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.

Deliberate Dorkface knows what he's doing. He does not need advice from any other dragon since he knows his game plan already, though he'll thank them for their words quite stiffly. His abstinence and straightforward personality sometimes lead toward his walking straight off the edges of metaphorical cliffs, though he'll usually try to explain these incidents away as being 'necessary' or 'unpredictable'. He's also confused by his surname, since he thinks his face looks nothing like that of a dork.