Cardinal Dragons are fond of drifting in the cooler waters of the deep oceans. These gentle giants glint like gems threading through the ocean’s kelp forests and the migration patterns of their pods are the exact same, year after year. This uncanny ability to tread the same paths without fail led to the bestowment of their name. Scholars have speculated that their keen sense of direction and ability to navigate so precisely could be associated with their large, forward-facing horn. Many sailors have found the same Cardinal Dragons following their ships around, diligently watching over the crew and vessel by rescuing those that fall overboard, leading them around hazards and through storms, as well as leaving gifts of their own alabaster and gold scales on deck in return for fish and companionship. Over time, passengers started the tradition of gifting these glittering scales to lovers, friends, and family to the point that they are seen as tokens of safe travels and a promise to always return.

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.