Gold dragons are the ones most often killed by humans, who consider their scales to be extremely valuable. These golden scales grant them a high level of protection, similar to armor, and they use this to their advantage in battle.

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.

Apologies don't always cover up for one's mistakes, as this poor dragon has discovered the hard (and physical) way. Polo's first foray into dragon politics was challenging Tabini's leadership in the clan, an action Polo soon regretted. Now confined to the back of the cave, his wings nearly shredded by the quartz in Tabini's geode cronies, he bitterly wishes that his apologies had been fatal. Instead, he lives a half-life filled with too much noise and too little attention from his once-faithful mate. His experience slashed away Polo's idealism. He was allowed to live only so hatchlings can ridicule his ragged breathing—and take in his appearance as a living warning.