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.

Video Chat is a sparkly, cheery bundle of scales. She's sometimes the backing drummer for the Pena locale's premier rock band, Mood Dissonance, where she provides her own rocks. Other times, the job is performed by her friend Sutcliffe. Since both appear in bat costumes on stage, nobody knows who they are, so the two don't receive any attention outside Mood Dissonance. Video Chat likes hard sweets, wheatgrass shakes, and Madame MM's brand of whisker tonics. She will happily play fetch with you and doesn't mind that that seems more like a dog thing. She only buys discounted entertainment: secondhand books, theater tickets on Half-Price Day, and flea market goods. She also sneaks food into the theater in a sash under her belly because the snacks there are too fancy and expensive. Rarely, another shopper or theater guest looks at Video Chat and thinks, "This dragon talks like one of the guys from Mood Dissonance", but no one's yet asked.