Ember Dragons have a great affinity for hot environments. While they themselves are not hot to the touch, their tendency to lurk amongst smoldering ashes has caused many to believe they are fire-starters. Their dully glowing markings serve many purposes: acting as a means of identification between individuals, as an important part of mating displays, and as a way of showing aggression. The long, low build of the breed makes them ungainly in flight, and the thick fleshy membranes of their wings hinder them further. As such, it is rare to see an Ember Dragon take to the air. Ember Dragons are also not particularly sociable; females tend to be defensive, whereas males are more aggressive. Once they have settled with a particular group of dragons, Ember Dragons are incredibly loyal and will defend their pack by any means possible.

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.

Joshua is very quiet and shy, but he doesn't shun the company of the other dragons; he seems to enjoy their company, but from a distance. He has a bit of a short temper, but he will typically just let out a snort of disapproval rather than going off into a full-blown rage. He loves to collect volcanic rocks and lumps of coal. The hatchlings of the cave love to play with Joshua, and usually he is sporting enough to humor them. Joshua's markings are brightest at dusk, when he is most active. It is at dusk that he can be found, contemplating the night sky with an unreadable expression on his face.