Grave Dragons are not named for their connections to death or burial, but for the grave expression on their faces. This strange expression is used as a defense mechanism that causes fits of panic and terror in potential predators. Since they only eat ash and charcoal, they do not hunt. Grave Dragons are powerful fire-breathers and have been known to burn down forests and villages alike to make meals. It is believed that the markings on each Grave Dragon’s wings are the faces of those who have lost their lives in fires started by that dragon.

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.

It is unknown if Shadow is even a grave dragon at all. She hatched from a grave egg, grew up with grave siblings and yet she was always unusually plain. The only marking she had (unfortunately for a Halloween dragon) was a small black heart shape on her chest, much to the amusement of others. Finally, she had it with being unable to fit in with her family. Grumbling to herself, she walked to the dusty cliffs and started rolling in the orange and black ochre until she emerged with a satisfactory spooky pattern painted on her wings. She admired her new markings and walked proudly back to her lair as a real grave dragon. The little black heart on her chest says everything about her, as she is a playful, sweet dragon with a slightly twisted sense of humor.