Swallowtail Dragons are graceful and quick flyers, much like their namesake bird. They are capable of precise aerial acrobatics, and can reach very high altitudes. Because of this, humans observing these dragons are often astonished at how large they are when confronted up close. A Swallowtail’s diet consists of insects and small mammals plentiful in temperate forests. These dragons are also made remarkable by their paper-thin wing membranes, which allow light to pass through, creating an astonishing effect on starry nights.

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.

Sernyl likes to help the Whites of the Cave with their medical duties. She has discovered a type of herb that, when crushed, becomes a powerful numbing medicine. However, the Whites have become wary of Sernyl's help. They have noticed that several dragons, after ingesting the potent crushed plant, experience strange visions or begin acting oddly. The Whites try not to rely on Sernyl's medicine too much, as they fear the side effects may be worse than the temporary pain relief. Sernyl is unaware of their concerns, and believes that she has made a great discovery. She knows several dragons who agree with her, and she is happy to supply them with the mixture for as long as they need it—and she knows these dragons must need her anesthetic badly. She has seen them walking around, in obvious distress, desperately asking for the herb. Sernyl is a very compassionate dragon, but not a very perceptive one.