagh and Thorn's true names—and knowledge of a being's true name grants a person absolute control over another. Galbatorix's knowledge of Thorn and Murtagh's true names allows him to control them regardless of their intent. Thus enslaved, Murtagh becomes a Rider for the Empire. From Galbatorix, Murtagh learns dark secrets of magic that allow him to best the weary Eragon towards the end of the Battle of the Burning Plains. After defeating him, Murtagh takes Eragon's blade, Zar'roc (Misery), and claims that the sword is rightfully his. He then reveals that Morzan was Eragon's father, as well, and that he and Eragon are brothers. When Eragon doesn't believe him, Murtagh repeats the statement in the Ancient Language, which confirms it as truth because it is impossible to tell a complete lie in the Ancient Language. However, it is possible to lie providing that you believe the lie is true. This is shown by Eragon's poem at the Agaetί Blodhren (Blood-oath celebration). Galbatorix had ordered Murtagh to try to capture Eragon and Saphira and bring them to Urû'baen, since Saphira is the last female dragon in existence and Galbatorix wants to use her to rebuild the Riders. At Eragon's pleading, Murtagh spares him, circumventing his magical oath by saying that he tried to capture them, but couldn't. This is a great act of mercy on Murtagh's part, especially considering that Eragon had tried to kill him moments before and that he knew that he would be cruelly punished by Galbatorix for sparing Eragon.
Picture or Appearance:
Dragons Name: Thorn
Colors: Red/Black
Eyes: Red
Picture: optional
Personality: Thorn is a sadistic and cruel dragon, but he is very loyal to Murtagh. He is also very intelligent and wise, making him somewhat of a counselor for Murtagh.
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Race: Human
Affiliation: Varden
Weapon: Zar'roc
Guild: Dragon Riders
Personality:
Murtagh is extremely intelligent and ambitious, a logical, sharp-minded and hard young man who can often understand and gauge a situation more clearly than the main protagonist, Eragon, can. Accustomed to being in danger from the day he was born, Murtagh is constantly on edge, wary of strangers and even friends and reluctant to trust anyone. Murtagh is cool and ruthless, with a very high level of emotional maturity - this is shown often in the books, with Murtagh staying calm and controlled even in the most trying circumstances, although Eragon's childish behavior does sometimes make him lose his temper. His ambition leads to a love of power, and he revels in the dark magic Galbatorix teaches him, and scorns Eragon for fearing it. He is intensely private and strong willed. Murtagh is also a loyal comrade and, despite his hardness, a very compassionate person. He has inner strength, greater even than Eragon's, that enables him to survive the countless hardships he faces in his life. When he becomes a Rider, he rises from being Eragon's sidekick to being Eragon's powerful adversary; in Eldest, his virtual imprisonment (through magic) by the King leads to Murtagh's cold anger and destructive power surfacing, suppressing his better qualities. However, he does retain some of his friendship for Eragon and when reminded of it, finds a loophole in his orders and lets Eragon go.
History:
Murtagh was a highborn into the elite Broddring Kingdom, one of two known children of the Forsworn. His father was Morzan, the powerful leader of the Forsworn and the King's most loyal and dangerous Dragon Rider. His mother was a peasant woman, Selena, the unfortunate companion of Morzan.
Murtagh explains parts of his past to Eragon in Eragon and Eldest. As the child of the dangerous and twisted Dragon Rider Morzan, Murtagh experienced an unpleasant childhood. He was born to Selena, a common woman who desired to receive Morzan's love, whom Morzan used as a spy against the other Forsworn. For his own safety from the twelve other Forsworn, the estate was protected by magic so that the boy was never seen, except by a few chosen servants. Outside of this, only King Galbatorix knew of the boy's existence. Murtagh was often physically abused by his father. The long scar on his back bears testament to this; at the age of three, Murtagh received the wound when Morzan threw his sword, Zar'roc, at him in a drunken fit of anger. The sword tore into the child's back and nearly killed him, but he was miraculously saved by skilled healers.
When Morzan was killed by Brom, Selena mysteriously disappeared. She returned after many months and died, leaving the boy an orphan with only a few of Morzan's trusted servants as his guardians. By this time all the Forsworn were dead. The king brought Murtagh to the royal palace at Urû'baen. There Murtagh was educated and taught swordsmanship by Tornac, a man loyal to Murtagh. Murtagh avoided the courts as much as possible during his years at the palace, although he kept himself informed of the power struggles and politics that went on among the nobles. When he was around eighteen, the king called Murtagh to have a private dinner with him. Unable to refuse, Murtagh agreed; the ensuing meal was almost completely silent as Murtagh's attempts to make polite conversation failed, and the king watched him intently and speculatively.
After dinner the king asked Murtagh if he would serve him and fight for him as his father Morzan had. Murtagh knew the terrible power of Galbatorix and privately disapproved of some of the king's actions, yet when Galbatorix began to speak of his vision for the Empire and its people, Murtagh found himself seduced by the power of Galbatorix's words, and his sweet persuasive voice. By the end of the king's speech, Murtagh was intrigued and moved by the idea Galbatorix had painted, and immediately and eagerly agreed to serve him. Months after that meeting, the king summoned Murtagh in a terrible rage, and ordered him to lead an army to crush a rebellion in a certain province. When Murtagh asked whether he should imprison the civilians, Galbatorix answered that everyone, rebels and civilians alike, should be killed, and the area destroyed. The veil was lifted from Murtagh's eyes, and he was disgusted by the king's mad passions, irrational cruelty and clear lack of foresight. Murtagh could tell that a king who could not control his own passions had no hope of controlling a kingdom, much less a great empire; he decided that it would be folly to serve Galbatorix.
