Ralzrydur
Appearance
Overall Length: 110ft.
Standing Height a/ shoulder: 20ft.
Wingspan: 130ft.
Weight: 72.57 tonnes
The Hungerer's scales are a dull white mixed with pale blue and gray due to his advanced age. His eyes radiate a malevolent red boasting a predatory intelligence and his head is set into a thick bony crown complete with ridges and numerous protrusions set into the likeness of horns. A mouthful of dagger like teeth complete his countenance. The Dragon's body is gargantuan, stretching approximately 110ft in length from his head to the tip of his tail and he weighs an impressive 72.57 tonnes boasting an incredible bone density and musculature and his clawed extremities are as sharp as the honed edge of a sword.
Occasionally the Hungerer is forced to walk as a man when interacting with others. When he does so it is as a large man, 7ft. in height and well muscled with graying hair and pale eyes. He often moves shirtless, sometimes naked unbothered by the extreme temperatures and cold even in this form as a way of intimidating foes and underlings.
Skills and Abilities
Icy Death - The Dragon's breath is a freezing blast that can strike man dead in their tracks. The Icy Blast of the dragon can freeze a man or an animal solid, icicles left hanging from its torso and leave it susceptible to shattering if enough force or pressure is applied.
Predatory Gaze - The Ice Stalker's was born in the frigid cold of the Eretejva Tundra and has been hunting there, high in the mountains for several lifetimes. Whether in heavy snow or an extreme blizzard the Dragon can see clearly without obstruction. Even in the dead of night he can see clear as day.
Empathy - The Hungerer is a middling practitioner of this magical skill. The Dragon can see the emotions of his enemies, his allies, his prey and his minions and what he sees he can devour. While his use of Empathy is due more to instinct than innate knowledge devouring the emotions of others can make him stronger, more resilient and give him the burst of energy he sometimes lacks in his age.
- The Price: The price the dragon pays for his use of empathy magic is the numbing of his own emotions which manifest as a lethargic indifference. Occasionally the Hungerer feels the weight of three times his age pinning down on him; he knows that a dragon can live countless lifetimes but the Eretejva Tundra is unforgiving and many of his kind do not live to see their twilight.
Ritualization - The Dragon knows the rituals of magic, usually these require intense ceremony and the sacrifice of energy. A Ritual is potent but takes an extended period of time to complete, this can border on hours or longer. The Effects of rituals vary, differing according to the desired outcome of the spell that the caster is attempting to weave but most often take a form similar to the effects of Rune Magic or Witchcraft.
- The Price: Ritual Magic charges a price dependent on the desired outcome. A Ritual may be effective but its duration is indeterminate leaving the practitioner at the mercy of the spell. In the case of Ralzrydur, Old Frigid Death often bares the price of his spells through lethargic fits though these are sometimes offset by the sacrifice of his followers which he involves in his rituals.
Personality
The Hungerer is vain, he believes in his own superiority and knows that he is more than a match for most challenges. He is a predator that preys on the weak and subjugates those he feels could be useful tools in expanding his domain. In a fight Ralzrydur only retreats after grievous injury though he has been known to make strategic withdrawals and return to attack when his prey is unsuspecting. He covets treasure be it magic, coins, gems or artifacts. A Hunter by nature the dragon only engages in diplomacy with those who show courage or display strength, weaklings are unfit to serve or be treated with respect.
Lair
Old Frigid Death lairs high in the mountains of Eretejva. The entrance to his lair is on a mountainside reachable only by a narrow, snow covered path where harsh winds whip and bite at anyone foolhardy enough to brave the path. The Cavern itself is enormous, natural rock formations filling its entirety; the chill of the environment radiates inside ensuring that anyone entering only receives a sparse reprieve from the outside world. Natural light is void in the cavernous lair, ending after whatever spills in from the outside fades away. This lack of natural light hides the bones of countless creatures that have been devoured here throughout the ages.
