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.

Nejire considers himself a master of concealment. His favorite game, of course, is hide and seek, and every time he plays the game with his family members he tries to come up with increasingly elaborate hiding spots. He has buried himself in leaves, wedged himself into small cave spaces, rolled himself in riverbank mud, and occasionally attempted to crawl into hollow tree trunks. There have been some incidents involving Nejire not being able to get out of his hiding spot, but he tends not to mind since those are also the times when he wins the game.