Marsha

Marsha is a young MudWing socialite who spends her time vacationing with the nobility.

General

• 8 DY / 18 HY, hatched 5194 AS
• Female, she/her
• MudWing
• Socialite
• Femme lesbian

Appearance

• Below average height
• Slender for a MudWing
• Rounded face with a downturned, stubby snout
• Cool brown scales, darker on the top with a pale underbelly
• Slightly darker cool brown freckles
• Pretty, pale gold eyes
• Long lashes, wears mascara + kohl

Accessories

• Pale, cream-colored gold horn + tail bands
• Small cream pearl tiara-like headband in a V-shape on forehead
• Cream colored mink fur shawl 

Personality

• +  Charming, imaginative, engaging, perceptive, adventurous
• =  Independent, enigmatic, worldly, stylish, social
• - Impatient, disorganized, dishonest, selfish, manipulative

Abilities

• Below average MudWing strength, she does not train or practice her abilities
• Unable to stand flying for long, would much rather take the train
• Excellent at party games, thoroughly engaging, a much sought-after guest
• Fantastic liar, good at manipulating others to gain social power
• Talented painter, but doesn’t consider it as a career option
• Trades in gossip and secrets

Inventory

• Postcards
• Fine sable paint brushes
• Prized carved gold vanity travel case with makeup and cigarettes

Trivia

• Has a fear of heights, hates flying
• Favorite food is dark chocolate-coated fruit
• Spends much of her time in mud baths and saunas
• Can be found most often lounging at the Summer Palace or visiting her Aunt Boar at Jade Mountain Academy
• Loves the theater and the opera, never misses a performance
• Heavily inspired by the flapper generation of the 1920s

History

• Hatched in 5194 AS to Aspen (mother) and Otter (father) during late spring in the Mud Queendom, after a breeding night held in their lady’s territory
• The pair were soldiers, lower-middle class
• Was the youngest of four siblings, her bigwings was Catfish, and her two older brothers were Skink and Monkshood
• As per MudWing tradition, Aspen and Otter practiced distant parenting. They were involved in the troop’s lives long enough for them to know their names, but it was up to the troop to teach themselves survival skills
• Aspen and Otter resumed their duties among their troops as Marsha’s siblings grew. The troop knew that Catfish would likely be called into service for her lady, and prepared to follow her, expecting to become soldiers
• During their youth, Marsha and her siblings attended school in Fissure a few times a week, as was recommended by their reigning lady
• It was in Fissure that Marsha had her first taste of something other than a soldier’s life. Queen Dragonfly and her ladies were hosting a summer festival. Several nobles and their dragonets from other kingdoms were visiting
• Marsha snuck out of school one day to visit the festival out of curiosity, and ended up running into several of the noble dragonets. Amongst them were Lady Fanaloka and Lady Gharial, two daughters of a RainWing countess and adviser to the Queen. She also met the stunning yet antisocial first-circle IceWing Lady Anastassia, one of the most powerful dragonets in the ten queendoms
• Marsha was amazed by their grace, how they radiated power and beauty. Though Anastassia was aloof, Fanaloka and Gharial welcomed her, and asked which lady she was the daughter of. Turns out, Marsha had accidentally found herself in the highborn dragonet’s campsite
• Not wanting to be cast out, Marsha lied and said that she was the daughter of Lady Lacewing, a relatively unknown and new reigning lady
• Marsha spent the rest of the day with her new friends, mostly listening to their conversations. When night fell, she slipped out and returned home 
• Catfish and her siblings were concerned about Marsha and demanded to know where she’d gone. Marsha said that she was sorry, just wanted to see the festival, and lost track of time. Her bigwings reluctantly forgave her, and asked that she inform them first
• Over the next few weeks, Marsha became unfocused. Aware now that lives outside of soldier-hood existed, she dreamt of one day being like those dazzling dragons
• She began skipping training and school to go to Fissure. She started sneaking into plays and expensive stores, even if she would never have first-row tickets or be able to purchase anything. She did anything she could to get closer to a high-class life
• At age 5, Marsha received a letter from Fanaloka. It was originally sent to Lady Lacewing’s keep but was successfully relocated to Marsha’s school. It was an invitation to a gala in the Rain Queendom, for all young nobles to attend
• Marsha had accepted that she was not going to be able to attend. But Catfish, growing tired and angry at Marsha for her antics, discovered the letter before she could reply. Out of spite Marsha decided that she would go to the gala, no matter how difficult
• Catfish and Marsha got into a bad argument. Catfish demanded that Marsha stay and return to her duties, because she was a soldier and part of a troop. Enraged at the thought that Catfish believed she could control her, Marsha disowned her siblings and fled, chasing a life not meant for someone like her
• With no money, Marsha was forced to make the journey to the Rain Queendom by flight. She faced harsh weather and exhaustion, but was driven by pure determination to prove Catfish wrong, prove that she wasn’t just an expendable soldier with no future
• She arrived the day before the gala, covered in grime and sweat, her wings sore and hungry
• In a new, strange queendom, Marsha began to think that it was all for nothing. She had no pretty jewelry and lacked the delicate features of nobles. There was no way that she would be let into the gala
• Marsha broke down, crying into her talons. Her savior came in the unlikely form of Lady Anastassia, the IceWing noble she had met a few months back during the festival
• Marsha, ever-the-liar, fabricated a story of her ‘mother’ Lady Lacewing keeping her from attending the gala because she wanted her to keep watch over the servants while she attended business with Queen Dragonfly
• Ana, empathetic to Marsha’s story, took her back to her room and helped to clean her up. Ana remained cold and aloof, but the two formed a connection. Ana lended Marsha some of her clothes and did her makeup. The two attended the gala together
• Marsha stuck close to Anastassia, but also met up with Fanaloka and Gharial. She was introduced to many other young nobles. She played party games, and discovered she was rather good at them. She drew attention, no longer remaining quiet, and made many friends that night
• She was even given her own room by Fanaloka when the night ended. She’d never slept in a bed before but found herself more comfortable than ever. Her thoughts drifted to her siblings, but she blocked them out
• Turns out Marsha had caused quite a stir. She was popular and invitations were arriving left and right from her new friends. She took up almost all of them, given free travel, food, boarding, and gifts
• Years passed and Marsha had fallen into a routine of partying. She lived off invitations, making very little money of her own. Still, she remained fairly enigmatic about her past. Only Fanaloka, Gharial, and Ana knew of her ‘heritage’ to Lady Lacewing. Others assumed she was the daughter of a lady, but they couldn’t name her. Marsha’s reputation weighed more than her origin
• Marsha realized she was into girls when she developed a crush on Lady Ana. However it was more of a ‘do I want her, or do I want to be her?’ situation. She corresponded with the IceWing noble the most often out of all her friends
• Though her life was tumultuous, Marsha gained a steady foot in the noble world through secrets and gossip, which always ensured she had something to give the highborns in return
• At age 7 Marsha befriended several SeaWing nobles and began spending more time in the Summer Palace, a fan of the warm and tropical climate. It was a good change from the humidity of the central queendoms
• She met a SeaWing handmaiden Isla, who worked as a servant for the royal family. The two quickly became close and Isla was able to get Marsha to lower her barriers. Isla was the first dragon that Marsha told about her real past. He remains one of her only commoner friends. The pair corresponded often and hung out frequently considering how much time Marsha spent in the Summer Palace
• On a visit to Jade Mountain Academy, where Lady Gharial was studying, Marsha ended up running into an older MudWing woman named Boar. She was a combat instructor who looked eerily similar to Catfish, Marsha’s bigwings. They shared the same build, dark orange eyes, and tusks. The only difference was Boar’s scales were deep brown whilst Catfish’s were a swampy green
• Boar also recognized Marsha, as she looked strangely similar to her own sister, Sorrel, who had passed away a number of years ago after an argument
• Though Marsha longed to return to the Summer Palace, she was drawn to the older dragon. Eventually Marsha stopped her after combat class ended to ask if she knew any dragons by the name Aspen or Otter
• Boar revealed she had a brother named Otter. The pair realized that Marsha was Boar’s niece. Things were awkward at first, since neither of them had been in contact with family for a very long time. But Boar quickly gained composure and slowly took a liking to Marsha. Though she hid her feelings well, Boar saw Marsha as a second chance to save Sorrel
• Boar hinted to Marsha that she should contact her siblings again, but Marsha did not want to take the hint
• In 5202, Marsha was 8. She returned to the Summer Palace but kept in close contact with Boar, who she travels to see frequently. The two had an unsteady relationship and progress between them moved very slowly, encouraging each other to think about reaching out to their troops again
• She continues enjoying the high life with her plethora of friends, but tensions are rising. Marsha knows that she can’t hide her secret from the nobility forever, especially not with her feelings for Anastassia growing intense and her lies becoming more tangled. 

