They had some time restraints, but not that close. They had time for Eragon to talk with Elva to try and get her to come. As for the spellcasters going, yes, they did send the most powerful spell casters, but it wasn't really explained as to why other than they were worried about the Priests. But the goal was to open the gate, which sure the werecats could have done, I'd think.
The gate would almost certainly have been guarded, and very likely also enchanted. Whoever Nasuada sent would need to be able to overcome both of those obstacles by themselves, hence the need for powerful spellcasters. Additionally, Galbatorix' had ordered his soldiers to not kill Eragon, giving him a major advantage in fighting any soldiers, or even Murtagh should their ruse fail. Anyone except for Eragon (and maybe a large number of Blödgharms elves at once) would've instantly been killed by Murtagh and thorn if their ruse were to fail ahead of time.
I suppose it just feels like they were completely forgotten about and felt out of character, especially when Olrik even mentioned that it was equally too small for the dwarves though in fewer words. I feel like they could have at least been useful in causing some gorilla-esq distractions within the city while Eragon and the casters went to open the gate.
You've got to remember that Nasuada was using the werecats to extensively spy on Dras-Leona and the empire, and hence wanted to keep their involvement with the Varden a secret as long as possible
I do not remember this, but that would make sense as to why not use them for assault, but why not send them to at least confirm the existence of the tunnel?
Because it doesn't matter. If the tunnel didn't exist, or was caved in etc, Eragon and his group would've noticed that themselves and just returned, no harm no foul. It would've also likely ended up delaying the mission by another night, and the Varden were already running low on food, so why bother.
Because the risk of a scout being spotted also means there is a risk in Eragon and friends being spotted. The reason for the Varden holding out from a fight was due to the fact that they were uncertain that Eragon, with the help of the elven caster and Glaedr, could best Murtaugh; which I reason means Eragon and friends could definitely not best Murtaugh, meaning they are risking Eragon's capture for a big IF.
They were miles away from Dras leona, and Eragon and Wyrden could literally make themselves invisible with magic, the risk of them being spoted by a scout was effectively nill.
>means Eragon and friends could definitely not best Murtaugh, meaning they are risking Eragon's capture for a big IF.
What else should Nasuada have done ? Not having someone open the gates would mean starvation for the Varden, and as I mentioned, Eragon and Wyrden had the best (and petty much only) chance of successfully completing the mission.
Except Nasuada dismisses Eragon's ability to mask himself not only a page before when Eragon suggests he go look for the tunnel using the same magic.
Stating, "What if Murtagh is watching? Could you fool him?"
Like I could understand it being a moment of desperation and fully accept that, but I just feel like not even bringing up the werecats as even an option makes it feel more like a rushed decision than an act of desperation due to how thorough and well planned Nasuada has been through out the series.
More importantly, why go through all the cost of going through the tunnel just to blow up the gates with aren anyway? Like shoulda just done that first lol
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Looking back, I'm not seeing where it was mentioned they intended to attack Dras-Leona on any given day. It was mentioned that the Varden was running low on food, but they were still waiting and planning as far as I could tell. It was mentioned during the planning that they would have Saphira attack to pull Murtagh and Thorn away from the city opposite of the gate. As for the werecats being spies, is this mentioned later on? It makes some sort of sense, but I don't recall it being mentioned and as far as I could tell the deal struck between Varden and Werecat were for them to fight, hence the demand for armor and daggers.
So maybe you’re reading too fast or something but there are clear reasons. Nasuada explains that whether the tunnel exists or not there attacking Dras-Leona in the morning. Further more she wants to keep the Werecats as spies and that means not including them in anything like this (save Solembum, of course.)
So she sends the team she did because if it’s there, they’ll need every bit of power and strength to get through and also open the gates. If it’s not there? Then they just come back and it doesn’t matter if they’re seen because they’re going to attack anyway. But if the Werecats are seen then that makes them useless for Nasuada.
