Royal Crimson Dragons are so named due to their massive size and confident, regal bearing. Most of the time they are laid back, ignoring non-prey creatures smaller than themselves, although they will occasionally take fresh kills from other dragons as a reminder of their place in the social order. Although there are few other dragons large enough to pose a threat to Royal Crimsons, they have little tolerance for potential rivals and will fiercely defend their territory from such intruders.

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.

Irilo the Red took Bevin the Blue and her band of nilias as a personal challenge, vowing that he'd show that upstart blue-striped dragon how to command a proper flock of pygmy dragons—all crimson flares, of course, as crimson was the one proper dragon color. Despite his views of Bevin, he doesn't wish her any harm, and instead tries to lead by example. Bavin's nilias might act like something out of Gyxak's more improbable role-games, but his crimson flares take themselves more seriously.