Guardian Dragons have large shields on the end of their tails. Although the shields appear to be heavy, they are light, yet nearly unbreakable. Guardian Dragons use their tail-shields, as well as their wings, to deflect attacks and protect others. Often, they will guard the eggs and hatchlings of a nest while others are away. They are generally peaceful, and will not retaliate unless necessary. They have no need to forage or hunt, as they are fed by those they protect.

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.

This dragon's name is Shielded, Protector, First Lineage. Skolira was, alongside her compatriots, one of the founders of the colony. Her motherly instincts and strength of will made her the de facto (and later, official) leader of the dragons that came to be known as the First Lineage. Shielded is also the Vaktar, or Protector, of the First Lineage. A Protector acts as their lineage's official representative.

Shielded is incredibly skilled with her tail, though she is loath to use it as a weapon. Her abilities, her position as a founder and leader of the Lineage, and her willingness to stand guard for the Lineage in spite of her authority makes her a near-mythical figure among the colonists, although those closest to her (like her primary companion, Thrystus) know that she is somewhat clumsy behind closed doors!

She is also obsessed with strawberries, though for some reason, she doesn't seem to want anyone to know. Which, in a place like the Lineage, means that everybody knows!