Sunsong Amphipteres are an unusual breed. Due to light interference caused by their magical nature, they don’t seem to be affected by any ambient light source. However, when struck by direct sunlight, they shine a brilliant gold. They are playful and ever in flight; their ethereal and mysterious appearance and the fact that they are usually only seen at a distance have led many to believe they are a symbol of hope and good fortune.

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.

Hip Serpent Among Us is often mistaken for another dragon, Shark and Pop, due to their many similarities. Hip Serpent's coloration is determined by light level, she spends a lot of time airborne, she is a serpentine amphiptere with feathered wings, she is soft and supple, and she makes decisions easily. One presumes those are among the many reasons she and Shark and Pop are hard to distinguish, and she does not blame anyone for that. Whenever she meets someone, whether for the first time or with an old friend, she typically starts the conversation with, "This is Hip Serpent speaking, not Shark and Pop!" By the looks of their puzzled faces, people are still confused, so they're probably glad she greets them this way.