Black Marrows are named for their dark colored hides which are encased in a distinct exoskeleton. Their skull and the top edges of their spine push out from under the skin as they age. As such, their young need excessive amounts of calcium for this armor to develop. The older a Black Marrow dragon is, the more skeletal their appearance. They often use their skeletal looks to lure in foolish scavengers or terrify predators. These vicious dragons love nothing more than to crack open bones with their stony beaks and eat the marrow inside. Voracious scavengers, Black Marrows will swarm and devour corpses both old and fresh, sometimes even dragging larger finds to the water to allow them to “ripen.” Despite their dreadful demeanour and often horrid stench, Black Marrows are devoted mates and parents.

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.

Barek is the young and boisterous one of the group, full of energy. She is the smallest with the least developed bone hide, but nonetheless threatening and powerful. She uses her small bony horns to bash her fellow Black Marrows, earning her all but a slam to the head. Barek enjoys the attention, even though it hurts her sometimes.

Lurk has positioned himself as mentor of Barek. He trains her in the ways of combat, teaching her how to fight and use her bone hide to advantage. He also tests her strength, speed, endurance, and agility. She  learns quickly, and often teaches herself new things when she has extra time.

There aren't many who don't know Barek, and those who do either admire her or despise her. She has many friends from all walks of life, and appreciates each and every one, no matter how odd they may be.