Canopy Dragons love to soar above the tropical jungles and other densely forested areas. Their billowing, layered wings create generous lift that allows them to ascend effortlessly over the warm jungle. While their unique wings do not make them the fastest flyers, they are champion gliders. To further this end, dexterity, maneuverability, and grace are all judged by the females when selecting their mates from the males that can accurately complete the exhausting and elaborate courtship dance between the close growing branches of the upper canopy.

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.

Rick Kanopy lives deep in the jungle of Wayside Haven, a place that is on the edge of Empress Dark Grizzle's territory. His daily demands are immediate, as he must defend his territory from encroachments and do favors for other dragons who need materials found only in the jungle. Since Dark Grizzle has deemed his work in the jungle an asset to the empire, he gets paid for doing these tasks that are necessary for his survival. He would refuse the gold if it did not help keep his family afloat . Although Rick Kanopy is far away from the new politics that have arisen recently, he has found himself more interested than usual considering that his gold is coming from the central cavern.