Vampire Dragons are members of the undead. They sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. It is said that they are only “alive” at night, and seem dead or asleep during the day, as they cannot endure sunlight for long periods of time. Vampire Dragons can only reproduce by changing the eggs of other dragons, puncturing the shell with their fangs and injecting venom that kills the baby inside.

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.

Zaask is one of the few vampires to survive being severed from the Collective. He didn't leave by choice, but was cut off after an accident, and at first didn't take well to the loss of the hive-mind that he'd been a part of since his egg was turned. Zaask was taken in by Starwander Weyr, who were uncertain at first about harboring one of the vampires who had already caused so much destruction, and learned from them how to be an individual. After he left the traveling weyr, Zaask began a quest to free others from the Collective and, despite interference from ill-intentioned Lorsoong, has been successful.