Durza
Template:Inheritance Character box
Durza (pronounced dehr-ZA) is a Shade, one of the antagonists of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy. He is the chief antagonist in Eragon.
Background
Durza was born Carsaib. Early in his life, he was member of a nomadic tribe. Durza and his parents were abandoned by the tribe when Durza's father was accused of being an "oathbreaker". Following his parents' deaths, Durza found his way into the desert and was discovered by Haeg, a sorcerer, who taught Durza how to use spirits and spells.
Haeg was murdered by bandits, and, in his rage over his mentor's death, Durza summoned up avenging spirits too powerful to control. The spirits took possession of his mind and body, transforming him into a Shade.
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 demonic creature (possibly the film's counterpart to a Lethrblaka as Durza can be heard saying a similar word to "Letherblaka" while summoning it) from the smoke of the fires from the fight 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.
Role in Eragon (Movie)
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, Eragon's companion 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. Durza summons a massive, shadowy draconic demon and uses it to confront Eragon and Saphira in arial combat. Durza's summoned monster delivers a fatal injury to Saphira by biting down on her neck. Finally, Eragon has a plan and climbs onto Saphira's tail. Durza throws a ball of flame at Eragon, but to his dismay, he's not there. Saphira flicks Eragon into Durza and as they fall, Durza starts whining in protest, right up until Eragon stabs him in the heart.
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.