#queen's wrath

[kathi-langley]

I can share today - Petra Venj in bit Art Nouveau-ish decoration; artwork done for CFan Projects calendar :)

[abyssalcleave]

"Welcome to the Reef. You'll get used to the gravity."

[brighan]

"Sometimes I believe my dreams are memories from our past life. I used to drink some tea while thinking of you."

I love hurting. Sketch commission for HiseuminGo on Twitter!

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[halebobgr]

Mara put down the coin and allowed herself a small, humorless smile. "Then let it be my diversion."

Sjur Eido, First Queen's Wrath

[lilredhoodie-not]

Oathkeeper

[shigeko-nobufusa]

[screaming-skvll]

“Ever wonder why Petra doesn’t use a bow?”

“You don’t use a bow. I don’t exclusively use a bow. You don’t know Petra doesn’t sometimes use a bow.”

“Yeah, and look, I’m sure she’s plenty handy with a bow, least as much as any other weapon—but she’s the Queen’s Wrath, right? So I’d think a bow might be, like, part of the job description, you know?”

“She’s only the second person to hold the position. Sjur Eido looms large in memory, yes, but her famous archery need not permanently define the role. Besides, to hear the Corsairs tell it, Petra fights quite astoundingly with her own close-quarters style—you’ve seen her knife and pistol, no doubt.”

“Yeah.”

“Perhaps those weapons will come to be just as evocative of the position of the Wrath as Sjur’s Wish-Ender.”

“Maybe. Gotta admit, I’m also just curious to see if she could pull it.”

“Sjur’s bow?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Hm. That would be a sight. I wonder where it is.”

(Wish-Ender w/ Author of Devastation)

[little-wintry]

Analysis Time, and buckle up because this’ll be long

Okay so I was glancing through my lore (because Chronicler and everything) and I stumbled upon this lore entry, Refusal, a part of the Awoken of the Reef Lore Book. It’s pretty much Petra and Zavala arguing, Zavala asking Petra to leave the Reef, Petra refusing because she still believes in Mara’s plan, the two get gradually more hostile until Petra eventually tells him off.

Now, this was always one of my personal favorite lore books because it really showcases an interesting dynamic between Petra and Zavala, both being Awoken but one being a devoted Reefborn and the other being a Guardian. But I think I loved it for another reason: the parallels between Zavala and Petra.

Let’s change gears for a second and look at the lore tab for ‘Abide the Return’, a sword that you get in the Dreaming City. This shows Kamala Rior, one of the Queen’s Paladins, coming to the Last City and asking the Guardians for help. And this is where we get a particularly interesting line from Zavala:

That is a far, far cry from his reaction to Petra, and I think it’s because of one key difference: Petra’s loyalty to Mara.

Zavala sees Mara as nothing more than a selfish ruler - he says that, “She was a charlatan, fighting a war that only existed in her mind. Dragging you all behind her.” (Refusal, Awoken of the Reef). 

Petra is, obviously, devoted to Mara as the Queen’s Wrath. She thinks the world of her, and takes her job as Queen’s Wrath very seriously. I don’t even need evidence for this, because just about any interaction involving Petra and Mara in any capacity shows this. 

Zavala doesn’t like Petra because of her utter devotion to Mara - he thinks it makes her single-minded, and that it clouds her judgement.

But let’s take a look at a line from Ikora, shortly after the events of ‘Last Call’, the mission in which Cayde dies. Zavala doesn’t want anything to do with hunting down Uldren, and is very blatant about that. But Ikora then remarks this:

This isn’t the only time things like this are mentioned either. Zavala has his own single-minded focus - the Last City. That is, granted, a very noble and very just reason; but he’s just like Petra. Fighting to protect their city, fighting for a greater good. They’re similar in more ways than that one too: they’re both stubborn in their goals, they’re both good leaders, the list goes on.

Now, I’m not trying to be a jerk to Zavala or shout out “ZaVaLa’S a HyPoCrItE” or anything, I just think it’s a neat observation. They’re almost like yin and yang - both Awoken, both strong leaders, both devoted to what they believe in. They both just happen to be antagonistic to each other.

and if anyone starts screeching about Mara manipulating Petra and that’s why Petra is so loyal to her or something i’ll politely ask you to shut up and if you don’t i’ll bash your head in

Anyways have some evidence I dug up:

Refusal

Abide the Return

Pilgrimage (an interesting Zavala read)

Last Call (go way down for that earlier bit about Ikora)