Ijsdrakon

In the aftermath of this explosion, or avalanche as I later confirmed from the observations back at camp, I thought I saw a great beast or monster. One might call it a dragon, yet how unlike any of our childhood illustrations! She stepped delicately, in profound silence, surrounded as it seemed by curtains of light.

Some unknown time later I sat up, dislodging a light fall of snow from my face and clothing, and only then realised I had been sleeping.

J____ pronounces me to be in sound health, fortunate indeed to escape frostbite.

--Unnamed Meizur polar explorer

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Ijsdrakon, ice dragons, are the largest (pseudo)reptilian species on Shade. They are written by Mutt.

Ijsdrakons are found at Shade's poles, in more extreme cold than even Boreans and Nordies can tolerate. They are not normally seen by anyone and generally assumed to be mythical like other dragons.

Ijsdrakons are sapient. They have magic systems completely unlike those used by Shade's bipeds.

The word ijsdrakon is Borean, pronounced ICE-dra-konn. The adjective, also used to refer to their language, is ijsdraken (ice-DRAH-khn).

Ijsdrakons have a system of symbols partway between rune and glyph, but do not tend to engage in physical writing. They have other means of communication too.

Temperament

Some humans keep ant and bee swarms to study them. Ijsdrakons, however, have no interest whatsoever in humans.

Appearance

Very large, wingless.

In build and shape, something like a cross between an ankylosaurid and a crocodile (see pics linked below for a better idea).

Head large and blunt. Well-defended eyes with good field of vision. The eyes are reflective and opalescent.

They move fluidly - and silently when they want to.

Most do not have visible condensation in their breath.

External links

Back and tail spikes similar to armadillo lizard: [curlylizard] [curlylizzy] (not [these])

• [Build ref]
• [Build ref with back-plates and spines very close to what their writer has in mind] (NB ijsdrakons are wingless)
• [Another build ref] (NB ijsdrakons are wingless)
• [Possible head ref]
• [And this is cool.]