Blacktip Dragons are a small, shore-dwelling breed that tend to nest on sheer ocean side cliffs. They live in groups under a dominant female, who prevents her subordinates from breeding. During the mating season, a group of Blacktips can be very noisy and smelly indeed; males produce a distinctive musky odor and loud, low-pitched honking noises in an attempt to woo the alpha female.

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.

Amphibology is near fluent in four human languages and has had a deep interest in the way languages form since she was a child. The humans don't welcome a little herd of blacktips nosing around, so she's had her group sneak into different settlements one-by-one to "borrow" written material. Even as the unchallenged leader of a group with guys who would never criticize her, Amphibology's too embarrassed to attempt the mouth-shapes and vocals. She writes a lot and shows off what she knows by sending the humans unsolicited mail. Outside her cavern is a sign that reads, "Multilingual genius writes with grace and sometimes with ink".