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.

The people of the Ancient Makoi Empire purposely bred Turpentine Dragons to use their oil for potions and, in a very diluted form, even for healing baths to get rid of certain skin diseases. Ironically, it seems that the Makoi people are to blame for the abundance of Turpentine Dragons on every continent today, even though most dragons in their employ went all but extinct in the following wars against the Kingdom of Creirn. It is assumed that the Turpentine Dragons had no feelings of loyalty towards the Makoi people whatsoever, and chose to flee the Empire in swarms as the first soldiers of Creirn landed on the continent, leaving behind all eggs, hatchlings, and those too sick or too old to follow. One of those dragons is Krisostome, who luckily survived the wars, but barely. Her wings were paralyzed by a near fatal blow of a ballista, leaving her unable to follow wherever the others of her kin went. She can still be heard roaming the ancient ruins, calling out to her pack.