rhonna: thistle dungeon, level one

As the group ventures into the goblin stronghold, Rhonna could feel her heart pounding with excitement and fear. She's glad that Lloyd and Gryffin are around. The two men are now heroes of Sandpoint. Back when they were younger, Rhonna would steal glances at the two lads. She envied their freedom and their carefree living.

How she wished she had friends like them. The only companions she got were Nualia and her brooding coven sisters. While Lloyd, Jarek and the others were playing pranks and creating havoc around town, Rhonna and her friends created their own mischief.

Rhonna remembered how she got accepted into Nualia's secret sisterhood. Nualia had a way with words. She could easily draw people towards her, like a stunning blossom calling forth bees in the field. They initiated her out in the forest, under the pale moonlight. Nualia made her feel special and appreciated, like no one else did.

Soon, the town began experiencing a series of misfortunes -- droughts, dying livestock, and poor harvest. At first, Rhonna thought all the catastrophes were for a good cause. Nualia said that everyone needed to be purified for past transgressions.

Eventually, somone discovered their little group. The townsfolk began branding them as witches and demon worshippers. They dragged Nualia and her sisters out to be presecuted.

While there was little evidence to prove Nualia as the culprit behind all of the town's misfortune, Rhonna was offered a choice. She could join her sisters and be ostracized by the community, or reveal the truth behind Nualia's cult.

Rhonna thought she was betraying her sisters when she agreed to turn over Nualia to the town elders. But as the years went by, she realized that what she did was the right thing. Nualia had been making deals with demons and devils. She deceived everyone and played everyone against each other, including her own sisters.

"Where do we go?" Lloyd suddenly asks, looking at Arao.

Rhonna thought it would be better to try sneaking around the goblin's lair. They did make a promise to that forest shaman and it would be good to honor it.

But she feels a bit uneasy talking to the holy knight, or the priest of Correllon. Rhonna knew that paladins have the gift to sense people's sins. Aaro must have sensed her dark taint by now. As for Guy, the eladrin was close to Father Zanthus. He must have told the priest everything about Nualia, including her part in the demonic coven.

Why is it so hard to redeem oneself? Rhonna sighs. She knows that this is her chance to come clean and save the town.