Rhonin

Rhonin was a mage and former leader of the Kirin Tor. A powerful human mage, he was also known to be skilled with the sword. Rhonin was instrumental in breaking the power of the orcs at the end of the Second War by freeing the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza from her imprisonment by Nekros Skullcrusher, an orc warlock and leader of the Dragonmaw clan who used the Demon Soul to keep her prisoner. He later traveled back to the War of the Ancients in order to heal a rift in time.

As the war in Northrend intensified, Rhonin came to the forefront, leading the Kirin Tor from the Violet Citadel in the rebuilt city of Dalaran. He announced the defeat of Algalon the Observer and was involved in the final quests after defeating him.

During the Attack on Theramore Isle, Rhonin sacrificed himself in order to localize the explosion of a mana bomb created by the Horde that destroyed Theramore Isle. He also saved Jaina Proudmoore who succeeded him as leader of the Kirin Tor, as another had foreseen beforehand.

Day of the Dragon
Rhonin was once a promising mage of the Kirin Tor until a disastrous mission involving the reckless use of magic during the Second War — whilst Rhonin was casting a spell, others in his group got in the path of his attack. Rhonin's action succeeded in preventing a band of orc warlocks from raising a demon from the dead, but it also cost the lives of all his comrades. Rhonin was cast into probation until the opportunity for penance arose with a dangerous mission into Khaz Modan. He was assisted in this mission by the high elven ranger Vereesa Windrunner, the warrior dwarf Falstad Dragonreaver, and the dragon-mage Krasus (who was the instigator of this mission).

He was also assisted (at first) by the evil black dragon Deathwing, but Deathwing's true purpose was to steal some of Alexstrasza's eggs to replenish his own decimated dragonflight. With a gemstone created from Deathwing's scale, Rhonin was able to destroy the Demon Soul and release Alexstrasza.

During this mission, Rhonin and Vereesa fell in love, and were later married. Along with Vereesa and Krasus, Rhonin was among the few well-known survivors of the Scourge that destroyed Lordaeron, Dalaran, and Quel'Thalas after the corruption of Prince Arthas. Most of Rhonin's family, including his father, were killed during the fall of the town of Andorhal.

War of the Ancients
When Vereesa's sister Alleria and her husband Turalyon vanished on Draenor, Vereesa and Rhonin took in their son Arator.

While he and Vereesa were preparing for the birth of their twin offspring, Rhonin was once again summoned by Krasus for help. Apparently, the dragon-mage had discovered a rift in time, which swallowed both of them, along with the orc veteran Broxigar. The three were sent 10,000 years back in time to the first invasion of the Burning Legion.

While in the past, Rhonin encountered legendary beings such as Cenarius, Malorne, and Aviana. He became friends with the heroes Illidan Stormrage, Malfurion Stormrage, Tyrande Whisperwind, Jarod Shadowsong, Maiev Shadowsong, and Shandris Feathermoon. Rhonin actually became Illidan's mentor, not in the least to try and harness his reckless power, but despite Illidan's admiration much of Rhonin's work involved cleaning up Illidan's mistakes. When Illidan defected, Rhonin assumed command of the Moon Guard. As a reward for Rhonin's courage, Nozdormu allowed Rhonin to return to Vereesa at the moment she went into labor to ensure he would not miss a moment of the twins' lives. Nozdormu also offered the children the friendship of the bronze dragonflight.

Night of the Dragon
In more recent years, Rhonin has found himself in the position as the leader of the Kirin Tor and Dalaran, having been approached by the Kirin Tor in desperation. In Rhonin's own explanation to Iridi, "the Alliance is still looking to Dalaran for a lot and the wizards are looking for me to think different than they've been doing for the past several hundred years." However, even though all he really wants is to be with his family, his sense of responsibility impels him from ever abandoning such important roles, or his people. Much like Tirion Fordring, he is still loyal to the Alliance despite its recent hostility against the Horde.

