Guardian Dragons have large shields on the end of their tails. Although the shields appear to be heavy, they are light, yet nearly unbreakable. Guardian Dragons use their tail-shields, as well as their wings, to deflect attacks and protect others. Often, they will guard the eggs and hatchlings of a nest while others are away. They are generally peaceful, and will not retaliate unless necessary. They have no need to forage or hunt, as they are fed by those they protect.

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.

Shugoshinryuu's name is Japanese, but it has no real translation. His name is meant to mean "God dragon who protects", but that is not a literal translation. For short, he is often referred to as either Shu or Shugo. His duty among the Gathering is to be the protector of the eggs and hatchlings, as his name implies. He stands guard over the part of the cave holding the eggs and has a very military-like response to everything, often addressing other dragons as either "Sir", "Ma'am", or their full name. When on duty he's very silent and rigid and gets slightly annoyed when the more curious hatchlings try to coax him into playing with them.