Gemshard Dragons are small, gregarious, expressive easterns, living in large clans high in the jungle canopy. Their bodies are covered in tiny, gem-like scales that shimmer in direct light, and each dragon has a unique pattern of markings on the forked spade of its tail. Though Gemshard Easterns cannot fly, they often leap from springy branches high into the sky on sunny days and perform acrobatic spins and twirls to entertain themselves. When the weather turns foul, they pile up together on sturdy tree limbs and interlock the forks of their tails with others to keep warm and dry.

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.

Xenia's motherly tendencies rival that of Damian's resident motherly dragon, Melissa the Magi. She hardly ever leaves the cave and spends a lot of time protecting the eggs and amusing the hatchlings with her brilliant gem-like scales. Sometimes she'll even out-mother Melissa and take over guard duty for her. She doesn't have any close friends, but values each and every dragon that finds its way into the cave, even the more prickly ones. Her one desire is to find a mate with a hide as brilliantly red as her own.