Sunstone Dragons are named after the orb on their tails, which resembles the gem of the same name. Their social structure resembles a lion pride, with one dominant male and several females banded together with their young. They prefer arid climates where they can blend in and dig for minerals and gemstones that they not only collect, but eat. The more gems they consume, the larger their tail stone grows. They are an aggressive breed; it is not uncommon to see two males battling for mates and territory.

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.

Ma'ytal Havratee doesn't know her parents.  She doesn't know her pride.  She was found by a team of archaeologists, who were very surprised when the dragon egg they unearthed from among the bones of adult dragons cracked and hatched.  The expedition leader, Jean Godell, named the little sand dragon, and Ma'ytal grew up among the expedition.  None of the team members had any experience with live dragons, only dead ones; therefore, Ma'ytal's education was a little skewed, and mostly what she learned was that Mama was in charge and gemstones are the best candy.