Ice-Lichen

Lichenis glacialis / “Frost-Coat” / “Sky’s Kindness”

“Ice-lichen means survival. Storm-Sailors call it ‘Sky’s Kindness.’ Only warm thing in frozen hell.”
—Storm-Sailor saying

Quick Reference

Ice-Lichen - Sky’s Kindness

Description

Ice-lichen is one of the most valuable survival resources in the coldest regions of the Aetherium—a silver-blue organism that grows on rocks and generates heat through mysterious Aether-absorption. In the frozen wastes of the Howling Expanse and the Veiled Heights, where temperatures drop below freezing and exposure kills within hours, ice-lichen provides warmth, water, and emergency food.

The lichen forms thick crusts on exposed rock surfaces, creating patches of silver-blue that look like frost but feel warm to the touch. The surface temperature of healthy ice-lichen is 10-15°C warmer than the surrounding air, enough to prevent frostbite, melt ice, and provide life-saving warmth to those stranded in cold regions. Storm-Sailors call it “Sky’s Kindness”—the one thing in the Howling Expanse that helps instead of kills.

The organism is actually a symbiotic partnership between fungus and algae, but its heat-generation mechanism is unique to the Aetherium. Somehow, it absorbs energy directly from the Aether and converts it to heat. Alchemists don’t understand how, but they’re grateful it exists. Without ice-lichen, the coldest regions would be completely uninhabitable.

Ice-lichen grows extremely slowly—millimeters per year, taking centuries to form the thick crusts that provide maximum heat. This makes it precious: harvesting too much kills the colony, and regrowth takes decades. Storm-Sailors have strict traditions about sustainable harvesting, taking only what they need and leaving the rest to regenerate.

Physical Characteristics

Appearance

Color: - Silver-blue (healthy) - Gray-blue (stressed) - White (dying) - Black (dead)

Texture: - Crusty, rough surface - Slightly spongy when pressed - Frost-like appearance but warm - Adheres tightly to rock

Thickness: - Young: 1-2mm (minimal heat) - Mature: 5-10cm (significant heat) - Ancient: 15cm+ (maximum heat) - Thickness = age = value

Coverage: - Patches (small colonies) - Crusts (large colonies) - Complete coverage (ancient, rare) - Patterns: Irregular, organic

Heat Generation

Mechanism: Unknown - Absorbs energy from Aether - Converts to heat - No visible fuel source - Continuous (never stops)

Temperature: - Surface: 10-15°C above ambient - Thicker = warmer - Maximum: 20°C above ambient (ancient colonies) - Sufficient to prevent frostbite

Range: - Heat radiates 10-20cm from surface - Enough to warm hands, face - Can warm small enclosed space - Not enough for large areas

Duration: - Continuous (as long as lichen lives) - Doesn’t deplete - Doesn’t require maintenance - Reliable heat source

Ecology and Habitat

Distribution

Primary Habitat: Cold regions - Howling Expanse (abundant) - Veiled Heights (common) - High-altitude islands (scattered) - Storm-exposed rocks (wherever cold)

Requirements: - Cold temperatures (below 10°C) - Exposed rock surface - Minimal disturbance - Time (centuries to mature)

Absent From: - Warm regions (Bright Reaches, Murk) - Soil (needs rock) - Shaded areas (needs some light) - Disturbed areas (human activity)

Life Cycle

Establishment (Years 1-10): - Spores land on rock - Begin colonizing - Minimal coverage - Little heat generation - Vulnerable to damage

Growth (Years 10-100): - Slow expansion (millimeters per year) - Increasing coverage - Heat generation improves - Colony stabilizes

Maturity (Years 100+): - Thick crust (5-10cm) - Maximum heat generation - Stable, resilient - Can survive moderate harvesting

Ancient (Years 200+): - Extremely thick (15cm+) - Maximum possible heat - Rare, precious - Protected by tradition

Death: - Over-harvesting (most common) - Warming climate (stress) - Pollution (rare) - Natural senescence (unknown if it happens)

Reproduction

Spores: - Released in spring (if seasons apply) - Wind-dispersed - Require cold rock to germinate - Success rate: Low (1-5%) - Slow colonization

Vegetative: - Colony expands outward - Millimeters per year - Continuous process - Primary growth method

Uses and Value

Survival Uses

Emergency Heat: - Huddle against lichen-covered rock - Prevents frostbite - Can save lives in storms - Storm-Sailors rely on this

Water Source: - Heat melts surrounding ice/snow - Creates drinkable water - Reliable in frozen regions - Essential for survival

Emergency Food: - Edible (barely) - Nutritious enough - Taste: Bland, slightly bitter - Texture: Chewy, tough - Last resort (but works)

