Originating from a single species that thrived in ancient times, Xenowyrms have become an incredibly diverse breed whose appearances vary depending on their habitats. Each Xenowyrm subspecies is heavily reliant on the power of different types of mana, making them powerful magic users. Pharos are an aloof and majestic Xenowyrm that is most often seen gliding through the shimmering skies over the desert. Their gleaming scales catch and reflect the light in a most pleasing manner, and many attempt to find their valuable fallen scales around their lofty desert mountain perches. While they don’t seek out attention or companionship, those seeking the knowledge of a Pharos may find themself bestowed with decidedly unconventional wisdom.

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.

Ailau has long since forgotten her old life. She knows that the palace treasury exploded and melted, dragons and humans fled or died, and a great tide swept over her and sucked her down, pulling her closer the more she struggled. She remembers gasping for breath, the hot, sticky air filling her lungs, darkness shrouding the kingdom that moments before glowed with radiance and glory. That darkness stole her away, enveloped every scale on her body, pulses through her veins. A distant light glows far down the river that runs through the underground kingdom, and while part of her is drawn to it, the new mana recoils and shrieks, manifesting in her own behavior. She spits death at it, but still it glows, destroying her lovely poison. Well, the light stays far away, uncorrupting of her beautiful darkness. She is immortal on the palace grounds, the life-pool always flowing, so she is content to stay, still and silent as death, eternal guardian to the life-pool's reign.