Beor Mountains
From The Inheritance Encyclopedia
 | |
| About the Beor Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Name: | The Beor Mountains |
| Location | Southwestern Alagaësia |
| Major Race Population: | Dwarves and humans |
| Ruler | N/A |
The Beor Mountains are a mountain range in Alagaësia.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The Beor Mountains, the tallest and most formidable mountain range in Alagaësia, lies behind the Hadarac Desert. It is a difficult place to reach, both on foot and on dragon-back. Because of the strong protection the mountains offer, the Varden use them as a base for their rebellion against the Empire.
The peaks of the Beor Mountains are very high, and have little oxygen, so it is impossible to reach them on dragon back or on foot. However, the mountains have many valleys, lakes and small rivers that serve as entrances. Two main rivers are Az Ragni, which flows out of the Beors, and Beartooth River, which flows in. Other ways to enter include the extensive tunnels that stretch out miles underneath the surface. The mountains are so extensively mined under that, as Orik says, “you can walk from one end of the mountains to the other without ever reaching the surface.” (399, Eragon)
Eragon describes the mountains as:
What they Eragon, Murtagh and Saphira had taken to be hills were actually the bases of gigantic mountains, scores of miles wide. Except for the dense forest along their lower regions, the mountains were entirely covered with snow and ice. […] The mountains stretched up into the sky until they faded from sight. (Pgs 334-335, Eragon)
In their lower parts, the Beors are blanketed with thick coniferous forests with black bark, dull needles, and huge cones "each the size of horse's heads." (357, Eragon) In Eragon, Eragon says that "the forest gave [him] an uneasy feeling…There was something hostile in the air, as if the trees resented their intrusion." (357, Eragon)
According to Paolini, the Beor Mountains were inspired by the Bear Mountains, near which he lives.
[edit] Population
The mountains are sparsely populated; most of the inhabitants are dwarves of different clans. They have lived beneath the surface of the mountains ever since Galbatorix came to power. The exception to this rule is the city of Tarnag, which the dwarves have begun to repopulate.
There is also a human population of around four thousand in the mountain of Farthen Dûr, known as the Varden, but even there the dwarves outnumber them. (425, Eragon)
[edit] Known Towns and Cities
"'Then there are other dwarf cities?' asked Eragon. 'Not as many as we would like,' Orik replied gravely." (424, Eragon)
[edit] Tronjheim
Tronjheim is the largest dwarven city. It lies in the center of Farthen Dûr, and is the ideal hideout for the Varden.
In Eragon, Eragon's intital impression of Tronjheim is this:
"He lowered his gaze and saw a wide cobblestone path extending from the doors' threshold. The path ran straight to the center of the crater, where it ended at the base of a snowy-white mountain that glittered like an uncut gem with thousands of coloured lights." (397, Eragon) Eragon also guessed that the height of Tronjheim is slightly less than a mile.
[edit] Tarnag
In Eldest, Eragon, Arya, Saphira and Orik travel to Tarnag on their way to Ellesmera.
Tarnag is the main supplier of food for Tronjheim. It is also the only above-ground dwarven city since Galbatorix came to power.
[edit] Orthíad
Little is known about Orthíad. In Eragon, attacking Urgals use it as their base and rename it as Ithrö Zhâda. They inhabit it for roughly a year, gathering forces and preparing to attack the Varden. (469, Eragon)
Orthíad is an ancient dwelling of the dwarves that was abandoned when Tronjheim was built. It used to be a major city, but was deserted. Galbatorix renamed it Ithro Zhada, probably so that, if, by some chance, somebody happed to find the instructions to guards at Orthiad and decoded it, they would not know what it meant.(468, Eragon)
[edit] Other Cities
Several other cities are located in the Beor Mountains, but little or nothing is known about them. They include Buragh, Galfni, and Dalgon.
[edit] Animal Life
The animal life is equally large and resentful; there are large birds with strange red and green markings (358, Eldest), giant wolves called Shrrgs (362, Eldest), and cave bears called Urzhadn by the dwarves. There are also Nagra, giant boars. Dwarves ride upon Feldûnost, large mountain goats.
Fanghur are species of dragon-like creatures. They are smaller than true dragons, and cannot breath fire; they attack the minds of their prey to immobilize it before killing it.
[edit] Significance in the Books
[edit] Eragon
In Eragon, Murtagh and Eragon travel to the mountains first to join the Varden and then later to escape from a rampaging horde of Urgals. When they reach Farthen Dur, they are admitted to the dwarven city of Tronjheim, where they are attacked by the Urgals again. The Urgals had made use of the extensively tunneled area under Farthen Dûr to assail from below, but the Varden repelled them and won the battle.
[edit] Eldest
In Eldest, after Ajihad dies, the new leader of the Varden, Nasuada, decides to move the Varden into Surda by the use of the extensive tunnels under the mountains. Eragon, Arya and Orik travel through the mountains, staying for a brief time at Tarnag. After that, they sail out to Ellesméra and do not go back to the Beors during the third book.
| |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
