What will happen on book IV is only known to Paolini himself, perhaps not even so yet. In his first post Brisingr interview all he really said was that some people will probably have a major role in book IV, without revealing what that role will be. No surprise there, only in ancient Greek drama did we ever know what will happen in the future ...
What interest me here though is what strategy will the various armies follow. Galbatorix is gathering up another massive army to replace the one he lost in the Burning Plains. In the one month or so that Brisingr takes place he has not yet managed to marshall it but in Bellatona (or Dras Leona at the latest) we will probably meet it, if we are to follow the Varden. His moves after the Burning Palins have been sporadic: 300 special soldiers and Murtagh to kidnap Eragon, a cavalry raid to harass Surda, small inefective stuff. Granted he is currently facing a bigger threat than the Surdans: the elves. It is very possible he is sending his troops there. For the time being the Burning Plains have cost Galbatorix 3 cities (Feinster, Ceunon and Gilead), 4 if Arroughs has actually fallen.
The elven Army is facing an open right flank. Do they really want to advance to Bullridge with Yazuac, Daret and the like posing a threat? Or do they really not pose a threat being too small? And if Murtagh is to reappear, can they really face him without Oromis? To me it seems that they will follow a defensive rather than an offensive strategy, especially if we consider that a move towards the Spine is probably more defensive than offensive strategy
For the Varden/Surdan Army we have at least a strategy plan told by Nassuada: Belatona -> Dras Leona -> Urubaen. During Eragon's march from Helgrind we saw the new army forming, more likely than not we will see it in action soon. There is also a major problem with the newly conquered cities: Will they send reinforcement? Will they force the Varden to leave a guard thus weakening their numbers? We can only guess for now ...
The biggest wildcard is the Dwarven Amry. The turned the tide at the Burning Plains only to return for the funeral. Now, what is to happen? Orik will most definitely mobilise his army. But where will he send it? Will it go directly, say to Bellatona, to meet Nassuada? Will they cross Tudosten Lake, siege Furnost and either directly advance to Urubaen or join Nassuada? Or is it none of the above?
These remain to be seen ...
dimanche 7 décembre 2008
mardi 18 novembre 2008
More on the Burning Plains
The publication of Brisingr has given us some more information on the army that Eragon faced on the Burning Plains (the first time). Here are a few of them:
Composition of Galbatorix's Army
Eragon faced about 100,000 troops. Where did they come from? Eldest and Brisingr give us a few answers. First of all Nassuada got intel that they walked from as far north as Uru'Baen. Brisingr confirms that much: in order to repair the war machines lost on the Burning Plains people go to Du Weldenvarden to chop wood. Very likely that some troops sent by Galbatorix where from the far North, like Gil'Ead or even Ceunon. This however in anything but prudent: in the week or so after the battle they were definitely not available to defend their cities when the elves struck. The vast majority of the Armt though probably comes from the South of the Empire. This goes a long way to explain why even though the majority of the Army fled across the Jiet River there was no attempt to attack the Varden/Surdans/Dwarves later: they fled to their homes.
Supplies for the Imperial Army
If there was any doubt that the Jiet River was used to ferry troops and supplies, the Second Battle of the Burning Plains, where the elite 300 painless soldiers and Murtagh tried to capture Eragon puts this to rest. Disembarking from the boats was probably no innovation of these troops. Vary likely many of the 100,000 (and significantly, their supplies) probably came this way.
Murtagh on the Battlefield and the original aim of the Army
Originally the 100,000 were intended to crush the enemy Army and then lay waste to Surda, hence the war machine. Murtagh came late not because he was reinforcement but because he was to capture Eragon. The Twins were probably more than enough reinforcement to help the original army had Eragon never appeared.
Composition of Galbatorix's Army
Eragon faced about 100,000 troops. Where did they come from? Eldest and Brisingr give us a few answers. First of all Nassuada got intel that they walked from as far north as Uru'Baen. Brisingr confirms that much: in order to repair the war machines lost on the Burning Plains people go to Du Weldenvarden to chop wood. Very likely that some troops sent by Galbatorix where from the far North, like Gil'Ead or even Ceunon. This however in anything but prudent: in the week or so after the battle they were definitely not available to defend their cities when the elves struck. The vast majority of the Armt though probably comes from the South of the Empire. This goes a long way to explain why even though the majority of the Army fled across the Jiet River there was no attempt to attack the Varden/Surdans/Dwarves later: they fled to their homes.
