Character Sheet for Liza Oscus Cordova
Species
European Badger (Meles meles)
Character Description
Liza became Redwall Abbey's Badger Mother in her late 20s under Abbott Josiah. She remained Badgermum into her 80s under Abbess Gwendolyn's lead with no immediate successor. She was loved by all. Warm, loving, care-giving, sometimes overly motherly. Those she knew as dibbuns were always dibbuns in her eyes. This became especially irritating to cubs reaching young adulthood. Any of you who have an overly motherly mother know exactly what I'm talking about.
Liza is very good at getting to know everyone who comes through the abbey. Visitor or resident, cub or adult, goodbeast or vermin, she presented herself as the badgermum. And on the subject of species, she believed everyone was a goodbeast. Believing in species equality, she intentionally never used the word 'vermin'. She was particularly fond of Brother Serney Blanders and was instrumental in pushing for his ascension as Father Abbot following the death of Abbot Josiah.
Although she holds a very traditional female role, she is a strong proponent of female rights and equality. She loved Queen Guivderin and everything that she stood for, even if the rat queen was rather bold in how she conducted herself. She saw how the presence of a strong young female rat inspired the abbey dibbuns to believe that anyone could be a leader, no matter the gender or species. And when the Spirit of Martin the Warrior chose Guivderin to wield his sword, Liza's faith in the goodness of Creation was reassured. It was like the universe was saying her belief in the goodness and equality of all creatures was truth.
The best day of her life was the day Abbot Josiah invited her to be Redwall Abbey's Badger Mother. The second best day of her life was also the worst day of her life, the day that Abbot Serney was assassinated. This was also the day Guivderin was chosen as Mother Abbess Gwendolyn. The new abbess's leadership and confidence during such a terrible time was so inspiring. Liza was filled with the deep sorry of loss for Abbot Serney, but incredible faith in Abbess Gwendolyn because of how composed she was. She held the abbeyfolk together in a time of betrayal Redwall Abbey had never experienced. Even General Cornelius Longstride was at a breaking point from the treacherous act committed by members of his Long Patrol. But the new mother abbess directed everyone to their most suited duties to halt the assailants' escape and protect the abbey from any further assaults from within. Liza had never felt so protected and loved by another female, and a rat of all creatures. Serving out her days under Mother Abbess Gwendolyn validated all that Liza believed. She even enjoyed the new mother abbess's challenges to her own fears and inhibitions.
Personality
Motherly, care-giving, optimistic. These are the best words to describe Badgermum Liza. Always polite, she wants those around her to feel safe and welcome. She has a wonderful G-rated sense of humor, but doesn't hold back laughing at fart jokes and belching contests among young abbey males. LOTS of patience and a good listener if you need to vent to someone.
She does not anger easy, but gives little leeway to rule-breakers or rudeness. Keeps her negative emotions in check, but tends to wear them on her face. You can see when she's upset.
A social introvert, usually sits back and watches. She prefers the company of cubs rather than adults.
Likes/Dislikes
Liza loves Redwall Abbey and all that it stands for. She loves the abbey dibbuns and being their surrogate mother. The dibbuns are a combination of orphans, abandoned cubs, and children of abbey members. Others are those of special needs. Liza cared for them all with love and beamed with pride watching them grow.
She likes the challenge of surrogate motherhood. She does not shy away from a difficult dibbun.
Has a huge disdain for ill intent because it goes against her beliefs in everyone's better angels. Rudeness and improper teasing, although she's pretty good about seeing the difference between joking around and malicious teasing.
Background/History
Liza Oscus Cordova was born on January 4, 5601 in Brockhall, Mossflower. She is the single child of Lero and Crenace Cordova. The badger couple had been married many years and had difficulty conceiving. The birth of little Liza was celebrated throughout the family. The little badger girl was the sweetest daughter anyone could ask for. Quiet, thoughtful, a stereotypical female in her love for dolls and playing house. She was not academically inclined, although that was not expected of females in her family. As a young girl she wanted siblings so she could be a big sister, but Lero and Crenace were never able to have another child. Young Liza became a much sought after baby sitter throughout Brockhall.
When she was 16, Liza met a 20 year old male badger named Drentos. The strong young male worked as a road builder for Brockhall. He took an immediate liking to the sweet young Liza. They married shortly after and moved into a small stone and mortar house together. The honeymoon phase was wonderful. The young badger couple made love every night and every day. Drentos and Liza were very much alike. Fairly simple creatures who just wanted a family. But Mother Nature had a cruel trick up her sleeve.
Liza was afflicted with polycystic ovary syndrome, rendering her unable to have children. Unfortunately this condition is unknown in her era so she is simply referred to as 'barren'.
The years passed, Liza did not conceive. Both were frustrated, but it was Drentos who became unhinged. Becoming a father was part of his personal identity, and Liza's lack of conception was an assault on who he was. He criticized her constantly about how she ate, how much exercise she got, how she'd sit, and what her personal hygiene was like. He even thought her choosing to babysit on the side would prevent her from conceiving.
Six years after they married, Drentos divorced Liza. The 23 year old Liza was crushed. She wasn't a mother after 6 years of marriage. She was barren. She would become a childless crone. The despondent young badger moved back home. Depression took hold of her. She tried to cope with her continued babysitting, but it only reminded her of what she could never be. The identity of 'Mother' would never be her's. Liza tried to suppress her pain with alcohol. That didn't work because badgers require lots of alcohol to achieve a drunken stupor and she couldn't afford it. But opium imported through Marl was a wonderful discovery. It was like depression sleep, but even better. She could picture herself as a mom and take a big hit, then float into a fantasy. Eventually she built a tolerance that even the mighty poppy couldn't break.
