Hydrophidius Dragons are sometimes mistaken for wyrms or sea serpents, but in actuality, they are a variety of semi-aquatic amphiptere. These serpents have a reputation for bringing ill fortune, and for having deadly venom. While they do have venomous fangs, their toxins are far less deadly than the rumors suggest, and their sightings largely coincide with storms because the dragons tend to seek shelter along the coastline when the weather is too severe. However, their tendencies to exaggerate their own abilities and to have capricious, grandstanding personalities don’t help the misunderstandings. They’re often hunted by superstitious seafarers, but removing Hydrophidius from the ecosystem tends to cause many more problems than it solves: these ambitious hunters feed exclusively on jellyfish and massive sea beasts that take dozens of dragons working together in tandem to bring down, and a sea without Hydrophidius Dragons tends to be a dangerous, barren one. They are curious and not generally aggressive, and as long as one can tolerate their personalities, surprisingly easy to befriend and protective of those they come to care for.

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.

Tinsmith is unnaturally good or lucky at finding island and underwater deposits of mana and valuable metals, and he would be rich and respected if he didn't keep reporting the treasures' locations or giving them away to local towns, cave networks, etc. When land-dwelling dragons ask why he doesn't accumulate a hoard, he answers that he wouldn't have anywhere to put it. Finding a permanent place is too much work, he tells them. Tinsmith doesn't explain his reasoning for which communities he chooses to inform and give the valuables to, so several individuals and organizations are investigating his possible thought process so they could persuade him to share with them or their clients. They pay attention to the known communities he's given to, and whenever he makes an appearance, they analyze his speech, body language, and even dining habits. Somehow, whenever he takes flight and leaves the shore, nobody's ever been able to follow him, as if something powerful protects him from pursuit.