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.

Passmanifesto is a member of the Truechannel Club, where during nightly meetings, club members focus on channels to thriving. The rules of the club say that every Rank 2 member is in charge of the passwords and stays at the club entrance for the next 31 days. Passmanifesto is one of three Xols in the club and the only one so far who has reached Rank 2. The other two have had marks in their records for making water undesirably scalding hot and for disturbing meetings with lights, so they haven't been able to rank up. Nearly everyone dreads when it's Passmanifesto's turn to handle passwords, but rules must be followed. Adherence is a channel to thriving. The shortest of the passwords that Passmanifesto picks still takes upwards of a minute to recite. The upside is that there has never been an unauthorized entry into the Truechannel Club while Passmanifesto's in charge at the entrance. They are very secure passwords.