Aqualis Dragons inhabit the shallow seas of Valkemare, preferring to make their homes in coral reefs. Due to their need to return to the surface to breathe, they avoid deep water unless absolutely necessary. Although they are quite drab when first hatched, prolonged contact with salt water causes their skin to become bright and iridescent. This vibrancy, when combined with quick movements, confuses the fish these dragons prey upon. Nomadic males travel the length of Valkemare’s reefs in bachelor groups, while females tend to claim a specific area as their own. A group of males will herd a school of fish into a female’s territory, and if she is seeking a mate, she will join the hunt. Once she has eaten her fill, she will choose the most skilled hunter to be her mate.

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.

Quinlan is a particularly beautiful Aqualis dragon, which results in her having an unusually high number of suitors. Despite this, she has never chosen a mate from the nearby Aqualis population, for the simple reason that none of them have met her standards. As a fan of stickwaterball, she insists that her mate be an expert on the sport. Her way of testing this is to challenge suitors to games of stickwaterball. Unfortunately, only a few of the dragons that have pursued her had even heard of the sport. There are rarely enough suitors at a time to play a game of stickwaterball, and every game ended with a heated argument about the rules of the game. Many have taken to calling her Quinlan the Fanatic in response. This has discouraged most Aqualises from pursuing her, but several others are willing to look past her eccentricities. As a result of her fanaticism, stickwaterball has become more popular in the area. Still, Quinlan hasn't found anyone who she considers good enough at the game.