Balloon Dragons are so named because they are filled with a gas that makes them almost lighter than air, similar to balloons. However, they are not prone to bursting, as they are covered in tough skin and can deflate themselves if necessary. In addition, they generally are slow moving. They use their gas bladders to float to the tops of trees, where food is more abundant. They can shift their weight from their backs to their fronts, allowing them to reach leaves and fruit.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Count von Zeppelin is a real aristocrat. Somehow, he has come into possession of an old abandoned castle and a huge treasure hoard. Now, he just spends his days floating idly, admiring his possessions and showing them off to visitors. Although hunting is an accepted pastime for the aristocracy, the Count is usually too lazy to hunt for his own food, and he has employed some of the other dragons to do that for him, while the Count spends his time perfecting his floating skills.