That very night, Murtagh and Tornac fled the palace on their horses. The king seemed to have anticipated it, for soldiers waylaid them. Although they fought bravely, Tornac was killed. Murtagh escaped on his horse, a swift grey stallion named Tornac in honor of his friend. (It is quite possible that the horse was already named Tornac, as he had been gifted to Murtagh as a foal).
Filled with grief, Murtagh escaped to an old friend's estate, where he was sheltered. While in hiding at the estate, Murtagh kept track of the king's movements and began to plan out his future. He then heard rumors that the king's elite dragon hunters, the Ra'zac, were searching for someone, and he remembered the king's plans for the Riders. Murtagh therefore set out to track the Ra'zac, in the hope that they would come across a Dragon Rider. He then came across Eragon.
Eragon first meets Murtagh when he, Brom and Saphira are ambushed by the Ra'zac. Murtagh had been able to drive the Ra'zac away with his arrows, but not before Brom is fatally wounded. Murtagh explains how he had been hunting for the Ra'zac in hopes of meeting the new Dragon Rider, Eragon, who had been stirring up so much trouble for the king. When the two young men meet, Murtagh is tracking the Ra'zac. Eragon wonders who he is, for Murtagh has an air of authority, is dressed and armed like a prince, and rides a noble horse. Eragon can't think what he is, speculating that Murtagh is either a thief or "accustomed to money - and lots of it". Murtagh is cagey about his past at first. Much later, when the two of them spar, they are equally excellent swordsmen. Murtagh wields a hand-and-a-half sword.
Brom dies, and Eragon, Murtagh, and Saphira continue fleeing the Ra'zac. They travel to Gil'ead together in hopes of coming in contact with the Varden. During this time, Eragon and Murtagh become very good friends, although they continue to keep their pasts hidden from one another. When Eragon is captured at Gil'ead, Murtagh saves him from captivity by paying a steep bribe to enter the prison by stealth, and then kills the guards before rescuing Eragon and signalling to Saphira to come and fly them away. Meanwhile, Eragon breaks out of his cell with magic and is assaulted by prison guards, who are shot down by Murtagh. As they escape, Durza the Shade appears and is temporarily disembodied after being shot between the eyes by Murtagh. This secures their getaway; Murtagh, Eragon, Saphira, and Arya (a captive elf whom Eragon insisted on rescuing) safely depart the city.
Murtagh somewhat reluctantly agrees to accompany them on their quest to find the Varden; though as they approach the fortress of Farthen Dûr, the Varden's stronghold, Murtagh becomes increasingly uneasy and makes it clear that it was against his will to come there. Eragon is curious as to why, but Murtagh will say no more. They are imprisoned for a time, though Arya is recognized as the dragon-egg courier, and Eragon demands to know why Murtagh does not wish to stay with the Varden. Grudgingly, Murtagh reveals that he is the son of Morzan, first and last of the Forsworn. Although Murtagh has proven himself to be trustworthy and genuine, he faces distrust and scrutiny because of his heritage, and is imprisoned by Ajihad when he, Eragon, and Saphira finally arrive at Tronjheim. However, the "prison cell" Ajihad puts him in is in fact a very nice bedroom where sumptuous meals are frequently delivered, as well as anything Murtagh wants from the Tronjheim Library.
In the battle of Tronjheim, Murtagh is allowed to join in the fight, and he defends the dwarf-city valiantly, charging the Urgals on his steed Tornac. The dwarves are heartened by his skill and courage. In the scouring of the dwarf tunnels immediately following the battle (the scouring is shown in Eldest) Ajihad allows Murtagh to accompany him. He is captured by Urgals, along with the Twins.
Galbatorix, a Dragon Rider and an extremely powerful magic user, tortures Murtagh severely because he ran away from the palace, and then uses magic to forcibly extract everything Murtagh knows about Eragon, Saphira and the Varden. Then the ruby dragon Thorn hatches for Murtagh. Galbatorix wants another Rider to work for him, and so forces both Thorn and Murtagh to swear allegiance to him in the Ancient Language, a binding magical oath. In addition, Galbatorix discovers Murtagh and Thorn's true names—and knowledge of a being's true name grants a person absolute control over another. Galbatorix's knowledge of Thorn and Murtagh's true names allows him to control them regardless of their intent. Thus enslaved, Murtagh becomes a Rider for the Empire. From Galbatorix, Murtagh learns dark secrets of magic that allow him to best the weary Eragon towards the end of the Battle of the Burning Plains. After defeating him, Murtagh takes Eragon's blade, Zar'roc (Misery), and claims that the sword is rightfully his. He then reveals that Morzan was Eragon's father, as well, and that he and Eragon are brothers. When Eragon doesn't believe him, Murtagh repeats the statement in the Ancient Language, which confirms it as truth because it is impossible to tell a complete lie in the Ancient Language. However, it is possible to lie providing that you believe the lie is true. This is shown by Eragon's poem at the Agaetί Blodhren (Blood-oath celebration). Galbatorix had ordered Murtagh to try to capture Eragon and Saphira and bring them to Urû'baen, since Saphira is the last female dragon in existence and Galbatorix wants to use her to rebuild the Riders. At Eragon's pleading, Murtagh spares him, circumventing his magical oath by saying that he tried to capture them, but couldn't. This is a great act of mercy on Murtagh's part, especially considering that Eragon had tried to kill him moments before and that he knew that he would be cruelly punished by Galbatorix for sparing Eragon.
Picture or Appearance:
Dragons Name: Thorn
Colors: Red/Black
Eyes: Red
Picture: optional
Personality: Thorn is a sadistic and cruel dragon, but he is very loyal to Murtagh. He is also very intelligent and wise, making him somewhat of a counselor for Murtagh.
