Black Dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

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.

Shadeau (pronounced Sha-dow) has always enjoyed battle. She is incredibly hot-tempered and skillful at combat, but she hasn't quite learned how to fight internal battles yet. She is deeply hurt by Gwyllan's hate-at-first-sight, and as if to add insult to injury, Shadeau learns that it is because she is a Black dragon. Shadeau now avoids Gwyllan whenever possible, and the Towa clan leader Winterwyte worries that this will only increase the ever-widening gap betwixt the young dragons.