Confessor
From Sword of Truth Wiki
Confessors were one of two tools created by wizards from back during the Great War for use in obtaining the truth. Created beside the Seeker of Truth, the first Confessor was Magda Searus.
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[edit] History of Confessors
The Confessors were created in an effort to ensure that truth could be discerned when it mattered. They were created during the tough times of the Great War. There are not many details of the times.
In more recent times, Confessors were used to take the confessions of people being convicted of crimes. If a person requested a confessor, it was sure that they were innocent. However, since the confessor's touch would kill their sense of self, the confessors often traveled with a wizard, who would then morph the innocent person into an animal, giving them a second chance at life. (See Brophy for example) That wasn't the only reason for the wizard escort, as confessors were hated and often the target of attacks. The wizard would protect the confessor if attacked.
[edit] Confessors and Love
A Confessor can not love in the traditional sense. This is because if a Confessor was in the throes of passions and lost control of their power, they would destroy the mind of their lover. If a Confessor wanted to bear a child, they would have choose, and take, a man as her mate with her power. There would be no true love.
In addition, it was ruled by the Central Council of the Midlands that a male confessor would not be allowed to live. Another reason a Confessor had to "take" her mate was she had to command him to kill a male child if one was born.
A male child would inherit the power of Confessors. Where a female Confessor has to wait for her power to recharge, a male confessor does not, giving him nearly unlimited power. This was an unforeseen complication that had led to a dark age many years in the past when male confessors caused chaos. Any normal man wouldn't kill his child, male or female, thus the confessor has to order the man she took with her power to kill the child.
If a Confessor and a normal man have truly fallen in love, however, the Confessor's touch will not affect him (however there will still be the thunder with no sound) and the two will be able to live out there lives together. This was evidenced by Kahlan Amnell and Richard Rahl towards the end of Wizard's First Rule when Kahlan touched Richard with her power and nothing happened
[edit] The Power of a Confessor
Simply put, the touch of a Confessor is final. If a Confessor can obtain skin contact with a person, they can release their power into that person at the speed of a mere thought. The power destroys everything that made up that person. In exchange, that person is filled with a sense of duty and passion for the Confessor. They will do anything and everything within their ability that they are told to do by the confessor.
[edit] The Con Dar
Confessors have an additional power called the Con Dar, which is also known as the Blood Rage. The Con Dar is a power that only a few of the strongest Confessors possess. The Con Dar is part of the ancient magic of the Confessors but is itself rarely used. The magic can only be taught to a Confessor by her mother once she reaches a certain age. However, Kahlan Amnell is able to enter the Con Dar by instinct, despite having never been taught due to her mother's early death. It cannot be invoked for the Confessor, but must be invoked for vengeance on behalf of another. Once a confessor first enters the Con Dar, they can only subsequently enter it in defense of the person for whom it was initially entered. Confessors who invoke the Con Dar rarely survive since they give their lives to carry out the vengeance. The power allows a Confessor to use her power without touching a person, and also to use it repeatedly without waiting to recover through rest.
[edit] Known Confessors
- Kahlan Amnell (the Mother Confessor, last known Confessor)
- Magda Searus (the first Confessor)
- Dennee
- Mother Amnell
