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.

Ruby HeartBlood, being the first dragon in what is now a large and diverse colony of human-raised dragons, is the matriarch of the colony. Being the oldest (if not always wisest), she is greatly respected and often works in tandem with their human caretaker in situations where a dragon's superior abilities are necessary. She can be a bit of a hothead, and doesn't always act her age, but her temper is often calmed by the soothing presence of Auroran HeartMoss.