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.

Steaelin is a vicious beast, with none of the refinement and nobility of other black dragons. He kills when he pleases and bows to none. He and Mednacht are sworn foes, always at each other's throats. At the same time, however, Steaelin prefers to keep to himself and does not actively seek out other dragons or human towns to destroy. If he comes across one, however, he will strike against it simply to test his own strength, to see if he is still able to dominate and demolish everything and everyone he comes across. He realizes on some level that, sooner or later, this behavior will get him killed. Perhaps that's his real goal, in the end.