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.

Sdraech has inherited a bizarre mix of traits from his parents: he has his mother's vanity and his father's focus. So though he would like to think of himself as some kind of Lothario, admired for his beauty and winning the admiration of females wherever he goes, he is also unswervingly devoted to his mate, Rakshah. Despite knowing full well that he is a treat to look at and that he could have any she-dragon he wanted, he truly loves Rakshah and would be honored and indeed blissfully happy to lay down his life for her. He flirts with everyone, but she is the only one he actually sees.