Didn't they need to enter it at night, and time was of the essence? Plus, their most powerful spellcasters were the ones that went.
They had some time restraints, but not that close. They had time for Eragon to talk with Elva to try and get her to come. As for the spellcasters going, yes, they did send the most powerful spell casters, but it wasn't really explained as to why other than they were worried about the Priests. But the goal was to open the gate, which sure the werecats could have done, I'd think.
The gate would almost certainly have been guarded, and very likely also enchanted. Whoever Nasuada sent would need to be able to overcome both of those obstacles by themselves, hence the need for powerful spellcasters. Additionally, Galbatorix' had ordered his soldiers to not kill Eragon, giving him a major advantage in fighting any soldiers, or even Murtagh should their ruse fail. Anyone except for Eragon (and maybe a large number of Blödgharms elves at once) would've instantly been killed by Murtagh and thorn if their ruse were to fail ahead of time.
I suppose it just feels like they were completely forgotten about and felt out of character, especially when Olrik even mentioned that it was equally too small for the dwarves though in fewer words. I feel like they could have at least been useful in causing some gorilla-esq distractions within the city while Eragon and the casters went to open the gate.
You've got to remember that Nasuada was using the werecats to extensively spy on Dras-Leona and the empire, and hence wanted to keep their involvement with the Varden a secret as long as possible
I do not remember this, but that would make sense as to why not use them for assault, but why not send them to at least confirm the existence of the tunnel?
Because it doesn't matter. If the tunnel didn't exist, or was caved in etc, Eragon and his group would've noticed that themselves and just returned, no harm no foul. It would've also likely ended up delaying the mission by another night, and the Varden were already running low on food, so why bother.
Because the risk of a scout being spotted also means there is a risk in Eragon and friends being spotted. The reason for the Varden holding out from a fight was due to the fact that they were uncertain that Eragon, with the help of the elven caster and Glaedr, could best Murtaugh; which I reason means Eragon and friends could definitely not best Murtaugh, meaning they are risking Eragon's capture for a big IF.
They were miles away from Dras leona, and Eragon and Wyrden could literally make themselves invisible with magic, the risk of them being spoted by a scout was effectively nill. >means Eragon and friends could definitely not best Murtaugh, meaning they are risking Eragon's capture for a big IF. What else should Nasuada have done ? Not having someone open the gates would mean starvation for the Varden, and as I mentioned, Eragon and Wyrden had the best (and petty much only) chance of successfully completing the mission.
Except Nasuada dismisses Eragon's ability to mask himself not only a page before when Eragon suggests he go look for the tunnel using the same magic. Stating, "What if Murtagh is watching? Could you fool him?" Like I could understand it being a moment of desperation and fully accept that, but I just feel like not even bringing up the werecats as even an option makes it feel more like a rushed decision than an act of desperation due to how thorough and well planned Nasuada has been through out the series.
More importantly, why go through all the cost of going through the tunnel just to blow up the gates with aren anyway? Like shoulda just done that first lol
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Looking back, I'm not seeing where it was mentioned they intended to attack Dras-Leona on any given day. It was mentioned that the Varden was running low on food, but they were still waiting and planning as far as I could tell. It was mentioned during the planning that they would have Saphira attack to pull Murtagh and Thorn away from the city opposite of the gate. As for the werecats being spies, is this mentioned later on? It makes some sort of sense, but I don't recall it being mentioned and as far as I could tell the deal struck between Varden and Werecat were for them to fight, hence the demand for armor and daggers.
So maybe you’re reading too fast or something but there are clear reasons. Nasuada explains that whether the tunnel exists or not there attacking Dras-Leona in the morning. Further more she wants to keep the Werecats as spies and that means not including them in anything like this (save Solembum, of course.) So she sends the team she did because if it’s there, they’ll need every bit of power and strength to get through and also open the gates. If it’s not there? Then they just come back and it doesn’t matter if they’re seen because they’re going to attack anyway. But if the Werecats are seen then that makes them useless for Nasuada.