The bright specks that adorn Xol Dragons mesmerize all who behold them. But those who gaze upon these capricious dragons must be cautious, for it can be difficult to resist their charm. The allure is especially strong during sunset, when Xols perform intricate dances, their agile bodies rising and falling within the water as their ornamental fins shimmer softly. Unwary spectators may find themselves in peril if they give in to the silent call of the dragons’ dangerous beauty, for the waters in which the Xols dance scald all those who enter. Thankfully, anyone who is wise enough to recognize their magic is able to resist it while still enjoying the display. Although dangerous in the water, Xols are relatively harmless on land unless provoked. Xol Dragons lay their eggs on land heated by volcanic activity, and the warmth helps develop their common red coloring. However, when eggs stay below a certain temperature for too long, this development is stunted, leading to the existence of blue individuals.

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.

Shusu tends to be a bit of an attention hog. When he was a hatchling, he would often claim large areas for himself to dance in, demanding that anyone who wanted to share the space participate in a dance battle with him. This led to all sorts of shenanigans that somehow wound up with Shusu learning plenty of moves he would have never been able to come up with himself. He would tell himself that meant he won no matter what the outcome of the dance battle was. As an adult, Shusu will still try to solve arguments with the eloquent art of the Dance Battle, but he is more willing to declare a tie if it means he can learn a new technique in the process. His siblings wonder why he can't just ask other dragons to teach him without needing to challenge them to a dance battle, but most of them just assume it's due to Shusu's eccentricity.