Supplies for the Imperial Army
If there was any doubt that the Jiet River was used to ferry troops and supplies, the Second Battle of the Burning Plains, where the elite 300 painless soldiers and Murtagh tried to capture Eragon puts this to rest. Disembarking from the boats was probably no innovation of these troops. Vary likely many of the 100,000 (and significantly, their supplies) probably came this way.
Murtagh on the Battlefield and the original aim of the Army
Originally the 100,000 were intended to crush the enemy Army and then lay waste to Surda, hence the war machine. Murtagh came late not because he was reinforcement but because he was to capture Eragon. The Twins were probably more than enough reinforcement to help the original army had Eragon never appeared.
dimanche 16 novembre 2008
Dead yet not quite dead
Ok, for 18 months this blog has been dead. But I read Brisingr again so hear are a few pointers:
1. The events of the book take place in about 1 month
2. While most of Galbatorix's army that was in the Burning Plains has survived, we do not see it reformed. It seems Galbatorix is raising a new Army against the coalition oposing him. On the other hand there is a serious possibility that Galbatorix is moving the bulk of his army north to face the far more serious elvish threat
3. It is very possible that after losing on the open field Galbatorix decided to fortify his cities rather than risk another open battle. The stragglers of the Burning Plains could easily be the soldiers faced at Feinster. It is very possible that Galbatorix emptied his city garissons in order to "fix" his problem once and for and, after his defeat, decided to refortify them
4. It seems that the dwarves are now the main bankrollers of the Varden. True, they paid a serious part of their expenses even at Farthen Dur, but the Army at the Burning Plains was bankrolled mostly by Surda. If I would dare take a guess on the economic impact of the war the Empire, the elves and the dwarves are at a loss while Surda is rather neutral, since on the one hand have to pay for their army but on the other hand receive dwarven (and to a lesser extent Varden) subsidies on their economy
5. Beyond Dras Leona food will become a serious problem, especially if Galbatorix follows a scorched earth policy. The food Surda grows is limited, no matter how much money is spent on it, the fish of the sea and of Leona lake are limited, too, so how is the coalition army going to eat? Unless a lightning campaign is to follow after Dras Leona there will be trouble
6. What is going to happen on Book IV? Here are a few guesses
a. Thiefs are going to break in the vault of Urubaen and "liberate" the 3rd dragon egg and some heart of hearts
b. Islanzadi will die
c. Galbatorix will fall and Nassuada will take his throne
Here are a few foods for thought
1. The events of the book take place in about 1 month
2. While most of Galbatorix's army that was in the Burning Plains has survived, we do not see it reformed. It seems Galbatorix is raising a new Army against the coalition oposing him. On the other hand there is a serious possibility that Galbatorix is moving the bulk of his army north to face the far more serious elvish threat
3. It is very possible that after losing on the open field Galbatorix decided to fortify his cities rather than risk another open battle. The stragglers of the Burning Plains could easily be the soldiers faced at Feinster. It is very possible that Galbatorix emptied his city garissons in order to "fix" his problem once and for and, after his defeat, decided to refortify them
4. It seems that the dwarves are now the main bankrollers of the Varden. True, they paid a serious part of their expenses even at Farthen Dur, but the Army at the Burning Plains was bankrolled mostly by Surda. If I would dare take a guess on the economic impact of the war the Empire, the elves and the dwarves are at a loss while Surda is rather neutral, since on the one hand have to pay for their army but on the other hand receive dwarven (and to a lesser extent Varden) subsidies on their economy
5. Beyond Dras Leona food will become a serious problem, especially if Galbatorix follows a scorched earth policy. The food Surda grows is limited, no matter how much money is spent on it, the fish of the sea and of Leona lake are limited, too, so how is the coalition army going to eat? Unless a lightning campaign is to follow after Dras Leona there will be trouble
6. What is going to happen on Book IV? Here are a few guesses
a. Thiefs are going to break in the vault of Urubaen and "liberate" the 3rd dragon egg and some heart of hearts
b. Islanzadi will die
c. Galbatorix will fall and Nassuada will take his throne
Here are a few foods for thought
mardi 3 avril 2007
Burning Plains discussion
Over the last 10 days I have been discussing my Burning Plains article at the Urubaen Forums (which are the forums of anti-shurtugal.com). Here is the link
http://z13.invisionfree.com/urubaen/index.php?showtopic=2689
http://z13.invisionfree.com/urubaen/index.php?showtopic=2689
vendredi 16 mars 2007
Battle under Farthen Dur V
I have not been able to post as much as I like. I am sorry but Real Life gets the better of me.
