The "Blood Drinkers" are the inhabitants of Phoenix Isles in the Coldwell. They call themselves simply, "the people", "Blood Drinkers" being a translation of the elven term for them. They stand between eight and nine feet tall and are covered in thick white, shaggy fur. They are bipedal, but not human looking. They have large black eyes with third eyelids, long pointed teeth, and large claws on both hands. A single long horn protrudes from their forehead. They live primarily off of the blood and marrow of animals, particularly seals, penguins and the giant bears, which they hunt. They are also known to hunt large fish like tuna from the icebergs. They require the iron-rich animal blood to counteract the effects of the rustwind plants. Their fur renders them immune to the effects of the cold water and has a natural resistance to acids.
They might, at first, appear primitive. They hunt on all fours, springing forth from ambush to grab prey. But they have a keen sense of tactics and working in small groups. Their horns are sensitive electrochemical receptors, allowing them to sense their prey, and each other, even when they cannot be seen. They live in small community groups in caves dug out of the hillsides on Phoenix Isle. They seldom use wood, as they have little need for heat, and use few, if any, tools. They are not primitive, though. Metals are nearly impossible to maintain on Phoenix Isle, and their diet requires living creatures from the sea, or that feed exclusively upon creatures from the sea. This leads them to barter knowledge and assistance rather than money or trade goods. They are keen observers and have an exceptional ability to understand what a being needs, and what they are willing to pay for it.