inspiration songs: John Denver – Annie’s Song , Melodious Melancholye – Bryd one breere
in nutshell: Wreg’s (and Otto’s) frolic in the forest is interrupted by an ill omen – black woodpeckers, that signify death.
Black woodpeckers: I’m not sure if this particular folk belief persist anywhere else, but in Finland they are seen as an ill omen, specifically either ill fortune or death. I’ve grown up to know them for the graver signifier, in which case depending on if the bird(s) fly in front of you (someone you love dies soon) or behind you (you die soon). Here the birds are spooked and fly towards Otto, and Wreg’s head is turned towards him in same manner as the woodpeckers’ (does he know? Or is he just reaching to kiss him back? Idk I enjoy both ideas)
Hound: he’s not super visible against bright backgrounds, but there’s a talbot hound under the steed. He’s dangling one of the birds’ wings in his maw. While talbots are extinct now, there’s debate on whether they were even a breed to begin with (more likely a name for any white and large hunting dog). Growing up Wreg always had a talbot, and they are overall important to his early story. Even here, the hound is doing he’s part to protect his beloved companion from ill omens.
Horse: Wreg likes horses that are spunky and silly. I just wanted to bring out her character here, with her chewing on her reins and stomping with her hoof. I’ve always imagined Wreg would’ve always found a way to own a destrier, which were a medieval category of large and stocky war horses.
Armour: Otto is wearing more Milanese style armour while Wreg clearly has gothic. I just enjoyed the idea to insinuate here they might’ve gifted the armours to each other..
(in canon timeline Otto is extremely dead and has been for a long while)
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