A Treasure Horde has been unceremoniously dumped in a secondary cavern attached to the main antechamber of the cavern. Coins and gems spill from a small hill of valuables, several of which have become stuck together and coated with frost due to the sub zero temperatures. A small amount of light penetrates this chamber from light filtering in through cracks in the rocky ceiling of the cave, winding down through the stone.
Other, lesser chambers exist that only the Hungerer and his most loyal minions are aware of.
A Shrine to Eogorath is rumored to exist near the peak of the mountain where Ralzrydur makes his lair that only the bravest pilgrims are known to seek.
A Treasure Horde has been unceremoniously dumped in a secondary cavern attached to the main antechamber of the cavern. Coins and gems spill from a small hill of valuables, several of which have become stuck together and coated with frost due to the sub zero temperatures. A small amount of light penetrates this chamber from light filtering in through cracks in the rocky ceiling of the cave, winding down through the stone.
Other, lesser chambers exist that only the Hungerer and his most loyal minions are aware of.
A Shrine to Eogorath is rumored to exist near the peak of the mountain where Ralzrydur makes his lair that only the bravest pilgrims are known to seek.
Minions
The Ice Stalker still hunts, patrolling his territory vehemently however he also has several minions. Mostly these are humanoids that the Dragon has cowed into submission or sycophants that worship him as a quasi deity. These minions are largely NPC's and can be encountered and/or killed in roleplay by others.
The Servants of White Death - A Quasi Cult that worship the Dragon as a deity. Though Ralzrydur is hardly divine he does nothing to dissuade the worship of lesser beings. The Servants are comprised largely of Nord's who are outcast from their own people numbering nearly a hundred in total. They raid smaller Nord settlements, taking slaves, sacrifices and valuables for their master. Eirik the Red-Handed is the defacto leader of the Servants of White Death, a Nord Warrior that towers above most men and wields a two-handed axe; he is a patchwork of scars and is quite fanatical in his devotion to the dragon.
The Ogre's - The Dragon retains a small tribe of Ogre's who live high in the mountains near his own lair. The Ogre's venerate Ralzrydur as a symbol of strength and the Dragon sends them down to raid in his names or accompany the Servants of White Death when they sojourn for their master.
The Servants of White Death - A Quasi Cult that worship the Dragon as a deity. Though Ralzrydur is hardly divine he does nothing to dissuade the worship of lesser beings. The Servants are comprised largely of Nord's who are outcast from their own people numbering nearly a hundred in total. They raid smaller Nord settlements, taking slaves, sacrifices and valuables for their master. Eirik the Red-Handed is the defacto leader of the Servants of White Death, a Nord Warrior that towers above most men and wields a two-handed axe; he is a patchwork of scars and is quite fanatical in his devotion to the dragon.
The Ogre's - The Dragon retains a small tribe of Ogre's who live high in the mountains near his own lair. The Ogre's venerate Ralzrydur as a symbol of strength and the Dragon sends them down to raid in his names or accompany the Servants of White Death when they sojourn for their master.
Biography & Lore
The Hungerer was born a thousand years ago during a different age. During this time, growing with age Ralzrydur was known as a scourge hunting both dragons resident to the Tundra in a bid to expand his own territory and the native populace in a bid to subjugate them. As the Dragon aged his legend grew however this lead to hubris. As an Adult, near the pinnacle of his strength and power the Hunger was beset by numerous adventurers who would grievously injure him. Forced to withdraw and nurse a grudge the Ice Stalker would lick his wounds until he healed, regaining his strength over decades.
Ralzrydur never forgot his defeat. Returning when those who'd fallen upon him had grown complacent and weak with age, whereas the dragon had become stronger he slew them. Once his vengeance had concluded the Hungerer returned high into the mountains claiming a territory on the highest peaks and venturing down to hunt and sate his hunger.
This is the scant history of the Dragon but there is more to it than that. The Ice Stalker is responsible for the destruction of countless villages and towns throughout the ages. Skalds tell stories to embolden brash warriors and to caution them as well. Parents frighten young children with stories of the Hungerer. Ralzrydur knows his own history and cares little for the tales told by the lesser races which are many and varied.