Dragons gain new powers as they accumulate more energies. At each stage of growth, they gain a new ability, usually culminating with the twelfth ability when they accumulate . The usual progression of powers is as follows:

• Level 1: Sunfire breath weapon
• Level 2: Immunity to heat
• Level 3: Immunity to blindness
• Level 4: Immunity to toxic radiation or immunity to thirst
• Level 5: Scales allow bearer to photosynthesize
• Level 6: Wall of desiccating heat
• Level 7: Summon dawn, once per year
• Level 8: Sense evil
• Level 9: Appraise honor
• Level 10: Illuminate territory
• Level 11: Summon sollarians
• Level 12: Supernova (self-sacrificing area blast of sunfire)

All dragons accumulate energies by absorbing them naturally from the area around them. As such, they must carefully cultivate their lairs to provide the right kinds of energies, hence they hoard appropriate objects.

Other common powers include immunity to deception, empowering gaze, radiant gate, summon alenas alermal, summon sandstorm, and sense weather changes.

Gold dragons live in tight knit, very small communities in the deep deserts. They create massive dune walls around them if they do not have a canyon or mountain cave to dwell in. They work together to preseve their meager resources to support their young.

Gold dragons hatch their eggs in pools of fluid sol angelic aether, which they distill from sunlight using their own tears. The dragon whose tears are used is called a kren-te-ak, and they are usually an elderly dragon. The kren-te-ak is the protector of the young and the leader of the commune. Gold dragons distrust outsiders, who they fear will steal their resources, but they are honor-bound to share with any lost in the desert or in need. Nomads and local communities often make deals with gold dragons to provide needed support and trade in exchange for protection, guidance, or supernatural education. Communes with a dune dragon will often sell fortunes as well.

Because of their distrust of outsiders, gold dragons rarely even socialize with those outside their communes. When they do, it is usually for trade or news. Gold dragons have a very practical view of mating and form few static relationships, and mating with outsider dragons is not uncommon during times of trade.

Upon reaching maturity, a gold dragon must prove themselves by bringing a new resource to the commune. This can be a new trade alliance, a new member (though thorougly vetted), a source of sol angelic aether, a source of radiance, or other practical resources. If the dragon fails, they have three years to try again. Upon their fourth failure, they are given the choice to be outcast or to commit ritual self-sacrifice to feed the young. Those who are outcast cannot return to their original commune, but may bring resources to another to find a new home, or they may start their own if they find other outcasts. Outcast gold dragons are called kren-kreehef.

Gold dragons are also honor-bound to serve those they view as servants of the Sun Goddess, and as such, they answer the call of aide to Tara'hin or Khurshid in times of trouble. In these times, they unite under their Manifest or the eldest dragon available, and form a very carefully crafted military alliance with each other.