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.

Kyusai likes to make little berths up in the treetops, stocking the resting places with containers of water, preserved fruit, and soft padding materials. She claims that she does this so she doesn't have to run around collecting things when she feels like relaxing in the tree canopy, but she has noticed some of her other canopy-living siblings also taking advantage of her resting places. Generally Kyusai doesn't mind this so long as she can still have a berth to herself, but it does irk her when she has to help out another dragon who has managed to get tangled in her specially-woven vine hammocks.