Vithsilthuun the Icebeast

### Physicality

Smallest of the dragons; sleek profile kept low to the ground; icy white scales mottled with pale blue and light grey; small sharp horns that meet behind the skull in a diamond shape; spined crest; long barbed tail; pearlescent eyes reminiscent of Avo's third eye

## Worship

### Offerings

Secrets, treasure that resembles the cold sparkle of ice, bone (ivory, whale-bone) and furs, figureheads from ships

**Vithsilthuun the Icebeast** is one of the ten World Bones of Illandor. He is a mythic white greatwyrm created by Avo, and makes up the province of Vilnhost.

## Name

Vithsilthuun's name translates to 'Hunter, Cold Guardian' in Draconic, from *vith* ('hunt') + *sil* ('cold') + *thuun* ('guardian', literally 'protective eyes').

## Description

Vithsilthuun makes up the northern province of Vilnhost, which, at least at one point in time, was one of the smallest landmasses. The heavily mountainous topography is thought to be created by the overlapping spiny crest running the length of Vithsilthuun's body, as well as his long barbed tail and small sharp horns that meet at the back of his skull in a diamond shape. His body curls around, his back to the other provinces, looking out across the Avonan Sea, towards Eska Avolde. Vithsilthuun's mottled white scales are the cause of Vilnhost's prevalence of snow and ice, seen year-round.

## Geographical Influence

On top of marking the province with mountains and ice, Vithsilthuun's influence is felt through the harsh climate and year-round wintry weather. Icy fog, freezing rain and blizzards are common, particularly at higher altitudes. There are many labyrinthine ice caves within coastal glaciers, and high ice shelves within the vertical caverns of the mountains of his ridges. There are many hidden vales and caverns, thought to hide many of Avo's secrets, closely guarded by the Icebeast.

## Role in Creation

It is believed that Avo created Vithsilthuun as a guardian of the north. Originally, Avo created Vilnhost as a secret place, the last bastion before the End of the World at Eska Avolde. Vithsilthuun, therefore, was implemented as a savage hunter and diligent protector of this sanctuary, bearing a ravenous hunger satiated by intruders, a flawless memory to recall each tiny detail of his domain, and the watchful pearlescent eyes of his creator.

## Cultural Interpretation

### Physicality

Vithsilthuun is always depicted as one of the smallest of the World Bones, but is no less brutal in his power. His sleek profile - glossy due to his icy scales, mottled with pale blue and light grey to appear like snow - is kept low to the ground, his wings streamlined close to his body. A spined crest runs the length of his body, and his eyes are reminiscent of pearls, like Avo's third eye.

### Personality

It is common for cultures to personify the World Bones to understand them in terms they would be able to relate to. This is most prevalent in the humanoid races. Vithsilthuun is often depicted as bestial, isolationist and survivalist. He is a vigilant guardian, driven by a primal hunger and a deeply ingrained duty to protect the secrets of his creator. He is the least intelligent and most animalistic of the dragons, and as such is sometimes considered vicious and cruel, though this malice is due to mortals misunderstanding his nature, and attempting to attribute humanoid traits onto a distinctly non-humanoid creature. His bestial nature makes him a formidable hunter, and his extraordinary memory allows him to recall every detail, every victory, and every trespass upon his domain.

### Abilities

Stories paint Vithsilthuun as a [key trait], able to [skills, charms]. In almost every iteration of Vithsilthuun's tale, he is described as breathing [breath] and [element through scales]. Some stories posit that he is able to [special ability]. Many believe that he can [regional], due to the regional effects that indicate his presence.

## Religious Offerings

Religious offerings to Vithsilthuun are few and far between, as the Icebeast has little to offer mortals compared to his brethren. Still, the white dragonborn fortification of Frosthold has a shrine within its confines, as well as a large shrine situated on the mouth of the [inlay] overlooking the Avonan Sea. Travellers from Avardian sometimes leave gifts of whalebone, ivory and furs, as well as treasure that resembles the cold sparkle of ice such as diamonds and silver coins. Every so often, figureheads from wrecked ships will appear by the shrine, though it is unknown who or what leaves them there. In a similar phenomenal vein, skeletons or even frozen corpses half-buried in snow or half-encased in ice appear around the base of the shrine, with no indication of how they got there or how long they have been dead.