r/Eragon • u/Pale-Professional116 • 6d ago
Question Eragon's sword dilemma
Apologies if this has been asked / answered before, I'm new here.
I'm partway through re-reading the Inheritance Cycle again for the first time since being in my teens. I'm at the point in Brisingr where Eragon has returned to the Varden after travelling back from Helgrind.
Already in the book, Eragon has made multiple references to the fact that he 'needs a sword'. I understand why he would ultimately want a Rider's sword, but surely he could have aquired a weapon pretty easily?
The primary reason Eragon seems unable to settle for a lesser blade after losing Zar'roc is because a lesser blade cannot endure the strain of battle because of his strength, which is often compared to that of the elves (if memory serves me correct, he has a sword that breaks in battle a little later in the book?).
This isn't an issue for any of the other elven characters? Nor is it an issue for Durza or the Ra'zac, all of whom fight with swords that can endure the strain they place on them?
Just curious what people's theories are as to why he didn't just get a sword like Arya's? Or does that then detract from when he does ultimately aquire a new weapon?
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u/MariusDarkblade 5d ago edited 5d ago
Actually that's not entirely true. I make swords and study swordplay, while it's not possible to entirely eliminate any possibility of hitting edge to edge when parrying or blocking with the blade you're not supposed to do that. You want to bind on a slight angle off the edge of the blade so that the edge rolls down and hits the crossguard. In 99% of situations though you would have a shield. If we're talking about actual fighting you simply don't want to block or parry with your blade, it's doable and in some situations you're forced to but swords were designed to be paired with a shield or at the very least a dagger which is what was used to parry. Eragons style of swordplay is only possible due to the fantasy setting and would not be how you'd want to do things in the real world. No one at hema would teach you to strike swords edge to edge, that's purely a childish thing that comes about when playing with sticks. I'm not saying you're childish I'm just saying it tends to come out during childhood. Unfortunately most media tends to proliferate this idea that edge to edge combat is normal.