Gold dragons are the ones most often killed by humans, who consider their scales to be extremely valuable. These golden scales grant them a high level of protection, similar to armor, and they use this to their advantage in battle.

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.

Princess Aapi was born because of a chance meeting between her mother, Adala, and her father, a Grave dragon named Lord Kilaech. Her mother was a dragon partnered with humans, while her father had no interest in being anywhere near what he termed 'fleshy demons'. Shortly before Adala's eggs were due to hatch, Kilaech left. Aapi was the only one to survive to hatching; her three siblings were taken and eaten by a predator before her mother could save them. Adala took the remaining egg back to her owner, who was delighted about the new egg but saddened to learn about the demise of the others. Aapi hatched in captivity and has known nothing else; she is an active, curious hatchling, always asking questions. She has a small crush on another dragon, one she grew up with, but she won't say who. The others have their suspicions, however.