Following the attempted kidnapping of his children by Zendarin Windrunner, Rhonin remained behind in Dalaran to protect his sons and direct the Kirin Tor as his mate left to bring her cousin to justice. Growing increasingly concerned by her absence Rhonin tried to portal to her location only to be surprised at ending up near Grim Batol. He would encounter the draenei Iridi and end up forming an alliance with the local raptors (who had formed an army, as it were, due to the ominous on goings at Grim Batol). Working together the unlikely allies would launch an assault on the fortress where upon the nether dragon Zzeraku was freed and in gratitude engaged in battle against Dargonax. During this time Rhonin would briefly engage in battle against the new master of Grim Batol - the Black Dragon Sintharia, the prime consort of Deathwing before she departed to fight Krasus.

After Zzeraku's draining battle with Dargonax, it appeared that the nether dragon would not be able to defeat the twilight dragon. In turn, Iridi gave all of her staff's power, and in the end almost all of her own, to empower Zzeraku. Even with the combination of the staff's and Iridi's power, Zzeraku was unsuccessful in fighting Dargonax and was devoured by the latter. In one last desperate hope to slay the twilight dragon, Iridi - with help from Rhonin, Vereesa, Krasus, and Kalec — used the last of her energy to destroy Dargonax. With Dargonax, Zendarin, and Sintharia (being seemingly destroyed by the staff as well) slain the unlikely group would depart from one another with Iridi being taken to be buried in Outland per her last request by Kalec, Krasus to return to his queen, and Rhonin and Vereesa returning to their children at Dalaran.

Mage (manga)
It fell on the once reviled mage, Rhonin, to lead his kind from the brink, and to begin quickly the restoration of Dalaran. Under his leadership, the Kirin Tor were able to recreate and enhance Dalaran's defenses.

After lifting the city, and moving it towards Northrend to fight the Scourge, Dalaran was attacked by the Blue dragonflight mid-flight. This assault was a diversion, however, as a Blue dragonflight agent with in the Kirin Tor sought to crash Dalaran into the ground. Fortunately, this plan was foiled thanks to the intervention of Aodhan, Rhonin, and Master Simeon. With Malygos declaring war on all mortal magic-users, especially the Kirin Tor, Rhonin had no other choice but to rally the Kirin Tor and lead it in a war to kill the Lord of Magic. To help with this endeavor, he called on his old allies, Alexstrasza and the Red dragonflight.

Wrath of the Lich King
Rhonin appears in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion as the leader of the Kirin Tor. He is located in the rebuilt and relocated city of Dalaran in Northrend, with Vereesa Windrunner, Archmage Modera, and Archmage Aethas Sunreaver at his side. He is fighting the blue dragonflight and their leader Malygos, who is determined to destroy mortal magic-users.

When your character hits level 80, Rhonin will mail him or her a Magically Wrapped Gift, containing 5 each of the following items: Runic Healing Potion, Runic Mana Potion, Potion of Speed, and Dalaran Firework.

He also sends a mail with The Schools of Arcane Magic - Mastery for completing the Higher Learning achievement.

Secrets of Ulduar
After Brann Bronzebeard and the Explorers' League discovered the presence of the Old God Yogg-Saron within Ulduar, Rhonin summoned Varian Wrynn, Jaina Proudmoore, Thrall, and Garrosh Hellscream to the Violet Citadel to discuss how to deal with this threat. When Varian and Garrosh began fighting, Rhonin stopped them, claiming that the Horde and Alliance stood to lose everything if they didn't work together. His proposition was turned down, leaving a distressed Rhonin to wonder out loud who was left to challenge Yogg-Saron.

After adventurers defeated Algalon the Observer within Ulduar, he informed them that they had to transmit Reply-Code Alpha to the Pantheon in order to prevent Azeroth's re-origination. Brann and the adventurers hurried back to Dalaran and met up with Rhonin. As they transmitted the signal into the skies from the Eventide, Rhonin held a speech for the citizens of Dalaran to celebrate their victory.

