Almerald Dragons are an unusual species. They have gem-like protrusions along their spine that brighten and darken depending on their mood. In addition, their body temperature grows warmer during periods of excitement, and cooler during darker moods such as anger or depression; as such, it is fairly easy to read an Almerald’s emotions. Their mood can change quickly at times, going from calm to angry in a matter of seconds. If their anger becomes bad enough they can become a frightening opponent. Adults are not normally high in energy, so they hunt infrequently and prefer to lazily consume large quantities of fruits and nuts.

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 leader of the Almerald Clan, Moodclear knows the importance of keeping a level head. The Weyr of Flame to which his Clan owes allegiance may seem prosperous and stable from an external perspective, and even some internal ones, but he knows that tranquil reputation is only scaledeep. The Tyrant Flameflow is cruel, obsessed with the idea that dragons with 'impure' bloodlines taint mana for all 'purebred' dragons. Despite lacking any evidence.

Moodclear knows that it would be foolish to the point of destruction to name his doubts, to call Flameflow's claims the lies they are. He's heard rumors of dragons being banished, imprisoned, even killed after publicly decrying Flameflow's orders that all dragons may only breed within their Clans, that any believed to carry impure blood would be driven out of the Weyr into the wastes. So Moodclear breathes deep to keep his heart steady, to keep his mood hidden, and he waits for the day all the lies burn down so he can fight to know the truth.