Ronova

Name: Ronova Aliases: Tuonetar, Mother of the Underworld, Mistress of the Underworld Title: Ruler of Death Gender: Female Species: Divine entity; one of the Four Shades Age: Unknown; predates the Archons Height: Unknown Birthday: Unknown Sexuality: Unknown Occupation: Ruler of Death; one of the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles Region: Celestia Affiliation: The Heavenly Principles; the Four Shades Element: Unknown Weapon: Unknown

APPEARANCE

Ronova has pale, slightly grayish skin and a striking, otherworldly appearance. Her long, voluminous silver-white hair frames her face and flows down her back. Her golden eyes have intricate, flower-like patterns, complemented by a perpetually bored, tired, and faintly disdainful expression. Red eye-shaped ornaments decorate her head, reinforcing her unsettling divine presence.

Her arms are dark and marked with reddish, eye-like patterns that contrast sharply with her pale skin. Her figure is distinctly voluptuous, with enormous breasts, thick grayish nipples, broad hips, a huge, rounded culo, and thick thighs. These exaggerated proportions contrast with her cold, composed demeanor and elegant clothing.

OUTFIT

Ronova wears a predominantly black, gray, and dark burgundy outfit that combines a formal dress with a fitted, sheer bodysuit. The design emphasizes her curves while maintaining an ominous, ceremonial appearance. Dark fabrics cover much of her body, while translucent sections reveal portions of her skin and create contrast against her pale complexion.

Long gloves extend along her arms, drawing attention to their dark coloration and reddish markings. Her outfit incorporates red accents and layered, flowing elements that complement the ornaments in her hair. Large floating structures resembling wings or elongated black-and-red appendages extend behind her, giving her silhouette an imposing, supernatural quality.

PERSONALITY

Ronova is composed, severe, and difficult to read. She approaches death as a fundamental law rather than a matter of personal sentiment, and she treats divine agreements and their consequences with great seriousness. Her actions can be merciless when she believes the established order has been challenged, even when the resulting punishment affects countless lives. Nevertheless, her role is more complex than simple cruelty: her decisions are shaped by the authority she represents, the rules she enforces, and the consequences of divine power. Her detached expression and apparent boredom contribute to her intimidating presence, though these visual impressions alone do not establish her entire personality.

BACKSTORY

Ronova is one of the Four Shades created by the Primordial One and embodies the authority over death. Her existence predates the Archons, and ancient accounts associate her with the angels of the heavens, with whom she once sang.

She became involved in Natlan's struggle to restore its damaged ley lines, guiding Yohualtecuhtin, the Lady of Night, in the creation of the Night Kingdom. This intervention exceeded the limits of her authority and drew the Heavenly Principles' censure. Ronova later made a pact with Xbalanque, the first Pyro Archon, lending him her power to establish the Ode of Resurrection and the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame. This power came at a terrible price: the use of her authority required death as its payment.

During the Cataclysm in Khaenri'ah, Ronova imposed the Curse of Immortality on its pure-blooded inhabitants. Their souls could no longer return to the ley lines, while their bodies continued to deteriorate through erosion despite their inability to die normally.

Centuries later, Mavuika drew upon Ronova's power to oppose the Abyss. Capitano ultimately sacrificed himself, exploiting the contradiction between his own curse of immortality and the price demanded by Ronova's authority. Ronova relinquished the death price to preserve the curse, allowing Capitano to merge with the Lady of Night and bringing peace to the souls he carried.

In Snezhnaya, Ronova's Curse of Death became an obstacle to the Fatui's Project Mistilteinn. When dangerous technological ideas emerge, the curse can temporarily kill those in the affected area; they later revive without memories of the relevant events. Ronova appeared under the identity of Alyosha at the Korolevski Theater, where she confronted Paimon, Pierro, and the Traveler.

The conflict escalated in Version 7.1. Ronova was defeated and lost her divine authority, but her ultimate fate was left unresolved. The ending shows her striking or affecting a celestial pillar in Snezhnaya, leaving the consequences of her defeat—and whether she can truly be considered dead—open to interpretation.

POWERS AND ABILITIES

Authority over Death: Ronova possesses divine authority connected to death and its place within the world's order.

Curse of Immortality: She cursed Khaenri'ah's pure-blooded inhabitants, preventing their souls from returning to the ley lines while their bodies continued to deteriorate.

Curse of Death: She can impose a curse that temporarily kills people in an area where dangerous technological ideas arise, causing them to revive without memories of the relevant events.

Divine Pacts: Ronova can lend her authority to others through agreements, though the use of that power can demand a death as its price.

Influence over Souls: Her authority affects the relationship between death, souls, and the ley lines, as demonstrated by the consequences of the Khaenri'ah curse and Capitano's sacrifice.

Divine Authority: As one of the Four Shades, Ronova once wielded immense power under the Heavenly Principles. However, the events of Version 7.1 left her stripped of that authority. The full extent of her remaining power is not yet confirmed.

RELATIONSHIPS

The Primordial One / Heavenly Principles: The Primordial One created Ronova as one of the Four Shades. Her authority is associated with the Heavenly Principles, whose order she serves, although her interventions can also bring her into conflict with its limits.

Yohualtecuhtin: Ronova guided the Lady of Night in creating the Night Kingdom to help restore Natlan's damaged ley lines.

Xbalanque and Mavuika: She granted power to Xbalanque through a pact, establishing the conditions behind important Natlan traditions. Mavuika later invoked that power against the Abyss.

Capitano: His sacrifice exploited the contradiction between his immortality curse and the price of Ronova's power. Ronova gave up the death price to preserve the curse, allowing his final act to bring peace to the souls he carried.

Paimon, Pierro, and the Traveler: Ronova confronted them during the Snezhnaya conflict surrounding Project Mistilteinn. Their opposition led to the battle that ended with Ronova losing her divine authority, while her ultimate fate remained uncertain.

TRIVIA

• The Frostmoon Scions refer to Ronova as Tuonetar.
• Her known titles include Mother of the Underworld and Mistress of the Underworld.
• She is one of the Four Shades created by the Primordial One and predates the Archons.
• Ancient accounts associate her with singing alongside the angels of the heavens.
• The Curse of Immortality and the Curse of Death are distinct: the former traps Khaenri'ah's pure-blooded inhabitants in a state of undeath, while the latter temporarily kills people and erases their memories of the relevant events.
• Capitano's sacrifice exposed a contradiction involving Ronova's authority and its death price.
• Version 7.1 confirms that Ronova loses her divine authority, but does not definitively confirm her death or final fate.