Richard Rahl
From Sword of Truth Wiki
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| Richard Rahl | |
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| Physical description | |
| Species |
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| Gender |
Male |
| Hair color |
Brown |
| Eye color |
Gray |
| Chronological and political information | |
| Affiliation | |
Richard Rahl, born Richard Cypher, was the Lord Rahl and leader of D'Hara, who formed the D'Haran Empire to combat the Imperial Order. In addition, he was named the rightful Seeker of Truth and was the first war wizard to be born in over three thousand years. The husband of the Mother Confessor of the Midlands, Kahlan Amnell, Richard was responsible for the defeat of Darken Rahl.
Later, Richard would be forced to create the D'Haran Empire in an attempt to combat the growing threat of Emperor Jagang and his fanatical Imperial Order. Along with Kahlan, Richard served as a strong and intelligent leader, who thwarted a variety of plots masterminded by the Emperor to crush resistance to his Order.
Through Richard's efforts, the devastating effects of Jagang's plague, the chimes and the Chainfire spell would ultimately be reversed, whilst the Imperial Order was defeated and banished to a world without magic and the hope of an afterlife.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early Life
Richard Rahl was raised believing his name was Richard Cypher. Raised by the man, George Cypher, he also believed that he had a brother named Michael Cypher. Richard's mother married George Cypher after Richard was born, thus Richard was raised as George's son.
Richard grew up in Westland, a land to the west of the boundaries. With the teachings of his father and the man he knew as his best friend, Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander, Richard eventually became a wood's guide while Michael became an important political figure in Westland.
As Richard grew up, his father had him learn the words to a book, the Book of Counted Shadows. Richard had to read the book and memorize the words. Richard didn't mind this, feeling honored that his father chose him for the job. Eventually, after many years of studying the book, George asked Richard to recite the entire book, without making any error. When he succeeded at this multiple times, knowing that the secret knowledge of the book was safe with Richard, George burnt the book.
Sadly, when Richard was young, his mother was caught in their house during a fire and died, but only after rescuing Richard and Micheal first.
From then on, Richard would help Zedd whenever he could and became friends with the likes of Dell Brandstone, who he would come to call Chase. He honed his skills as a wood's guide, becoming at home in the forest.
[edit] New Beginnings
After discovering that George Cypher had been murdered, Richard set out to find out the truth about what had happened to him. Finding a dried up vine, the likes of which he had never seen in his capacity as a woods guide, in a jar that only he and George knew about, Richard set out to find the source of this vine. Richard's search led him into the Upper Ven where he found the strange vine growing. However, after getting too close to the vine, the plant bit him, embedding a piece of itself inside the bite.
Before he was able to set off to fix the bite, Richard noticed a woman unknowingly being chased by four men. After studying them for a moment, Richard rushed forward to intercept the woman without the men knowing of it. Taking her to a side path, hoping that the four men would keep following the road, Richard was surprised when, near the end of the path, the four men have caught up to Richard and the woman. Together, the woman, who names herself as Kahlan Amnell, and Richard dispose of the men and make their way to safety.
[edit] Fighting Rahl
[edit] The new Seeker
Richard took Kahlan into Westland to meet his friend, Zedd, as Richard was falling ill from the poisonous sting he had recieved. En route, Kahlan revealed that she was an inhabitant of the Midlands, who had crossed the boundary in search of the First Wizard who's help she hoped to recieve in defeating the wicked Darken Rahl. Zedd healed Richard from the sickness, who he soon deducted to be the very wizard Kahlan hoped to find. Kahlan beseeched Zedd to, in his capacity as the First Wizard, name a new Seeker. Reluctantly, Zedd complied, by naming Richard as the true Seeker of Truth.
Kahlan pledged her life to Richard as the new Seeker, and volunteered to act as his guide through the Midlands. Kahlan, Richard and Zedd found an ally in Richard's old friend Chase, who knowing the boundary better than anyone, saught to aid them in bypassing it. However, Zedd and Chase were soon struck ill by the dark magic of the boundary, and Richard and Kahlan were forced to take them to the mysterious bone woman, Adie.
