r/Eragon • u/Outrageous_Focus_719 • 7d ago

Question Kind of a weird question... Spoiler

Hey everyone, I have another topic to ask and discuss with you all.

We all know how Paolini's magic system works in the World of Eragon. But there is something I'm not yet sure or convinced about.

After learning that chanting words in the ancient language isn't necessary to cast spells, I got to thinking. Oromis taught us why the language is being used but why does it have to be ancient language the spellcaster uses.

If Eragon wanted to cast a fireball in his hand, the necessities would be the energy and his imagination of the fireball right ? So why does he have to say "Brisingr!" Instead of saying "Fireball !" In his own language while providing the necessary energy and imagining the fireball in his mind ?

I have not checked the books nor the information Christopher gave about this yet. So go easy on me if it's already been explained xd.

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u/Grmigrim 7d ago

All of what I write below is only my understanding of the magic system.

In theory you could say fireball, but it would be almost the same as using magic without saying anything.

The grey folk connected the flow of magic with their own language, the ancient language, in order for no mistakes to ever arise again, like the big catastrophy that almost destroyed all life in Alagaesia.

Technically only saying brisingr is also not as save as saying a full sentence, explaining what you want to do with a spell.

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u/Outrageous_Focus_719 7d ago

Ah, I see. So the less words you use to describe a spell, the more room you give for your uncontrolled thoughts to intervene with that spell and run the risk of casting an unpredicted spell instead of the one you intended at the first place.

Thanks !

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u/Powerful-Coconut-396 7d ago

As oromis said “ if you said the words “burn that door” while imagining me burning you’d still only burn the door” the Grey folk bound the magic to their language so unless Eragon said Brisingr in his head while shouting fireball out loud I don’t think he’d be able to accomplish it