Ember Dragons have a great affinity for hot environments. While they themselves are not hot to the touch, their tendency to lurk amongst smoldering ashes has caused many to believe they are fire-starters. Their dully glowing markings serve many purposes: acting as a means of identification between individuals, as an important part of mating displays, and as a way of showing aggression. The long, low build of the breed makes them ungainly in flight, and the thick fleshy membranes of their wings hinder them further. As such, it is rare to see an Ember Dragon take to the air. Ember Dragons are also not particularly sociable; females tend to be defensive, whereas males are more aggressive. Once they have settled with a particular group of dragons, Ember Dragons are incredibly loyal and will defend their pack by any means possible.

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.

Despite being taught from a young age how to write, Asb's never had great penmanship. In fact, she was named "Ash" by her parents, but when she recorded her name with the traveling census lady, it looked like "Asb", and despite the hullabaloo she caused and her almost setting a couple of scribes on fire, that is now her official name. She has to travel to the stone hall of records somewhere in the plains, and there's a lengthy process to correct the books, so Asb doesn't bother. She blames her hatchling-track handwriting on her weak magical skill and lack of opposable thumbs.