Skywing Dragons spend most of their lives flying in the air. They hunt from the air, diving at prey from above, and land only to rest. They are some of the fastest fliers, capable of extremely high speeds. The webbing at the end of the tail acts as a rudder, allowing them to easily change direction during flight.

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.

As one of the four Elders of The Hold, a colony of dragons far to the south of the Cave, Arithas acts as a guardian and teacher in the colony. The four Elders, Rhonomith, Ceras, Morikald, and Arithas, are responsible for the establishment of The Hold and were named and raised by a human who cared for all four dragons after each was abandoned. After the conception of The Hold, this human became the only human permitted into the colony.

Arithas' given duty as something of a general under the leadership of Rhonomith, is that of leading the convoys to and from the Cave. The purpose of these convoys is to escort the human, who periodically ventures to the Cave to gather abandoned eggs and bring them into the protection of The Hold.

Arithas is a respectful and wise dragon who possesses a balanced temper and a firm yet kind personality. Having raised many offspring with his mate, Sephora Rhi, he understands the need for stability and guidance within such a large community as The Hold.