Great Sky Drake
The Great Sky Drake, also known as Icnouadaefarse, the Drifting Widow or the Rain Widow, or Somil'feth, is a unique legendary creature of primarily Ustrarian myth. She features in the popular myth of The Great Sky Drake and the Plains Hunter, and is the creature on which Ustraria's military (especially the Itoqir) bases much of its structure, aesthetic, and ethos.
Summary
There are variations in her appearance, personality, importance, and realms of influence between interpretations, but all generally agree that she is a dragon with at least four wings and the ability to be many-winged and -clawed in multiples of four, and that she has an intrinsic link with mathematics. It is usually unclear whether this link means that mathematics are divine because of their association with her, or the other way around.
A popular understanding of her is that she is either the last of the great sky drakes and is tied to Icalar in a sort of benevolent madness, or that she chose to remain on Icalar because it was the resting-place of her mate (Chepryth, or Tilmahcotles, or the Wound of Morning / Morning's Wound, which in some interpretations is the Plains Hunter while in others is another drake). She then acts as a largely protecting if aloof force whose everyday behavior is not to be understood, who might be entreated to help should a great evil arise. Her uniqueness, power, and benevolence form a natural link with something as important as rainfall, so it is common to see her depicted in watery colors and influencing the weather.
Other popular understandings emphasize her maternal nature and see her as a figure of wisdom with more involvement in human affairs, offering counsel and imparting great truths and cautions on how to best live an honorable life.
Historical Basis
Cultural Reception
The Great Sky Drake is incredibly important to the Itoqir of Korzhûn, especially so during the War of the Six on an unprecedented scale. The names of their military units are dragon-themed and their strict adherence to factors of four are a nod to her; likewise their Oath of the Drake is a pseudo-collective of her 'teachings'.
The Ustrarian flag features her, and both its ochre base and the Itoqir's uniform sashes reflect her commonly-interpreted coloring. Koza with reddish-orange hues and flame-type horns are particularly prized as being more 'pureblood drake'.
The hyinat, the official currency of Ustraria and Iyr, is minted with a scale pattern on one side.
The Creqira is seen as either especially sacred to her or her outright home.
An uncommon celestial phenomena wherein a full moon is mottled with blue is known as a 'drake moon', and is a nod to her coloring. It is seen as particularly auspicious.
Iknais named his battle-axe Somil'feth's Howl.
In Literature
In Art
She is a popular figure in art, especially in Ustraria. Motifs of her are popular for waterhearths (for her connection with water) and cradles (for her protective nature).
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