Stormrage
During the War Against the Nightmare, Rhonin was among those caught by the Emerald Nightmare. Later, Rhonin attended the wedding of Malfurion and Tyrande along with his family. At his offering, he and his accompanying magi from Dalaran created a series of magnificent rainbows in the night sky, which marked the ten millennia of his friends' relationship. As with Korialstrasz, who later appeared with Alexstrasza, it was quite clear that Rhonin would not have missed this pivotal moment for anything.

Tides of War
Soon after the Cataclysm began, Rhonin encouraged Jaina Proudmoore to take on the gnome Kinndy Sparkshine as her apprentice. When Kalecgos visited Rhonin for help in locating the missing Focusing Iris, Rhonin directed him to seek out Jaina when they discovered the Iris was in Kalimdor.

When Jaina appealed to the Council of Six to help defend Theramore Isle against an attack by the Horde, they decided that doing nothing could be seen as a tacit approval of Garrosh Hellscream's path of conquest, and sent Rhonin and a number of other magi to defend the city. In particular, both Rhonin and his Council of Six comrade Aethas Sunreaver recommended Thalen Songweaver for the task. However, Thalen (actually a spy for Garrosh Hellscream) turned on the Kirin Tor during the battle and assisted the Horde in breaking through Theramore's defenses. Rhonin was disheartened to learn of Thalen's betrayal when the latter was captured by Pained, though maintained that Aethas was likely unaware of the spy's true nature.

When it seemed as though the battle had been won, Rhonin saw a goblin sky galleon approaching with an enormous mana bomb powered by the Focusing Iris. Thinking quickly, he realized that Jaina's tower was heavily warded in magic and as such drawing the mana bomb to it would localize the mana bomb explosion. Believing that Jaina was the future of the Kirin Tor, he brought her into her tower and redirected Jaina's portal that she opened. When Jaina realized exactly what Rhonin was doing, she tried to stop him by pointing out that he had a family and was the leader of the Kirin Tor. Knowing that localizing the mana bomb explosion would ensure his beloved would be safe from the blast, Rhonin bluntly told Jaina that she was the future of the Kirin Tor and then pushed her through the portal when the bomb was dropped. Just before the portal closed, Jaina caught a glimpse of Rhonin, his arms raised with a determined expression on his face, exploding in a cloud of lavender ash as the mana bomb detonated in front of him. His last thoughts were to save his wife and everyone around him.

A memorial service was later held for him in Dalaran, attended by his family and nearly every member of the Kirin Tor. His eulogy was given by Jaina, who had accepted the position as leader of the Kirin Tor. His wife was eager to avenge him.

War Crimes
Vereesa was left devastated and heartbroken after her husband's death, leaving her twin sons in Dalaran most of the time. She all but broke down and cried when she was forced to witness Rhonin's death and his selfless sacrifice to protect her. Overwhelmed with anger and grief, avenging her husband became her main motivation to plot for Garrosh's death until she was reminded of her children and how they had already lost one parent. She was convinced that they would not lose another.

Legion
In remembrance to Rhonin, Dalaran has erected a statue of him at the Eventide.

Rhonin makes a cameo appearance in a flashback to the War of the Ancients, riding Korialstrasz above Black Rook Hold.

Battle for Azeroth
A vision of Rhonin briefly appears in Jaina's memories during her ordeal in Thros, the Blighted Lands, berating her for allowing her "personal biases" taint the Kirin Tor, and calling himself a fool to think she could be their leader.

Quests

 * Discretion is Key (Violet Hold)
 * All Is Well That Ends Well
 * Heroic: All Is Well That Ends Well
 * Trouble at Wyrmrest

Personality
Rhonin is a studious type who knows a little bit about a great many things but generally keeps his knowledge to himself. He is very young, but his youth disguises a spellcaster of great power and flexibility. He is reckless and hot-headed and is known frequently not to look before he leaps, a character flaw he recognizes in himself and yet is hard-pressed to keep under control. He also has a great sense of humour and is used to seeing huge dragons (such as Alexstrasza and Dargonax).

