Sunstone Dragons are named after the orb on their tails, which resembles the gem of the same name. Their social structure resembles a lion pride, with one dominant male and several females banded together with their young. They prefer arid climates where they can blend in and dig for minerals and gemstones that they not only collect, but eat. The more gems they consume, the larger their tail stone grows. They are an aggressive breed; it is not uncommon to see two males battling for mates and territory.

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.

Only the strongest survive, Stone knew that with every breath she took. She had forged her life out of the very phrase, wrestling each day from the icy claws of death. She lived alone, a harsh life for a Sunstone dragon, but one she took pride in. You never had to depend on the strength of anyone but yourself, you never had to make up for the short-comings of others. She would fight for every piece of prey, over every insult. And she often won, making herself a deadly reputation among those who drew too near to her lair. She never allowed herself to feel the loneliness and rejection that would sometimes creep up on her at night, rather she banished it from her mind or drowned it out in bloodshed. Sorrow and pity were weaknesses, things that couldn't be tolerated. Strength and power were what mattered. But sometimes when she remembered the pain, remembered her family, she could never forgive herself for what she had done. Gone was the joy and kinship, washed away in a river of blood.