Eragon is a fifteen-year-old farm boy living in the rural village of Carvahall. Raised by his uncle after his mother's disappearance, he hunts in the feared Spine mountains to provide for his family. His discovery of a dragon egg thrusts him into a magical world, forcing him to learn combat and magic to survive while avoiding the Empire's forces.

Saphira is a sapphire-blue dragon who bonds telepathically with Eragon. Though chronologically young, she possesses the ancestral intelligence of her species and serves as a pragmatic, protective guide for her human companion. She views their connection as a solemn duty and readily engages physical threats to keep Eragon safe.

Brom appears as the elderly village storyteller in Carvahall but possesses extensive knowledge of dragon lore, combat, and magic. He steps in to guide Eragon after Saphira hatches, providing crucial instruction in swordsmanship and the ancient language. He maintains strict boundaries regarding his own past and origins.

Murtagh is an eighteen-year-old warrior who travels independently across the country. He demonstrates exceptional skill with a bow and sword while maintaining a fierce insistence on personal autonomy. He refuses to align himself with either the Empire or the resistance movement, viewing both factions with deep suspicion.

Arya is an elven magic user who carries a mysterious blue stone before her capture. She possesses immense mental discipline, enduring severe captivity without breaking. Even while incapacitated, she manages to communicate telepathically with Eragon to direct him toward safety and medical aid.

Durza is a Shade, a human sorcerer possessed by dark spirits, recognizable by his red hair and maroon eyes. He serves King Galbatorix and relentlessly pursues the dragon egg and its new Rider. He utilizes dark magic and commands monstrous forces to achieve his goals.

Galbatorix is the tyrannical king of the Empire of Alagaësia. Once a heroic Dragon Rider himself, he lost his dragon and subsequently turned against his own order to eliminate rivals. He rules ruthlessly from afar, dispatching vicious servants to secure any remaining dragon eggs.

Garrow is Eragon's elderly, hard-working uncle who runs a modest farm near Carvahall. He continues to mourn his late wife while striving to provide for his son and nephew in difficult economic conditions. He offers pragmatic advice and stable support to the boys.

Roran is Eragon's older cousin, raised alongside him like a brother on Garrow's farm. He focuses intently on building a secure future and decides to leave home to apprentice as a miller. He hopes to earn enough wages to marry his local sweetheart.

Angela is an eccentric herbalist and witch who runs a shop in the fortified city of Teirm. She possesses unusual abilities, including the capacity to communicate telepathically and cast fortunes using dragon bones. She operates independently of the major political factions.

Solembum is a werecat living with the witch Angela. He communicates directly into the minds of those he deems interesting, offering cryptic but crucial guidance. He generally avoids interacting with most humans but makes an exception for the new Dragon Rider.

Ajihad is the human leader of the Varden resistance movement against the Empire. Operating from within a dwarven mountain stronghold, he carefully manages complex political dynamics between humans, elves, and dwarves. He acts as an astute strategist who constantly assesses the loyalties of newcomers.

Sloan is the butcher in the village of Carvahall. He holds a deep suspicion of the Spine mountains and refuses to do business with Eragon once he learns where the stone was found. He inadvertently sets danger in motion by speaking to strangers about the egg.

Horst is the muscular, generous blacksmith of Carvahall. He readily helps his neighbors in times of need, covering Eragon's debts and offering the boy work at his forge. He provides a stabilizing presence in the village during turbulent times.

Katrina is the daughter of the village butcher, Sloan. She wishes to marry Eragon's cousin Roran, prompting him to leave the farm to secure a viable financial future for them both.

Jeod is a merchant operating out of Teirm whose shipping business suffers heavy losses to mysterious pirate attacks. He shares a long, secretive history with Brom and provides crucial logistical support and access to local records to aid the travelers.

Orik is a dwarven warrior who interacts with Eragon upon his arrival in Tronjheim. He directly disobeys orders from aggressive spellcasters to ensure the travelers reach the Varden leadership safely, resulting in his assignment as Eragon's official guide.

Hrothgar is the ancient king of the dwarves who permits the human resistance to reside within his mountain. He carefully weighs the presence of the new Dragon Rider against the safety and political stability of his own people.

The Twins are identical, bald spellcasters who serve the Varden resistance. They actively scheme to increase their own magical knowledge and authority, aggressively probing the minds of newcomers under the guise of security checks.