Sleeper in the Snow, Icelands Coast, Predator

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[Altario Shialt-eck-Gorrin]

Edits for Val done in brilliant Turquoise.
Edits for Shabby done in marvelous Mauve.



Overview

The Sleeper in the Snow, as known by the Remusians, is considered by many sages and researchers as a unique land ray.  Upwards of two peds in length and equally wide, it seems to “swim” through snow and ice as easily as normal sea rays swim in the seas.  It is found within the frozen north of Sarvonia, concentrated in the Iceland Coast region, but stories of even larger ones being found in Cyhalloi have been told.  They are a predator that much is unknown, yet is much speculated on.

   Appearance

The Sleeper in the Snow is thought to be a type of land ray, in large part because of its physical resemblance to rays found in the sea.  The Sleeper has a wide flat body that can reach up to two peds in length and being equally wide.  From its head to its tail runs its trunk, which can be about a fore in thickness and two fores wide, which then tapers out to the end of its wings.  It does not have separate limbs.  Male and female Sleepers are roughly the same size, with males having larger claws.

It has pale flesh, covered in a fine coat of silky white fur no more than a nailsbreadth in length.  At the end of each wing, closer to the front, are two claws that it uses to tear the flesh of its prey.  It has a tail, but it is short and thick, and researchers believe this is because it does not need a tail to use as a rudder the way sea rays do.

The Sleeper’s head consists of two pink eyes, and a mouth on the bottom with a double row of jagged, sharp teeth.  This is most definitely a predator.  Its nose is found further down its belly, and is not much more than a bulbous mound of flesh with four slits for air intake.  It does not have gills the way sea rays do.
        
   Special Abilities

The Sleeper has what many researchers suggest is an innate magical ability.  Though there are disagreements on how this magical ability is manifested.  Some argue that the Sleeper uses fire magic, melting the ice and snow before it as it glides along.  Others contend that it uses a Water based spell to change the form of the ice and snow.

Whatever the method, the Sleeper in the Snow can travel at amazing speeds through ice or snow.  In snow, it has been known to overtake a horse and rider.  Through ice it is considerably slower, but a man would be hard pressed to outrun it.

In snow, one can track the Sleeper by watching as the level of the surface snow falls slightly as it passes through.  It is a skill the Ice Tribes have perfected in both hunting the creature, which is rare, and trying to avoid it.

   Territory

The Icelands Coast area is the only confirmed place where the Sleeper is known to exist.  During particularly long winters with much snow, it is known that this area can expand greatly.  There have been sightings as far south as Kuglim lands.  Of course, the Tandala Mountains form a natural boundary and no sightings have ever been made south of them.

Other locations rumoured to be inhabited by the Sleeper is the far northern areas of the Caaehl’heroth Peninsula and Cyhalloi.  Some stories of the creature in Cyhalloi have certain members of the species as over five peds in size.  There has never been proof of this, it must be noted, but the stories point to Dying Ice Ridge on the east coast of Guldor or the Rolling Snows on Folasch as being locations this creature might exist.  Some Snow Trolls on the Folasch  island have been seen to be wearing hides of white fur that some speculate might have been from a Sleeper in the Snow.
    
   Habitat/Behavior

The Sleeper is a solitary creature.  It is very territorial and spends its time moving through its territory searching for food and looking to chase off others of the species.  Because of its reclusive nature, not much is known of its habits other than mating and hunting.  It is a silent hunter, as there are no reports of it making any noise of its own.  This is where it gets its name.  A victim will often never see or hear its attacker until a burst of snow erupts next to them and the predator falls upon them.  It is as if one has awakened the very snow itself.

   Diet

The Sleeper in the Snow is a top tier predator.   This means that there is almost nothing that it will not hunt.  From the humble hrugchuk mouse to wison calves, it is a creature that is not afraid to challenge prey larger than itself.  Though man is not a preferred food source, there have been reports of lone travelers being attacked.

The Sleeper uses stealth to hunt.  It approaches the prey from beneath the snow cover.  With blinding speed it can burst from the snow and reach a height equal to its body length.  The two claws on the end of each wing then grab hold of its prey and it pulls itself tight against the prey.  From there, its underside facing mouth is pressed against the unfortunate animal, and the sharp teeth do their business.

