Ember Dragons have a great affinity for hot environments. While they themselves are not hot to the touch, their tendency to lurk amongst smoldering ashes has caused many to believe they are fire-starters. Their dully glowing markings serve many purposes: acting as a means of identification between individuals, as an important part of mating displays, and as a way of showing aggression. The long, low build of the breed makes them ungainly in flight, and the thick fleshy membranes of their wings hinder them further. As such, it is rare to see an Ember Dragon take to the air. Ember Dragons are also not particularly sociable; females tend to be defensive, whereas males are more aggressive. Once they have settled with a particular group of dragons, Ember Dragons are incredibly loyal and will defend their pack by any means possible.

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.

"He hanu o ke ola a ke ahi"

the fire draws in the breath of life

In the midst of the ashes of a burned down jungle near the base of an active volcano laid a massive heap of solidifying lava and rock. What lava cracked through the rock glowed bright, then dimmed, as the heap drew a breath then exhaled. Snow began to fall. The heap rose and stretched its massive wings to its maximum wingspan length, opening its mouth wide as it drew in a long breath; a yawn, that caused the fire on its body to glow even brighter. A mighty Ember dragon began to walk on all four in search of shelter, for it too felt the need to hibernate as did the volcano through winter. It found a cave, but little did it know it belonged to the girl raised by dragons. The girl and her dragon companions found the Ember, where the Ember simply stared said, "I am He-Hanu-o-ke-Ola-a-ke-Ahi, but you can call me Hanu. If this is your cave, let it be mine too", he kindly said in his bellowing voice. The girl smiled and nodded.