Navigation: - Marks safe rocks (warm = survivable) - Storm-Sailors memorize lichen locations - Can find them in darkness (warmth detectable) - Life-saving knowledge

Economic Value

Market Price: - Fresh: 50-100 coins per kg - Dried: 30 coins per kg - Ancient specimens: Priceless (protected)

Buyers: - Settlements in cold regions - Expeditions to Howling Expanse - Veiled Heights communities - Emergency preparedness stockpiles

Sellers: - Storm-Sailors (sustainable harvest) - Veiled Heights residents - Specialized harvesters

Trade Volume: Low (limited supply, slow growth)

Research Value

Heat Generation Study: - How does it work? - Can mechanism be replicated? - Applications for heating, energy - No breakthroughs yet

Aether-Absorption: - How does it extract energy from void? - Related to Aether-vine mechanism? - Fundamental physics question - Ongoing research

Harvesting and Conservation

Storm-Sailor Traditions

Sustainable Harvesting: - Never take more than 10% of colony - Never harvest ancient specimens - Rotate harvest sites (years between) - Mark harvested areas (let others know) - Teach children these rules

The Harvester’s Prayer: > “Sky’s Kindness, I take only what I need.
> I leave the rest for others.
> I leave the ancient for the future.
> Thank you for warmth in the cold.
> Thank you for life in the storm.”

Enforcement: - Social pressure (Storm-Sailors police themselves) - Violators shunned - Over-harvesters banned from communities - Works (mostly)

Conservation Efforts

Protected Colonies: - Ancient specimens protected by law - Some Storm-Sailor communities guard specific sites - Penalties for over-harvesting - Education about sustainable use

Challenges: - Enforcement difficult (remote locations) - Desperate people ignore rules - Climate change threat (warming) - Slow regeneration

Status: - Overall: Stable (for now) - Ancient colonies: Declining - Young colonies: Healthy - Future: Uncertain

Storm-Sailor Culture

Spiritual Significance

“Sky’s Kindness”: - Seen as gift from Aether itself - Or from Constellation of the Voyager - Or just nature being merciful - Regardless: Deeply valued

Rituals: - Thank lichen before harvesting - Never waste what’s taken - Share with those in need - Teach children respect

Stories: - Tales of lives saved by lichen - Warnings about over-harvesting - Legends of ancient colonies - Passed down through generations

Practical Knowledge

Finding Lichen: - Look for silver-blue on rocks - Feel for warmth - Common on storm-exposed surfaces - Memorize locations (life-saving)

Using Lichen: - Huddle close (maximize warmth) - Melt ice for water - Harvest small amount (emergency food) - Never damage colony

Teaching: - Children learn lichen locations - Essential survival skill - Part of coming-of-age - Knowledge is life

Related Topics

• Howling Expanse - Primary habitat
• Storm-Sailors - Primary users
• Veiled Heights - Secondary habitat
• Storm-Captain Kiera Windcaller - Storm-Sailor leader
• Aether Phenomena - Heat generation mystery

In-World Documents

Storm-Sailor Teaching (Told to Children)

Listen well. This will save your life someday.

Ice-lichen is warm. When you’re cold—when you’re dying from cold—find the lichen. Press against it. It will warm you.

Ice-lichen melts ice. When you’re thirsty—when you’re dying from thirst—find the lichen. Let it melt ice. Drink.

Ice-lichen is food. When you’re starving—when you’re dying from hunger—find the lichen. Eat small amount. It will sustain you.

But never take too much. Never kill the colony. Because the next person who’s dying will need it too.

Ice-lichen is Sky’s Kindness. Treat it kindly.

Survivor’s Account (Storm-Sailor, 279 S.)

We were caught in the Black Tempest. Ship destroyed. Crew scattered.

I landed on a rock. Just a rock. Nothing else. Temperature dropping. I was dying.

Then I felt warmth. Faint, but real. I crawled toward it.

Ice-lichen. Thick crust, ancient colony. Warm as a fire.

I pressed against it. Survived the night. The lichen melted ice. I drank. I ate small amount of lichen. I survived.

Three days later, rescue found me. I was alive because of that lichen.

Sky’s Kindness. It’s real. It saved me.

I left most of the colony intact. Someone else might need it someday.

“Ice-lichen is miracle of the Aetherium: a plant that generates heat in the coldest places, provides water in the driest moments, and offers food when starvation threatens. It asks nothing, gives everything, and saves countless lives. Storm-Sailors call it Sky’s Kindness, and they’re right. In a world that’s mostly harsh and deadly, ice-lichen is one of the few things that’s purely helpful. Treasure it. Protect it. Use it wisely. And thank whatever force created it, because without ice-lichen, the cold regions would be graveyards.”
—From Flora of the Aetherium by Botanist Scholar