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.

Herktopia's parents are together because they have one thing in common: both believe in a nation called "Herktopia". They spent most of their lives ignoring protests from more forward thinking dragons, searching for this place, but they never found it. They settled once they had an egg, and of course, the good, sane thing to do after failing to find a country despite a lifetime of searching is to name their daughter after that country. Herktopia the dragon believes her mum and dad are crazy because no sane parent would choose "Herktopia" for a name. It would be so awkward once the dragon actually discovered Herktopia, to share a name with an amazing place of animal hats and whiskey and sweetness! Perhaps unsurprisingly, once mature, she decided to continue her parents' work.