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.

Rarresh, himself weaker than even the average gemshard due to circumstances of his upbringing, has long since—illegitimately and with some trickery—wormed his way into the heart of the magma dragon Sumendir, who protects his unlikely gemshard protege with his life. While Rarresh is not foolish enough to boast of his control of his protector's actions to others, he nonetheless transparently holds considerable sway over the magma, and has at times made the dragon do the one or other foolish thing simply to test his persuasive abilities. Nonetheless, he would not harm Sumendir or any other dragon; his mischievous, manipulative streak does not extend into maliciousness outright. Were any ill to befall Sumendir, Rarresh would hardly forgive himself.