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.

Berryjewel, Jadeswirl, and Azureleap grew up together (and, through divination discovered that their lineages are identical, though they're not biologically related) and consider themselves brothers. A trio of Gemshards, one of each color, thick as thieves and twice as tricky. For the longest time they'd believed that nothing would ever come between them, but then came the day they met Scarletlace, a gorgeous Heartstealing dragoness who certainly lived up to her breed's name. As a Red Gemshard himself, Scarletlace's father Rubygleam seemed to nudge his daughter toward choosing this brother, but Berryjewel was determined to win her heart on his own merits. Much to the dismay of his brothers, these efforts paid off and the pair are very happy together, though he does miss the easy companionship of yesterday and wonders what the other two are up to since they don't visit often anymore.