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.

As a young dragon, she was never given a name.  Other dragons said she wasn't civilized, that only wild dragons didn't have names!  Her parents weren't named either.  She questioned why they didn't have names, why she didn't have a name.  Her parents didn't believe in names, said they were labels for others to use to categorize you.  They came from a famous line, but did not acknowledge their ancestors, either.  After years of enduring the shame of being unnamed, she named herself Shame.  Not for her own shame, but for her Unnamed Parents.  "My name is UP Shame," she says.  "But you can call me UP!"  And finally, joy has come to UP.  She met her life's soulmate, and has children and a family of her own.  Because she named herself, her parents refuse to have anything to do with her, but her new family is all she needs.  UP is now a happy dragon.