Black Dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

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.

Mahalath is the matriarch of the black dragons on Clementine. She is also a purist and insists that all her children choose mates among the breed, often sending out her mate, Noah, to scout out potential suitors on the mainland. Not surprisingly, some of her younger children have objected to her strict dominance and run away to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

To the children that stay she teaches battle magic and physical combat skills. Some of the other dragons on the island, including Abel, object to this warrior-training. Mahalath defends her actions, maintaining that this teaches her children essential hunting skills and discipline, and that if the island was ever attacked then the other dragons would be thankful of some protection.