Rhonna

Also known as Rhonna of Lykos

Minor
First seen · Book 4 · Ch. 3

Gender: female
Age: teen
First appears: Book 4 · Ch. 3
Books: 2

Rhonna of Lykos enters the saga in Iron Gold as Darrow’s fiercely determined twenty-year-old niece, a diminutive Red eager to prove herself among the Howlers despite her childlike stature. Her initial arc is defined by frustration at being sidelined by her uncle and father, culminating in her assignment to Darrow’s personal staff as a lancer. By Dark Age, the once-jealous recruit has matured into a battle-hardened mech pilot, her small frame now commanding a towering Drachenjäger, while the protective guilt Darrow feels for endangering her underscores the emotional stakes of her transformation from sheltered kin to indispensable warrior.

Description

A twenty-year-old woman of diminutive height stands no higher than an adult man's breastbone, her slight and lightweight build so small she looks like a child even among the Howlers. Her head is buzzed, drawing attention to her flat nose and the generous freckles scattered across her fair-skinned face, while metallic interface sockets are embedded in her forearms for connecting to towering mechs. She wears a black Pegasus Legion jacket, often damp from rain, her posture bold and arms folded in determination as she grins with the resilient spirit of a Red born in the mines of Lykos. Rhonna is a very slight, short young woman, so small beside the Howlers that she can look like a child, though she is twenty. Her Red complexion is freckled, and her face is defined by a flat nose, a close-buzzed head, and an intent, stubborn expression. Sockets are set into her forearms, and she is most often seen in a black Pegasus Legion jacket. Her compact build and chin-up, headstrong bearing make her seem more formidable than her stature suggests. A petite young Red girl stands 1.2 meters tall with a slight 40-kilogram build that makes her look small and childlike whether walking beside towering statues or piloting a hulking Drachenjäger mech. Her youthful face is highly expressive with cheeks that flush easily when embarrassed or determined, lips she chews in hesitation, and eyes that go wild with emotion or squint against the wind and sweat during battle. She moves with quiet feet and military precision, her small hands showing idle tics or steady resolve, clad in fitted pulseArmor or a black pilot rig that syncs to her body, embodying the resilient spirit of a Red child soldier from the mines turned capable warrior.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Darrow of Lykosconflicting source relationships
Begins as protective yet patronizing uncle who sidelines her for safety; evolves into a guilt-ridden commander who acknowledges her indispensable combat role while still fearing for her life.
K
Kieranfather
Rhonna’s father who, like Darrow, attempts to shield her from danger, creating ongoing familial tension over her desire for combat.
Sevro au Barcacomrade
Fellow Howler whose camaraderie is largely observational; he indirectly supports her inclusion by recounting unit stories in her presence.
CX
Colloway xe Charcolleague
Dismisses Rhonna as 'dead weight,' contributing to her early frustrations; no further development shown.
Alexandar au Arcosconflicting source relationships
Initial antagonism born of Alexandar’s superior attitude and Rhonna’s irritation; remains a competitive dynamic that Darrow monitors but does not fully resolve.

Story so far

BOOK 4Iron Gold
- Arrives eager to join the Howlers but is removed from her combat unit by Darrow, who distrusts her readiness.
- Assigned to Darrow’s personal staff as a lancer after demonstrating capability under fire.
- Endures Alexandar au Arcos’s needling and Colloway’s dismissive remarks, fueling her drive to belong.
- Is struck by a paralytic during an operation, highlighting the physical dangers she faces.
BOOK 5Dark Age
- Pilots a massive Drachenjäger mech in combat, proving her growth from infantry to armored warfare specialist.
- Displays heightened emotional expressiveness and military precision under the stresses of war.
- Benefits from Darrow’s fierce, guilt-laden protection, reflecting their deepened familial bond.