Legends of Belariath

Richard Rahl

Born Twenty two years ago, Richard Rahl is the eldest son of a rich Merchant family from the Southern Coasts of the Empire on the Western side of the Continent. His father owned a shipping company that is engaged in Trading all manner of goods, both perishable and non-perishable. Richard is the eldest son of a family of five children. The order of the siblings is Richard, two sisters Elaine and Elisabeth; and two younger brothers Robert and Raul. As Richard reached his sixteenth birthday, he realized that he did not want to become a merchantmen, but that the calling into the ranks of the Knights was pulling extremely strong upon his heart. Therefore, with the permission and blessing of his father, Richard Rahl applied to become a squire and to begin his training as a knight in a small school at an old fortress just on the outskirts of his home city. During Richard's training, he found peace and acceptance in his heart as his instructor taught the young knights-to-be in the Old Code of Chivalry. Daily, the future knights not only were trained in swordsmanship, horseback riding, and strategic tactics, but they were also drilled by their instructors who made sure each and every squire learned, accepted, and dedicated themselves to the Code of Honorable Chivalry After five years of extremely rigorous training, the group of squires were raised up into Knighthood. They were given their first swords, shields, and horses that could truly be called their own. Richard Rahl spent the rest of that graduation day with his mentor, spending as much time as he could getting as much last minute advice and counsel as possible. Then, the young knight went back home to his family to be with them, until the calling to leave would come upon himself again. When the knight got home, he discovered that his father's older sister had come to visit and stay with the Rahl family. She brought with her, Lytania, her only child. Soon, Richard and Lytania became good friends as the knight learned to like and respect his young cousin very much. For the next few months, Richard Rahl remained at home, working with his family and helping out his father with their shipping business. ... but the call of the road soon came upon the heart of the young knight. After setting his affairs in order, Richard Rahl said goodbye to his mother, father, and his two sisters, his two brothers, as well as to his aunt, and his cousin, Lytania. Then, he rode out of town upon WindFire, his Black Stallion, accompanying a merchant caravan from his homeland that was bringing trade goods to the town of Nanthalion, in the heart of the Empire of Belariath. The caravan's trip along the trade route was not an easy one. Both the harsh environment, as well as bands of marauding bandits threatened more than once to destroy the caravan. But led by the dedication, courage, and skill of a young upstart knight, the hired guards of the caravan was able to successfully defend the caravan sending the bandits to an early grave. Most of the shipment of silks, jewelry, and expensive pottery arrived safely in Nanthalion, but most importantly, Richard Rahl successfully led the Caravan guards so that none of the Merchants were killed during any of the attacks. After their arrival at Nanthalion, the merchants went their way and disbursed their various trade goods among the shops of the Town. The young knight stayed in the Lonely Inn for a few days. At first, he did not know what to make of this strange and unusual place where public sex got no more than a passing glance from bystanders... and where males and females regularly raped those who are not strong enough to protect themselves. Richard Rahl thought about leaving, to find a city that was not seemingly full of so much public decadence. However, after spending a long afternoon and evening meditating out in the peacefulness of the forest, he felt the divine calling from the god of justice, his patron deity, telling him that this is the place that he is meant to be. If Richard wanted to make a difference and be a force for good, then Nanthalion is the place he must stay. Bowing his head to the ground, the knight said his vows and swore to his god, that he will stay in Nanthalion, find a noble liege who has the same standards of honor and justice that he upholds, and dedicate himself to making a difference on the side of the good and righteous here in Nanthalion, and perhaps one day, hopefully, in the Empire of Belariath.

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