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.

Tenderheart Mentha has raised many hatchlings of many breeds and backgrounds. She's raised hatchlings who are full of energy, quiet loners, growing warriors, and promising mages. Each and every one is given the same tender loving care.

Barrik, however, has a very unique distinction.

Barrik is the only hatchling whom Tenderheart has ever despised.

She tried her hardest to love him, to mold him into a dragon worthy of praise and power and adoration. Barrik, for whatever the reason, would not conform to her plan. He was a vicious hatchling, one whose instincts had him ripping into the flesh of his nestmates from the moment he hatched. His actions led to the death of multiple eggs. He ate every scrap of food that was placed in front of him, and fought for more once he'd supped the marrow from the bones. Eventually, he was forcefully evicted from the Cloudtouched Thicket. Too many young had suffered at his claws.

He now resides near a volcano, resourceful, cunning, and very, very dangerous.