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.

Oswin is a spunky young dragoness with a taste for adventure, and has a unique talent that baffles other dragons: not dying. She'll go off on a quest and, after months of absence, be declared dead. But when the clan is least expecting it she'll return, unharmed save for a slight lapse in memory. Dragons have even witnessed her death, but still she seemingly comes back to life and lives another day. Currently Oswin's story is a sad one, as she aches to take her adventures even farther. But she has taken two orphan hatchlings into her care, Agni and Avior, and refuses to leave them. Her own mother died when she was very young, and she can't bear the thought of leaving them alone for such a long time. She is an avid reader, especially of history and foreign lands, and her favorite book is one that she kept of her travels, now a foggy memory. She often wishes there was a way that she could scatter herself through time, living every adventure there ever was while never having to leave home.