Dragons are creatures with nearly unlimited life spans. They can survive for long periods of time, and no one has found a dragon that has died of old age. Adolescence 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. Once they hit adolescence, hatchlings change quickly, maturing to their full forms in only 2 years.

Dragons don’t communicate with each other verbally, but they will growl to scare off predators and frighten prey. Young dragons will emit an extremely high-pitched squeal when they are frightened. To communicate, they use telepathy with each other and to speak to other creatures.

Christmas dragons are a very mysterious breed. They are only seen during winter, and even then it is hard to catch a glimpse of one. They are responsible for the general cheer that spreads during the holidays. In essence, they are the “Spirits of Christmas.”

His Excellency, despite his noble-sounding title, is neither a royal nor as haughty as nobles tend to be. During the winter season, he works his fat haunches off hunting down shiny shells and toys for hatchlings and the occasional shiny egg for good humans (almost any human who doesn't run away falls into that category). The need to be a good yulebuck is so ingrained in him that he isn't even sure why he does this each year. He's had his wings clawed several times, and one antler is broken, but each December the urge just takes him - and off His Excellency goes.

For the rest of the seasons, he hides in the nearby forests. The scenery, particularly his yulebuck sibling The Dancer's performances, and more importantly the respite from the violence of "Kad's" dragons draw him away from the boisterous clan cave. His nubby claws provide no defense against Ouch stomping on his tail.