#zoe raiden

Here’s a rough snippet of a scene I threw together in spirit of getting it written down:

(Don’t mind me writing in HTML, I prefer to use Ao3 this way, rich text has it out for me and maybe my CS professors would be proud. (<em></em> is for italics in case you’re wondering.))

Róta, a valkyrie whose name means “goddess who sends for sleet and storms,” was the original owner of this atgeir. She just so happens to look favorably on Zoe one night her reckless streak gets the best of her and is bestowed a newfound gift the likes of which hasn’t been seen in centuries...

So, because this will be very relevant in upcoming installments of Saudade, here is a look at my design for Zoe’s atgeir (or, more commonly, spear or mail-piercer, call it what you will) that will coincide in appearance with her wings.

Yes, it’s rather...tall for Zoe. She’ll get used to it. I added the glow on the edge of the blade for Zoe’s magic, and the runes for Sowilō (Norse lightning rune) are found on the staff and a few runes of magical origin on the ribbons, telling Hregg-dynja’s history.

Much, much more to come on this in the form of fics, but here’s a passage of Chapter 15 of Saudade because it’s almost completely pieced together already and I’m so excited to share it with you all, lol:

Zoe bites down hard on her tongue, doing her best not to breathe. The stone floor is freezing beneath her, the chill biting through her thin leggings. A long hiss fills the room, setting her nerves abuzz with adrenaline. 

There’s not a lot of Zoe’s plans that don’t backfire at least a little bit. But it’s the hazard she is prepared for. She expected something more like a nighttime security guard, or more cameras than she’d thought there were.