Now returning to the critique. The first new crtique I have to add is an extention of an old one. It is commented in the book that the flood of the Urgals is too great and too constant and threatens to flood the Varden and dwarves. Why don't they just shut it off, massacre the Urgals of the field and then turn it on again? For those wondering how that is possilbe since the Urgals are not water to be controlled by faucets I have one answer: tunnelling. The dwarves could have several redundant ways leading to the opening, they could just collapse one of the tunnels during the battle and create a gap while the Urgals use a secondary bypass to re-reach the surface, gaining a breather. Talking of tunnel preparations, even though the dwarves decided to abandod the tunnels to the Urgals (a major mistake IMO) there is no reason why they have not set up foot traps and the like inside the tunnels. The Viet Cong had hidden traps of bamboo pikes covered with feces inside their tunnels so as to wound and infect American soldiers trying to hunt them inside their tunnels.
Another issue is that of the tactic used during the battle. Ajihad and Hrothgar have at their disposition human archers, lightly armed human pikement and swormen and heavily armed dwarves. Light and heavy troops have their own advantages and disadvantages. Heavily armed troops are harder to kill but lack mobility. Lightly armed troops have mobility and endurance but are seriously disadvantaged against heavier troops in one to one combat. Traditionally light troops do not really stand still in the field, they harass heavier troops by attacking them and retreating when they counterattack. This is how Iphicrates' peltasts defeated an entire mora of Spartan soldiers in the Isthmus during the Corinthian War (390 BC). If this is what Ajihad meant when he said that his troops need manoevering space he is justified in having them in the field. Yet under Farthen Dur the humans and dwarves fight on the first line indiscriminantly of their armor. This is a simple bloody battle of infantry versus infantry (with minor exceptions), no brilliant tactical move is to be seen anywhere, except in Durza's tunneling whose main purpose is to capture Eragon, not win the battle!
We learn that all troops fight under the Varden symbol. Why the dwarves do so we are not told.
The burning tar is a great note. The fortifications as earthen armor for pikemen are also a good force multiplier. It would strengthen the Varden more if they had archers on the fortifications wearing down the Urgals. After the fortifications are broken the dwarves and Varden meet the Urgals in a mixed formation. Why in the two columns having humans are they mixed with dwarves? Why arent the Varden on the side flanking and retreating the Urgals? We will not know.
Some of my critique I admit may be unfair. Paolini published his book at the age of 18. Unlike the Battle of the Burning Plains this one is not as central to the book as Eragon's travels. Some mistakes are always to expected even in real battles with all general. The was no perfect general in history (with the possilbe exception of Alexander the Great) so we should not try to find a perfect general in fiction although it seems Ajihad and Hrothgar belong to the bad ones. I cannot think much more to write now. If I am finished I will format this for publication in the website. If not I will add more thing here before publishing a more final edition.
Now returning to the critique. The first new crtique I have to add is an extention of an old one. It is commented in the book that the flood of the Urgals is too great and too constant and threatens to flood the Varden and dwarves. Why don't they just shut it off, massacre the Urgals of the field and then turn it on again? For those wondering how that is possilbe since the Urgals are not water to be controlled by faucets I have one answer: tunnelling. The dwarves could have several redundant ways leading to the opening, they could just collapse one of the tunnels during the battle and create a gap while the Urgals use a secondary bypass to re-reach the surface, gaining a breather. Talking of tunnel preparations, even though the dwarves decided to abandod the tunnels to the Urgals (a major mistake IMO) there is no reason why they have not set up foot traps and the like inside the tunnels. The Viet Cong had hidden traps of bamboo pikes covered with feces inside their tunnels so as to wound and infect American soldiers trying to hunt them inside their tunnels.
