Seasonal Dragons take on the characteristics of the season during which they are born. Thus, eggs that are laid in spring match the pink flowers and green buds of spring, and those that are laid in the summer grow to depict the bright green of the forest trees and the yellow of the sun. Eggs laid in autumn display the bright colors of leaves falling from trees, and those that are laid during winter take on the appearance of the icy snow.

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.

Wieren might seem outwardly to be a cheerful, happy-go-lucky dragon, but inside he hides a deep sorrow.  Nobody ever remembers his birthday, no matter how many less-than-subtle hints he drops, not even his mate.  Wieren has never been surprised with parties or impromptu songs, he's never had a birthday feast in his honor, and he's never received a birthday present that wasn't clearly a last-minute effort—a coin snatched from the discards of a hoard, for example, or a well-gnawed bone from the previous night's dinner.  A chronically forgotten birthday might seem a minor matter to some, but to Wieren, it makes him wonder if he's as valued a member of the community as he always believed.  He remembers everyone else's birthdays in the hope that someone, someday, will repay the favor, but so far, nobody has.