The Sleeper is not a combative hunter as much as it is a stealthy hunter.  Though it will physically engage its prey, it holds on only long enough to take as many bites as it can before releasing itself and falling back into the snow and disappearing, only to circle round and attack again from a different angle, or attacking another animal if one is available, such as in a wison herd.  This saves it from sustaining injuries, as it really has no physical defenses.

   Mating

The Sleepers are solitary animals.  They come together only to mate, which usually happens in spring.  The male will chase down a female and mount her by laying on top of her.

The female usually gives birth to two or three live young in the fall.  The young, about a fore in length, are able to follow the mother immediately.  They will stay with the mother all winter, then go off on their own the next spring.  Females who do give birth will not mate again until the following spring.  

During the winter it must be noted that females with young are particularly aggressive as they both protect their young and struggle to feed them.  It is the females with young that most human encounters occur.

   Myth/Lore/Origin

Note to Readers:  Necteref is a strange deity in the Remusian pantheon, in that the deity often changes sex roles, appearing as a god in one myth, while becoming a goddess in others.  To many this is considered confusing and even antithetical to Ice Tribe mentality.  However, the Ice Tribes themselves seemingly find no contradiction in this and just accept each myth based on their own merit.

In the days when the gods walked the land, Chelinor, the God of Snow, fell in love with Necteref, the Goddess of Death.  Necteref, however, did not feel the same about the god.  For years she rebuffed his advances.  Still, Chelinor was not to be denied.  

One day, Chelinor followed Necteref onto the Frozen Waste.  Though she tried to run and escape, she could not travel through the snow as easily as the God whose domain was the very snow that slowed her down.  Chelinor was able to catch her and he took her against her will.

Afterwards, Necteref became with child.  When she gave birth, she was determined that her children would not be slowed by the snow and ice as she had been, but they would bring death in the way that she could do.  Thus was the Sleeper in the Snow born unto the world.  Bringers of Death that glide through the snowy recesses of the far north.



   Usages

Ice tribes do not use much of the Sleeper.  The meat, what little there is, is very tough and not flavourful.  They do use the hide, however, as a cape.  The claws are fashioned into clasps and they wrap the hide around them.  Young Sleeper hides are used to bundle up babies, especially for nomadic mothers who are carrying the babes on their back for extended journeys.

There are very few bones in the Sleeper, most of it cartilage and too soft for use.

Teeth are used in jewelry and as arrowheads.

[Twen Araerwen]

Hello Master Goldenshield! I hope my words help you get this cleaned up for Arti's scrutiny.  

First paragraph, third sentence: 'It is found wi(t)hin the frozen north of Sarvonia,'

First paragraph, last sentence, this is more of writing quirk for me: 'They are a predator that much is unknown, yet is much speculated on.' You use the word 'much' twice, very close together in this sentence. it throws off the flow for me. Maybe a slight restructure? Something like 'yet it is greatly speculated upon'.

You mention that it does not have a tail similar to its sea going counterpart. If I may be so bold... would it not need some sort of dorsel type fin for guidance, since the tail is not used? I would think something full body length, without the pronounced apex style of the shark. This would allow it to hunt without easily being seen. Although with the hinted use of magic to aid in movement, many other theories could explain the lack of or necessitate these physical adaptions.

Last sentence under mating: I do not know what is wrong with this, but the wording is off somehow. 'It is the females with young that most human encounters occur.'

Myth, last paragraph, second sentence: 'but they would bring death in the way that she could (not?) do.'

A beautifully written beast, with a fierce overtone! Nice work doll!

[Altario Shialt-eck-Gorrin]

   Thank you, Hon, I appreciate the once over.  Most comments have been integrated. 

Those that have not are defended against thusly;

You mention that it does not have a tail similar to its sea going counterpart. If I may be so bold... would it not need some sort of dorsel type fin for guidance, since the tail is not used? I would think something full body length, without the pronounced apex style of the shark. This would allow it to hunt without easily being seen. Although with the hinted use of magic to aid in movement, many other theories could explain the lack of or necessitate these physical adaptions.

I was thinking that the magic used for movement would cover this.  Going through a solid medium, like ice, I would think that any vertical obstruction would be more of a hindrance than a help.  Tell me if you think me wrong and I can rethink it.

