The Patenaude family was once quite wealthy, and possessed a fair amount of land. For many generations, they crafted holy symbols, rosaries, and other goods for churches across the region, though Iomedae was their patron deity. Though they were not warriors by trade, they valued honor, righteousness, and fearlessness- at least, in theory. When the Orcs came, and the lands around them were overrun, the Patenaudes abandoned their family home and fled southward, finally settling in Barkel's Rest, as far from the fighting as possible. Though they worked hard to re-establish themselves and their business, the shadow of their former glory always hung over their new home.
Rhona, third child of Randolf and Petra Patenaude, was an angry young woman by any account. Bitter, proud, and temperamental, she caused her folks a great deal of trouble in her youth, getting into fights and frequently coming home with a bloody nose and muddy dress (but, as she was always quick to point out, "You should've seen the other guy").
Though she had never seen the storied Patenaude lands, Rhona was perhaps the most eager for her family to return to the north, join the fight, and reclaim their old lands. When the rest of her family proved time and time again that they had no intention to help in the battle against the Orc menace, Rhona realized that they were betraying not only their family legacy, but Iomedae's values as well. As soon as she was able, she made her way south to Kassht City, where she began her martial training. With her considerable determination and natural talent for fighting, she stood out among her fellow recruits, and eventually transferred to the Barkel's Rest contingent of the Army of the North.
Chided by her instructors as reckless and too quick to anger, Rhona nonetheless studied the tenets of Iomedae's paladin code alongside her fellow trainees. Over time, she learned to channel her anger and began to feel the first touches of Iomedae's power shining within her. When her contingent was assigned to join the forces at the northern front, she felt as if her dreams were finally coming true.
However, when she and her fellow trainees stumbled upon evidence that an Orc patrol had passed through the area recently, she returned to her brash ways and left her team behind to chase after them. Her recklessness left her woefully unprepared and surrounded by a half-dozen Orc deserters, and the fight that ensued would surely have left Rhona dead had her instructors not arrived in time to turn the tide. For putting herself and her fellow trainees in grave danger and violating Iomedae's tenets of moderation and temperance, she was booted from the training camp and denied the final secrets of The Inheritor's grace.
Scarred, bitter, and disillusioned, Rhona drifted for a time, eventually returning to New Allence. She retained her fighting skill, but none of the divine powers that she had sought. Still eager to kill Orcs and take back the north, she eagerly awaits any opportunity to find adventure- some might say a little too eagerly.
Although quick to anger and quicker to fight, Rhona isn't entirely antisocial. She deeply values her comrades, and knowing how she has failed in the past, tries to keep her temper in check. She's still pretty uncouth, though, and has famously bad manners. To the select few she calls friends, however, she can be a surprisingly fun drinking buddy.
