Speckle-Throated Dragons are an active, playful breed. They are easily excited and rarely remain still, spending much of their time in the air. Living in groups of up to sixty dragons, they nest in open plains and at the bases of mountains. Their speckled throats are their most distinctive feature, as well as the loud, echoing call they produce to communicate with one another. Male Speckle-Throats have a small crest on top of their heads, which they can flush with blood to intimidate enemies and attract mates.

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.

Beryo, already a legend in his own time, is Evergreen Weyr's unlikely hero. What he might lack in size and power, he makes up for in wit and determination. Many stories are told about Beryo, but it's doubtful that more than a handful of them are true, especially the ones about his alleged magic sword. No self-respecting dragon would carry even an ordinary sword, let alone one forged from star-metal by a half-mythical red dragon at some far-off mountain. Beryo has no children of his own, as the one love of his life died years ago, but is always looking among the younglings of the weyr for the right dragon to carry on his legacy, especially since he's getting on in years.