Black Dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

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.

This dragon's name is not her first; in the centuries since she has considered her sleep-spaces safe, she has taken at least two dozen. The cave Kad's clan occupies in a sparsely settled mountain range has been her home for the last few decades. Here she is known as Zeld, a gaunt, tired-looking female with fine bones and trailing tail. Fifty years ago she might have been an intelligence agent, a vivacious, confident vixen with a penchant for shaking her tail, but her survival depends on her ability to morph looks and habits from one shelter to the next.

For now, she sleeps days and disappears outside at night with Daik, her current mate. Various clan members have seen her carrying maps, weapons, parchment, compasses and once a limbful of glass jewelry, but her destination and purposes remain unknown.