Zahra Drawing

If you remember the maid from this picture (LINK: fav.me/db2sdh8), now is her turn to take the limelight. Plus, if you noticed her looking very familiar to another character of mine, props to you for paying attention to my descriptions / details.

"Zahra" is the given name of the super-prototype doll that Cordelia commissioned from Iliana as one of her demands. Iliana was already familiar with combining water with doll structures to simulate movement, and Zahra's birth was the culmulation of her magic skills. Unlike most dolls, Zahra is capable of self-automation, the ability to move by itself, though a magician familiar with controlling water magics can manually override and take control of "her".

Zahra was designed for both combat and service, and Iliana had to come up with a new compound type to build her skin and exoskeleton, since "she" was going to be sent for melee combat, when her mistress' favorite tricks are out of the question. The constant "eyes shut" look also adds a degree of intimidation, cause apparently there is no bigger humiliation than being beaten by someone who cannot actually "see" you. Otherwise, outside combat, Zahra is usually assigned to perform the hardest of chores, such as sweeping the chimney or cleaning the windows on the higher levels.

The image of the woman Cordelia desired for Zahra's appearance also made Iliana uncomfortable, due to her resemblence to a certain dragon queen consort from Iliana's world. Her name was also given by Iliana, who insisted that calling her "doll" felt very unnatural and inappropriate, and she settled with a name that meant "brilliant" in her native language.

Zahra (c) Kenneth.