When Water Dragons mature, they lose the ability to survive on land, entering the water permanently. They are adept swimmers and eat whatever fish are in the lake they live in. They tend to inhabit the same lake for their entire lives, although a few live in the ocean and swim all over the world.

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.

An adopted egg, Riverfin grew up in the lake right next to the cave where his adopted family lives. He is exceptionally large compared to the average water dragon, and much dwarfing his best friend, Palefin. His size also proves hazardous at times, as if he flips his tail too hard, he can cause a mini-tsunami across the lake. Riverfin sometimes dreams of digging a canal to the ocean, where he won't be cramped and can swim as far as he likes, but for starters he doesn't even know which direction to dig in.