Vampire Dragons are members of the undead. They sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. It is said that they are only “alive” at night, and seem dead or asleep during the day, as they cannot endure sunlight for long periods of time. Vampire Dragons can only reproduce by changing the eggs of other dragons, puncturing the shell with their fangs and injecting venom that kills the baby inside.

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.

Neljas, the fourth in the Vampyyri Coven, is a total failure as far as Yksi, the coven's leader, is concerned. Maybe not in hunting but definitely in his duties as one of the Vampyyri Coven. Traditionally every new member is the opposite gender of its biter, and now Neljas has broken tradition twice. Since the coven prides itself on having very few dead dragons as a result from a Vampire bite, Neljas is also a disappointment in this way. His most recent bite has died. Yksi has been tolerant with his failure to follow tradition, but this is something more serious. Of course, if he had not already broken tradition it might be okay--after all, Vampires can't always turn successfully, and Yksi knows that. But Neljas is now reduced to the lowest of the coven, essentially a servant to the others. Even Viides and Kuudes, Neljas' same-gender turned Vampires, aren't placed as low in the hierarchy as Neljas. They just hunt a lot more and aren't allowed to bite eggs, whereas Neljas is a servant.