Myth, last paragraph, second sentence: 'but they would bring death in the way that she could (not?) do.'

No, she does bring death.  She is the Goddess of Death.  Her children inherited Chelinor's ability to move through ice, and they inherited her ability to deliver death.  Perhaps the sentence is not worded very articulately, I will give it some thought to rewording.

Thank you.

[Val O´Neil]

Corrections, suggestions and comments made lovely in Lime!

Overview

The Sleeper in the Snow, as known by the Remusians, is considered by many sages and researchers as a unique land ray.  Upwards of two peds in length and equally wide, it seems to “swim” through snow and ice as easily as normal sea rays swim in the seas.  It is found wihin< within the frozen north of Sarvonia, concentrated in the Iceland Coast region, but stories of even larger ones being found in Cyhalloi have been told.  They are a predator that much is unknown, yet is much speculated on. Ooo! I love these already, as I love rays! Yay!

   Appearance

The Sleeper in the Snow is thought to be a type of land ray, in large part because of its physical resemblance to rays found in the sea.  The Sleeper has a wide flat body that can reach up to two peds in length and being equally wide.  From its head to its tail runs its trunk, which can be about a fore in thickness and two fores wide, which then tapers out to the end of its wings.  It does not have separate limbs.  Male and female Sleepers are roughly the same size, with males having larger claws.

It has pale flesh, covered in a fine covering < repetitive use of the word "covering", perhaps "coat" or another synonym would make this sentence less halting of silky white fur no more than a nailsbreadth in length.  At the end of each wing, closer to the front, are two claws that it uses to tear the flesh of its prey.  It has a tail, but it is short and thick, and researchers believe this is because it does not need a tail to use as a rudder the way sea rays do.

The sleeper’s< Sleeper's (capitalize) head consists of two pink eyes, and a mouth on the bottom with a double row of jagged< comma sharp teeth.  This is most definitely a predator.  Its nose is found further down its belly, and is not much more than a bulbous mound of flesh with four slits for air intake.  It does not have gills the way sea rays do.
        
   Special Abilities

The Sleeper has what many researchers suggest is an innate magical ability.  Though there are disagreements on how this magical ability in< is manifested.  Some argue that the Sleeper uses Fire< fire (lowercase) magic, melting the ice and snow before it as it glides along.  Others contend that it uses a Water based spell to change the form of the ice and snow.

Whatever the method, the Sleeper in the Snow can travel at amazing speeds through ice or snow.  In snow, it has been known to overtake a horse and rider.  Through ice it is considerably slower, but a man would be hard pressed to outrun it.

In snow, one can track the Sleeper by watching as the level of the surface snow falls slightly as it passes through.  It is a skill the Ice Tribes have perfected in both hunting the creature, which is rare, and trying to avoid it.

   Territory

The Icelands Coast area is the only confirmed place where the Sleeper is known to exist.  During particularly long winters with much snow, it is known that this area can expand greatly.  There have been sightings as far south as Kuglim lands.  Of course, the Tandala Mountains form a natural boundary and no sightings have ever been made south of them.

Other locations rumoured to be inhabited by the Sleeper is the far northern areas of the Caaehl’heroth Peninsula and Cyhalloi.  Some stories of the creature in Cyhalloi have certain members of the species as over five peds in size.  There has never been proof of this, it must be noted. < I would suggest that Dying Ice Ridge on the east coast of Guldor or The Rolling Snows on Folasch would be perfect places for this awesome creature to be rumored to exist, and it would be hard for even natives to search these areas for the Sleepers due the former being ice marshy badlands and the latter being full of Snow Trolls.
    
   Habitat/Behavior

The Sleeper is a solitary creature.  It is very territorial and spends its time moving through its territory searching for food and looking to chase off others of the species.  Because of its reclusive nature, not much is known of its habits other than mating and hunting.  It is a silent hunter, as there are no reports of it making any noise of its own.

   Diet

The Sleeper in the Snow is a top tier predator.   This means that there is almost nothing that it will not hunt.  From the humble hrugchuk mouse to wison calves, it is a creature that is not afraid to challenge prey larger than itself.  Though man is not a preferred food source, there have been reports of lone travelers being attacked.

