Gemshard Dragons are small, gregarious, expressive easterns, living in large clans high in the jungle canopy. Their bodies are covered in tiny, gem-like scales that shimmer in direct light, and each dragon has a unique pattern of markings on the forked spade of its tail. Though Gemshard Easterns cannot fly, they often leap from springy branches high into the sky on sunny days and perform acrobatic spins and twirls to entertain themselves. When the weather turns foul, they pile up together on sturdy tree limbs and interlock the forks of their tails with others to keep warm and dry.

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.

Crisphead, to some dragons in the community, looks delicious. Even the Minister isn't above joking about their apparently-delectable member when she mentions Crisphead's contributions and activities in speeches. When she was small, some of the other hatchlings started a rumor that her outside tastes like a combination of basil, thyme, and sweet onions, and her inside tastes like smoked ham and rabbit, and her antlers are like peppermint. Some of them would even stick their tongues at her or bare their teeth, but they wouldn't actually do anything because they didn't want to pass around cooties. Unlike other silly tales passed by children, this one never went away, to Crisphead's disappointment. She is very uncomfortable when every gemshard gets together in the rain because some of them look at her hungrily, and she has no interest in finding a mate because she thinks she will get eaten.