Red Dragons are similar to typical story book dragons. They shoot flames, can fly, etc. However, they aren’t evil creatures as depicted in myths and won’t go around raiding castles, killing knights, or kidnapping princesses. They live in a variety of habitats, from forests to coastlines to abandoned castles, usually in warm climates, and eat whatever living creatures they can find.

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.

Darby is completely unlike either of his parents: not shy like his mother or protective like his father. Instead, Darby is rude, loud, reckless, and completely irresponsible.

The other dragons find it hard to trust Darby due to his rash tendencies, and they also find it hard to like someone who always makes sure his opinions are loudly and quickly known. He is not trusted near the hatchlings, and is consequently often left isolated and alone. This, however, only makes him louder, angrier and ruder than before.

His only real friend is his cousin, Lady Ksiezniczka, who somehow seems to understand the true extent of Darby's isolation.