"A century has passed since Eragon and Saphira left Alagaësia for good. The Riders have risen to power once again. In fact, it's a common sight to see a dragon soaring across the sky. But are you a Rider? Come, we have plenty of eggs. Why don't we see if one hatches for you? My name is Sardonyx, by the way. Sardonyx Crimson. I'm in charge of the Rider's Academy here in Gil'ead."
The Dragon Riders were a coalition of elves and dragons formed at the end of Du Fyrn Skulblaka to forge peace and order between the elves and dragons. The Riders were created because treaties between the two races would prove useless to stop fighting: a signed piece of paper meant nothing to a dragon. So, an irrevocable bond was wrought by the elves and the dragons; the elves provided the structure of the spell and the dragons provided the strength, thus creating the Dragon Riders. When a fleet of humans sailed across the sea thousands of years later, they too were added to the elite order of the Dragon Riders. The role of the Riders became more than uniting the Elves and Dragons: they became keepers of the peace throughout the land of Alagaësia, and were respected and honored by the people they served. There were both male and female Riders, all of whom were able to use magic. The Riders not only were peacekeepers, they were healers, scholars and the strongest magicians throughout the land besides Shades.
Dragons were an ancient race of sentient creatures native to the land of Alagaësia. While most roamed free and did not commonly associate with the civilizations of other races, a significant number were the mounts and life-long companions of the Dragon Riders. There were only five known dragons left in Alagaësia during the Rider War: Shruikan, Saphira, Thorn, Firnen, (though Saphira, Firnen, and Thorn were still eggs) and Glaedr. Glaedr was the only dragon (other than Shruikan) alive at the start of the Rider War, however, he was killed by Galbatorix (through Murtagh and Thorn), and henceforth resided in his Eldunarí, which was in Eragon's possession. However, unbeknownst to everyone, there were still eggs in existence, hidden on Vroengard, the ancient home of the Riders.
Races Eligible to be Riders
The Human Race was not native to Alagaësia; along with the elves and the Urgals, humans came from some unknown continent across the Western Sea in ages past. The first twenty humans landed in what later became Surda; however, according to Orik Thrifksson, these humans merely came to visit. It is held among the dwarves that "the humans had completely forgotten us by the time they returned in 7203 A.C., except for vague stories about hairy-men-of-the-mountains that preyed upon children in the night." In the preface of Heslant the Monk's Domia Abr Wyrda, it is said that these humans who visited in 5596 A.C. exchanged gifts with the dwarves, then left.
The Elves were a race of beings who migrated to Alagaësia from Alalëa in the distant past; around 5217 AC. Humanoid in appearance, they had noticeably angular features, slanting eyebrows, and pointed ears, and a feline face; they were generally tall and always slim, and were, according to legend, the fairest people of the land, partly because of the physical transformation caused by the dragons' influence on them (and were thus called the Fair Folk). Most elves were more gifted with magic than the other races, and had an innate knowledge of their true names, thus making them more powerful than other races.
Dwarves were one of the only races native to Alagaësia. Known as lovers of rock and stone, dwarves had a long lifespan and often lived in large, underground cities in the Beor Mountains. One of the most famous dwarf cities was located in Farthen Dûr. The city itself, Tronjheim, was the secret hiding place of the Varden up until the Battle under Farthen Dûr. The dwarves had many clans such as the Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin and the Dûrgrimst Ingeitum. With the fall of the Empire the Dwarves were accepted into the Dragon Riders along with the Urgals.
The Urgals were a race of sentient creatures that inhabit Alagaësia. In the first book they had been forced by Durza into the service of Galbatorix. They are considered evil by most humans, but are not inherently so. Though most are uneducated in the normal definition of the word, they make up for this with brute strength, as well as exceptional combat and commanding skills. They were used as expendable "shock troops" by Galbatorix's army. The Urgal language is simple and guttural. Only a few phrases are known to outsiders and most of those are related to war and combat. Angela, the herbalist, is one of few who can speak their language. As with other races, they are capable of using magic, to the ignorance of both humans and dwarves. With the fall of the Empire the Urgals were made Dragon Riders along with the Dwarves.
