Gemshard Dragons are small, gregarious, expressive easterns, living in large clans high in the jungle canopy. Their bodies are covered in tiny, gem-like scales that shimmer in direct light, and each dragon has a unique pattern of markings on the forked spade of its tail. Though Gemshard Easterns cannot fly, they often leap from springy branches high into the sky on sunny days and perform acrobatic spins and twirls to entertain themselves. When the weather turns foul, they pile up together on sturdy tree limbs and interlock the forks of their tails with others to keep warm and dry.

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.

Jadeswirl, Azureleap, and Berryjewel grew up together (and, through divination, discovered that their lineages are identical, though they're not biologically related) and consider themselves brothers. A trio of Gemshards, one of each color, thick as thieves and twice as tricky. As with many things promised in youth, the three's vow to never let anything come between them was altered forever once they began to compete for the affections of Scarletlace, a Heartstealing dragoness. As the quietest and most shy of the brothers, Jadeswirl was the least invested in the courtship, mainly going along with it all because his brothers were. As such, he wasn't too disappointed when Berryjewel "got the girl", however he tends not to visit them often because the two are so lovey-dovey that it's almost nauseating.