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.

Skyroost loves birds. She purposely floats into the path of migrating flocks to get a closer look at them. Birds that have run into her before do not mind a bit; they simply perch on her for a while to rest. It is common for her to have a large group of birds on her belly squawking and arguing over who gets to rest in the sunniest spot.

Observers of Skyroost debate whether the pale color of her belly and fringes is natural to her or simply a result of having all those birds perch on her for so long.