Adie proved able to heal the pair, though she believed the process would take time Richard and Kahlan would not have and suggested that they leave them in her care whilst they continued their quest. Richard agreed to this, and in the short time Kahlan spent with Aide, she learnt that the old sorceress had known her mother and given her a bone necklace; similar ones she proceeded to give to Richard and Kahlan.
Adie also placed into their keeping a Night stone, which aided the duo in their journey through a pass in the boundary. In the Midlands, the pair found friendship with the Mud People, who initiated them as honourary members of the tribe, and allowed them to participate in a spirit gathering. The spirits summoned by the Mud People divulged to Richard and Kahlan, that the location of the Box of Orden not possessed by Rahl, was known only by the witch woman, Shota.
Knowing of the witch woman by reputation, Kahlan was apprehensive as to meeting her; legend held that even wizards feared to enter Shota's domain. Whilst guiding Richard through Agaden Reach, Kahlan was captured by the witch woman. Immediatly hostile towards the Mother Confessor, Shota covered her in illussionary snakes; removing them only at Ricahrd's insistance. Through Shota, the pair learnt that the lost Box of Orden was in the possession of Queen Milena of Tamarang. En route, the pair reunited with Zedd.
Venturing to Tamarang proved opportune to Kahlan and Zedd, as Milena was the same queen who Kahlan's personal wizard, and Zedd's former student, Giller, had dishonourably pledged himself to. Keen to deal with Giller, the trio arrived at Tamarang, only to find that he had been killed by Darken Rahl, who had also apparently gained the Box of Orden; however, it soon became apparent that Giller had sacrificed himself to prevent Rahl from discovering the location of the Box.
Whilst leaving Tamarang, the trio met up with Chase, healed by Adie, and the young girl Rachel, whom Giller had entrusted the Box of Orden. Though their mission seemed complete, it soon became clear that Richard had been spelled with the use of artistry and he was later captured by the Mord-Sith, Denna, whilst dealing with Milena's henchman responsible for the spell. Kahlan and the others however, followed Richard's last order to them; to join with his brother Michael's army, to better protect the Box.
[edit] Denna's pet
Denna was assigned to torture Richard so he would be compliant and provide Darken Rahl with the text from the Book of Counted Shadows which would allow Rahl to open the Boxes of Orden and unleash the Keeper, thus granting himself immortality. For some time, Denna proceeded to torture and break Richard in the palace of Tamarang; however, Richard lashed out after she allowed the young Princess Violet to participate in his torture, breaking the jaw of the princess and severing her tongue. Queen Milena, horrified at his treatment of her daughter, attempted to apprehend him and Denna, forcing the Mord-Sith to kill the queen.
Shortly afterwards, Denna took Richard to the People's Palace in D'Hara, where she allowed her sister Mord-Sith, particularly Constance, to occasionally participate in his torture and breaking. To survive the horrors exposed to his body, Richard learned to partition his mind; an ability of the gifted. Later, Rahl informed Richard that Zedd had placed an extremely powerful spell over him that hid the true identity of his father. Richard disputed this, claiming George Cypher was his father, only to learn that he had only been his adoptive father.
Denna fell in love with Richard, due to his insistence on showing her compassion despite the way she treated him. She eventually asked him to kill her to free both himself from Darken Rahl's clutches and herself from her role as a Mord-Sith. She gave Richard her Agiel as a token of her love right before he killed her; to do so, Richard was forced to turn the blade of the Sword of Truth white, as stated by prophecy.
However, Rahl had placed an enemy web over Richard, causing all those who were loyal to him to view him as their greatest enemy; Rahl himself. Only those who were not loyal to Richard would be able to see him for who he truly was. Richard soon learnt through this web that his brother Michael had betrayed him and joined Rahl's cause.
[edit] Rahl's Defeat
Kahlan, believing herself responsible for Richard's mind being destroyed, invoked the power of the Con Dar, the Blood Rage, and was in the grips of this as Richard found her. She believed him to be Darken Rahl and so released her power into him. The real Rahl then, believing Richard to be under Kahlan's power, instructed him to recite to him the words of the Book of Counted Shadows, lest he kill Kahlan.
