IceWings are one of the seven Pyrrhian tribes. They are located in the far north Ice Kingdom, on the “head” of the continent. Their current queen is Queen Snowfall.[1] They are characterized by their ability to withstand sub-zero weather, serrated claws, and deadly frostbreath.[2]
Appearance[edit | edit source]
IceWings can have scales of many colors, including white,[3] silver,[4] light purple,[5] light green,[citation needed] or light blue.[6] They are sometimes patterned with darker colors, such as dark blue, like Lynx.[7] Their eyes can be dark blue, arctic blue,[8] 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 described as narrow and "perfect" looking.
IceWings have long horns that curve downwards, and a mane of icicle-like spines on their neck, which have been shown to sometimes ruffle when the IceWing is mad.[10] They have a line of thin spines that run down to the base of their tail and long spikes on the tip of their whip-thin tail, alongside serrated claws for gripping ice.[2]
They have forked dark blue tongues and,[2] unlike other tribes, have deep blue blood.[8] However, in Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, Arctic appears to have red blood.[11] This is possibly a mistake made by Mike Holmes.
Abilities[edit | edit source]
IceWings are better acclimated to colder environments, and, in warmer environments, IceWings may thermoregulate by sweating a silvery liquid, as was seen by Fjord during his fight in the arena.[12] Their scales emit a chill which may have the effect of lessening damage from firebreath attacks, as was described when Clay's firebreath was "swallowed instantly by the chill of his scales" when it hit Fjord.[13] Although, IceWings have still been described to be able to be hurt by firebreath in later books despite this.[14][15]
Their ridged claws can inflict major damage as they are described by Peril to feel like "getting clawed four times with each claw instead of once,"[16] and in The Dark Secret, are said that they seem "ten times sharper than normal claws."[17]
IceWings formerly used to have Animus magic, but do not anymore.
Frostbreath[edit | edit source]
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 that appears in icicle-like bursts once it has hit an object.[18][19]
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 was seen with Battlewinner.[20] The only known dragons that can withstand frostbreath are firescales, such as Peril.[21] If not treated, frostbreath can do damage to limbs, and lead them to fall off or blacken.[22] IceWings temporarily lose their ability to exhale frostbreath if they have come into contact with something hot around their throat or snout, such as hot metal, or if they are in hot environments.[23][24]
Names[edit | edit source]
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.[25] 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.[26]
Culture[edit | edit source]
Bards/Librarians[edit | edit source]
Each IceWing village contains at least one bard.[27] 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.[27] These dragons often begin their stories by introducing themselves, where they come from, and their family members.[28]
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.[27]
The Great Ice Dragon[edit | edit source]
The Great Ice Dragon is a deity-like figure for the IceWings.[29] Their name is often used in a variety of expressions.[29][30] There are temples built in their honor,[31] and according to IceWing legend, the Ice Dragon used their frostbreath to create the aurora borealis.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, chapter 1, paragraph 1-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Guide To The Dragons Of Pyrrhia, books 1-10
- ↑ Moon Rising, chapter 14, paragraph 16. "Even through the thick smoke, Icicle's gleaming white scales should have been visible, but there was no sign of the IceWing where Moon had seen her before the blast."
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, Prologue, paragraph 11. "Hissing steam circled his [Hvitur] snout where the hot chains met cold silver scales."
- ↑ Winter Turning, chapter 11, paragraph 18. "One was a MudWing with a crooked tail; the other, Winter realized with a shock, was an IceWing, glittering silvery-white with pale purple underscales."
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, chapter 18, paragraph 3. "Clay could see beads of silvery liquid dripping through the IceWing's glacier-blue scales."
- ↑ Winter Turning, chapter 21, paragraph 79. "She [Lynx] had an unusual pattern of dark blue scales scattered across her white snout and wings."
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Winter Turning, chapter 8, paragraph 2. "Her [Icicle] arctic blue eyes were bloodshot, crackled with dark blue veins, [...] . She was streaked with mud and blood — not just her own dark blue blood, but splatters of dark red that must have come from the NightWing she'd killed."
- ↑ Winter Turning, chapter 8, paragraph 3. "She [Icicle] plunged into the frigid ocean six times a day because she believed an IceWing who glittered like diamonds was a more menacing IceWing."
- ↑ Darkness of Dragons, chapter 16, paragraph 5. "'There's no need to raise your voice at me,' Winter said, ruffling up the spines around his neck. 'I'm the one who's going to help you rescue him.'"
- ↑ Winter Turning (graphic novel), page 73
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, chapter 18, paragraph 3. "The sun was high in the sky, and it was much warmer in the arena than up on their prison spires. Clay could see beads of silvery liquid dripping through the IceWing's glacier-blue scales."
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, chapter 18, paragraph 27. "The flames had been swallowed instantly by the chill of his scales, but the IceWing looked even angrier than before."
- ↑ The Dark Secret, Prologue, paragraph 19. "Finally Reed managed to cough out another bolt of flames and the IceWing jerked away, narrowly avoiding a singed nose."
- ↑ Escaping Peril, chapter 9, paragraph 44. "She [Peril] flung herself into the air and blasted fire right back at him [Winter]. Clay's voice in her head made her aim to his left so she wouldn't actually hurt him...but surely it was all right to scare him a little bit."
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, chapter 19, paragraph 48.
- ↑ The Dark Secret, Prologue, paragraph 18.
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, chapter 18, paragraph 23. "Clay ducked and rolled out of the way just as a blast of what looked like sparkling smoke shot out of Fjord's mouth"
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy (graphic novel), page 99
- ↑ The Dark Secret, chapter 16, paragraph 35. "Queen Battlewinner was alive now, but the frostbreath was still inside her. She could never leave the lava, or else it would finish its work."
- ↑ Escaping Peril, chapter 9, paragraph 42. "Winter whirled with a roar and shot a blast of frostbreath at one of her wings. As she'd [Peril] learned over many arena battles with IceWings, this did essentially nothing except make the spot feel numb for a few minutes while her firescales combated the ice."
- ↑ Winter Turning, chapter 17, paragraph 53. "Winter realized that the doctor's back left leg and half her tail were covered in unmistakable frostbreath scars — blackened and blistered, with two claws missing."
- ↑ Winter Turning, chapter 7, paragraph 19. "This was worse than the damp rainforest heat — this was the kind of heat where he [Winter] wouldn't be able to use his frostbreath."
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, Prologue, paragraph 17. "Burn snorted. 'A few worms crying over a little blood. Unwrap his chains. He [Hvitur] won't be able to freeze us until his scales cool down.'"
- ↑ Darkstalker (book), chapter 2, paragraph 51. "'In my [Arctic] kingdom, the dragon with the highest rank in the family chooses the dragonets' names and the queen must approve them."
- ↑ A Guide To The Dragon World, page 150
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 148
- ↑ A Guide to the Dragon World, page 148-150
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Runaway, page 144
- ↑ Runaway, page 156
- ↑ A Guide to the Dragon World, page 151