Grave Dragons are not named for their connections to death or burial, but for the grave expression on their faces. This strange expression is used as a defense mechanism that causes fits of panic and terror in potential predators. Since they only eat ash and charcoal, they do not hunt. Grave Dragons are powerful fire-breathers and have been known to burn down forests and villages alike to make meals. It is believed that the markings on each Grave Dragon’s wings are the faces of those who have lost their lives in fires started by that dragon.

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.

Anger, burning anger... leaping tongues of gold... screams echoing around her... delicious screams, feeding her anger, feeding her fire... nothing left...

Those fragments of memory haunt Mel'nisse every moment of every day. She had been overjoyed to discover she finally had her fire, and quickly became fascinated with the way the flames moved, as if they were living beings dancing to the ghostly song of their own hunger. It was beautiful thing.

But she had never used her fire in spite before that day, when she lay waste to a human city. Their screams had goaded her, their weapons heightening rage. It had been a beautiful thing.

Until she saw the extent of what she had done: broken, burned bodies lying among the ash. She swore that she would never use her fire, taking the ash she needed from the ruins of smoking campfires and natural wildfires. Mel'nisse hasn't broken her oath, but even as the memory faded to haunting fragments, she still misses the beauty of her fire.