Rhonin

Biodata

Background

Rhonin is a Dalaran mage who has only recently completed his apprenticeship. Before the Grim Batol mission, he caused the deaths of companions on an earlier assignment. His guilt leaves him withdrawn and somewhat self-destructive, although he remains reluctant to expose others to similar danger 4 5 39.

Krasus sends him toward Khaz Modan, ostensibly to monitor the Orcs and find a way to rescue the captive Red Dragon Queen, Alexstrasza. Krasus’s underlying plan is to have Rhonin discovered and convince Nekros that an Alliance army is approaching. This would force the Orcs to move Alexstrasza and her eggs, creating an opportunity for a rescue 13 21.

Appearance

Rhonin is described as handsome despite a scar across his nose. His curved eyebrows give Aaron the impression that he is perpetually mocking someone 5.

• Hair: Fiery red, tied into a braid behind his head 5.
• Eyes: Dark green; glow violet during Arcane spellcasting 5 7.
• Distinguishing mark: A scar on his nose 5.

Personality

Rhonin initially meets others with sarcasm, pride, and an air of negativity. Even with Vereesa’s arrow aimed at his throat, he responds provocatively rather than trying to reassure her. His terse explanation for arriving three days late does not include an apology 4.

His bitterness does not prevent concern for others. He hesitates to hire Aaron because the young Paladin appears inexperienced, and limits the employment to Hasic because he does not want to involve another person in the more dangerous mission beyond it. He also openly thanks Aaron for protecting him 5 6.

After surviving his first abduction by Deathwing, Rhonin becomes noticeably more talkative and less gloomy. His sharp tongue remains, particularly toward Duncan, but he develops genuine appreciation for Aaron. Following the mission, he earnestly acknowledges his inadequate strength and resolves to continue studying magic 13 28 36.

Abilities & Skills

Arcane Spellcasting

Rhonin casts through spoken incantations, with his eyes glowing violet while preparing magic 7.

• Uses an unnamed spell to strike Kreel and break the goblin’s attempt to strangle him 22.
• Remains capable of spellcasting after imprisonment and injury at Grim Batol 23.

Dragon-Disrupting Magic

Rhonin temporarily incapacitates a juvenile red dragon, causing it to flail as though trying to scratch an itch 6.

• Creates an opening for the party to escape.
• Has a short duration; the dragon resumes its pursuit when the effect ends 6 7.

Defensive Magic

Rhonin possesses a protective spell but considers it unsuitable during the red dragon attack because the dragon might carry the entire protected group away 7.

• His defensive magic consumes substantial energy 5.
• He doubts that Prismatic Barrier could withstand even one attack from a red dragon 7.

Teleportation and Communication

• Group teleportation: Transports Aaron, Vereesa, Falstad, and himself out of the cave at Grim Batol after the flame golem’s explosion 23.
• Voice transmission: Prepares a spell using a red crystal pendant to contact Krasus after losing his other supplies 9 10 13.
• Portal knowledge: Explains that portals require considerable mana and preparation and are vulnerable to interference, making them impractical for routine troop transport 28.

Artifact Analysis and Energy Manipulation

Rhonin identifies Deathwing’s scale pendant as a possible means of breaking the Dragon Soul after ordinary weapons fail 25.

• Scores the artifact with the pendant’s sharp inset gem, breaking it.
• Casts a spell that draws out its stored energy and returns it to the four Dragon Aspects.
• Is left slumped on the ground and heavily exhausted by the effort 25.

Limitations

• Low physical endurance: Has less stamina than an ordinary person and becomes winded climbing the palace steps in Lordaeron 34.
• Physical vulnerability: Repeatedly relies on Aaron’s protection and healing after dragon attacks, abduction, and imprisonment 6 11 22.
• Limited experience: Has only recently finished his apprenticeship and recognizes that he needs further magical training 28 39.

Equipment & Items

• Deep-red crystal pendant — Used to contact Krasus; becomes Rhonin’s remaining means of communication after a dragon destroys his supplies. It is later confiscated during his captivity at Grim Batol 9 23 27.
• Deathwing’s scale pendant — Temporarily obtained from Aaron and used to break the Dragon Soul 25.
• Dragon Soul — Retrieved during Alexstrasza’s liberation and destroyed by Rhonin; its released power restores the Dragon Aspects 24 25.

