Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory, is an ancient female[2] white dragon. As an NPC, Gelidon is played by Matthew Mercer.
Fan art of Gelidon, by KageSatsuki.[art 2]
Description[]
Appearance[]
Gelidon is "of hoarfrost color"; in other words, a white dragon.[3]
Personality[]
Gelidon has a personality similar to that of a spurned bride, with much frustration and anger fueled by a failed courtship years earlier. [4]
Biography[]
Background[]
Gelidon has occupied her territory in the Greying Wildlands of Wildemount for some time. When Vorugal began encroaching upon Gelidon's territory in Wildemount (approximately twenty years prior to Campaign 2, or around 810 P.D.), a courtship began between the two ancient white dragons. However, Vorugal was killed by Vox Machina before anything could happen between them. Gelidon was frustrated that the one prospective mate that came into her territory never came back.[5]
"Manifold Morals" (2x74)[]
In the Vellum Steeple Archives, Beau read a book that spoke of a cursed location to the far eastnortheast of Uthodurn, known as Mythburrow, about 350 miles away. It talked of an ancient dragon of hoarfrost color and quaking roar was thought to possibly nest there, but unseen in nearly a century. The dragon’s name is Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory.[6]
"Rime and Reason" (2x75)[]
Fan art of Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory, by @runningcritter1.[art 3]
The Mighty Nein and their aasimar druid ally Reani attempted to scope out Mythburrow, Gelidon's supposed lair, with hopes of turning the mythril bar in their possession into iceflex via a white dragon's breath. In doing so they killed the present members of a group of yeti living inside, and discovered cave drawing-like depictions of the yeti delivering gifts to a large, winged lizard. Knowing that white dragons prefer freezing their prey before eating, the party hatched a plan to bait Gelidon out with an offering similar to those of the yeti, but hid the mythril bar nearby in hopes it would be blasted by proximity from the dragon's icy breath. Once everything was in place, the massive form of the ancient white dragon Gelidon burst out of her lair to inspect the offering, and killed it with two subsequent frozen breath attacks. Everything seemed to be going smoothly for the Nein until Gelidon tore her frozen prize out of the ground and flew back to the lair with the mythril bar still attached to the underside. With no other options and noticing that the bar had been turned into iceflex before being carried off, Nott, Jester, Beau, and Reani (in giant owl form) snuck into its lair, retrieved the mythril, and successfully escaped back to the Tiny Hut, also taking with them some chainmail[7] and a rainbow-colored stone.[8] Caleb then teleported the party back to Uthodurn.
"Fair-weather Faith" (2x123)[]
Fan art of Gelidon in Eiselcross, by Bethany Berg.[art 4]
The party, along with their temporary traveling companions the Tombtakers, encountered Gelidon again while traveling through Eiselcross near the ruins of Aeor, engaging in battle and seriously wounding her before she fled.
Relationships[]
Vorugal[]
Before Vorugal was slain by Vox Machina, the two dragons had been beginning a courtship. The fact that he never returned became a source of frustration for Gelidon.[9]
Character Information[]
Fan art of Gelidon, by Erin Andersen.[art 5]
Abilities[]
- Legendary Resistance[10]
- Immune to cold damage[11]
- Multiattack[12]
- Frightful Presence
- Claw (2x)
- Bite
- Tail attack
- Cold Breath[13]
- Legendary Actions:[14]
Fan art of Gelidon, by George Bennett.[art 6]
Notable Items[]
Gelidon, whose hunting range included Eiselcross, at some point uncovered an Aeorian arcane siege cannon and brought it back to her lair, mainly as a decoration but which might be reassembled and used against a serious threat.[17]
Appearances and mentions[]
- Campaign Two
- "Manifold Morals" (2x74), mentioned only (first mentioned)
- "Rime and Reason" (2x75) (first appearance)
- "Refjorged" (2x76), mentioned only
- "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123)
- Specials
- "The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice" (Sx79), mentioned only (and physical imitation via Shapechange)
Quotations[]
- (deeply inhaling while pacing back and forth) Where do you think you're going?[18]
- (in a singingly sinister tone) I know your scent now.[19]
- (landing near the hidden party on Eiselcross) I can smell you. I told you I had your scent.[20]
- (frustratedly) Like gnats--coming out of everywhere.[21]
Trivia[]
- The name Gelidon may come from a combination of the words "gelid", meaning "icy", and the latin suffix "-odon", meaning "teeth".
- Gelidon has more HP than the typical ancient white dragon, which would not have survived Veth's Voltaic Bolt in round 2.[22][23][24]
- In 843 PD, during the events of "The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice" (Sx79), Caleb Widogast cast Shapechange to become an exact copy of the Nightmare in Ivory.
References[]
- ↑ See "Rime and Reason" (2x75) at 4:14:01.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina #124: 'Rime and Reason'" (TMx124) at 45:00.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:56:20.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina #124: 'Rime and Reason'" (TMx124) at 46:20.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina #124: 'Rime and Reason'" (TMx124) at 0:45:20.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:56:20.
- ↑ See "Rime and Reason" (2x75) at 4:08:34.
- ↑ See "Rime and Reason" (2x75) at 4:04:00.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina #124: 'Rime and Reason'" (TMx124) at 0:45:07.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:02:16.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:03:11.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) from 1:06:13 through 1:07:53.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) from 1:40:41 through 1:41:26.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:04:16.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:35:00.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:27:38.
- ↑ See "Critical Role Campaign 2 Wrap Up" (Sx56) at 2:31:09.
- ↑ See "Rime and Reason" (2x75) at 4:13:32.
- ↑ See "Rime and Reason" (2x75) at 4:14:01.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 0:45:25.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) at 1:42:32.
- ↑ Monster Analysis: Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory (Eiselcross) at CritRoleStats points out that Matthew Mercer increases dragons' hit points to make them more balanced against a party of seven.
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 100. The recommended HP for an ancient white dragon is (18d20+144) or 333.
- ↑ See "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123) from 0:55:48 through 1:29:56. Gelidon takes 312 points of damage in round 1, and Veth at the top of round two does 49 damage which would have exceeded the typical 333 HP.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon, by BlackSalander (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon, by KageSatsuki (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory, by @runningcritter1 (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon in Eiselcross, by Bethany Berg (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon, by Erin Andersen (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon, by George Bennett (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Gelidon in flight, by Sang (source). Used with permission.
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