Combat
As a quick study of his spell selection will indicate, Rhonin prefers to use his sorcerer abilities for versatility in combat while his wizard spells are usually left to more mundane tasks. He generally starts off a fight with the most powerful spells at his disposal, working his way down to employing searing arrows in concert with his crossbow once all his other combat spells are exhausted.

War of Ancient Trilogy
Huln Highmountain: "Simple can be good, if it's drawn from reason." Rhonin: "Somehow, I doubt Stareye has reason. I don't understand why Ravencrest and he got along so well." Jarod Shadowsong: "They are of the same caste." Rhonin: "Oh! It all makes so much sense then...Never mind, we'll just have to watch out and hope for the best." Rhonin: They'd rather have demons? Malfurion Stormrage: You wouldn't understand. Rhonin: No, I wouldn't.
 * Rhonin: "The plan sounds too simple to work..."
 * "The other races may see no reason to ally themselves with ones who'd almost as much as the Burning Legion prefer to see them all wiped out. We're talking centuries of enmity, Krasus."
 * Night Elf Noble: Tauren in Zin-Azshari? How barbaric!
 * "Three against one, and they still can't do anything." (realizing Deathwing is about to gain the upper hand)

Night of the Dragon
Rhonin: You have that admirable disposition and manner of dark dress that means you must belong to Deathwing's flight. And since you're not the rabid dog or his two worst pups, I'd hazard by your grand posturing that you must be one of his prime bitches... Rhonin: Why do they always say something like that?
 * Sinestra: Very good, Rhonin Redhair. And do you know what dragon?
 * Dargonax: Gaze well upon this wretched place surrounding you and savor that view, little morsels... for it is the last sight you will live to see...

Wrath of the Lich King

 * Dalaran
 * Welcome to the home of the Kirin Tor.


 * Dialogues

Tides of War
Rhonin: "Well, let's see. Deathwing is loose; Darkshore has fallen into the sea-" Jaina: "I meant with you."
 * Jaina: "Rhonin, what is it? What's wrong?"


 * "Old friend, it is at times like this I miss you far more than I can say. But I must admit, it's comforting to hear you speak to me beyond death-even if you have to do it in riddles."
 * "Shut. Up. Just go through! I have to pull it here, right here, to save Vereesa and Shandris and... as many as I can! The walls of this tower are steeped in magic! I should be able to localize the detonation. Don't be a foolish little girl, Jaina! GO!"

In Hearthstone
Rhonin appears as HS Rhonin (a legendary card) for the mage class in the Grand Tournament expansion for Hearthstone. His flavor text reads: "A masterless shamurai.", referencing the fact that the name "Rhonin" sounds similar to, a term used to describe a samurai with no lord or master in feudal Japan.

The HS Arcane Watcher, a rare card in the Rise of Shadows expansion, appears to be a depiction of Rhonin's statue in the Eventide.

Notes and trivia

 * His eye color was green.
 * Initially, Rhonin had a much lighter, almost blonde hair color (resulting in some players referring to him as Rhonin Goldhair); this appears to have been changed to a redder hue (befitting the lore) as of patch 3.1.
 * No surname has been confirmed, though he is sometimes referred to as "Rhonin Redhair", based on his hair color. It is unclear if this is his surname or just a title.  Night of the Dragon also mentions that many in the current timeframe refer to him as "Rhonin Draig'cyfail" or by the simpler, translated "Rhonin Dragonheart".
 * He is apparently able to speak or translate Furbolg. He has also become a skilled swordsman from his experience during the Legion invasion.
 * With Rhonin's death in Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War and Korialstrasz's dying in Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, none of the time-travelers from the War of the Ancients Trilogy are alive.
 * An epic cloth chest piece known as the Robes of Rhonin drops off Archimonde in the Caverns of Time raid Battle for Mount Hyjal. Presumably, these may have been robes worn by Rhonin himself. This raises the question of how Archimonde came to possess his robes (possibly during the War of the Ancients when Archimonde incapacitates Rhonin).
 * Rhonin's Beard, a Kirin Tor Offensive vessel, is named in his memory.
 * Rhonin is voiced by Keith Silverstein.