Shadow Dragons emerged from the ancient ice caves beneath the northern mountains, born where glacial darkness meets volcanic heat. These ethereal beings manifested during the First Long Night, when the bitter cold crystallized dragon fire into shadow-like forms that could slip between ice crystals. The eldest children of winter itself, they learned to harness both darkness and frost, becoming living embodiments of the North's most primordial powers.

Regal and aloof, Shadow Dragons maintain a dignified distance from mortal affairs while serving as eternal guardians of the North's deepest secrets. Their nature reflects the duality of ice and shadow - capable of both serene stillness and swift, decisive action when northern traditions are threatened. These beings possess an ancient wisdom that manifests as patient observation, yet harbor an intense territorial instinct toward their frozen domain, displaying an unwavering commitment to preserving the old ways of the North.