Another issue is that of the tactic used during the battle. Ajihad and Hrothgar have at their disposition human archers, lightly armed human pikement and swormen and heavily armed dwarves. Light and heavy troops have their own advantages and disadvantages. Heavily armed troops are harder to kill but lack mobility. Lightly armed troops have mobility and endurance but are seriously disadvantaged against heavier troops in one to one combat. Traditionally light troops do not really stand still in the field, they harass heavier troops by attacking them and retreating when they counterattack. This is how Iphicrates' peltasts defeated an entire mora of Spartan soldiers in the Isthmus during the Corinthian War (390 BC). If this is what Ajihad meant when he said that his troops need manoevering space he is justified in having them in the field. Yet under Farthen Dur the humans and dwarves fight on the first line indiscriminantly of their armor. This is a simple bloody battle of infantry versus infantry (with minor exceptions), no brilliant tactical move is to be seen anywhere, except in Durza's tunneling whose main purpose is to capture Eragon, not win the battle!
We learn that all troops fight under the Varden symbol. Why the dwarves do so we are not told.
The burning tar is a great note. The fortifications as earthen armor for pikemen are also a good force multiplier. It would strengthen the Varden more if they had archers on the fortifications wearing down the Urgals. After the fortifications are broken the dwarves and Varden meet the Urgals in a mixed formation. Why in the two columns having humans are they mixed with dwarves? Why arent the Varden on the side flanking and retreating the Urgals? We will not know.
Some of my critique I admit may be unfair. Paolini published his book at the age of 18. Unlike the Battle of the Burning Plains this one is not as central to the book as Eragon's travels. Some mistakes are always to expected even in real battles with all general. The was no perfect general in history (with the possilbe exception of Alexander the Great) so we should not try to find a perfect general in fiction although it seems Ajihad and Hrothgar belong to the bad ones. I cannot think much more to write now. If I am finished I will format this for publication in the website. If not I will add more thing here before publishing a more final edition.
vendredi 9 mars 2007
Battle Under Farthen Dur IV
The Varden and the dwarves
The Varden and the dwarves have the benefit of have little warning when trying to explain their mistakes. These however does not make them less grave.
They choose not to pursue battle in the tunnels. Why? According to Jormundur (but it could be Ajihad, I am not sure of my memory) it is because their armies need manoeuvering space. What for? It is the largest army that needs the benefit of space and, in our case, the Urgals are the largest army. When the Greeks chose to face the Persians during Xerxes' invasion they did not do so in the Plain of the four river (in the region late named Macedonia) or the Thessalian plain where the Persian army could be fully deployed and crush them. They chose the vale of Tempe and Thermopylae. Leonidas chose to sacrifice himself and his soldiers(and the 700 Thespians chose of their free will in order to delay the Persian army's advance on the plain of Boeotia while the rest of the army escaped.
It is in constricted or problematic in general space that one chooses to face a superior enemy and in this case it was inside the tunnels where most constriction was to take place. Channeling the enemy at the plain was usefull as a second step, if the defence at the tunnels was no longer viable. In my opinion the best strategic plan would be to channel the Urgals in the three tunnels but fight inside them. A relay system to rotate dwarves and Varden fighting the Urgals so as to keep fresh troops at the front line, like the one set up in Thermopylae by Leonidas, would be most usefull. If the dwarves are waiting for reinforcements to arrive from other dwarven cities or Orrin, fighting inside the tunnels they gain valuable time. However we are not told if they expect reinforcement to arrive sometime, only that they are unlikely to arrive.
Another mistakes come next on the organisation of the battlefield. We are never really given a topographic plan of the battlefield (nor, like in real world battlefield can we go and do one ourselves) so we have to rely on the description given by Paolini. The three different battles take place in sites that while visible to each other but cannot communicate with ease. When Eragon asks who leads each column he is told that the one in front is led by Ajihad and the one on his right by Hrothgar, implying thus that they are on the same side of the crater. We are never told however if they are near the crater's walls. However the crater walls play no importance in the battle. Is it because they are far from the battlefield? We are not told.
