| “ | There are very, and I do mean very, few things in the world that can take on a dragon, much less even win. The Ichneumon is one of 'em. Not because they're overly powerful or anything. But because they're smart and crafty. | „ |
| ~ Derous |
Ichneumon are legendary creatures closely related to weasels and other mustelidae, and are one of the very few magical creatures capable of causing any trouble for dragons. Most prominently, Ichneumons are known for actually managing to kill them.
Description[]
Ichneumons on their own are fairly lively creatures, and, like most rodents, will bite those who they feel come to close. Reproducing often, in burrows, they produce between three and five young, which they nurse and train on snakes, before they are driven from the burrow to make their own home. Very few Ichneumon pups die facing asps, though a fair few do against dragons and crocodiles. Interestingly no ichneumon has been known to die at the gaze of a co*ckatrice or Basilisk, being seemingly immune.
Overview[]
When seeing a dragon, the Ichneumon covers itself with mud, and closing its nostrils with its tail, attacks and kills the dragon. The ichneumon was also considered by some to be the enemy of the crocodile and the asp, and attack them in the same way. It is eventually revealed that Ichneumons are in fact ancient ancestors of the modern-day mongoose.
By coating themselves in mud and letting it harden, it becomes a near impenetrable armor, and despite its thickness they are able to skillfully avoid strikes until they can bite the creature in the neck, killing it. It is believed that many dragon deaths over the years were caused by Ichneumons, and were instrumental in the Grand Culling of the Wyrms which was an event that had hunters tame and use Ichneumons to eradicate any dragon that was becoming a blight upon their homelands. Though some protested against this, mainly on the behalf of the more benign dragons which has led to dragon reserves now being warded against the small and persistent beasts.
The Ichneumons are notoriously known for not simply just being the cause of dragon deaths, but for their willingness to fight to the death with one. It is also via the method of the Ichneumon that humans were able to exploit the weakness of dragons and how to kill them more efficiently but even then it is no small task. Ichneumons themselves have been hunted by humans but mainly for their pelts as they would provide protection against a dragon's attacks.
