Turpentine Dragons are named for the oil that covers their scales. This oil resembles turpentine in odor and is mildly toxic; it will not kill but it burns to the touch and will cause illness in anyone who ingests it. Turpentine Dragons roam in large packs, often stealing food from larger dragons, though they are able to hunt for themselves if necessary. Many other breeds consider Turpentine Dragons to be pests, so they primarily breed among themselves.

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.

Diebin is the "dragon companion" of a magic human. She liked to go to towns to rob houses and businesses (sometimes in plain sight) and was seen as one of the dumbest pack members. Others warned her to stop stealing from human settlements, but she liked to say that she's been caught 0 times and will get caught 0 times forevermore. Then she got caught. Before she entered one particular house, she heard the owners saying things like "It's hot. Let's open all the windows before leaving" and "Just pile up the gems in the middle of the room and let's go". It seemed like an easy target. Minutes after Diebin entered and took whatever she could, a net was thrown over her. There was an exchange of coins and mana among the humans who captured her, and now, she's the property of a mage. The mistress regularly scrapes off Diebin's oils for... some purpose, and what's strange is that, despite missing her pack and thinking a lot about her freedom, she feels no desire to escape.