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.

Pilatre is a bright and adventurous dragon who loves to experiment. He has developed chemical guidelines for his diet which allow him to float further and higher than other balloon dragons. He can also hover silently and with almost no visible movement. This has allowed him to make some very important contributions to natural history, since he can float close to the nests of rare wild birds or other tree-dwellers in order to observe their behavior from birth on without disturbing them. His curiosity is insatiable, and he can discuss interesting scientific problems for hours if he finds a like-minded being.