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.

State's size and strength have adequately prepared him for dealing with one of the largest problems facing Kad's clan today. As it is a group with a pervasive attitude of whoever-can-beat-up-objectors-can-do-anything, State does not feel that the clan will survive together long while its most intelligent and sane members hide away from "mainstream" clan life. The most outspoken members are strongly against his proposals—to throw out the dragons that cause the most violence—but then again, they are the ones he wants gone.

He has attempted almost every nonviolent method in history and has had almost every violent silencer attempted against him. The "battle" goes on nonetheless. Clan human Kad saved him as an egg, but he worries that one day no one will be around to save her from some of the dragons muttering in the dark.