Black Tea Dragons have small scent glands on the underside of their wing arm that release a pleasant scent. Though many creatures enjoy being in the vicinity of Black Tea dragons, the scent is intended to draw in swarms of butterflies. Though Black Tea dragons are full sized dragons, these insects are the mainstay of their diet.

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.

Irybi is rather troubled and distant, and doesn't care to form close friendships with other dragons. As a hatchling, she was kidnapped from her parents, and later witnessed the death of her captor. Alone in the wild, she barely survived to adulthood. She was brought to Tea Cave by a male named Frosteay, who found her sneaking into the cave's garden to eat butterflies. Irybi was welcomed by the leaders, Teax and Teaw, and Frosteay soon took her as his mate. He was the only dragon Irybi would willingly speak to. She cares solely for him and their daughter, Teacuffs. Nobody else is capable of bringing a smile to her face.