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.