Seasonal Dragons take on the characteristics of the season during which they are born. Thus, eggs that are laid in spring match the pink flowers and green buds of spring, and those that are laid in the summer grow to depict the bright green of the forest trees and the yellow of the sun. Eggs laid in autumn display the bright colors of leaves falling from trees, and those that are laid during winter take on the appearance of the icy snow.

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.

Shiveralus is the first child of Frigitus and Shiverian, the most powerful winter dragons known to their cave. She has inherited much of their strength, and far more than the sum of their ambition. She strives always to be more influential, to gain power over others.

Her political scheming is complicated by the fact that she is, in every sense of the word, a racist. She has taken to heart her mother's dislike of non-winter dragons and added to it. She is cordial and polite to others of her own breed, maintaining only a faint sense of superiority, but is downright haughty and terribly imperious towards others. She uses status both real and imagined to dominate almost everyone she meets, on the rare occasions where she even deigns to speak to other types of dragons.

Despite her condescending manner, Shiveralus has attained great heights in some circles-though most non-winter dragons despise her, enough fear her that she wields remarkable power over others, as well as her own magic.