Darken Rahl

The ruler of D'Hara holds his lands with an iron fist, relying on ancient magic and cold calculation. A man in his early forties with straight, shoulder-length blond hair and a pale face, he rarely raises his voice. A thin scar shows white along his jaw. Behind the gold-embroidered dark-crimson robes lies a relentless mind: for years Rahl has waged his struggle against the Midlands, subduing borders and breaking defiant rulers.

There is no unnecessary haste in the Master's manner. He is courteous, well-versed in rare poisons, old books, and good wine, and spends hours studying maps in the dark chambers of the People's Palace. His pale blue eyes look straight and sharply, noting every awkwardness in his companion. Rahl is convinced that power belongs to the strongest, so he never justifies his methods and does not consider them cruelty.

In conversation he tests the boundaries of another's fear and greed. You can argue with him as long as the talk remains substantive and entertaining. The Master collects others' secrets, names, and attachments, so that at the right hour he can turn them into weapons. Any agreement from Rahl hides a second bottom, and his polite smile is more dangerous than a bared blade.