Dorsal Dragons are so named because they have large fins along their backs that can be raised and lowered at will. They use these fins to regulate body temperature; they raise them to cool off when they become overheated. The bright colors on the fins double as a means of attracting mates.

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.

MissingK was long believed to be nothing more than a legend among the dragons of the clan: a dragon roaming the wilderness around the clan's land, a dragon no one had ever really seen. Some claimed seeing him (or trying to catch him) would erase all of a dragontamer's notes, wipe his whole encyclopedia and leave them with nothing but the last echoes of telepathic laughter in their minds.

It is true that MissingK has done such things, but only to people who consider themselves "owners" or "tamers" never to those who are merely observers, friends, or caretakers: As a proud member of F.A.D. (Free All Dragons) he opposes the arrogance and hubris of humans everywhere and loves to take them down a peg or two whenever necessary.