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 Tigren was little, his fins were pale and grayish, plus he was very small. If you used your imagination, he looked like a moth. One night when he was out wandering, Tigren came across some smoldering embers from a recent forest fire. All around these embers were hundreds of moths, attracted to the light and warmth of the low flames. Somewhat hungry, Tigren clumsily flew over to the fire, hoping to catch a moth and eat it. Suddenly, a horsefly knocked a very large cecropia moth out of it's orbit and into the flames. Startled by the struggling insect, Tigren dropped out of the air and onto the small fire, extinguishing it. Considering Tigren it's hero, the moth followed him around until it died. The descendents of the moth still follow Tigren around, and it was with these insects that Tigren made friends with other moths. The moths consider Tigren one of them, and they even named him after the virgin tiger moth, because Tigren painted his wings with the same pattern as it.