Balloon Dragons are so named because they are filled with a gas that makes them almost lighter than air, similar to balloons. However, they are not prone to bursting, as they are covered in tough skin and can deflate themselves if necessary. In addition, they generally are slow moving. They use their gas bladders to float to the tops of trees, where food is more abundant. They can shift their weight from their backs to their fronts, allowing them to reach leaves and fruit.

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.

Behold, seeker of the dragon lore, R'Kuh of the Balloon Dragons. Caught by wandering dwarves as a hatchling, he has been tamed by them to help them in their mines. The principle is rather easy: R'Kuh is brought down into the tunnels when he deflates. There nets full of gems and precious metals are tied to his body, and on a secret command he inflates himself again and thus lifts the whole weight up through a straight, chimney-like tunnel which leads all the way to the surface again. The dwarves then unload the treasures from below and reward him with fruits and vegetables.