Waterhorse Dragons received their name due to their horse-like physique and endearing behavior. They are capable of surviving out of water, and when on land their skin secretes a gelatinous goo to retain moisture. However, their large paddle feet are better suited for swimming, and waterhorse dragons tend to move very awkwardly when on land. Waterhorses are very friendly dragons and enjoy playing with humans.

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 Maku was a hatchling, he happened to spot an unusual ship traveling through the waters he called home. The ship seemed to be much fancier and noisier than the other human vessels he'd witnessed before, and every evening he'd see a group of humans in brightly colored clothes singing and dancing in front of the rest of the crew. Starstruck at how impressive the performances were, Maku would follow the ship at a short distance every time he saw it return. One day, some of the humans noticed him and waved, and Maku was so flustered that he immediately struck the most elaborate pose he could think of as a greeting. The humans found this hilarious and copied his pose, and that led to a series of posturing and imitation displays between them that went on for quite some time until the ship docked for the night. To this day, Maku will occasionally pose for the humans on that ship, enjoying both their laughter and the occasional salted fish they give to him.