Nebula Dragons are nocturnal creatures. With the best eyesight to be found, they are often seen staring into space. Each dragon tends to observe a particular nebula and will eventually change their colors and patterns to match it. As the nebula changes over time, the dragon changes with it. The more intricate the design of the nebula, the better chance an individual has of attracting a mate. It is said that the markings on no two Nebula Dragons will be exactly the same.

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.

Sterne has lived his whole live among a friendly, peaceful clan of dragons who believed that "love" was the greatest power of all: love for one's mate, love for one's friends, love for one's hatchlings, or even love for life itself.

When he met Codo he was actually quite shocked to find out that she had never heard of that concept before. He spent the next months and years teaching her all about love that he could. And when she finally decided to go back to her old clan, he immediately joined her—not to stay with her as a mate, but to help her teach others about love as well.