“Cling. Clang. Cling. Clang.”
The sound of the forge echoed: steady, solid, powerful. Skolna wielded her hammer as she wielded her axe, with the certainty of her convictions and unwavering confidence in her skills.
For today was a different day, and a momentous one. Tonight, her village would go to war to join the other clans of Hrafnrik, who had come from the eastern mountains. And tomorrow, they would face an army of nightmarish creatures that had emerged from below: the Draugar. These undead, sent by some evil deity, had been threatening their territory for months. It was time for the clans to finally unite to face the threat.
Skolna smiled as the last blow of the hammer rang out, completing the dagger she would give to her little brother for his first battle. Adjusting her bright green leather armor one last time, the symbol of her family for generations, she picked up the last bundle of steel weapons, then closed the door of her beloved forge, knowing that this was not a farewell, but a simple goodbye.
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This partnership was born out of Marissa Rose's dream to have a suit of armor worthy of her project: a medieval-inspired photo shoot featuring an iron throne, real swords, a blacksmith's workshop, and an epic vibe. Inspiration struck us, and we decided to create a unique piece of women's armor, combining our Viking armor and Classic cuirass in the artist's favorite shades of green.
This armor consists of four pieces of green vegetable-tanned leather, decorated with Celtic motifs and featuring a dark brown gradient effect, matching the corset we had already made for her. The cuirass, in a short version to allow for good mobility, fastens at the back with practical, sturdy leather straps. It has wide shoulder straps with integrated eyelets to add pauldrons if needed, as well as sides made of soft chocolate-colored lamellar scales. The corset, simple but striking, is precision-molded for comfort and to match the rest of the armor. A pair of tassets lined with scales, like those on the torso, each with two layers, attaches to the corset. They effectively cover the warrior's thighs.
The filming and photo shoot took place in the beautiful family-owned forge “Vikings Don't Cry” in the Appalachian Mountains! The incredible atmosphere of the place inspired Marissa and the photographer, “Once Upon a Studios Photo,” who showcased our armor in legendary scenes of real forging, in which Marissa forged her own dagger. Thank you for allowing us to participate in this beautiful project!
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Armor by: Les Artisans d'Azure
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Photos by: Dani Howard - Once Upon A Photo Studios
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Cloak by: Mountain Flower Fantasies
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Tunic by: Holy Clothing
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Forge, weapons & location: Vikings Don’t Cry Forge, a family-run business located deep in the Appalachian mountains!
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Model: Marissa Rose Moore
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Accessories by: the customer
