Dragon Snow Tiger
... a mighty stalker from the Artic depths- pouncing from above, with Cold nails and fangs!
"Locals fear the roaring of the winds. That is when the Snow Tigers take flight.
~ a Polas guide
This large cat-like Dragon is solid white with black markings, mainly seen around the legs and forepaws. It has wide, raking claws tipped in icy nails, and blue or golden eyes that peer above rows of sharp, carnivorous fangs. Powerful, sinewy muscles stretch taut beneath layers of scaly skin covered in a thick, fine coat of white fur. A long, flowing mane covers the necks and shoulders of males, protecting them from the cold environment where they have made their habitats. A pair of strong and imposing wings sprout from its lower back, giving it a wide and menacing stature.
This creature is regarded as a Dragon, despite its feline appearance, as it is a descendant of the Drakis shale, or Dragon Turtle. It is much larger than a normal Snow Tiger thanks to its massive wingspan, stabilizing its movements. Dragon Snow Tigers appeared in the late-era of the Ice Age, where it was described to have had a carapace. Much wider then, as it continued to evolve, it lost the shell and became a lean Polar region predator. Dragon Snow Tigers possess strange abilities related to the Cold, providing it with valuable tools as an arctic hunter.
Environment
Dragon Snow Tigers make their dens in the Minas & Majas Polas Polar regions. Though it has more distribution in the Southern Majas, groups of this Dragon made their way across the land during the later eras of the Mythic Epoch. Typically found in cold-weather environments, the Dragon Snow Tiger has never done well outside of these terrains. Most are found in the coldest regions.
Temperature in these regions provides the Dragon Snow Tiger with the right kind of heat regulation- while it is moving or hunting, this creature exerts incredible force and energy. Choosing to hunt near tidal pools or icy ravines, it keeps itself cool. It is a capable glider, using elevation to attack from above. It makes its dens in mountainous regions, migrating with seasonal changes.
Life Cycle
Much like their cousins, Dragon Snow Tigers form prides of 3-5 Tigers. Their lives start as eggs. A Dragon Snow Tiger is pregnant for a few months before releasing eggs; at which point, she will repose within her den, with an ample store of food. She does this to conserve her energy, and to provide enough food for the newborns. A mother Tigress can have 1-3 cubs within any clutch.
Cub & Tigress
If a Father is available, it will hunt for the Tigress and protect her while she is restoring her strength. The act of birth and pregnancy often leaves the mother fatigued for several weeks. Both parents will raise cubs until they mature (at around age 6-9), at which point, they may continue to stay together or drift apart. Dragon Snow Tigers can live to be around 750-800 yrs old.
Rates of adult maturation varies as Dragon Snow Tigers retain their youthful vitality until they're 300 yrs or older, at which point they become sexually mature. Pairs that bond tend to stay together for most of their lives, but monogamy isn't standard. They're notoriously polygamist creatures. Dragon Snow Tigers spend a large amount of time dormant, in states of torpor, much like their Dragon relatives.
Life Sciences
The fur of the Dragon Snow Tiger is cold, water, and wind resistant. This is a quality it derived from ingesting large quantities of Blue Ice over time. In addition, the scale patches beneath the fur are tough and resilient to puncture. Wings form near its lower back, allowing the Dragon Snow Tiger to hover or glide. The motion appears similar to climbing the air. This gives the creature incredible lift when leaping or pouncing prey, jumping and diving from heights of 80-100 Un easily.
Dragon Snow Tigers' wings have a variety of applications. The all white fur of the upper body gives the Dragon Snow Tiger ample camouflage. It is a patient hunter that can lay in wait beneath mounds of snow before ambushing prey. The wings can support great weight, and provides this beast with great mobility and stability. These wings form when a cub is 5 yrs old, but takes years to master.
Heightened senses allows the Dragon Snow Tiger to gain information from their sense of taste, natural dark and low-light vision, and the ability to sense creatures by their heat. They can track with their sense of smell and are able to swim for long periods in the arctic oceans. Capable of amazing underwater feats, the wings give them an advantage when turning underwater.
Dragon Snow Tigers often develops dark blue or cyan stripe mutations, instead of common black. This gives it an advantage when attacking on land or underwater, as its limbs appear to stretch, thanks to the stripes. Though these creatures are incredibly dangerous to approach- as they have a habit of attacking any warm-blooded animal smaller than themselves- their fur is coveted for the resistant properties it provides.
Legends & Myths
"Polar Drop-Cats Ahead"
~ Trailpost Sign
A common name given to Dragon Lions and Snow Tigers is "Drop-Cat". As the name implies, they received this nickname from the way they hunt- diving their prey and driving them into the earth. The sheer force of their weight as they fall onto their prey is usually enough to shatter bones.
