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.

Agatae, the Beauteous Wasp, is an unusual Balloon dragon. His skin shimmers in the colors of a dozen jewels, thanks to a magic cast upon him by Malfeas himself. Though he moves slowly through the air, the buzzing of his little wings is like that of his namesake, and he even favors the same foods as wasps—fruits overripe and near to bursting, or the syrupy offerings of flowers.

   He loves philosophy as much as his favorite foods, and will often exchange rides upon his broad back for the chance at a good debate. Hatchlings, Pygmies, and Mints find his services very useful, and he bargains for discussion and sweets with almost equal enjoyment. What one cannot supply, another may—a hatchling may have a honeycomb, a Mint a riddle, and even Amphelisia, the Teakettle Courtier, has been known to call on his services with a political conundrum for payment.