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.

Maria does not attack without justification, which typically means either bodily injury or unwanted advances. Her proud demeanor is wrapped up in her extroverted personality; she loves just about anyone she meets, even the most disagreeable dragons and people. Maria's favorite food is deer, but she must be careful where she hunts, as there are human hunters who trail deer that would kill her without a second thought; her scales are the most lustrous of all her tamer's Gold Tinsel dragons. When she is very angry, she can spray a foul-smelling fluid from her mouth, which is actually dilute toxin from her venom glands, usually shared by most species of fire-breathing dragons. She always keeps a small chunk of flint in a small alcove in her mouth to set her fire breath alight. While some species of dragon produce a gas to help light their fire, Maria and most other Tinsel dragons rely on a piece of flint or other metal to create a spark by biting down or jiggling the metal piece.