Grave Dragons are not named for their connections to death or burial, but for the grave expression on their faces. This strange expression is used as a defense mechanism that causes fits of panic and terror in potential predators. Since they only eat ash and charcoal, they do not hunt. Grave Dragons are powerful fire-breathers and have been known to burn down forests and villages alike to make meals. It is believed that the markings on each Grave Dragon’s wings are the faces of those who have lost their lives in fires started by that dragon.

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.

Pyrros Maniacoss, like many of his kind, is notorious for setting fires. Pyrros's reputation in this area is extensive...more so, even, than most of his breed. Many, many fires are blamed upon him...some fairly and some less so. This fact causes others, even dragons, to view him with fear and distrust, but the truth is that he sets fires out of neither mischief nor malice. The truth is that it is need...instinct...that drives him to set things alight, and that in reality he intends harm to no one. Grave dragons have to eat...and soot and ash and charcoal make up Pyrros' diet. Fires, then, yield food, but they can be unpredictable and hard to control; and it isn't unheard of for fires set by a hungry Grave dragon to make ash for its meal to get out of hand. Pyrros is no exception to this and, strange to say, always regrets it when this happens and unintended destruction is the result. Some even say that this is why each Grave's wings are marked to honor those their fires have harmed.