The Fall (Inheritance)

The Fall is the name used for the overthrowing of the old order of Dragon Riders and the creation of Galbatorix's Empire in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance (trilogy).

History

Background

Galbatorix's original dragon was killed in an Urgal attack. Driven mad by the loss of his partner, Galbatorix came close to death, but eventually found his way back to Vroengard, where he demanded that the ruling council of the Riders grant him a new dragon. His pleas fell on deaf ears, however, as the council saw that his mind had been affected by his dragon's death. Angered at being denied another egg, Galbatorix sought to take his revenge on the Riders and thus get his wish. But Galbatorix could not do it alone. Using magical skills he learned from a Shade, he convinced a sympathetic Rider to kill an Elder. Galbatorix then turned on his ally and killed him. After this, Galbatorix seduced Morzan, an immoral and weak-minded Rider (a peer of Brom, Eragon's mentor) to aid him in his quest to destroy the Riders.

Shruikan

Together, Galbatorix and Morzan slew the rightful Rider of the black dragon, Shruikan, and twisted Shruikan's mind by powerful magic, forcing him to serve Galbatorix. It was a perverted and weak version of the bond between a normal Rider and his dragon; consequently, there was no real love or loyalty between the black dragon and his new Rider. It is very possible that Shruikan was deeply affected by the death of his true Rider, and rendered mentally unstable because of it. At any rate, the bond satisfactorally suited Galbatorix's purposes.

The Forsworn

Galbatorix then enlisted the help of twelve more Riders, each lured by the promise of power, their minds already corrupt and their dragons cruel and power-hungry. These minions became known as the Forsworn. Together, this twisted band fought the true Riders. Only Vrael, last leader of the Riders, had the power to resist Galbatorix and the Forsworn, although he was wounded in their first encounter. He fled to Utgard Mountain to recover. The elves took a last stand against Galbatorix on the plains of Ilirea (soon to be called Urû'baen) but they fell and their king, Evandar, was slain. Galbatorix then found Vrael and beheaded him.

In the words of Brom: "And from that day, he has ruled us."

Creation of the Empire

Galbatorix slew the king of the Broddering Kingdom¹ (the kingdom of the humans set up after exile of Palancar), and, seizing all power for himself, established a new order, known as the Empire. The Empire became the dominant power in Alagaesia, stretching from the west coast eastward to the Hadarac Desert, south to Surda and north as far as the known world went.

¹Even though, technically, the Broddering Kingdom still exists, it is "little more than a name on royal decrees". In fact, many humans are unaware that it ever existed.

Rebellion

The Varden

While many supported the new Empire, many more opposed it, though few were willing to do so openly. In the south, a band of humans fought to create the independent province known as Surda. Brom, one of the last Riders, devastated by Morzan's betrayal of the Riders and the death of his own dragon Saphira, formed a group of rebels called the Varden to oppose Galbatorix and achieve vengeance on Morzan, whom Brom now held personally responsible for the death of Vrael. In the confusion following Galbatorix's campaign, the Varden managed to do a good deal of damage.

Recovery of the Egg

Brom's fervor led him to a scholar named Jeod Longshanks, who claimed to have discovered a passage into Urû'baen, where the last three dragon eggs were kept. The Varden sent their best man to retrieve the eggs, but the mission went awry and the thief managed to retrieve only one egg. With it, he traveled to Gil'ead.

Brom and Jeod raced against the Forsworn and the Ra'zac for the egg. Brom personally killed Morzan and three other Forsworn, as well as causing the deaths of five others.

Afterward

After this venture, the elves withdrew to Du Weldenvarden, a forest in the north of Alagaesia. The Varden took shelter in Farthen Dûr, a hollow mountain in the Beor Mountain Range. Within Farthen Dûr lay Tronjheim, capital city of the Dwarves. The Dwarves, too, had been forced into hiding; they abandoned their surface cities to avoid the Forsworn's devastating attacks.