It was previously believed that purple dragons were exclusively female, but this is not the case. Recent environmental shifts have revealed the existence of both genders of this breed. Female behavior is well known; they are primarily herbivores but will eat meat during mating season. On the other hand, very little is known about the behavior and habits of male purple dragons.

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.

Basilea Penthesilea grew up resenting the fact that purple and pink dragons were often viewed by foolish humans as good only for breeding. Therefore, she founded a subclan of "Amazons" within her larger clan, open to any pink or purple dragon who wanted to explore and fully develop her greater gifts. Dragons within this subclan take (for purposes of interaction with humans—no human knows what names dragons use among themselves) the names of famous human women, along with Greek titles showing the particular gifts they are cultivating within themselves. Hence, Basilea (Queen) Penthesilea is named for the last Queen of the human Amazons, and her title demonstrates that she is developing and perfecting her gift for leadership. (Penthesilea has never been good at false modesty, and indeed it would be superfluous in her case, as she IS a very talented leader.)