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.

There are many of these unusual dragons with shining metallic scales who believe themselves to be superior to normal dragons. Ryndan's father was one of them, and only took a mate that was not of his breed to honor his family's tradition. When young Ryndan was given to a clan of dragons that had only a few other shining dragons, all of them generally getting along with the normal dragons, Ryndan's father spitefully attacked his own egg. Ryndan hatched blind in one eye, and with one wing twisted and useless despite Numbers attempting to repair it many times. He is now terrified of his own breed, especially ones with bronze scales like himself.