Ra-Kacharz

"Clean Noradzee!r Clean Noradzeer! Clean Noradzeer!"

- T he chant of the Ra-Kacharz.

The Ra-Kacharz are the ruling class of people in Noradz led by Reece, and villains in Deltora Quest. They are dressed from head-to-toe in red and carry whips. Their name is a derivative of "rat catchers" and they are the serveants of the Shadow Lord. They are one of the main antagonists in the City of the Rats, the third book of Deltora Quest series.

It was they who caused the "rat plague" that drove humanity from the city of Hira, under which was buried a chemical that would pollute the whole of Deltora if released by the burning of the Four Sisters. The Ra-Kacharz are similar to priests, in that they "serve sacred laws", (cleanliness, watchfulness, and duty; three things required for reaction to rat overpopulation) but in other ways are more like oppressors.

They keep the people afraid, though of what the citizens do not know. They also provided luxuries for the noble families in Del, blinding them to the poverty on the castle doorsteps.

They are helping the Shadow Lord by giving perfectly good food( which to the people of Noradz as "unblessed food") to the soldiers and servants of the Shadow Lord which feeds them. The Ra-Kacharz are dangerous and evil so they are best avoided by the people of Deltora because of their cruel reputation.

The word "Noradz" is derived from "No Rats"; whereas the "blessing" uttered by the Ra-Kacharz, "Noradzeer", means "No rats here". Ra-Kacharz sounds like "rat catchers" since they do not like rats, it is appropriate.