Urgals
Urgals (or Urgralgra in their language), were a race of sentient creatures that inhabit Alagaësia. In the first book they had been forced by Durza into the service of Galbatorix, they are considered evil by most humans, but are not inherently so. Though most are uneducated in the normal definition of the word, they make up for this with brute strength, exceptional combat, and commanding skills. They were used as expendable "shock troops" of Galbatorix's army. The Urgal language is a simple, guttural language. Only a few phrases are known to outsiders, and most of those are related to war and combat. Angela, the herbalist, is one of few who can speak their language. As with other races, and ignorantly dismissed by dwarves and humans, they are capable of using magic . With the fall of the Empire the Urgals were made Dragon Riders along with the Dwarves.
Urgals are roughly humanoid in appearance, with grayish skin, bowed legs, and thick arms. They have yellow, piggish eyes, claws on their hands in place of nails, and a pair of long, twisted horns protruding from above their ears. Urgals can be anywhere from six to nine feet tall; an Urgal's height depends mostly on heredity though environmental factors may play a role. Urgals usually have seven toes on each foot as Dwarves do, a similarity that Eragon observes when traveling with Nar Garzhvog, although both rather believe it be the creativity of their gods than any possible relation.
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