Almerald Dragons are an unusual species. They have gem-like protrusions along their spine that brighten and darken depending on their mood. In addition, their body temperature grows warmer during periods of excitement, and cooler during darker moods such as anger or depression; as such, it is fairly easy to read an Almerald’s emotions. Their mood can change quickly at times, going from calm to angry in a matter of seconds. If their anger becomes bad enough they can become a frightening opponent. Adults are not normally high in energy, so they hunt infrequently and prefer to lazily consume large quantities of fruits and nuts.

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.

Stacy spends most of her time lazing around in the sun and pointedly ignoring the attempts of any hatchlings to play or rouse a response from her. On some summer nights when the mood strikes her, she will shake off the dust of sleep and assemble a set of stones, sticks, and logs. As she does so, her fellow clan mates will notice and begin to gather in anticipation. When the moon reaches its zenith, she will begin her percussive performance. Her gems alight to the beat, and she plays her music with an obvious and infectious delight.