Grave Dragons are not named for their connections to death or burial, but for the grave expression on their faces. This strange expression is used as a defense mechanism that causes fits of panic and terror in potential predators. Since they only eat ash and charcoal, they do not hunt. Grave Dragons are powerful fire-breathers and have been known to burn down forests and villages alike to make meals. It is believed that the markings on each Grave Dragon’s wings are the faces of those who have lost their lives in fires started by that dragon.

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.

Ale'ina (whose name is often mispronounced, much to her frustration—ah'-lay ee'-nah, with a throat stop between the middle two syllables) never wanted to harm anyone. Despite this, her wings are adorned with dozens of howling souls, which she hates explaining to anyone. She has only ever set one fire, and that was an accident. She was just learning to control her fire, which she had remarkable trouble with compared to most hatchlings (perhaps due to her unusually powerful flame), and sneezed. The fire shot out of her throat and caught, growing to a raging blaze before she could do anything about it. The wildfire spread to a town, and was moving so quickly and burning so hot that the poor unfortunate souls had no chance to get away. Ale'ina, flying above trying desperately to find a way to stop the fire, could feel each face being seared onto her skin as the deaths racked up, and cried out helplessly with each one. At some point, she fled to Dragonheart, who promised to keep her safe.