Not using the difference in height given by the presence of the crater is very bad generalship. We are never told how slanted the crater walls are but even if they were verticals a platform could have been built so that archers placed on it could use it to pick on targets with impunity. At least the Urgal archers are also not using the crater walls for their purposes. Furthermore the difference in height can be exploited in very innovative ways. When Alexander the Great was fighting his Balkan campaign he was facing a band of Thracians who were fortified in a montain pass. They had lifted heavy carts in higher ground and would roll them down the slopes against Alexander's soldiers. Why couldn't the dwarves do something like that? Even if the opennings of the tunnels were too far away from the walls, they could simply have chosen opennings nearer the walls. Rolling carts is even unecessary, they could have rolled boulders.
Finally no war machines are present in the battle. Why? Obviously war machines are known to Alagaesians, they are used in the battle of the Burning Plains. Could it be that they dwarves do not have any available at Tronjheim? That is a strong possibility. We are not told if Tronjheim is the main base of the dwarven army the way that Gilead is the main base of Galbatorix's army, but if it is not and Hrothgar does not keep some around him for show it is very possible they were unavailable. I will continue with my critique later...
The Varden and the dwarves have the benefit of have little warning when trying to explain their mistakes. These however does not make them less grave.
They choose not to pursue battle in the tunnels. Why? According to Jormundur (but it could be Ajihad, I am not sure of my memory) it is because their armies need manoeuvering space. What for? It is the largest army that needs the benefit of space and, in our case, the Urgals are the largest army. When the Greeks chose to face the Persians during Xerxes' invasion they did not do so in the Plain of the four river (in the region late named Macedonia) or the Thessalian plain where the Persian army could be fully deployed and crush them. They chose the vale of Tempe and Thermopylae. Leonidas chose to sacrifice himself and his soldiers(and the 700 Thespians chose of their free will in order to delay the Persian army's advance on the plain of Boeotia while the rest of the army escaped.
It is in constricted or problematic in general space that one chooses to face a superior enemy and in this case it was inside the tunnels where most constriction was to take place. Channeling the enemy at the plain was usefull as a second step, if the defence at the tunnels was no longer viable. In my opinion the best strategic plan would be to channel the Urgals in the three tunnels but fight inside them. A relay system to rotate dwarves and Varden fighting the Urgals so as to keep fresh troops at the front line, like the one set up in Thermopylae by Leonidas, would be most usefull. If the dwarves are waiting for reinforcements to arrive from other dwarven cities or Orrin, fighting inside the tunnels they gain valuable time. However we are not told if they expect reinforcement to arrive sometime, only that they are unlikely to arrive.
Another mistakes come next on the organisation of the battlefield. We are never really given a topographic plan of the battlefield (nor, like in real world battlefield can we go and do one ourselves) so we have to rely on the description given by Paolini. The three different battles take place in sites that while visible to each other but cannot communicate with ease. When Eragon asks who leads each column he is told that the one in front is led by Ajihad and the one on his right by Hrothgar, implying thus that they are on the same side of the crater. We are never told however if they are near the crater's walls. However the crater walls play no importance in the battle. Is it because they are far from the battlefield? We are not told.
Not using the difference in height given by the presence of the crater is very bad generalship. We are never told how slanted the crater walls are but even if they were verticals a platform could have been built so that archers placed on it could use it to pick on targets with impunity. At least the Urgal archers are also not using the crater walls for their purposes. Furthermore the difference in height can be exploited in very innovative ways. When Alexander the Great was fighting his Balkan campaign he was facing a band of Thracians who were fortified in a montain pass. They had lifted heavy carts in higher ground and would roll them down the slopes against Alexander's soldiers. Why couldn't the dwarves do something like that? Even if the opennings of the tunnels were too far away from the walls, they could simply have chosen opennings nearer the walls. Rolling carts is even unecessary, they could have rolled boulders.
