So it occurs to me that only two major events happen in the entirety of the Black Brick.
First, the Raz'zac are killed. This happens in the first few chapters despite being by far Paolini's best villains.
Dragon soul jars are introduced.
Second, Oromis and Gladr die. Big shocker, nobody cares. We all knew it was coming.
But I just had an idea which could have made those two events more interesting. Instead of having the Raz'zac get unceremoniously killed off in the opening chapters, have the raid on Helgrind reveal that the Raz'zac are not home. Eragon and co have to run away and escape the Empire and wonder what the Raz'zac are up to. And Roran gets killed at some point because he serves no purpose in the plot and it would raise the stakes.
The plot proceeds largely the same. Until the point where Saphira and Eragon are separated. Saphira is beaten up by the Raz'zac and captured. Eragon goes to elfland for help and he finds out that Gladr has been mind controlled by the Raz'zac who stole his soul jar while Eragon was at their hideout. Meanwhile, the Raz'zac explain that they plan to force Saphira to mate with both Thorn and Gladr so that a new generation of dragons can be bred who will be under Galbatorix's command.
Each of these will have their soul jars extracted so they can't defy him.
Eragon, Arya and Oromis rush to save their dragons but while they are leaving Galbatorix launches an attack with Shruikan against elf land. The only reason he has spared elfland until now is because he wanted Gladr alive. He utterly decimates it and causes massive destruction. Eragon wants to go help, but Oromis states that none of them can stand against Galbatorix like this. They have to rescue their dragons.
They reach the Ra'zac. The Raz'zac all get killed. Oromis and Gladr die but Gladr gives Eragon his soul jar so he can still play his part later.
The story ends on a hopeless note, with elf land devastated and Oromis dead. Eragon resolves to stop Galbatorix before he can do anything like this again.
What do you think?
First, the Raz'zac are killed. This happens in the first few chapters despite being by far Paolini's best villains.
Dragon soul jars are introduced.
Second, Oromis and Gladr die. Big shocker, nobody cares. We all knew it was coming.
But I just had an idea which could have made those two events more interesting. Instead of having the Raz'zac get unceremoniously killed off in the opening chapters, have the raid on Helgrind reveal that the Raz'zac are not home. Eragon and co have to run away and escape the Empire and wonder what the Raz'zac are up to. And Roran gets killed at some point because he serves no purpose in the plot and it would raise the stakes.
The plot proceeds largely the same. Until the point where Saphira and Eragon are separated. Saphira is beaten up by the Raz'zac and captured. Eragon goes to elfland for help and he finds out that Gladr has been mind controlled by the Raz'zac who stole his soul jar while Eragon was at their hideout. Meanwhile, the Raz'zac explain that they plan to force Saphira to mate with both Thorn and Gladr so that a new generation of dragons can be bred who will be under Galbatorix's command.
Each of these will have their soul jars extracted so they can't defy him.
Eragon, Arya and Oromis rush to save their dragons but while they are leaving Galbatorix launches an attack with Shruikan against elf land. The only reason he has spared elfland until now is because he wanted Gladr alive. He utterly decimates it and causes massive destruction. Eragon wants to go help, but Oromis states that none of them can stand against Galbatorix like this. They have to rescue their dragons.
They reach the Ra'zac. The Raz'zac all get killed. Oromis and Gladr die but Gladr gives Eragon his soul jar so he can still play his part later.
The story ends on a hopeless note, with elf land devastated and Oromis dead. Eragon resolves to stop Galbatorix before he can do anything like this again.
What do you think?
