SKILLS: Animal Empathy +11, Balance +5, Bluff +15, Concentration +10, Craft (masonry) +15, Diplomacy +10, Handle Animal +10, Heal +10, Knowledge (nature) +10, Profession (woods guide) +5, Wilderness Lore +10
FEATS: Ambidextery, Leadership, Power Attack, Track, Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (Long Sword)
SPELLS: Ranger: 1st Level Pass Without Trace; Sorcerer: Zero Level Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Read Magic; 1st Level ? Magic Missile, Identify, Shield; 2nd Level Flaming Sphere.

Sorcerer’s Familiar: Gratch, a short-tailed gar (equivalent D&D creature yet unknown)
Favored Enemies: +2 bonuses against Beasts, +1 bonuses against Vermin.

Background and Personality Notes: When the Eastern Midland nations fell to the invading hoards of Panis Rahl, the evil master of D'Hara, Rahl made his victory complete by raping the teenaged daughter of his greatest rival before the other man's eyes. Rahl soon paid the ultimate price for his terrible crimes, but the young girl eventually gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. She named him Richard. In time, she was married to a kindly woodsman named George Cypher, who already had his own son Michael. The new family shared many happy and prosperous years together. A leader in the sparsely populated nation, George Cypher was elected First Councilor of Westland when the old man who had held the post died without an heir. To him, such a post sounded more impressive then it really was. It was the people who led themselves, he said. They just talked to him when they needed a second opinion. Most of the time he remained in his cottage just outside the capital city of Hartland and cut down trees like he had always done.

For the most part, Richard’s childhood was ordinary enough. However, even from his earliest years, Richard Cypher was known as a special boy. Many people could sense something unique about him, though they could never quite put their finger on it. Unlike his brother Michael, who wanted to go into politics, Richard chose to follow his "father’s" early career, learning everything he could about the trees and plants he lived with, as well as a tracking and other woodland lore. Richard could almost always be found wandering around this way or that, trying to find some rare mushroom or gathering leaves for a healing ointment. Though he made friends easily enough, he never had a real girlfriend growing up, though many were more then willing to fill the role.

Richard's stepfather George, for reasons yet unknown, made him read and memorize a special book known as the Book of Counted Shadows. He made him practice this for many, many years, until Richard knew the book by heart. Oftentimes, George would set a stack of parchment in front of Richard and make him copy the book onto it. If there was one mistake, the papers would feed the evening fire. Many times, Richard asked why he was being made to memorize this book. The only response he got to his question was that, someday in the future, it would be very important that he did.

Eventually, George took the book away from Richard and hid it from him. He never made him practice on memorizing the book. One year later, he told Richard to write the book from cover to cover on separate paper. He did so, without such much as a comma out of place. That night, George threw the Book of Counted Shadows onto a campfire.

One day after he had long since grown, Richard stopped by to visit his father, only to find his cabin in total disarray and George’s body hanging from a hook in the ceiling. The only clue he had to go on was an unusual thorn vine. After spending several days searching for a similar vine, Richard came across a young woman being pursued by a squad of enormous soldiers brandishing weapons of all sorts. At that moment, Richard Cypher’s life was changed forever, and he was put on a path that would eventually lead to the throne of D'Hara. Over the next two years, the whole world would come to know him as Richard Rahl.

Richard Rahl is the creation of Terry Goodkind. He is the lead character in the "Sword of Truth" series that begins with Wizard's First Rule.

For reviews of, more information about Wizard's First Rule and the "Sword of Truth series, click on any of the links to the right. The game version presented here was made using the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook, published by Wizards of the Coast. D20 adaptation by Brandon McLenton.