Caligene Dragons have long been considered omens of death—reinforced by the skeletal markings on their bodies. They exert a malignant force on the world around them, causing other living things to slowly waste away in their presence. Caligenes favor the seasons of summer and autumn, disappearing entirely from the forests they inhabit during winter and spring. These malevolent dragons are physically weak, though this is countered by their natural stealthiness and alarming speed—enabling them to close in on large targets quickly and silently to create ambushes from which prey cannot escape.

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.

Shaded Stalker's most notable features are her wings, which were broken during a failed ambush when she attacked a larger dragon who had somehow noticed her approach. She would have been killed in the ensuing fight had it not been for a passing Candelabra Dragon, who mistakenly believed she had been attacked first and chased her prey-turned-assailant away. She quickly became enamored with her rescuer, and started following him around wherever he went, which he allowed.

She was never quite as bold after her failed ambush, and stuck to hunting lesser beasts from then on. The Candelabra, Candle Scented, eventually became her mate. Though she is a somewhat wicked dragon by nature, she feels nothing but affection towards him. She has yet to tell him of the true circumstances of their meeting, however, for fear of what he would think if he knew she had instigated the attack.