so I make a new world and skip the first continent and this happens
apparently AVWW doesn't like me skipping a chunk of the game
Aye, those guys first appear on continent 2. The exact number of them seems a bit randomized.
You dont have to worry about the two that are right next to each other; when you're in a zone near them, the game will act the same as if there were only 1; you wont get double the ice darts coming your way or something like that.
The nasty one is the one right near your settlement there.
Get a shield, if you can. Learning the timing of the ice darts can allow you to block them with any given shield.