Rhoanda Mongroven
Here are some interview questions I gave Rhoanda to understand her at the beginning of Champions of Light.
Hometown/Current City:
The kingdom of Palanon, either in the summer or winter palace, but I’m currently in Phoria Heights.
How did you end up in your current city?
I’m running away because I am not letting father throw me into a marriage not of my choice.
Do you plan to stay in Phoria Heights? Why or why not?
I am passing through to get to the west where father can’t reach me but delayed by winter still blocking the pass.
If you could live anywhere, where would you go and why?
Anywhere that father can’t use me like a pawn for more lands to control.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about Phoria Heights?
This place is way too cold too long and it could take another month for the pass to thaw.
Marital Status:
Single, but father has plans to marry me off this spring and I don’t even know to whom.
Family (parents, siblings, children, etc.):
I have nine older sisters all married off to men that will probably quibble over and shred Palanon after Father dies. Well, eight of them are still married, one is widowed.
To which family member are you the closest? Why?
Mother, since she seems to always be there and I’m always in the same palace as her. I do like some of my sisters, but age and early marriages did not give me much time with most of them.
If you could change anything about your family, what would it be (and why):
That my father was not a controlling, self-absorbed tyrant. I think he must know what love is, but the only time I felt it was on my 13th birthday when he threw a ball just for me and gave me a special pendant.
What is your favorite thing about your family, why?
I’ve had more freedom than my sisters. My parents have let me train in ways women rarely get to in our kingdom.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your family?
I know my parents use the Dark arts, but not really sure what to think of that. I don’t think they have ever used those arts on me.
Education completed:
All the things a proper lady of royalty should know. I’m good with writing, reading and arithmetic. My artistic outlet is playing the piano and some singing. I have a mentor that teaches me the finer arts of fighting hand-to-hand and with lighter duel wield blade fighting. I am an accomplished horse rider and love horses.
What is your biggest regret about your entire educational experience?
That most of it was in seclusion and I had little interaction outside of mother, Barsan, and servants or guards.
What is your fondest memory of your entire educational experience?
Barsan, who is full of stories about the world beyond Palanon and over the eastern seas.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your educational experience?
Father is probably fuming that I used Barsan’s training to help me run away. Hopefully, he doesn’t kill him in a fit of anger.
How would you describe your social life?
I don’t have much of one. I’m a princess so I go to balls and other things but most of my time I am alone with mother, Barson, servants and guards as the only people to talk to. My sister, Faunlina, lives in the winter palace year round since her husband rules over Corsan under my father, but I rarely got time with her the last few years.
How would your friends describe you?
What friends? I guess I can count some men in Barsan’s employ as friends, but I have no one close to confide in.
Why do you think an active social life is important (or not important)?
So you have real friends, maybe.
How would you describe your faith/religious affiliation?
There are greater powers, but I have not delved into figuring them out too closely.
How did you come to these beliefs?
Both my parents work with demons and I’m not sure what to think of that, but deep down, something about it feels off to me. I know there is a spiritual realm that is tied to our physical one.
Why do you think faith is important (or not important)?
I do not know, but I think Barsan and his men follow a belief that father has tried to squash out of his kingdom for years. I am not sure, but would never tell father if I learned what it was. It seems like it is very important to them and could be central to how they act. All of them would make far better husbands than anyone my father would want to pair me with.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your beliefs?
Maybe I’ll figure out what I should put my faith in as I run away.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
I would really like to have some girlfriends who I could help encourage and have fun with, ones where it doesn’t matter if I’m a princess or not. Ones that would not find my desire to wear pants and fight out of the ordinary, so I didn’t have to hide that part of myself.