Richard Rahl

Sword of Truth Book Series

Richard Rahl is first and foremost the Seeker of Truth as named by First Wizard, Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander. His initial task was to the rid the world of an evil tyrant named Darken Rahl, the then Lord Rahl of the D’Haran Empire - who was intent on taking over the Midlands. But with the help of his friends, Zedd, Chase and Kahlan, Richard was successful in fulfilling his task.

Shortly afterwards, Richard became the new Lord Rahl. And by then a new evil had surfaced: Jagang, leader of the Imperial Order. Richard fought long and hard against Jagang over the course of the next few years.

It was during this time that Richard married Kahlan; learnt he was a War Wizard, (the first to be born in over three thousand years) that Zedd was his grandfather; that Darken Rahl was his biological father and that he subsequently had numerous half siblings.

Eventually Jagang was defeated and Richard banished the entire Imperial Order to a world without magic.

Family

WIFE: Kahlan Amnell.
MOTHER: Unnamed.
FATHER: George Cypher (stepfather); Darken Rahl (biological)
BROTHERS: Michael Cypher (stepbrother); Drefan Rahl (half brother); Oba Rahl (half brother.)
SISTER: Jennsen Rahl (half sister.)
GREAT (GREAT, GREAT, GREAT...) GRANDFATHERS: Alric Rahl (father’s side); Nathan Rahl (father’s side).
GRANDFATHERS: Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander (mother’s side); Panis Rahl (father’s side.)
GRANDMOTHER: Erylin Zorander (mother’s side.)

Vital Statistics

EYE COLOUR: Piercing Grey; exactly the same as Darken Rahl’s only they were grey instead of blue.
HAIR: Brown.
HEIGHT: Over six feet tall.
BUILD: Powerfully built; broad and muscled.
ATTIRE: A golden cloak, a black tunic and a pair of silvered bands adorned each wrist. Around his waist sat a golden belt with several pouches, some of which contained both white and black sorcerer’s sand. The Sword of Truth hung from his hip, placed inside its leather baldric. He also wore Denna’s Agiel around his neck, along with Baraccus’s necklace that had the War Wizard symbol on it.

Wizard’s First Rule

We are first introduced to Richard a few weeks after the death of his father George Cypher, who was murdered in a brutal and unprovoked fashion. At the start of Book 1, Richard travels to the Upper Ven forest. He’d been out searching for a particular vine, the same kind he found contained within a jar his father used to use for leaving messages to him in. Believing it may be connected to his father’s murder, he searches for it in the hope it may provide him with some answers. Unfortunately, the only thing it gives him is a nasty bite.

Shortly after the bite, Richard spots a lone woman travelling through the forest; she’s wearing a long white dress and is being pursued by four men. Disturbed by what he sees, Richard sets off into a run in the hope of intercepting the woman to warn her of the trouble that trails behind.

Luckily, he makes it in time to warn her and she is noticeably concerned by the news he shares. She agrees to his offer of help and together they set off into the forest and away from the men. Unfortunately they don’t quite escape. One of the men gives Richard a chance to leave and walk away as they only have business with the woman, but he refuses.

Together, Richard and Kahlan fight their way out, with Kahlan using her magical abilities of a Confessor (Richard doesn’t realise how she did it at the time though) and with Richard pushing one of the men off of the cliff.

From the television show

Richard is portrayed by actor Craig Horner in the television show.

A woods guide by trade and a reluctant hero by nature. Richard Cypher begins his journey from boy, to man, to hero, in Hartland – complete with a destiny waiting to be embraced and a pretty woman wanting his help. His eccentric neighbour Zedd proclaims Richard to be THE Seeker and not just a regular one, but THE one. He’s given a sword, the Sword of Truth no less, and is shafted with the thankless task of ridding the world of an evil man named Darken Rahl.

With the help of his newly acquired friends, Kahlan and Zedd, Richard transforms before our eyes into a hero worthy of wielding the Sword of Truth.