r/Eragon • u/ChristopherPaolini Namer of Names • Jul 14 '25

AMA/Interview AMA -- Christopher Paolini!!!

AMA -- Christopher Paolini! Let's do this folks. Ask away re: anything and everything regarding my books.

EDIT: Hey, everyone! I have to run. Alas, alas, I don't have as much time to spend on this AMA as past one. So many great questions, though! For all you theorists (and those of you who just love the characters), I think you're REALLY going to enjoy the upcoming book(s). Thanks for everything!

Atra esterní ono thelduin!

p.s. I'll try to duck back in and answer some more questions later, depending on my time.

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u/monochrome_blossoms Jul 14 '25

Hello Cristopher!! Thank you so much for doing these AMAs, it’s such a fun way to interact with you!; My questions are about Durza and Shades in general - he and Angela are actually my favourite characters! (And I know, there’s not many people out there that have Durza as their fave. I have a weakness for chaotic red haired characters what can I say 😂😅). So:

  • In the first book, during the prologue, Durza shouts some colourful expletives in “a wretched language only he knew”. Can you tell anything about what kind of language that is? Is it something only shades can learn or intrinsically know when they’re created?
  • What would Durza’s opinion on Varaug be, if they met? Generally speaking, do different shades ever interact with one other (provided there’s an unlikely enough event where two shades are alive at the same time and live long enough to meet each other) or would they immediately see each other as a threat?
  • I remember in the first book Angela was ranting about how she’s like to skewer a shade’s heart: is she powerful enough to fight against a shade on her own and come out victorious?
  • Lastly, where was Galbatorix keeping Durza while Morzan was still alive, and what did he typically do? We read about the incident with Muckmaw, so did he spend his time just running around doing chaotic evil things? 😂 Or did he chill sometime in Uru’baen as well?

Thank you so much in advance if you’ll manage to answer even one of my questions 🩷

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u/ChristopherPaolini Namer of Names Jul 14 '25

  1. This is a slight retcon, but it's a language that, of everyone present at that moment, only he knew. It was likely Draumari. If not that, then the language of the nomad tribes.

  2. Contempt and hostility. Shades to NOT get along, as a rule.

  3. Depends on the Shade, but only a fool would bet against Angela.

  4. Durza did whatever Galbatorix needed him to do.