Durza is a Shade (a sorcerer possessed by spirits) who serves the evil King Galbatorix. He is a powerful, sinister magic-user tasked with finding the runaway princess and is known for his red hair, pale skin, black claws, small ancient magic runes on his face and fanged teeth, with his only true weakness being stabbed through the heart. He is 200 years old.

He is cruel and pure evil, he was once kindhearted and a brilliant apprentice to magic, but his fate took a dark turn. But now in the present day, he is on the hunt for the runaway princess, not knowing that she was the reincarnation of his past love.