Lichen

Birthday
29/9/21
Name origin
A simple slow-growing algae fungus hybrid thing
Sexuality
Bi Demisexual
Gender
Hen
Sex
AMAB
Plot death
Absolutely yes
Cause of death (if no plots available)
Flipped onto her back in the wilderness and not found until it’s too late

Purchased traits/items
Gold tail bangles x2
Large carry bags
Back-stall

Size class
Enormous
Weight class
Tank
Appearance
Lichen is a peculiar looking dromaeus. Her legs are short and almost entirely covered by her bony shell, while her long, graceful neck curves out in stark contrast to her stout, bulky body. Her tail is long and tipped with a wicked bony mace. Lichen is mostly covered by the grey of her rugged shell, but her neck is a cheerful white and her sizeable gular pouch is red. She has a hard, bony crest atop her head, and a small yellow ruff of feathers behind it. Her cyan eyes are bright and kindly, though her eyelids have drooped with age. When not striking up friendly conversation with others, Lichen is often humming various tunes to herself.

Nestling-Fledgling
0-1
Born in a small village in the lowlands of the Mountain Kingdom, Lichen had a relatively easy childhood, all things considered. While the kingdom is rather renowned for its lack of farmable land, her childhood home was one of the few villages with notable agricultural output. Much of her fledgling years were spent out in the fields with her mother, as even before her adult plumage grew in, Lichen was big and strong enough to pull a plow or cart (even if she couldn't work for as long as the adults).

Sub-adult
1-2
Good things couldn't last forever, though, especially during the war. Shortly after she turned one, the villagers were forced to abandon their homes with what little they could carry. They had suffered from hippus raids for many years until finally a force large enough to wipe the village off the map landed on their doorstep. The hippus had come to expand their farmland, and they would not take no for an answer. Whether it was because the captain was soft, particularly polite, or knew there were children in the village, they were graced with enough notice to pack their bags and leave 'peacefully'. Anyone who attempted to stay would be killed on sight, of course, but at least they weren't fleeing for their lives.

Her mother considered outright moving to Preyma, which was always accepting refugees, but neither of them were particularly suited for long flights or steep hills. The deciding factor was likely the lack of farmland, however. Her mother, devastated by the loss of their crops, could never give up her work. The pair moved far enough into Mountain territory that they would be safe from most raids, but stayed within the foothills of the mountains. The ground was tough and difficult to plough, but they made do.
Once they were relatively settled, Lichen began attending school again. She had seen little fighting in her childhood, but enough to know that wasn't the life she wanted. She didn't have the hands for smithing or any other craft, and while she loved agriculture… she hated to admit it, but she saw her mother's job as a sinking raft. The land here was just not suited for large scale farming. Instead, she set her sights on becoming a merchant. She loved travelling and seeing new faces, and knew she could haul goods and carts with ease.

Adult
2-20
Upon graduation, Lichen had a little trouble getting accepted into a merchant's guild. She could carry enough, and she was a good enough salesperson, but most took one look at her sturdy form and thought 'broadwing.' Lichen was not cut out for broadwing work. She could fly, but she was cumbersome and her landings were always far too hard, a matter carrying heavy loads only exacerbated. She was a danger to both herself and any goods she carried as a broadwing.
Eventually, though, she found someone to apprentice under. The merchant was of small stature, and looking for someone to help cart his wares about the local area. It was grunt work, but Lichen quickly proved herself a decent enough salesperson, if only because she was a lot more pleasant than her mentor. Within a couple years, Lichen had gained enough experience and connections to begin making deals and delivering wares of her own. She wasn't as efficient as a broadwing, but with the war efforts mounting, those able to transport heavy goods were few and far between. Every reliable worker was invaluable.

