Future Strategy

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 ...