Copper Dragons are masters of stealth, slipping silently and swiftly through the forests and jungles where they live. Often hunting in groups, their prey rarely know they are being stalked until the dragon’s at their throat. In the air they are agile and skilled. Copper Dragons prize family groups, spending large amounts of time teaching their young skills. So great is their love of life and family that they will sometimes adopt orphaned dragons of other breeds to raise.

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.

Tough Claws has large, very sharp claws at the ends of his wing fingers. They're very helpful when dealing with enemies or prey (sometimes someone is both at once), allowing him to clamp on with all appendages or down the target with the least struggle. He is happy to take over hunting duties for others, as energy-intensive a task that is. The large claws aren't useful in childcare, however—not because he'd hurt anyone but because the adopted hatchlings often get the wrong idea about the way coppers hunt. They see Tough Claws and hear his gruff, meandering speeches (which often have nothing to do with hunting or combat) and then get excited about causing harm and bringing pain. It's difficult to talk some of the young ones out of that notion. Thus, Tough Claws is not allowed to babysit.