Black Dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

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.

Cali, a female with an unusual penchant for analyzing humans' intentions, decided to test her skills on Kad's clan of dragons. She was drawn by their reputation for toeing the line of insanity—some more brilliantly and some more violently than most. Unfortunately, they soon proved to be a lifelong endeavor; deciphering the taciturn faces and hostile words is still no easier for her, centuries after she began, than when she first arrived. Occasionally she feels that being a traditional "warrior" dragon would have involved less fighting. The lack of completely "normal" dragons has her, like Vysilk-the-sometimes-healer, falling slowly into their idiosyncratic way of viewing the world as well. Each year, she spends less time diagnosing and more time collecting certain mushrooms to preserve a semblance of happiness.