Cryols are beings who have progressed through all major stages of Algis's cryosis, their bodies having transformed into magical ice that does not melt. Many exist in indefinite stasis in the Alcove, a domain in the far North merged with Algis's Abstraction.  

Any who seek  the peaceful stillness of a place eternally frozen are welcomed to the Alcove. They may seek out the Alcove on their own or be offered an invitation by Algis or any who once dwelled there, including other Cryols. Once one enters the Alcove, they begin to experience a phenomenon referred to as cryosis through exposure to Algis's magic. This proceeds through a few stages: 

• Freezing of physiology — after ~1 year. Those Algis accepts as residents no longer age, have no need to eat or sleep, and do not produce any waste. They do not tire, even if they stand unmoving for days. 

• Freezing of form — over 2-10 years. Their body temperatures slowly dip, eventually reaching freezing temperatures. Their complexions become pale, and their eyes often have pale slivers of ice that shimmer in the light. 

• Glaciation of experience — dependent on the individual. If they become comfortable with that stillness, and their thoughts and concerns start to glaciate, then time will start to slip away from them. They stop moving for minutes, then hours, then days, then weeks at a time and more. 

• Stasis — 5-10+ years after glaciation begins. The final stage of cryosis. The individual stops moving indefinitely, their thoughts stilling to timeless eternity and their body becoming magical ice. Their eyes may be open or closed, and they still are able to experience senses, but it is almost like a state of deep meditation—all concerns fall away in the face of the absolute peace of stasis. Reaching this state may take a year for some, and decades for others; some do not reach this state at all. 

• Some may experience thawing, where they may choose to retreat from stasis or perhaps form a connection with a visitor or another resident who has not reached the stage of stasis. 

Those who reach the stasis stage, including those who thaw, are referred to as Cryols.

Cryol bodies are permanently composed of magical ice that does not melt, even if they thaw and leave the Alcove.  The ice may appear glassy, frosted, or any other appearance ice can take. They may be opaque, transparent, or translucent; some may have parts or all of their internal skeleton visible, while others can appear completely like glass as if nothing were within them. Their colors often range in whites and blues, though some other colors could be included. Some form icy clothes out of their magic, while others may wear actual clothes. 

Many Cryols develop claws, horns, spikes, and other similar structures made of ice. These can be consistent or dynamic, and tend to manifest more prominently for older Cryols. 

Though many Cryols tend to retain the structure of their internal anatomy to a fair extent, their organs are non-functional. Instead, their life force has crystallized and condensed into an ice core, which is typically where their heart is. The ice core is significantly more resilient compared to their body, and so long as it remains intact, they are immortal and can regenerate from it. The ice core often glows with the color of their soul at will or at moments of intense emotion, though they can hide the glow if they prefer. The same color can also shine from their eyes; if their eyes aren't shining, they take on desaturated, icy colors. 

Due to the freezing of their biological characteristics, they cannot biologically reproduce. 

• Freezing Magic: Cryols have a degree of freezing magic, which can be powerful but is limited compared to Algis. This includes but is not limited to: 

  • Physical matter, allowing them to induce any real-life phenomenon related to ice and freezing. 

  • Aging, allowing for temporarily stopping the passage of time on living beings.

  • Memories, potentially creating ice crystals that preserve specific memories for preservation or remembrance.

  • Emotions, crystallizing feelings that can be experienced by touching the crystal.

  • Time, though in limited areas and limited effects.

• Regeneration: They are able to regenerate injuries and loss of limbs through regrowth of their ice body. With active effort, they can recover in seconds, though they will also regenerate naturally over a few days. 

• Sustainment: They do not age, have no need to eat or sleep (but can if they wish), and do not produce any waste. They do not tire, even if they stand unmoving for days. 

• Shapeshifting: They can shapeshift in minor and permanent ways (such as changing their height, body type, gender presentation, etc.) or major and temporary ways (such as manifesting wings, extra limbs, transforming into a creature-like or abstract form, etc.). 

• Levitation: Some older Cryols are able to levitate. 

Please ask Auspice if you would like to create a Cryol character; you can directly DM them or ask in the #questions-suggestions-feedback channel of the Discord. They will ask about your character concept and potentially discuss somewhat; if they are satisfied, you may create and discuss your Cryol character freely. In general, these details would be helpful: 

• Origin: era/time, species, context 

• Entry into the Alcove: reasons and motivations for seeking the stillness, how they came to know about the Alcove, why they chose to stay, etc.  

If you like, Auspice can design a Cryol for you as a custom, notion-type, or semi-custom type design. 

• For semi-customs of non-human/oid Cryols and customs, see Auspice's general design commission info. 

• For notion-type and semi-custom type commissions for human/oid Cryols, you can repurpose the Humanoid/Humanlike design commission form. 

If you have permission, you can also design your own.