A legend regarding the Dragon Snow Tiger tells of its ancestor; a version of it that was shaped moreso like the Dragon Turtle. Many believe that as it ages, it inevitably regains this form and wanders into the glacial mountains to sleep. Locals are wreary of the snow-hills for the Wilder D-Snow Tiger.
Dragon Snow Tiger
Creature Type
Dragon
Taxonomy
Source: Cold
Mode: Terran
Order: Calirocae
Diet: Carnivore
Type: Dragon
Genus: Drakis
Species: D. shaisu
Mode: Terran
Order: Calirocae
Diet: Carnivore
Type: Dragon
Genus: Drakis
Species: D. shaisu
Regional
Zone
Cold Hills
& Mountains
Cold Hills
& Mountains
Major Regions
- Minas Polas
- MajasPolas
Cultural Name
"Polar Drop-Cat"
Morphology
Life Span
500-800 yrs
500-800 yrs
Maturation
280-320yrs
280-320yrs
Ancestor
Dragon Turtle
(D. shale)
Dragon Turtle
(D. shale)
Conservation
Limited
Limited
Mobility
Reference
Speed & Movement
Every 5 Un = 1 sq of Movement on Maps or Grids.
Every 5 Un = 1 sq of Movement on Maps or Grids.
Speed
40 Un (Small) / 80 Un (Large)
100 Un (Huge)
100 Un (Huge)
Flight Speeds
20 Un (Small)/ 40 Un (Medium)
30 Un (Huge)
30 Un (Huge)
Swim Speeds
25 Un (Small)/ 50 Un (Medium)
60 Un (Huge)
60 Un (Huge)
Space & Reach
Unit Reference
Measurements
"Units" are measurements, defined by length, width, and weight. A whole Unit is denoted with an "Un" and represents 1 whole measured "Unit" (equivalent to the average length of a forearm). A "Micro-Unit" is denoted with an "Um" in measurements and is the size of an index finger bone. 10 Micro-Units make 1 Un. To measure weight, Unit Burden is calculated relative to the weight of an adult fist. Total Units are measured using decimals.
"Units" are measurements, defined by length, width, and weight. A whole Unit is denoted with an "Un" and represents 1 whole measured "Unit" (equivalent to the average length of a forearm). A "Micro-Unit" is denoted with an "Um" in measurements and is the size of an index finger bone. 10 Micro-Units make 1 Un. To measure weight, Unit Burden is calculated relative to the weight of an adult fist. Total Units are measured using decimals.
- Length: 8-14 Un
- Width: 10-12 Un (Wingspan)
- Weight: 600-700 Ub
Size Category
- Young
Small
- Adult & Elder
Medium to Large
- Wilder Variant
Large to Huge
...WIP!...
- Ao & Mystendr, deities
- Onagi & Vavaya, deities
- Pradei & the 7 Nephrei, deities
- Mythos Folk, sentient species
- Giant Folk, sentient species
- Folk Lore, document
- Falc Idros, condition
Folk Crests & Flags, cultural itemIceshard Compass, unique tool- Folk Language & Music, language
Mystic Oar, weapon & toolThink Point, legendary weaponIce Core, magical toolMist-Veil Lantern, magical toolSnow Globe, magical container- Chillweave Prosthetic, magical graft
- Icing S. String Harp, m. instrument
- Mythos Society, organization
- Mythologian, profession
- Alchemical "Ice",alchemical material
- Chillweave, enchantment material
Icing Silk, craft material- Mythic Sauna Stone, craft material
Tundra Bottan, craft materialT-Bottan Studded Bedding, condition- Icing Orb-Weaver, species
- Misty Mountains, location
- Orion's Band, location
- Broamede, vehicle
- Boba Ert, vehicle
- Nevrasenephr, vehicle
MYTH X
Comments
Author's Notes
Hello! This is a fun Article I wrote in response to a Bi-Weekly Story-Teller Prompt!
I'd been thinking about these guys for a while "Polar Drop-Cats"! Terrifying! I'd hate to live anywhere near them! Especially since that means I'd be living in a Cold part of the World! Brrr! LOL!
I'll definitely return to this Article in the future- TTRPG stats still remain TBD as I work on the Arx-Core System! : D
I want to add the "D-Snow Tiger Fur" & "Nails" as items, since all things in the AS game have craftable components. I just love a good crafting system, in any game!
There's other aspects to this creature I could get into but I think this is good for now! I hope you enjoy this rare and exotic creature from the enchanted World of Pathon! : D
Good Day!
MYTH X