However, Richard had fallen in love with Kahlan, power and all, and was as such immune to her magic. Using the charade of being under Kahlan's power, Richard tricked Rahl into opening the incorrect Box of Orden, the power of which subsequently destroyed him.
Following Rahl's death, Richard and Kahlan were able to love freely due to his immunity to her magic. Richard also had his brother executed for his part in furthering Rahl's cause.
[edit] Tear in the Veil
Although Darken Rahl was killed in opening the Boxes of Orden, his opening the Boxes allowed for a tear in the veil which allowed the Stone of Tears to be in the world.
[edit] Sisters of the Light
[edit] Palace of the Prophets
[edit] Uncovering the Sisters of the Dark
[edit] Imperial Order War
[edit] Becoming the Lord Rahl
[edit] Battle of the Palace of the Prophets
[edit] Battle of Aydindril
[edit] The plague
After Richard and Kahlan are reunited to lead the Midlands and D'Hara against the threat of the Imperial Order, its leader, Emperor Jagang sent an assassin through the sliph deep inside the Wizard's Keep in Aydindril.
While Jagang's plan to eliminate Richard Rahl by using a wizard from the Palace of the Prophets was initially foiled, the Mother Confessor and Lord Rahl soon learnt that another of Jagang's agent has unleashed a deadly plague into them, through a breach into the banished structure of the Temple of the Winds in the underworld.
Things fall in place and intents are unveiled, as Richard's half-brother Drefan and childhood friend from Hartland, Nadine come to Aydindril. For Richard to undo the damage caused by Jagang's minions, he fulfilled prophecy and also the spirits' intent, to enter the long-lost Temple of the Winds. The requirements of the spirits included the marriage of both Richard and Kahlan to Nadine and Drefan, with resentment and bitterness from the part of the former.
Prophecy mentioned that Richard would be betrayed by the 'one in white', the Mother Confessor, his true love. This was inadvertently fulfilled by the consummation that was required by the spirits, and with it, Richard was able to enter the Temple of the Winds to provide a solution to the magical plague.
[edit] Death of magic
To end the plague, Richard Rahl traveled to the Temple of the Winds, where he learned how to take the plague from the world, though upon leaving the temple the spirit of Darken Rahl made him take the plague upon him so he could leave. He did so, but was then committed to dying. Kahlan Amnell traveled through the sliph to find Nathan Rahl, who told her to recite the names of the three chimes to save him. Kahlan returned to Richard and did so, which in turn released the chimes into the world.
The function of the chimes was to drain the world of additive magic, which would leave everyone with the gift helpless. Zedd and Ann tried to trick Richard and Kahlan into believing the chimes were not the cause of the magic's failing, but as the Seeker of Truth, Richard learned otherwise. Though Additive magic failed, Subtractive did not, allowing the Sisters of the Dark to still use some of their magic. Jajang was unable to use his powers as dream walker. Cara found it troublesome that she could not feel the bond with Richard, and her Agiel did not work.
Richard learned that the chimes were defeated by Joseph Ander, nicknamed "The Mountain," and discovered that Joseph used the chimes to power the Dominie Dirtch, a bell-shaped defense system that formed a perimeter around his country. Richard turned the chimes against Joseph, destroying the Dominie Dirtch and sending the chimes back to the underworld.
[edit] Captive
[edit] Life with Nicci
[edit] Reunion
[edit] Pristinely Ungifted
[edit] Bandakarian Empire
[edit] The Chainfire Effect
[edit] Search for Kahlan
[edit] Infiltrating the Imperial Order
[edit] End of the War
[edit] Aftermath
[edit] Personality and traits
Richard was a tall, well built man in his mid-twenties. He inherited the good looks of his father, Darken Rahl though his were not the cruel perfection of a statue as his father's were. He had deep gray eyes and coarse brown hair. He once wore the simple clothes of a woods guide, but was later known to wear the extravagant clothes of a war wizard, these consist of black trousers, a vest top and a golden cape. The outfit also included a golden belt and wrist brasers inscribed with runes that represent death. It was finished with a necklace that had the symbol of a war wizard.
