Richard Cypher was once but a simple woodsman, an expert tracker and explorer of the trails that run through and around his home town of Hartland, located in the province known as Westland. He was well liked by the townspeople, and looked up to his older brother, Michael, the First Councilor. Their father, George Cypher, raised the two boys after the death of his wife.

Life was an uneventful series of tasks and duties for Richard, until fate brought him together with a mysterious and captivating female, Kahlan Amnell. From a seemingly crazed old man, Zedd, the truth was soon revealed to Richard. He is a child of prophecy, the first true Seeker the world has known in a thousand years, destined to wield the powerful Sword of Truth and defeat the evil tyrant Darken Rahl.