Ember Dragons have a great affinity for hot environments. While they themselves are not hot to the touch, their tendency to lurk amongst smoldering ashes has caused many to believe they are fire-starters. Their dully glowing markings serve many purposes: acting as a means of identification between individuals, as an important part of mating displays, and as a way of showing aggression. The long, low build of the breed makes them ungainly in flight, and the thick fleshy membranes of their wings hinder them further. As such, it is rare to see an Ember Dragon take to the air. Ember Dragons are also not particularly sociable; females tend to be defensive, whereas males are more aggressive. Once they have settled with a particular group of dragons, Ember Dragons are incredibly loyal and will defend their pack by any means possible.

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.

Famine always appears thin, although perhaps this is merely because of the long, low build of her breed. She doesn't have as obvious a negative effect as War or even Pestilence, but people are beginning to notice that wherever she passes, food of any kind—animal or plant—will refuse to grow or live. True to her breed's nature, she is loyal to the dragons with which she lives, but she is still not bonded quite as firmly to Dragonheart as the human would like. She makes the villagers and farmers nearby nervous despite the fact that she is not particularly aggressive, and the fables of Ember dragons being fire starters doesn't help matters.

Lately Famine has been associating with a strange, black-cloaked man, despite repeated attempts to discourage her. The effect of this is only slightly noticeable, but the grass near where she stays regularly and sleeps is turning yellow and dying where it never did before.