Khusa dragons thrive in dry, desolate, and rocky areas. Though they can fly, Khusa enjoy honing their climbing skills on foot. Shortly after they hatch, parents are already teaching their young how to pick their way across cliff faces, escarpments, and thin ridges. The young are well cared for by their parents, but other Khusa in the area also look out for the young—despite not forming close-knit groups, these dragons form loose alliances with their closest neighbors. If a threat is spotted, they will attack from above and drive it to the ground where Khusa have an advantage.

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.

Xerkan had a good childhood for the most part. His mother would take him and his siblings climbing every morning just before sunrise and he would happily play-fight with his brothers and sisters for hours. Then when winter struck and then Spring crept in again, the snow melt caused the rocks at the top of the mountain to come loose. There was a devastating rock slide, one that managed to take two of his siblings with it.

Xerkan didn't get over that for a while, but eventually, he moved on. When he was old enough, he moved to the lagoon tucked near the foot of the mountains. He settled down there and lives in satisfaction, despite his life being pretty normal.