The bright specks that adorn Xol Dragons mesmerize all who behold them. But those who gaze upon these capricious dragons must be cautious, for it can be difficult to resist their charm. The allure is especially strong during sunset, when Xols perform intricate dances, their agile bodies rising and falling within the water as their ornamental fins shimmer softly. Unwary spectators may find themselves in peril if they give in to the silent call of the dragons’ dangerous beauty, for the waters in which the Xols dance scald all those who enter. Thankfully, anyone who is wise enough to recognize their magic is able to resist it while still enjoying the display. Although dangerous in the water, Xols are relatively harmless on land unless provoked. Xol Dragons lay their eggs on land heated by volcanic activity, and the warmth helps develop their common red coloring. However, when eggs stay below a certain temperature for too long, this development is stunted, leading to the existence of blue individuals.

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.

Shoe Xol lives in a roiling mud pit under a bridge, and those who don't pay him a toll he will hypnotise to walk off the bridge and get stuck in the mud, so that he can get whatever fees he demands anyways. This has been rather lucrative, so he has a lot of time to explore silly questions. Recently, he has been trying to figure out what dino feet look like. The dragons at Seven Questions University told him the question was unanswerable, and tried to talk him into taking a course on Unanswerable questions, but he decided he could find what dino feet look like. After all, there are plenty of depictions of human feet, though he has never seen a human without shoes on. Surely, someone has determined the appearance of dino feet!

In the evenings, after he closes his bridge for the night, Shoe Xol heads into town to hang out with his partner, Cerebrospinel. She doesn't get much for her psychology work, but the two never talk about financial matters. Instead, Shoe Xol quietly foots the bill.