Dorsal Dragons are so named because they have large fins along their backs that can be raised and lowered at will. They use these fins to regulate body temperature; they raise them to cool off when they become overheated. The bright colors on the fins double as a means of attracting mates.

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.

When Jakpar ran away to join the Dragonfire Circus, she expected a more glamorous role than being one of the "lions" in the lion-taming act, and not even the lead lion, at that. Though it's not what she'd hoped for, she performs her role to the best of her ability, telling herself that one night, Roaring Lion talent scouts will be in the audience. Jakpar has a particularly uneasy relation with the lion-tamer, Khynfar, and is generally the one to deliver a gentle but direct hint that the "savage beast" act is just that—an act.