Sunstone Dragons are named after the orb on their tails, which resembles the gem of the same name. Their social structure resembles a lion pride, with one dominant male and several females banded together with their young. They prefer arid climates where they can blend in and dig for minerals and gemstones that they not only collect, but eat. The more gems they consume, the larger their tail stone grows. They are an aggressive breed; it is not uncommon to see two males battling for mates and territory.

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.

Sunlyon considers herself to be the shipwreck of the desert. Once, she had a devoted mate, a loyal pride, and a fearsome reputation, but a jealous rival took all that from her, piece by piece. When even her mate left for greener pastures, Sunlyon was cast out, left to wander alone as her reputation for bad luck spread. The closest she has to a friend now is normally ruthless Radavef, who doesn't really believe in luck and welcomes having a second set of claws for her ambushes.