There was a massive oak tree in the middle of Brockhall. It was not the original leading to the Brock Family lair, that one toppled centuries ago. This one was planted symbolically on the Summer Solstice of the year 5000 and stood for over 600 years. Liza climbed among the highest limbs one night, carrying with her a sturdy rope. She would walk into the merciful abyss of eternity. Until she realized she didn't know how to tie a noose. She cried herself to sleep on those upper limbs, and made her way home the next morning.
Two days later, Liza's parents accompanied her on the 4 day walk to Redwall Abbey. She was received warmly by Abbot Josiah. Liza opened her heart to him, explaining her reason for descent into darkness. She felt robbed of motherhood. Josiah offered her the position of Badger Mother, as there currently wasn't one. It was a blessing she could not have imagined. Cubs in need of a mother, a female in need of motherhood.
Liza was 27 when she became Redwall Abbey's Badgermum in April of 5628. It was the most fulfilling thing she'd ever done. She became everyone's mother. No dibbun was too much, from infant to teen, she was there. The laughs, the tears, the poopy diapers and runny noses. Liza was Badgermum to three generations of Redwallers.
Relatives/Family
Ex-husband: Drentos Cordova, age 48.
Father: Lero Oscus, age 78.
Mother: Crenace Oscus age 76.
Multiple uncles and cousins in Brockhall, Salamandastron, and other parts of Mossflower.
World/Setting
Set on planet Earth approximately 50,000 years in the future. All of my Redwall OCs are depicted as they were in the year 5645(Year Zero was when time measurements switched from seasons to years.), the year of the Rendezvous of the Six Armies. Most of Chucky's world is stone aged to medieval at this time, with some increasing industrialization. The most modern cities have technology equivalent to that of Ancient Rome. Worldwide ocean travel exists with celestial navigation, although it is a risky undertaking.
Liza Cordova is from Brockhall, a town of mostly badgers in the northeast of Mossflower Country. Originally a large tree with an entrance that led to an underground lair, this ancestral home to the legendary Brock family line is now a thriving community of over 2000 inhabitants, mostly badgers. The Brock family includes many famous badger lords throughout the Redwall books.
Liza was 36 and living in Redwall Abbey when the assumed extinct Mt. Salamandastron erupted, destroying the millennia-old home of the Long Patrol. The city of Salamandastron remained intact and continues to flourish under Badgerlord Paulvo the Savvy. Most badgers and the Long Patrol relocated to the forest surrounding Redwall Abbey. This was the start of what would become Mossflower City. Most Redwall stories take place in Mossflower Country. For the purpose of crossover with Chucky's world, Mossflower is what most of Western Europe is known as. Mossflower Proper, covers the Iberian Peninsula. Redwall Abbey sits near what we know as Valladolid, Spain.(yes, I know there are some holes in my geography, but just go with it.) And although this area experiences a semiarid Mediterranean Climate in our time, in Liza's time, the climate has cooled and Mossflower experiences a climate similar to the rest of Western Europe.
Mossflower Country has no centralized government, just a common language of Mossflorian. It is a collection of kingdoms, species based tribal communities, communal settlements like Redwall Abbey and Mt. Salamandastron, and a few true cities like Southsward and Marl. Its history is that of survival and tribal warfare. Small kingdoms under a feudal system run by a lord or chieftain would trade or fight with each other for better land and resources. Larger communities grew in places where farming was done on a large scale. Redwall Abbey was built between early 4109 and 4129. It became known throughout the regions as a place of sanctuary, and a place of riches. The Redwall book series does a good job of explaining life in Mossflower over the next thousand years or so.
Mossflower began seeing changes in past centuries. Free markets began forming allowing creatures to make a living with their own skills. The quickest change was the sudden lack of 'vermin hordes'. Rats, weasels, stoats, foxes, and other 'vermin' no longer needed to join hordes for survival. The rat city of Blaggot, fox city of Marl, and northern coast trade port of Coltswart where such places. Relations between creatures and kingdoms softened. Internal trade and travel grew, and Mossflower felt smaller.
Most agree that the 5637 eruption of Mt. Salamandastron ended the era of 'Old Mossflower' for good. The displaced Long Patrol became the new horde for a short time. Then a new enemy approached from the east, not set on riches, but on empire building. 'Goodbeast' and 'vermin' alike cowered as the Long Patrol's first attack was efficiently cut down. Was this new invader unstoppable? Can Mossflower put their past permanently behind them and become a nation that fights together? Liza believes Queen Guivderin is the key to this unity.
Body
Liza looks like a standard European Badger with the usual black and white markings. She has floofy headfur that she wears tied back in a bow. A thick lady with large breasts and hips, standard physique for a middle aged female badger. Big hands, big feet, stands about 6 feet 6 inches tall. Soft brown eyes of a woodland critter.
Clothing
Almost always barefoot. Wears a long dress embroidered with daisies around the neck. Often wears an apron to protect her clothing from dibbun accidents. She sleeps in a long modest nightgown.
Accessories
Carries no personal accessories, but she'll remember what your favorite things are and make sure you don't lose them.
