Vampire Dragons are members of the undead. They sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. It is said that they are only “alive” at night, and seem dead or asleep during the day, as they cannot endure sunlight for long periods of time. Vampire Dragons can only reproduce by changing the eggs of other dragons, puncturing the shell with their fangs and injecting venom that kills the baby inside.

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.

One of Kalazor's unbreakable rules was that no vampire dragon would ever be allowed to set foot on Dragonhaven Island. The island was a refuge for the lost and orphaned, and even one vampire could wreak considerable havoc. During Kalazor's absence, Norivan tried his best to enforce the guardian's rules, but his resolve wavered when Diathkhal appeared. Weak and half-starved, she looked nothing like the fearsome monster he'd expected. She didn't try to force or compel him with her hypnotic gaze, she didn't try to bite the island's other residents, and was less aggressive than many that Kalazor had accepted without reservations. By the time Kalazor returned, Diathkhal had found strong support among the island's other residents, and once his mate also spoke out in favor of Diathkhal, he reluctantly decided to let her stay. Kalazor has never regretted his decision.