Striped River Dragons dwell in clear, deep-moving water. These dragons are playful and active, but wild individuals are very shy and tend to flee at the first sign of humans. They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to an hour, and are also capable of magic-powered flight for short distances. Their hoards usually consist of shells, smooth river stones, and freshwater pearls; Striped River Dragons often trade objects from their hoard and give “gifts” to dragons or people they consider to be friends. These dragons are intolerant of poor water conditions, so their presence is often an indicator of a healthy river system.

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.

Smalltidal feels it is important to establish that he loves his mother very much. She saved him from the reeds when he was just an egg, and she raised him like he was her very own from that moment on. Never once has she made him feel anything less than protected and loved, and even though she's a little...intense, it all comes from wanting to do her best by him.

Ah... But she IS quite intense. Smalltidal knew as soon as he met other hatchlings his age that he was no Pygmy like the rest of the Weyr of Small Spaces, but that never really bothered him. None of his friends ever cared that he was ten times their size, and the bullies who tried to tease him couldn't exactly cause him too much trouble. But when his mother heard about any of it, from a casual comment to an intentional taunt, she practically exploded.

He's talked to her about it and she's trying to tone it down these days, but he can still see her rage any time Smalltidal's size is referenced at all by other Pygmies.