The bright specks that adorn Xol Dragons mesmerize all who behold them. But those who gaze upon these capricious dragons must be cautious, for it can be difficult to resist their charm. The allure is especially strong during sunset, when Xols perform intricate dances, their agile bodies rising and falling within the water as their ornamental fins shimmer softly. Unwary spectators may find themselves in peril if they give in to the silent call of the dragons’ dangerous beauty, for the waters in which the Xols dance scald all those who enter. Thankfully, anyone who is wise enough to recognize their magic is able to resist it while still enjoying the display. Although dangerous in the water, Xols are relatively harmless on land unless provoked. Xol Dragons lay their eggs on land heated by volcanic activity, and the warmth helps develop their common red coloring. However, when eggs stay below a certain temperature for too long, this development is stunted, leading to the existence of blue individuals.

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.

When Aya was a hatchling, her family would visit human cities once a year to see a troupe of traveling bards. Her parents believed that to inspire creativity, it was important to witness more than just dragon dancing. The day Aya reached adulthood, as thanks for such steady gold-paying dragon patronage of the arts, one of the bards gave her a set of specially crafted cymbals Aya could attach to her claws. Immensely excited, Aya spent years honing the dexterity needed to incorporate percussion into her dancing.

As she gained confidence with the rhythms, she often lent out the instruments to her friends so they could all dance together. To this day, Aya takes great care in keeping her instruments rust-free, as well as arranging for more to be crafted if anyone else wishes to learn. She's constantly looking for ways to make each performance even more dazzling than the previous one, and hopes one day her students will be able to perform for the musicians who were her first inspiration.