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.

Nightburner once was the leader of the Featherwing Weyr, a glorious collection of all dragons raised by the immortal human Feathers. Now, though, Nightburner lives with a small collection of survivors in the southwest of the continent, still their leader but much changed. The betrayal of King Yule, one of his old subjects, took Nightburner entirely by surprise, and though some dragons remained loyal to him, too many others chose King Yule's side. Mortally wounded, Nightburner was healed and spirited away by his second-in-command, Songsinger, and they, along with other ousted dragons, fled their old territory. In the battle, Nightburner's mate Duskstain was taken captive and she remains in their old lands, separated from Nightburner for many decades now.

Fueled by a desire for vengeance, Nightburner focuses most of his energy not in keeping together his small, new Weyr (called the Fallen Weyr) but in thinking of ways to regain his lands, and his mate.