I created the Male Draugr first, as there was plenty of concept art for them & many directions to explore. When it was time to create the Female, however, I had virtually nothing to work with. My Art Director simply told me: "Imagine Red Sonja... but dead."

I'd already designed the "beaten metal" look (the Nords, I reasoned, had barely ventured into the iron age and so didn't cast their armor), but I needed to streamline it a bit to accommodate a sleeker, more graceful design. Where the men's armor sprouted ram horns, the women wore antlers - a tribute, I reasoned, to the Spriggan of Skyrim (which I also created). I opened the back & used form & line-work to suggest the sleekness of a cocktail dress. I gave them jewelry, too, but integrated the semi-precious stones directly into their heavy iron plate.

I wanted to forge something bad-ass, practical & sexy. I believe I succeeded... judging from the number of women who cosplay as Aela the Huntress!