Relationships

• Aaron — Hired protector and eventual trusted companion. Rhonin pays him ten gold coins in advance for an escort to Hasic; Aaron continues helping beyond that agreement, defending, healing, and rescuing him 5 13 22 28.
• Vereesa Windrunner — Assigned escort to Hasic and later a fellow adventurer. Their first meeting is hostile, but she subsequently helps search for him and rescue him from Grim Batol 4 18 22.
• Krasus — Mentor and mission-giver. Rhonin initially knows him as a Dalaran Archmage and later suspects his red-dragon identity after comparing the pendants associated with him and Deathwing 13 23.
• Duncan Senturus — Uneasy ally. Duncan’s distrust of magic and dismissive treatment provoke repeated arguments; Aaron also interprets Rhonin’s resentment of Duncan’s attention to Vereesa as jealousy 8 9 13.
• Falstad — Fellow adventurer who helps rescue Rhonin and carries him down to investigate the dragons near Grim Batol 22 24.
• Deathwing — Abductor and manipulator. Forces Rhonin onward to Grim Batol, uses him to deliver false information to Nekros, and then discards him 17 27.
• Nekros — Captor at Grim Batol. Severely beats Rhonin before imprisoning him 27.
• Kael’thas — Senior mage whom Rhonin treats with formal respect. Rhonin accompanies him back to Dalaran to report the discoveries at Daval Prestor’s residence 34 39.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Journey to Hasic

Rhonin arrives three days late to meet Vereesa, who is responsible for escorting him to Hasic to board a Kul Tiras ship. Aaron persuades him to accept a Paladin bodyguard by demonstrating Holy Light abilities and pointing out the danger of Orc dragon riders 4 5.

A red dragon attacks the party on the road. Aaron protects Rhonin from serious injury, while Rhonin’s spell briefly disables the dragon. Gryphon riders subsequently engage it, allowing the travelers to continue until Silver Hand knights intercept them 6 7.

Silver Hand Camp and First Abduction

At the camp, Rhonin encounters suspicion from the Paladins and clashes with Duncan over the war and its sacrifices. He withdraws to the wall to contact Krasus, but Deathwing attacks and carries him away while he is preparing the transmission 8 9 10.

Rhonin is later returned unconscious. Aaron heals him and watches over him until he wakes. After explaining his attempted communication to Duncan, he rejoins the journey in the sidecar of Aaron’s Chauffeured Chopper 11 13.

Captivity at Grim Batol

During the flight toward Grim Batol, Deathwing seizes Rhonin again and destroys his red dragon mount. The dragon coerces him into continuing the mission and delivering false intelligence about an imminent Alliance attack. Once Deathwing abandons him, Nekros beats and imprisons him 17 27.

Aaron, Vereesa, and Falstad force Kreel to lead them to Rhonin’s cell. Aaron heals his injuries, including broken fingers. Rhonin then repels Kreel’s strangling attempt, survives the flame golem’s explosion, and teleports the group out of the cave 22 23.

Destruction of the Dragon Soul

Rhonin retrieves the Dragon Soul after Nekros loses possession of it. When a stone and an Orc battle-axe fail to damage the artifact, he realizes that Deathwing’s scale pendant might breach its protection 24 25.

He breaks the Dragon Soul and channels its energy back to the Dragon Aspects. Their restored power enables them to drive Deathwing away, while Alexstrasza’s offspring help defeat the Orcs 25.

Dalaran and Lordaeron

Krasus returns Rhonin, Aaron, and Vereesa to Dalaran. Rhonin arranges their lodging, guides his companions around the city, and announces his intention to resume magical study 26 27 28 29.

He later attends King Terenas’s banquet and accompanies the investigation of Daval Prestor’s abandoned residence. After the discovery of dragonkin and powerful magical traces, Kael’thas takes Rhonin back to Dalaran to report to the Kirin Tor 32 34 36 37 39.

Trivia

• Aaron remembers an original course of events in which Rhonin and Vereesa become romantically involved. After the rescue, however, Vereesa invites Aaron to Quel’Thalas while Rhonin plans to continue studying, prompting Aaron to wonder whether that relationship has been diverted 3 26 28.
• Aaron’s recollections identify Rhonin as a future Archmage and leader of Dalaran, not as someone already holding those positions during these events 4.
• Aaron urges him to learn more defensive spells because he remembers Rhonin’s death in the original history’s Focusing Iris explosion 28.