Richard possessed unlimited patience, but little tolerance. He believed that it was the right of all people to be free and that they must step up and fight for that freedom, not rely on others to do the job for them.
Being the Seeker, Richard was prone to asking questions with overwhelming precision. He had much experience in the role of the Seeker and had gained himself the respect of the people of the New World, not just because he was the Lord Rahl, but because he was a man with an honorable agenda.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Seeker of Truth
Richard Rahl is a Seeker of Truth - a true Seeker, named by the current First Wizard based on his inherent abilities, as opposed to pretend Seekers named arbitrarily by governments in the decades preceding the story of the books. As such, he has several unique character traits on the verge of magic: although he dislikes riddles, he is driven to always find the truth of things and is extremely proficient at it, apparently by instinct. Also, he is very quick to anger. Since otherwise his personality is quite pleasant and optimistic, albeit impatient, the anger appears to stem mainly from his being a Seeker. Considering how the Sword of Truth, the unique magical weapon of the Seeker, works, anger may very well be called the primary characteristic of a Seeker. Without it, the Sword, and most of his combat abilities, which are linked to it, would be next to useless, even dangerous to its wielder. Aside from its main function, the Sword of Truth possesses other qualities, usually in relation to certain other powerful magics (like the ability to partially counter a Chainfire, for instance), hinting at it being likely one of the most powerful magical objects in the New World. However, as First Wizard Zorander had said, the Sword is not the weapon, the Seeker is. It is the unique personality and abilities, supported by the powers of the sword, that make a Seeker capable of influencing events at a grand scale. Accordingly, the Seeker is held in extraordinarily high esteem throughout the New World and granted complete independence from monarchs and governments.
War Wizard
Later on in the series it turns out that Richard is a War Wizard - one born with the Gift in its full form, both subtractive and additive magic. That by itself would not be so extraordinary, as this is the naturally prevalent way for Gifted to be born (although with varying aptitudes for one side in favor of the other), if Richard were not the first War Wizard born in three thousand years. The circumstances leading to Subtractive magic going next to extinct are the subject of the plots of several books in the series and are the doing of wizards in the distant past. While being the only one presents Richard with the challenge of learning to master an ability none other alive have or can teach (save for help in the form of an instruction book left to him by his ancient predecessor, First Wizard Baraccus), it also makes him potentially the most powerful wizard alive. However, the powers actually at Richard´s command are growing only gradually, making him still look up to his friend (and grandfather) First Wizard Zeddicus "Zedd" Zu'l Zorander as the more experienced, wiser and stronger one.
Lord Rahl
By inheritance of bloodline, being the son of Darken Rahl, Richard is the Lord Rahl of the House of Rahl and the Empire of D'Hara. While that is not an ability in itself, there is the matter of the bond, or Devotion, an ancient spell that binds every Lord Rahl to his people, among others giving them protection from the magic of the Dream Walker and making the Agiel weapons of the Mord-Sith work.
Truly in Love With a Confessor
Again, this is not precisely a power, rather, a means of resisting one. Richard Rahl is deeply and truly in love with Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell and is thus completely devoted to her. Therefore, the magic of the Confessor has no effect on him - everything it would make him give Kahlan, he is already giving of his free will. As far as is known, this is the only way of resisting the Confessors' magic. This effect is not generally known, the probable reason for its obscurity being that few want to have anything to do with a Confessor, let alone letting one under their skin. Thus, it was a great joy to both Richard and Kahlan to discover this, albeit through a dangerous situation, since it enables them to share their love openly (normally, a Confessor loses control of her power when being physically intimate with someone).
[edit] Behind the scenes
In Legend of the Seeker, a television series based on the events of the Sword of Truth series, Richard is portrayed by actor Craig Horner.[1]
[edit] Appearances
