Physical Attributes

Snowdragons (Álukois) have a jagged ridge of crystal back spikes, diamond claws and teeth, and a sparkling, white hide. Their relatively soft bellies can be hardened by sports, especially tumbling. Only deep cuts or burns cause scars, ranging from grey to purple, which Álukois show with pride. An adult lacking any is seen as untested. Don’t confuse scars with the blue stripes adjacent the back spikes, which in youth are pale and few. After reaching prime, about 50 years, these start growing darker and more numerous—showing an individual’s age!

 

Humans invariably guess an Álukoi’s weight to be 2-3 times the reality, because they are surprisingly light for their size. Smallest of the Continent’s land dragons, Álukois still reach 4-6 tons. Huge webbed paws and modest tails help them traverse snowdrifts, ice, turbulent waters, mud or sand. Monstrous claws, huge lungs, and unrivaled stamina make them the best mountaineers, and ferocious opponents in war.

 

The Winter Gathering

Every January, the Álukois meet on frozen Lake Arkúlosi, in the Stonelaw’s northern extreme, for their Winter Gathering. Enjoyed for 10,000 years, this month-long festival includes sports, games, tall tales, crafts, feasting and constant socializing. With only a few hours of daylight, Álukois relish the cold, the dancing ghost lights, and the assured absence of enemies—to party almost all night! The Council of Elders elects a new leader, welcomes new members having reached 250 years of age, and conducts what business it can agree upon. Most years, very little is accomplished.

 

The 9 Senses

While hyúlems know 5-6 senses, the Álukois enjoy 9: (1) direction; (2) sight; (3) hearing; (4) smell; (5) taste; (6) touch; (7) time; (8) people; & (9) intuition. Some humans say “people skills” are just intuition, and that a sense of direction does not exist, having none themselves! The Álukois even count a 10th “sense of senses,” senfarózen, measuring one’s own and those of others (“She hears like a fox; He is so lost!”) With the best night vision, 2nd best day vision of any creatures on the Continent, and the most durable senses, thanks to powers of regeneration, Álukois keep sharp throughout life. And have the best memory.

 

Magic Eyes

Focusing their huge, wide-set eyes on the horizon or a snowflake, Álukois can “switch” to fog, night, or ant eyes, using them to gauge an object’s distance and proportions. At 100 yards, they can guess the thickness and integrity of ice on a glacier or frozen lake, and whether it is safe for them or at least humans to cross. With such powerful vision, they have always studied the sky. When “putting on” snow eyes in bright light, their internal retinal shields reflect so well that sorcerers believe they make Álukois immune to spells. About 1 in 20 can develop the ability to hypnotize, or spin, using their eyes (& powers of concentration). Early on, Lorgi discovered he had this gift. However, spinners are not adept measurers (can’t have everything in one pair of eyes!)

 

Snowdragon Sports

Most Álukoi sports are vigorous, land winter activities. Using a trimmed log for a rugby-type game, loggering can be played on land, ice or in water. Rollering is a bowling game with huge, polished obsidian balls on a frozen lake. Disking, hurling, tug-of-war and tag-back are fine over any terrain in any season. Floundering entails running, hurling and “roaring” to thwart hyúlem logging or hunting parties. The most hazardous, yet favorite Álukoi sport remains tumbling, or belly-skiing down glaciers and snow fields on semi-sculpted paths, using the tail for steering and braking, and the paws only for acceleration.

 

Food & Drink

The ancient, or “plain” Álukoi diet included nuts, seeds, berries, bark, leaves, mushrooms, potatoes, root and leafy vegetables. Extensive cultivation, beer brewing and writing all began together for the Álukois (“The 3 pillars of civilization” according to some). Trading specie and gems, many quickly developed a taste for the world by importing spices, wines, tea, cocoa, cheeses, dried fruits and other gourmet foodstuffs. In Lorgi’s day, Álukoi cuisine included almost everything but meat. Refining their distilling methods, at times Álukois nearly rivaled the Delfinians. Most consume copious quantities of carbohydrates in all forms: raw, frozen, dried, toasted, fried, baked and fermented—a bad diet for humans, yet good for snowdragons!

 

Hospitality

Living in isolated, mountain halls, Álukois get few visitors, making such events special. Highland hospitality begins with a huge, gourmet “snack” (góbo nóshul) upon arrival, offering one’s best, seeing to guests’ needs, entertaining with games, stories, tours of the hall and countryside, and feasting. A human visitor will be given a small guest room with a fireplace, bed & blankets—and non-stop conversation with the host, especially concerning food, current events and árgosangs (adventures). Álukois love to expound on their hobbies; especially distilling, sculpting, stargazing, floundering and rewooding (planting trees where hyúlems have cleared forest).

 

Everyone dines in the main room, with humans seated nearest the fireplace, on vegetarian cuisine and home-brewed ale. To avoid offense, guests must compliment these. All will be served too much of both! Dinner always includes stories, news, and expansions (sharing art or knowledge), which Álukois consider as gifts. Spiced tea, spirits and dessert always appear two hours later. If weather and constitutions allow, stargazing may follow. Unless guests beg to retire, the host may keep them up all night—and sleep most of the next day until time for another feast!...yoih!