When Water Dragons mature, they lose the ability to survive on land, entering the water permanently. They are adept swimmers and eat whatever fish are in the lake they live in. They tend to inhabit the same lake for their entire lives, although a few live in the ocean and swim all over the world.

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.

Taken in when abandoned by his draconic parents, Ashunar grew up with his egg-brother Arunar and his egg-sisters Paliau (quite a bit older) and Mephau. Anhoffter and Achubiaeth are the co-leaders of the military, while Brydiau and Chwithau share domestic duties. Although he has no memory of any other clan matriarch but Zyrieen, he is naturally adept in the water, and leads the water division of the military...reluctantly. He prefers the solace of his studies in the cold halls of his lakebed lair—although one thing that will always make him surface is his childhood sweetheart, Mephau. They share a passion that has been formalised in a mating ceremony, and pursue a relationship despite his water-bound state.