Finally no war machines are present in the battle. Why? Obviously war machines are known to Alagaesians, they are used in the battle of the Burning Plains. Could it be that they dwarves do not have any available at Tronjheim? That is a strong possibility. We are not told if Tronjheim is the main base of the dwarven army the way that Gilead is the main base of Galbatorix's army, but if it is not and Hrothgar does not keep some around him for show it is very possible they were unavailable. I will continue with my critique later...
lundi 5 mars 2007
Battle under Farthen Dur III
I am a bit late than promised, not due to factors I control. I was a little sick last week... I will begin by analusing the mistakes done by each side in the battle
Urgals
The Urgal's intention was to overrun Tronjheim, conquer the dwarf nation and, if the Silarilion was Paolini's inspiration, turn the Beor mountains into an Urgal kingdom that was to be allied with the Empire. In exchange for doing the Empire's dirty job it gave them a general (Durza), free passage through its territory (the Urgals were after all based on the Spine) and supplies until the battle. The only way the Urgals had access to Tronjheim was through the tunnels under Farthen Dur. We are told that there is a dense network of tunnels under the mountain leading everywhere. The dwarves (and Arya with Eragon, but they are under the command of the dwarves) have collapsed earlier all the tunnels except those through which they intend to channel the Urgals. Yet despite the fact that it soon becomes obvious that this is a trap the Urgals keep on attacking, buldozer style like in the great battles of the Western and Italian Front in World War I. Durza is a horrible general for his army but then again among his orders is to exterminate the Urgals. The Urgals should have tried to dig the blocked tunnels and appear at other places instead of just stubbornly attacking.
Furthermore after the death of Durza the Urgal army turns on itself. With the Urgals having surrounded their enemies (the 12 companions of Durza could have been followed by many more) they could have by now easily defeated the Varden and dwarves. Yet it appears the Urgals are so deeply split among themselves that they cannot stay together except by force. After the death of Durza it was a great opportunity not only to defeat the Varden but also to claim victory for themsleves and gain some advantage over the Empire in the following balance of power.
Last but not least it is defeating the enemies arrayed against them that appears to be the main Urgal objective rather than reunifying their formation and and crushing each enemy column one by one. We are never really aware of the topography of the battlefield, it could be impossible to unite all three Urgal columns because some mountain may lie between them, but if instead of attacking those against them at once they tried to reunite with their other formations they could have been far more effective.
At least though the Urgals had a good strategic plan and the element of surprise. The Varden and the dwarves make even greater mistakes. Wait until next time for them.
Urgals
The Urgal's intention was to overrun Tronjheim, conquer the dwarf nation and, if the Silarilion was Paolini's inspiration, turn the Beor mountains into an Urgal kingdom that was to be allied with the Empire. In exchange for doing the Empire's dirty job it gave them a general (Durza), free passage through its territory (the Urgals were after all based on the Spine) and supplies until the battle. The only way the Urgals had access to Tronjheim was through the tunnels under Farthen Dur. We are told that there is a dense network of tunnels under the mountain leading everywhere. The dwarves (and Arya with Eragon, but they are under the command of the dwarves) have collapsed earlier all the tunnels except those through which they intend to channel the Urgals. Yet despite the fact that it soon becomes obvious that this is a trap the Urgals keep on attacking, buldozer style like in the great battles of the Western and Italian Front in World War I. Durza is a horrible general for his army but then again among his orders is to exterminate the Urgals. The Urgals should have tried to dig the blocked tunnels and appear at other places instead of just stubbornly attacking.
Furthermore after the death of Durza the Urgal army turns on itself. With the Urgals having surrounded their enemies (the 12 companions of Durza could have been followed by many more) they could have by now easily defeated the Varden and dwarves. Yet it appears the Urgals are so deeply split among themselves that they cannot stay together except by force. After the death of Durza it was a great opportunity not only to defeat the Varden but also to claim victory for themsleves and gain some advantage over the Empire in the following balance of power.
Last but not least it is defeating the enemies arrayed against them that appears to be the main Urgal objective rather than reunifying their formation and and crushing each enemy column one by one. We are never really aware of the topography of the battlefield, it could be impossible to unite all three Urgal columns because some mountain may lie between them, but if instead of attacking those against them at once they tried to reunite with their other formations they could have been far more effective.
At least though the Urgals had a good strategic plan and the element of surprise. The Varden and the dwarves make even greater mistakes. Wait until next time for them.
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