Sunsong Amphipteres are an unusual breed. Due to light interference caused by their magical nature, they don’t seem to be affected by any ambient light source. However, when struck by direct sunlight, they shine a brilliant gold. They are playful and ever in flight; their ethereal and mysterious appearance and the fact that they are usually only seen at a distance have led many to believe they are a symbol of hope and good fortune.

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.

Rylka has worked out a deal with the head wizard of the Hundred Cities—she serves as the Emissary of the Dragons in a yearly ritual, and in return he provides her with gold and jewels for her hoard (not understanding that she doesn't have one).  It's all very impressive—she bows her head while he chants and conjures rays of light, and vows to spread the word wherever she goes that the Hundred Cities are not to be trifled with—though they both know the ritual is meaningless.  No right-thinking dragon (nothing that would pose a threat, anyway) would spend any more time than necessary near an area so full of humans as to leave little room for anything else, and while the circle of mountains at the heart of the Hundred Cities might have once housed a weyr, any dragons living there would have starved long ago.  Still, the ritual makes the humans feel safer, and thus more inclined to tolerate the smaller dragons that manage to live among them, so Rylka keeps participating.