Many drakes throughout history are represented as evil creatures, and with good reason: between legendary conflicts like the Dragon Storm and the War of the Chosen, and many drakes being rather terrifying or horribly ugly, drakes are often thought to be either bad or simply greedy beasts. There is however a drake that stands in complete contrast to these commonly accepted ideas: the Ivorine Drake (sometimes also known as the "White Drake", and to the Kasumarii, the "Guldorian Snow Drake") an almost storybook depiction of good and kindness in the eyes of those who hear about dragons. Believed to have had territory in Northern Sarvonia, and observed by Kasumarii in the far north in Cyhalloi, these drakes are still not fully understood, in either their true origins or abilities: they are magical, enjoy the cold, and could be some of the most important specimen of drake wizards have ever laid hands on.

Picture description. The Ivorine Snow Drake with its typical soft fur and long white feathers. Image drawn by Sheil.

Appearance. We have many stories passed down through the years to thank for our knowledge of the Ivorine Drake, including Runsek "Sparkaxe" Thuthrum, author of "Dragonmyths", but unless one has a mind to travel far north, it would be difficult to find a living specimen to compare the assumed description against (Runsek’s sources are not really explained, but from all indications, he was in the City of Ximax at the time of the writing). Kasumarii and their students from Sarvonia have claimed to have encountered them, and this is how they have described them:

The Guldorian Snow Drake is covered along its eight-ped-long-body in cyhalloian snow-coloured fur, rather than the hard scales or thick skins typical to drakes, undoubtedly an aid against the colder climates and higher altitudes it will sometimes fly to. There are no noticeable horns or spikes on the body, but it does have two delicate looking ears that tip back from its head. The eyes are golden, with deep black pupils set in an elongated face. The four black claws contrast rather sharply with the whiteness of the beast, and the paws are almost hand-like in shape. The wings span somewhere between sixteen and twenty peds, and rather than the thin skin of most drakes they sport long white feathers, making them very capable fliers.

Special Abilities. The Ivorine Drake can fly, and from all accounts soar to impressive heights, being as comfortable (or even more so) in the sky as they are upon the ground, and seems unhampered by colder temperatures.

The magical abilities of the Ivorine Drake stand somewhat in question: that they have been aids to magicians throughout history is a commonly accepted belief, but to what extent has been difficult to ascertain except one recorded event in the War of the Chosen. Some believe that they have control over wind magic; other theories put forth that they could breathe fire and therefore could use fire magic (though that a drake must be able to wield fire magic just because they breathe fire is not really a sound theory).

One longstanding theory, made all the more popular by a fairytale about an elven girl and an Ivorine Drake, is that the inherent powers of the White Drake were not so much centered around their own specific magical abilities, but that they bolstered the power of a magician by bonding with the magician. In the story, the heroine was already an upcoming magician when she somehow “bonded” with a White Drake: the result being that her abilities in magic were profoundly enhanced. While the story is most certainly just that – a story – this “bonding” theory has never been confirmed, but neither it is not readily denied by any learned masters of magic or dragons…

Territory. There are two places in Caelereth that the Ivorine Drake is surmised to have had territory, but only one is confirmed. The first is the coast of the White Sea in far Northern Sarvonia, their chosen migration spot after they participated in the War of the Chosen; the second is the island of Guldor of Cyhalloi, home to the Kasumarii, and this is where current accounts place them. There seem to be very few of these drakes left in existence, as there have been only occasional sightings of them; it is very possible their kind is dying out, and that it is only a matter of time until they are gone forever.

Habitat/Behaviour. Ivorine Drakes seem to be cold weather beasts - covered in thick fur and feathers, it is logically assumed that warm climates would be uncomfortable for them. As to their behaviour, that is speculation for the most part, but flight is their most commonly reported activity.

Something odd about the creatures is that birds seem to have no fear of them (though such stories are usually discounted); a reason may be that they are bird-like in appearance in some ways, with their feathery wings and ears… but that doesn’t seem explanation enough; they could be capable of communicating with such animals, but how they can is not easily explained either. It could be, and likely is, nothing more than fable.

Diet. Witnesses who have seen these beasts say they have seen the drake eating goats, fishing for caéh'fish, and making a meal out of the occasional seal. Peace-loving they may be – but, drake they still are.

Mating. The genders of this drake have never been differentiated – and their mating rituals, never witnessed. No eggs have been seen in the wild, but are thought to be “a pearly-white, the size of a cat” (according to accounts in "Dragonmyths"). The life-span of the drake also remains in question, so how often they even need to mate can only be guessed at. Maybe they reproduce through magic? Absurd as it may seem, speculation is free to run wild here. Not even old Sparkaxe ever came forth with any substantial hints here, beyond the possibility that there might be eggs in Ximax…

Picture description. In this illustration you can see how close these drakes are supposed to be to birds. Image drawn by Sheil.

Myth/Lore. The Sarvonian lore surrounding these drakes has its origin in the War of the Chosen. There is a tentatively put forth belief that the Wind Gods interfered one time in the affairs of the Children of Avá: the Battle of Winds. As the white archmages Coulande and Dra'va'ensle marshaled their armies before facing Eckra the Cruel, a welcomed gift came to them: a group of shining Ivorine Drakes. Coulande claimed that the drakes were gifts of the Wind Gods to assist Sýs'cortná'avá win their battle against Eckra. When Eckra unleashed his netherbeasts on the field, it was the Ivorine Drakes which gave the terrible monsters battle, and ultimately rid them from the field. But as the battle reached its end and the sea poured in over the mages, the few remaining drakes took flight and saved themselves from ultimate destruction. It is believed that from there they migrated to what is now called the White Sea, and later, to Cyhalloi and the Island of Guldor.

There is also a common fairytale told in the Kingdom of Santharia – the origin of which is unknown but is attributed to Runsek “Sparkaxe” Thuthrum – that an elven girl, a student at Ximax in the School of Wind Magic, was placed in charge of guarding an egg hidden within the city; the egg hatched into an Ivorine Drake, and she bonded with it through some unexplained means. The drake bolstered her powers in magic, enhancing her raw strength and talents and speeding her control over magic. Afraid her teachers would take the drake from her, she fled with it – and led an evil magician who had discovered the drake’s existence on a mighty fine chase as he attempted to get it for himself! It is clearly a fairytale… but all fairytales have some basis in fact, it is said…

Researchers. Runsek “Sparkaxe” Thuthrum collected the Santharian and Sarvonian myths telling of this beast, as he did with many other drakes as well and compiled it into a book called "Dragonmyths", but how much of his information is factual is in question – there is no firm evidence that he ever witnessed these creatures in the wild himself. Any other credit must be handed to the Kasumarii.

7th Changing Winds 1667 a.S. Information provided by Morcaanan