The primary protagonist in Wizard's First Rule is Richard Cypher, a young woods

guide. Richard lives in an area of the world known as Westland, which is the onl
y part of the world that at the time contains no magic. The Westland is separate
d from the other lands by a dangerous magical boundary that prevents anyone with
out the aid of powerful magic from passing through it. On the other side of the
boundary are many sovereign nations, jointly known as the Midlands, and farther
still past another magical boundary lies the empire of D'Hara. Richard works as
a woods guide leading important political figures through dangerous forests, whi
le his brother's interests lie entirely in politics.
Richard is compelled to investigate the unsolved murder of his father, who worke
d as a trader of ancient artifacts. Investigating the only clue he has, a small
piece of vine, he happens upon a woman named Kahlan Amnell, whom he helps keep a
live as she is being hunted by a group of four men sent to assassinate her.
After Richard helps to save Kahlan's life, it is revealed that Kahlan has come t
hrough the boundary with the aid of five wizards searching for the First Wizard,
who is rumored to have crossed into the Westland after the creation of the boun
daries. Richard takes Kahlan to his best friend and mentor, Zedd. Richard collap
ses after showing Zedd his vine piece, and Zedd recoils, saying it's a snakevine
.
When Richard wakes up the morning after being healed from the bite by the snakev
ine, he identifies Zedd as the First Wizard, and Zedd declares Richard the Seeke
r of Truth because this was his final test. The "Seeker" is a title which comes
with many responsibilities, primarily the Sword of Truth: an ancient magical wea
pon forged by the powerful wizards of old to enhance the righteous anger of the
Seeker of Truth. Zedd explains that while the Sword is an awesome tool, Richard
himself is the true weapon. They begin their journey together to stop Darken Rah
l, the ruler of the eastern land of D'hara, and prevent him from opening the box
es of Orden: magical devices which can give absolute power over life and death.
Kahlan tells them that Rahl has two of the boxes but requires the third before h
e is able to make the magic work. Richard and Kahlan are tasked with finding the
third box and keeping it out of Rahl's hands until the winter solstice, at whic
h time, unless Rahl opens a box, his life will be forfeit to the magic of Orden.
However, due to an attack from some of the creatures of the boundary, Richard an
d Kahlan are forced to leave their companions in the care of Adie: a mysterious
bone woman and cross the boundary alone. They journey to the village of the Mud
People. This tribe had the ability to contact spirit ancestors for guidance. In
order to seek out where the third box of Orden is hidden, they ask for the ances
tors to be contacted. Overnight, Kahlan and Richard share a passionate moment, a
nd Richard asks what a Confessor is, ending the moment. After finally convincing
the Mud people to comply by becoming mud people themselves, they learn through
a gathering of the mud people's ancestors that only the witch woman Shota, who i
s more feared than any other person in all the Midlands, has the power to reveal
the location of the last box of Orden. While in the gathering Darken Rahl slaug
hters several mud people and kidnaps Siddin, the son of an elder.
Richard and Kahlan travel to Agaden Reach where Shota tells them that the last b
ox is in the hands of Queen Milena. Kahlan finally tells Richard that a Confesso
r uses the power of love to destroy a persons mind, making them absolute slaves,
able to even die at the Confessors request. Shota also warns Richard that both
Kahlan and Zedd will use their powers against him. From Agaden Reach, they trave
l to Tamarang, seat of Queen Milena, meeting back up with Zedd along the way.
Upon reaching Tamarang, they discover that the last box is gone and eventually r
ealize it was given to a small girl named Rachel for safekeeping. Soon Richard i
s separated from the group and he falls into the hands of a Mord-Sith named Denn
a and brutally tortured for a month. However, his innate gentleness alters their
relationship, and Richard eventually breaks free of Dennas control after Denna
brings Richard to Darkhen Rahl to recite the Book of Counted Shadows. Knowing th
at Denna has to die, Richard turns the blade of the Sword white through the powe
r of his love and kills her. After helping a dragon named Scarlet find her lost
egg, he discovers how to both beat Rahl, and be with Kahlan. Kahlan, falsely thi
nking Richard dead by Rahl, enters the Con-Dar, or Blood Rage. Thinking Richard
is in fact Rahl, she uses her powers on him. Rahl, thinking Richard is now at hi
s mercy, uses him to recite the Book of Counted Shadows. In the end, Rahl opens
the wrong Box of Orden, under Richard's false guidance, thus killing Rahl. Kahla
n, alone by a pool, orders Richard to leave, thinking he is still under her powe
r, and Richard reveals he was protected, by his already complete and uncondition
al love for her.
Finally, it is learned upon Rahl's death that Rahl raped Zedd's daughter, which
resulted in Richard's conception. Thus, Zedd is Richard's grandfather, and Richa
rd is the new Lord Rahl. Kahlan and Richard set off for the Mud People's village
to return Siddin to his parents.