Once again, though, good things couldn't last. As the war reached a fever pitch, she joined the desperate effort. Quite by accident, however. When making an emergency supply run to the border, Lichen found herself in the midst of a raid. Unable to simply stand by, the hen threw herself- and the goods on her back- into the fray. She wasn't a strong fighter, but she made a damn good guard as the Mountain troops scrambled to rally themselves for a counter-attack. At the end of the battle, the victorious captain requested she join their forces. Running high on adrenaline and the triumph of saving others the grief of abandoning their homes, Lichen said yes.
It was, in hindsight, quite a regrettable decision. She hated fighting. She hated the screaming and clamoring of battle. She hated the smell of blood. But… her hide was impenetrable and her tail was lethal. She made an invaluable fallback guard, so she was never really on the front lines… mostly she was just bad at saying no. She spent many nights lying awake trying to work up the courage (or at least a good enough excuse) to resign, but ultimately she wound up fighting right up until the end of the war.

Elder
20+
With the war finally over, Lichen was happy to settle back into her role as a merchant and pick up the pieces of the kingdom’s economy. It was during these few years of peace that Lichen got to know Crocosmia. She was a fellow veteran who had become a travel guide after the war, and the pair often wound up travelling together. Lichen suspected the war had left marks on both of them, but never broached the topic. She would grow close with the hen- close enough to consider her a daughter, and her son a Grandson when she adopted him- but the war, she felt, was something to be kept at a distance. The two much preferred each other's quiet company anyway.
With the border growing safer by the day, Lichen took to gardening again. She was still content with her job as a travelling merchant, but there was always a need for fresh produce, and she enjoyed the hobby. When off duty (or when her duty could handle a detour), she often spent her time wandering the foothills and lowlands of the kingdom looking for good places to set up crops. 

In RP happenings
Much to Lichen's dread, the peace was only temporary. Shortly after she crowned Reprise as queen, the continent descended back into squabbling and war. Eager to stave off what little unrest she could, Lichen set about running supplies anywhere and everywhere she could. Unfortunately, mere months into the conflict, Rowan was lost to a bushfire. No body was found, and a search was mounted, but despite Lichen's extensive web of contacts, no sign of him was ever found. Heartbroken, Lichen was left to contend with the wreckage her life had become. Crocosmia was devastated, the kingdom was starving and at war, princess Rancor was not natural... the list went on. Lichen spent most of her time wandering the wilderness for mushrooms during this period.

One day, when visiting her most treasured mushroom spot, Lichen heard wind of a plan. A foolish plan in which the young royals would imitate the ire of the valley beast in an attempt to route an entire hippus invasion, BY THEMSELVES. Obviously, Lichen rushed for aid as soon as she heard word, and with Crocosmia, Hemlock and an unfamiliar dromaeus in tow, the group managed to arrive in time to save the young fools. It was a difficult battle, but desperation lent them strength, and the group were able to hold the enemy at bay until Captain Argus could arrive with reinforcements. As if things weren't bad enough, Rowan, her sweet, darling lost grandson, turned up for the battle, but not to make an escape home. So close yet so far, Lichen and Crocosmia were once more faced with grief. Lichen felt terrible for hoping it would keep Crocosmia from looking too deeply into the story of how she came to hear of the royal's plans in the first place.

Through a swift series of letters, Crocosmia was quick to be granted entry into the Plains to retrieve her son. Lichen kept anxiously close to the borders as she awaited their return. As she had feared, Crocosmia would come back alone. Rowan was old enough to make his own choices now, and for what ever reason, he had chosen to stay. Lichen wishes him nothing but the best, but would be lying if he didn't admit she was still worried sick.

KIN:

OTHER:

Likes

• Dancing. While she’s not built for grace, she has fun, and that’s what matters
• Fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and fish
• Almost all music

Dislikes

• Chaotic, noisy crowds. They remind her of the war
• Strong smells
• Rude or pushy avus

Trivia

• She doesn’t have the hands for instruments, but she’s a good singer and can tap out a nice beat with her feet and tail
• Can rear up on her back legs, which doesn’t seem right but is apparently speculated by actual scientists??
• Always comes back with the best mushroom haul in autumn, but refuses to share her spot with anyone else
• While not as impressive as a pelican, she does have a gular pouch
• Has unshakeable belief in several superstitions, namely the existence of dragons and monsters

Songs

• The Fly - Cosmo Sheldrake
• Pale White Horse - The Oh Hellos
• Rule #4 - Fish in a Birdcage
• Devil's resting place - Laura Marling
• Devil's night - Johnny Hollow