Darken Rahl
From Sword of Truth Wiki
| |
| Darken Rahl | |
|---|---|
| Physical description | |
| Species |
Human |
| Gender |
Male |
| Hair color |
Blonde |
| Eye color |
Blue |
| Chronological and political information | |
| Affiliation | |
Darken Rahl was the Lord Rahl and ruler of D'Hara, succeeding his father Panis Rahl. After his father's death, Rahl began delving into the dark legacy of the House of Rahl, becoming an agent of the Keeper and gaining the ability to command Subtractive Magic, in addition to Additive Magic. After many a escapade, Rahl fathered several children; though Richard Rahl was his only gifted son.
After placing the Boxes of Orden into play and invading the Midlands Rahl's efforts at bringing the world under his command were defeated by his own son, Richard, who was thought to have defeated him by using the Wizard's Rules. However, it was later revealed that without having used the Sword of Truth as the key to the power of Orden, Rahl's ventures were doomed from the beginning.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early Life
During his early life Rahl was standing next to his father Panis Rahl when Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander threw wizards fire through the boundary killing Panis Rahl and severely scarred a young Darken Rahl. The loss of his father and the excruciating pain from the treatments he received for the burns drove Rahl mad and he began lusting for revenge against Zedd, who everyone in the Midlands and D'hara could no longer remember. The scars continued to plague him his entire life since almost every women he took to his bed laughed at his scars. Between this time and the beginning of the "Darken Rahl Movement", Rahl became a vastly powerful Wizard by learning the use of subtractive magic, becoming an agent of the Keeper of the Underworld and learning the secrets to opening the boxes of Orden.
[edit] Darken Rahl Movement
After years of plotting and planning Rahl found a way to weaken the boundaries and build a vast army able to overtake the Midlands. Using harsh tactics and manipulation, Rahl even brought some of the flags of the Midlands under his banner.
[edit] Invading the Midlands
Upon invading the Midlands Rahl began seeking out and killing Confessors and Wizards. Rahl even sent garrisons of his own men into loyalist towns to slaughter the townspeople, saying it was the resistance to smear their name and increase sympathy for his cause. Calling himself Father Rahl, he began brainwashing people into thinking he was the savior of the world.
[edit] Outlawing magic
Along with Magic, Rahl also outlawed fire, which he viewed as evil, as it was fire that killed his father and severely wounded him. Without fire, the people of the Midlands were plunged into a world of darkness and cold. With the numbers of wizards and confessors dwindling hope seemed lost for the Midlands and it seemed like Darken Rahl would conquer the three territories.
[edit] Threat of the Seeker
[edit] The Mord-Sith's pet
[edit] Endgame
Darken Rahl was killed when he was tricked by his son Richard Rahl, using the wizard's first rule, into opening the wrong box of Orden. It was later revealed, however that the sword of truth is necessary to open the correct box, and further that one could not seek to use Orden for hateful purposes. Thus, Darken Rahl was doomed in his endeavor from the beginning.
[edit] Post Mortem
Later, Richard unintentionally summoned him back to the living world as a spectre. Darken Rahl's spectre attempted to tear the veil between the underworld and the living, releasing the Keeper of the underworld, but was stopped by Richard and sent back into the underworld where he continued to plot and scheme against Richard. It is revealed that Rahl escaped his fate into the Temple, when Richard enters the Temple, he finally banishes his father to his fate.
[edit] Personality and traits
Darken Rahl was viewed by many to be a vicious man. He was set on obtaining the power which the Boxes of Orden would give him undeniable control over the Creator's world, thus feeding his appetite for world domination. He is very vengeful, and sometimes refers back to being caught in a blast of Wizard's Fire cast by Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander which killed his father, Panis Rahl. Also, due to the burn of wizards fire needing to be untouched and treated over time, though it burned for months to comes; he developed the habit of licking the tips of his fingers and running them over his lips, or eyes brows as a means to bring comfort to his burns.
[edit] Powers and Abilities
Darken Rahl is the son of Panis Rahl, and therewith the gifted leader and master of D'Hara. He therefore has the abilities of a Wizard, and through his gift and the devotion chanted by all D'Harans the bond between Lord Rahl and any D'Haran that all D'Harans feel. This magic, put in place by Alric Rahl also insured Darken Rahl a gifted son. It would also have protected him from control by a Dream Walker. In addition to all this, Darken Rahl had made agreements with the Keeper of the Underworld, allowing him limited control of subtractive magic.
In the People's Palace, his power would be further amplified by the spell form the Palace was made in.
[edit] Behind the scenes
In Legend of the Seeker, a television series based on the Sword of Truth series, Darken Rahl is portrayed by Craig Parker, and contrary to the book series is considered Richard's brother.
[edit] Appearances
- Wizard's First Rule (First appearance)
- Legend of the Seeker — "Prophecy"
- Stone of Tears (Appears as spirit)
- Temple of the Winds (Appears as spirit)
