Gold dragons are the ones most often killed by humans, who consider their scales to be extremely valuable. These golden scales grant them a high level of protection, similar to armor, and they use this to their advantage in battle.

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.

Haughty and arrogant to the extreme, Mithrod thinks highly of himself. He looks down disdainfully on others and feels his mere existence as a gold dragon is already a blessing to the lowly creatures surrounding him. Ysera cannot deny that his and Veraxis's eggs are the most valuable and sought-after of all her dragons but wishes Mithrod would be more like Veraxis. Though also a gold, she is humble and compassionate with a personality well-liked by most other dragons. Ysera believes this hubris will be his downfall and that a day will come when Mithrod will meet his match, another dragon who will command respect and admiration from the imperious and overbearing gold.