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.

Rivenese resides with a human in a cottage on the outskirts of town. Some observers wonder how two contrasting creatures like a human and dragon can manage this, especially when in many places, the two species are at odds. It may be difficult to believe a ruthless and enigmatic beast could possibly get along with a sympathetic, social animal with such pretty laurel leaves, but Rivenese makes it work—with ease, in fact. She seems to understand what the human is thinking without needing to ask, and she's excellent at defusing any tense situations that arise from their differences. She can also satisfy the human's choosy appetite when he can't catch food on his own. He's a highly judgmental and high-maintenance pet, but he happily obeys Rivenese. He has even taught the dragon how to engage in some of his favorite activities such as speed chess and swingy yo-yo tricks.