Pyralspite dragons are small, swift dragons that can breathe an intensely hot flame. They get their name from their resemblance to and affinity for garnets of the pyralspite family—they hoard such gems, preferring garnets that match their variant, and can tell the type of garnet from how it tastes. The dark red variant is known as Pyrope. They tend to be fiercely loyal and noble, and have a stronger sense of justice than other Pyralspites. They live primarily in volcanic areas.

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.

As the first Pyrope Dragon to be hatched on SL's scroll, Vortex is quite arrogant. She appointed herself leader of the Pyropes and has dreams of someday becoming ruler of all the Pyralspites. The only thing getting in her way is the other two Pyralspite leaders, Cloud and Dagger.

Her pride fortunately does not dull her sense of justice as much as some would expect. Vortex is an avid court-goer, attending all of the trials that Judge Bylinda and her apprentice Farkea hold. Her fascination for the system is one of the only things that truly makes up for her unbearable pomposity. Bylinda even claims that the Pyrope has an acute, discerning eye and that she would make a great lawyer or even judge.

Vortex favors darker shades of Pyropes because she thinks they taste "richer", and dragons "of her status" only deserve the richest of gems. Her comrades watch, exasperated, as Vortex vexingly picks out the perfect garnets, often taking an hour to find just one.