Neotropical Dragons are a breed that originate in rainforests. They are fun-loving and enjoy lounging on tree branches, eating whatever fruit they find. They are also often found sunning themselves on rocks, using their large wings to soak up the rays. In the summer, males compete for mates by showing off their striped wings and gliding in spirals down the tree trunks. It is said that the larger the wings, the more likely the male will attract a suitable mate.

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.

Rasadine is haughty and proud, believing dragons with surnames to be superior to those without (and himself superior to everyone, surname or no). He is the leader of the growing subsection of the cave dedicated to this idea, and he exercises his newfound power at any chance. He will often inflict sadistic punishments on his followers for the smallest infraction; despite this, they continue to follow him blindly, a fact which has made him even more confident. He will push hatchlings to adopt their parents' surnames, or make up their own if their parents have none. If the hatchling accepts, it is pulled into the group and indoctrinated with hatred for dragons without surnames; if it chooses its own name, it is bullied brutally by its nestmates, a process guaranteed to leave deep emotional scars. The only dragon that he does not despise or disdain as an idiot is Mia; unfortunately for him, the gray is well aware of his selfish, bigoted nature, and rejects him at every turn.