Voriksha

Lore ::

Deep beneath the Frigid Floes of the Southern Icefields, there lurks a special breed of dragon that is rarely witnessed. Even when they come near the surface for a spot of air, they are difficult to spot with their hides mimicking the shimmering dark in which they dwell. A traveler can easily be caught unaware as one of these hulking beasts topples their boat over, and if they’re lucky to live to tell the tale, they may never spot their assailants as they dive back below the surface as quickly as they came. They are like the sea monsters of lore, but really these dragons are the Glacial Leviathans.

Physical Attributes ::

Unlike what their name may suggest, they move very quickly in the water. They are only referred to as “Glacial” since they prefer to live among the dark, cold waters around the Southern Icefields. Their hides are meant to camouflage them well in the dark depths, with only a few lighter details to mimic barnacles or streams of bubbles that could be visible. Their hides may shimmer, shine, or have a hint of sparkle, but that only helps them hide among the shimmering, icy waves around the icebergs and the cold shores. As one may guess, they are all very large in stature. They do not breath underwater, but they have impressive lungs that allow them to hold their breath for hours (possibly even a whole day or two) at a time.

Social ::

These huge brutes are not very friendly. They’re very territorial, but will sometimes live in very small clans that are fiercely loyal to one another. They are hunters through-and-through, but will avoid Iceberg dragons if they’re in the area, seeing as they are physical matches to the Leviathans (though much, much slower) and will alert any potential prey in the area to their presence. They are generally nocturnal beasts, and thrive in the winter months when the endless nights set in. Supposedly, during the longest span of night in the Southern Icefields, Leviathans have reportedly been spotted jumping from the water through the air, breaching and splashing around in play or celebration. It might be an act of courtship for Leviathans, but no one with more than a few cells in their brain have stuck around long enough to find out.
If a dragon could manage to befriend a Leviathan, they first would have to defeat them in combat. They value physical strength and skill above all else, but will not rule out clever tricks and outsmarting maneuvers. To befriend a Glacial Leviathan is to be left alone in the cold sea from that point on, where they may lurk in the water chasing off potential foes. You could camp on an ice floe and wake up to find a fresh catch of meat or seafood waiting for you by the water’s edge.

Lairs ::

While it may seem like the Leviathans simply swim around all day and all night in the watery depths, they are known to have lairs they return to. These are typically caves and ice caverns that are only accessible from underwater, so they are very difficult to visit… or escape from.

Tactics ::

Leviathans are not an opponent any dragon wants to have to face alone. They are incredibly fast swimmers and very vicious, using their brute size and strength to take on their opponents. Even more scary is how they will pull opponents into the cold water, where they can hold their breath for hours upon hours, and the icy temperatures do not phase them. They are not typically magic users, but there have been some spotted with old runic markings, easily mistaken for a stream of bubbles as they swim by, that might hint at some hidden, cold power that could be unleashed in a fight.