IceWings are one of the seven tribes that live on Pyrrhia. They are located in the Ice Kingdom up north, on the “head” of the continent. Their current queen is Queen Snowfall.[1] They are characterized by their ability to withstand sub-zero weather,[2] serrated claws,[2] and deadly frostbreath.[2]
Appearance
IceWings can have white,[3] silver,[4] light purple,[5] light green,[6] or light blue[7] scales, sometimes patterned with darker colors, such as dark blue, like Lynx.[8] Their eyes can be dark blue, arctic blue, icy blue, or grey.
IceWings resemble a diamond form, and take highly to good hygiene. It is stated by Winter that Icicle would jump in ice cold water multiple times a day to be as shiny as she could.[9] They are lean, and are usually being described as narrow and "perfect" looking.
IceWings have long horns that curve down and extra icicle-like spines on their neck, which have been shown to sometimes ruffle when the IceWing is mad.[10] They have a line of long icicle-like spines that run down to the start of their tail and icicle-like spikes on the tip of their whip-thin tail, alongside serrated claws for gripping ice.[2] Their scales emit an icy-cold chill.[11] Fjord's scales appeared to be leaking a silvery liquid in the arena, like he was melting.[12]
They have forked dark blue tongues and,[2] unlike other tribes, have deep blue blood.[9] However, in Winter Turning: Graphic Novel, Arctic appears to have red blood.[13] This is possibly a mistake made by Mike Holmes.
Abilities
IceWings can exhale a deadly, freezing substance from their mouth similarly to firebreath, however this substance is known as frostbreath.[2] It is described as a sparkling smoke[11] that appears in icicle-like bursts once it has hit an object.[14] They formerly used to have animus magic, but do not anymore.
Firebreathing tribes can live for a short period after sustaining an internal frostbreath injury, and the only known way to prevent death after an internal frostbreath injury is through submerging the victim's body within lava, as seen with Battlewinner.[15] The only known dragons that can withstand frostbreath are firescales, such as Peril.[16] If not treated, frostbreath can do damage to limbs, and lead to them fall off or blacken.[17] IceWings temporarily lose their ability to exhale frostbreath if they have come into contact with something hot around their throat, such as hot metal, or if they are in hot environments.[18]
Their claws can inflict major damage as they are described by Clay to be "four times sharper than average claws,"[19] and in The Dark Secret, are said that they seem "ten times sharper than average claws."[20]
Names
Before Queen Snowfall got rid of the circle rankings, IceWings were named by the highest ranking dragon in their family, and would have to be approved by the queen.[21] They are usually named after things found in their environment, such as Lynx or Glacier, or cold things, like Winter or Snowfall.
Additionally, many IceWings, especially IceWings who lived in outer IceWing villages, were named Caribou after the famous IceWing animus “Caribou”, who with her powers created the gift of sustenance.[22]
Culture
Bards/Librarians
Each IceWing village contains at least one bard.[23] This dragon is chosen from a young age, and most IceWing dragonets dream of being a bard one day. These dragons go from village to village, reciting IceWing stories from memory. They sing of the Great Ice Dragon, among other myths and legends.[23] These dragons often begin their stories by introducing themselves, where they come from, and their family members.[24]
IceWing villages also have writers. These dragons write stories and information on sealskin instead of paper. The sealskin is given to a wandering librarian, who travels to different villages within the Ice Kingdom.[23]
The Great Ice Dragon
The Great Ice Dragon is a deity-like figure for the IceWings.[25] His name is often used in a variety of expressions.[25][26] There are temples built in his honor,[27] and according to IceWing legend, the Ice Dragon used his frostbreath to create the aurora borealis.
References
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, page 1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Guide To The Dragons Of Pyrrhia, books 1-10
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 179
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, prologue
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 141
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, page 296
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 154
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 259
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Winter Turning, page 101
- ↑ Darkness of Dragons, page 191
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 157
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 154
- ↑ Winter Turning (graphic novel), page 73
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy (graphic novel), page 99
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 169
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 124-125
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 211
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 90
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 168
- ↑ The Dark Secret, prologue
- ↑ Darkstalker (book), page 15
- ↑ A Guide To The Dragon World, page 150
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 148
- ↑ A Guide to the Dragon World, page 148-150
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Runaway, page 144
- ↑ Runaway, page 156
- ↑ A Guide to the Dragon World, page 151