The Sleeper uses stealth to hunt.  It approaches the prey from beneath the snow cover.  With blinding speed it can burst from the snow and reach a height equal to its body length.  The two claws on the end of each wing then grab hold of its prey and it pulls itself tight against the prey.  From there, its underside facing mouth is pressed against the unfortunate animal, and the sharp teeth do their business.

The Sleeper is not a combative hunter as much as it is a stealthy hunter.  Though it will physically engage its prey, it holds on only long enough to take as many bites as it can before releasing itself and falling back into the snow and disappearing, only to circle round and attack again from a different angle, < or attacking another animal if one is available, such as in a wison herd.  This saves it from sustaining injuries, as it really has no physical defenses.

   Mating

The Sleepers are solitary animals.  They come together only to mate, which usually happens in spring.  The male will chase down a female and mount her by laying on top of her.

The female usually gives birth to two or three live young in the fall.  The young, about a fore in length, are able to follow the mother immediately.  They will stay with the mother all winter, then go off on their own the next spring.  Females who do give birth will not mate again until the following spring.  

During the winter it must be noted that females with young are particularly aggressive as they both protect their young and struggle to feed them.  It is the females with young that most human encounters occur.

   Myth/Lore/Origin

Note to Readers:  Necteref is a strange deity in the Remusian pantheon, in that the deity often changes sex roles, appearing as a god in one myth, while becoming a goddess in others.  To many this is considered confusing and even antithetical to Ice Tribe mentality.  However, the Ice Tribes themselves seemingly find no contradiction in this and just accept each myth based on their own merit.

In the days when the gods walked the land, Chelinor, the God of Snow, fell in love with Necteref, the Goddess of Death.  Necteref, however, did not feel the same about the god.  For years she rebuffed his advances.  Still, Chelinor was not to be denied.  

One day, Chelinor followed Necteref onto the Frozen Waste.  Though she tried to run and escapre< escape, she could not travel through the snow as easily as the God whose domain was the very snow that slowed her down.  Chelinor was able to catch her and he took her against her will.

Afterwards, Necteref became with child.  When she gave birth, she was determined that her children would not be slowed by the snow and ice as she had been, but they would bring death in the way that she could do.  Thus was the Sleeper in the Snow born unto the world.  Bringers of Death that glide through the snowy recesses of the far north.



   Usages

Ice tribes do not use much of the Sleeper.  The meat, what little there is, is very tough and not flavourful.  They do use the hide, however, as a cape.  The claws are fashioned into clasps and they wrap the hide around them. < What about its bones? Perhaps they could be used for something. Or maybe the skin would also make a great blanket for infants? Perhaps it would be perfect to make a travel bundle for a baby out of, as it locks in warmth and fends off cold? Just a random thought...

Teeth are used in jewelry and as arrowheads.

[Altario Shialt-eck-Gorrin]

Thank you for the lookover Val.  Edits have been made.

[Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang]

*Shudders* I know why I don't go North much.

I find the movement through snow very plausible. I have a harder time imagining the sleeper moving through solid ice. To help me, a question: do we know what happens to the ice when a sleeper passes through? Does a passing sleeper increase the likelihood of cracks in a glacier, for example? Do you see the trace of a sleeper's path through clear ice?

Why is it called the sleeper?

Those are just my musings. Great idea, Altario!

[Altario Shialt-eck-Gorrin]

Thank you for the comments, Shabby.

Because the Sleeper has innate magical ability to convert the ice instantly to water, where it freezes behind them, I don't see that ice would pose that much of a bother.  It is not something the Sleeper needs think of, it just happens naturally.  Like a chameleon doesn't think about changing colour, it just happens depending on where it is located, the Sleeper doesn't have to think about what medium it is traveling through.  Still, if faced with traveling quickly through snow, or moving much slower in ice, I'm sure the Sleeper would choose snow under most circumstances.

As far as glaciers go, my thought is no, it would not affect a glacier any more than badger holes contribute to earthquakes.  They are too small in relation to a glacier and there are too few to do any damage, not to mention that they do not leave a tunnel behind them, just water that would freeze again.

Under the right conditions, a person might see a sleeper beneath their feet while standing on clear ice, or see one in the wall of a glacier if the ice were pure enough.  You might even be able to make out an older trail.

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