Balloon Dragons are so named because they are filled with a gas that makes them almost lighter than air, similar to balloons. However, they are not prone to bursting, as they are covered in tough skin and can deflate themselves if necessary. In addition, they generally are slow moving. They use their gas bladders to float to the tops of trees, where food is more abundant. They can shift their weight from their backs to their fronts, allowing them to reach leaves and fruit.

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.

Re'Shan was born to a man who stole her egg right from under her mother's nose. When she was named, her hatcher mistook her for a male balloon dragon, so he gave her a name that either meant "bouncing" or "masculine" in an almost-forgotten language. She has never forgiven him for this, although she has also made no move to change her name. Instead, Re'Shan pronounces it as "Ree-SHAN" instead of "Ree-SHAWN".

Name aside, she enjoys quickly changing the balance of her gases so that she can flip in mid-air. Before Raidor grew his wings, she would take him in her arms and flip with him (much to the younger dragon's terror) and other times (more to his pleasure) Re'Shan would take him up near the thunderclouds Raidor always seemed to stare at.

Her relationship with her hatcher, Kumomaru, is heavily strained but manageable. She maintains a close mother-son relationship with Raidor, and enjoys burping.