Guardian Dragons have large shields on the end of their tails. Although the shields appear to be heavy, they are light, yet nearly unbreakable. Guardian Dragons use their tail-shields, as well as their wings, to deflect attacks and protect others. Often, they will guard the eggs and hatchlings of a nest while others are away. They are generally peaceful, and will not retaliate unless necessary. They have no need to forage or hunt, as they are fed by those they protect.

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.

It was but one more egg rolled back into the cave, rejected and abandoned. It lay near the edge of the cave for some time as many dragon keepers passed by without giving it a second glance. The drab, mottled shell marked it out as one with a long and complex heritage, and no-one wanted to keep a dragon with a messy, inbred bloodline. Occasionally someone picked it up before tossing it back.

When, eventually, it hatched, the young dragon asked her keeper why she'd gone against convention and kept it. "For no reason," she replied. "There is no reason why I should reject you, either. Heritage is entirely what you make of it."

It is for this reason that the Guardian dragon now teaches the younglings how lineage is only important if you allow it to be. Both caveborn and abandoned hatchlings have curled up around the feet of the cave's defender and learnt this lesson and as such, the cave is a much more accepting place to be. It isn't perfect, but it's home.