Prepare to behold the great seer! The great timekeeper! The great lightning-pounder!

The great Saqik’oxol! The great witch who molds orphans into warriors! That lady in red who won’t stop banging her ax against the tree!

The Sparkstriker goes by many names and holds many jobs, but because she’s only known to wear one outfit, it shouldn’t be too hard to find her if you know where to look. Be forewarned, though. While many would seek out the Sparkstriker to learn of their destiny, only a few can accept the harsh truths and deep secrets hidden within her lightning bolts.

We don’t know about you, but we’re going to stay under the covers until the storm passes.

Sparks and Recreation

Now, before you head off into the woods and start approaching every older woman wearing red and wielding an ax, you should know that you’re probably not going to find the Sparkstriker out there. No, to reach the actual Sparkstriker, you first have to reach the Old World. We’re not sure how to get there without the use of Time Rope, but maybe check your local bus routes first.

You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the five pyramids surrounded by a jungle of metallic trees. Welcome to the realm where the Maya gods can meet, give counsel, and pass judgment. The literal birthplace of time itself.

Just don’t be too concerned if it looks like the dark sky is about to shatter. We’re sure the Sparkstriker is waiting to find the right god (or demon) to patch up all the cracks above.

Maybe one of her visitors would be willing to volunteer as a carpenter. Just so long as it’s not Ah-Puch, we should be fine. We hope . . .

Seeing Is Believing

Speaking of our favorite god of death, he absolutely hates being carried off into the Old World, and his powers are completely useless in the Sparkstriker’s domain. As much fun as it should be to watch A.P. get humbled by anyone with powers greater than his, shadow bruja Renata Santiago unfortunately doesn’t have much time to enjoy the situation.

No, she needs the Sparkstriker to show her exactly what happened to her friends and the Lords of Night after she, well, took an unexpected trip to the underworld.

Luckily, that dark sky we mentioned doubles as the largest projection screen in the cosmos. And when she’s not too busy whacking those metallic trees with her ax, the Sparkstriker has a lot of found footage to binge.

The ability to project one’s memories onto a giant screen may seem like a serious breach of privacy, but really, how else is the Sparkstriker supposed to keep track of a certain group of kids who still reside on Earth? (Hint: they appeared in The Lords of Night. Double hint: we’re not exactly big fans of their work.)

The Lightning Brief

Ever wonder where godborns really come from? Well, maybe you should ask your parents. However, the Sparkstriker does play a critical role in the creation process. She’s responsible for imbuing them with power, or as she calls it, “pounding the lightning into them.”

Therefore, she knows the strengths and weaknesses of every godborn, including Ren herself. Although she views them more like a litter of puppies than her children. But just because she’s content to let her “puppies” go and where they can run, play, and unleash evil gods upon the universe, that doesn’t mean the Sparkstriker doesn’t hold on a piece of the past.

And we mean that literally. The Sparkstriker still possesses the lightning bolts of every godborn. And according to her, each bolt contains deep secrets.

Secrets that, for a godborn, could reveal their true heritage. Their true destinies. Their true power. And whether or not they’re truly allergic to gluten.

However, as the Sparkstriker says, “learning the truth is never without risks.” And if Ren wants to learn the real nature of her power and where she needs to go next, she’s going to have to dive right into the deep end. All while avoiding fatal electrocution.

Again, we mean that literally. Did we forget to mention that the Sparkstriker also has a pool filled with electric silverfish? Say what you will about the numerous safety hazards in her section of the Old World, but hey, at least she’s running everything off clean energy.

Want to learn more about the secrets of the Sparkstriker? You can catch more of her in Dawn of the Jaguar: A Shadow Bruja Novel, on sale 10/10. Pre-order your copy today!