Relationships

• Boar: Marsha’s aunt on her father’s side. Has an unsteady relationship with her but trusts her. They are guiding each other back to their families. Frequently send letters to each other and visit when Marsha sees her friends at JMA.
• Isla: Marsha’s best friend and one of the only non-highborns she talks to. Has a very genuine relationship with him since Isla is the only dragon, other than Boar and her siblings, who knows the truth about her past. Talk almost every day when Marsha’s in the Summer Palace and frequently send letters to each other. 
• Anastassia: Marsha’s crush and close companion. She doesn’t know if feelings are reciprocated. Also doesn’t know if she wants to be with Ana or be Ana. The two frequently correspond via letters and always meet up at parties. She also attends Ana’s concerts.
• Fanaloka: A good friend of Marsha’s. She loves Fanaloka’s spirit and the two always get into all sorts of mischief among the nobility. Her favorite dragon to gossip to. Usually her partner for party games. 
• Gharial: A friend of Marsha’s. She mostly knows Gharial through her older sister, Fanaloka. The two usually paint together, since Gharial is an extremely talented artist. Visiting Gharial at JMA also gives Marsha an excuse to see Boar, so the two meet up often. 
• Catfish: Marsha’s estranged bigwings. She hasn’t talked to her older sister in years, but thinks about her frequently. Marsha’s ill feelings towards Catfish have mostly faded, replaced with regret. But Marsha would probably do it all again rather than become a soldier.
• Skink: Marsha’s older brother, and the second oldest in her troop. Skink was the one who taught her many of the party games she played when she was older. Fanaloka reminds Marsha of him a little. She misses him dearly, but recognizes that he will always side with Catfish.
• Monkshood: Marsha’s older brother, second youngest in her troop. She always thought Monkshood was a little strange, but loved him nevertheless. She misses him, but has the least emotional connection to him out of all her siblings.
• Otter: Marsha’s father and Boar’s brother. Never knew him other than his name and his face, as per MudWing customs.
• Aspen: Marsha’s mother. Never knew her other than her name and her face, as per MudWing customs.