I'm finally back in town with some time to think on my fellow! Here's what I've got!
Name: Songzhen
Means "Pine Needles" in Chinese.
The Lapsang soquili are inspired by Lapsang Souchong tea - which was developed during a time of war when armies were traveling through a territory that was famous for their tea. So much was required for the passing army that they did not have enough tea and they demanded that they make more. However, there was not enough time to dry the tea leaves so instead they smoked the tea over pine - giving the tea a distinctive smoky taste.
Songzhen bears the array of characteristics of the Lapsang soquili: pinecone-like scales, pine needles growing behind his ears, and a distinctive brushpaint style
Personality: Songzhen is an older stallion, who spent most of his life in the Lapsang Valley. He is an older, skilled artist, using the tea that is brewed in his homeland as a media. He specializes in paintings of war and some of the stars of the re-enactment battles, using his artwork as posters or advertisements sometimes for the big name actors.
His mane has a faint taste of tea, and he prides himself of "putting a bit of himself" into his works - using just a bit of his stained teawater mane in each painting. However, it is only an accent - in place of a signature - as otherwise it would deplete too quickly to regrow.
When the lands opened up, revealing new territories that was lost to the shroud of history, he seized the opportunity to travel with the reenactment troupe. As much as he enjoyed capturing the life of the Lapsang herd on paper, the opportunity for new subject matter, new breeds of soquili, new landscapes was too sweet of a call to resist.
History: Songzhen grew up among the other Lapsang soquili in the "Lapsang valley" in the Eastern mountain range: a peaceful herd that shared a history of warfare centuries ago. While he admired the warriors of the herd, and those who displayed skill in the art of stunt fighting and battle re-enactment, his own talents emerged in the form of artwork.
