Speckle-Throated Dragons are an active, playful breed. They are easily excited and rarely remain still, spending much of their time in the air. Living in groups of up to sixty dragons, they nest in open plains and at the bases of mountains. Their speckled throats are their most distinctive feature, as well as the loud, echoing call they produce to communicate with one another. Female Speckle-Throats are slightly smaller than males and lack a head crest. However, they are swifter and more agile and prefer to hunt in small groups in order to take down prey.

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.

Mazlan is the child of a desipis, her egg produced in a time of upheaval. One could say the cave network is in a constant state of upheaval because it's inhabited by a petty, ferocious desipis. Understandably, her mother left the egg in a high-traffic "abandoned area" hoping it would receive better care. Mazlan was born in a city inhabited by many humans and some dragons, cared for by a family run by the elder Helen. They own an eatery, a small place selling soup and salted meat. Mazlan is now one of the cooks and a waiter, and she was responsible for painting the "HELEN'S HOME COOKING" sign outside. She doesn't have as nice a disposition as most speckle-throated dragons, a trait likely inherited from the father she never knew. She tries to keep her patience, but when met with particularly rude or stupid diners, she can't help it, especially when someone asks (AGAIN) where Helen is. "She's at home. It says on the sign!" Mazlan would say for the umpteenth time, "Helen's home cooking!"