Sapphire Dragons were so named for their brilliant blue-green color, which is reminiscent of the gemstone. This breed was historically hunted for their scales; even long after, they remain distrustful of humans. Normally a Sapphire is not very aggressive, but they will defend themselves vigorously if under attack. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, with smaller portions of large insects and other invertebrates. Males woo females with vocalizations similar to bird songs. Sapphire Dragons are very loyal to their mates, and it is not unusual that they pair for life.

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.

A careful and unsociable dragon by nature, Sandbu is thought to value work too much. She spends most of her hours in the Daily Dispatch office in the smallest room, hunched over research and ink. While other employees greet each other and talk about themselves in the morning and during breaks, Sandbu hurries away from anything that appears to be a social gathering, mumbling about the articles she's supposed to write.