Caligene Dragons have long been considered omens of death—reinforced by the skeletal markings on their bodies. They exert a malignant force on the world around them, causing other living things to slowly waste away in their presence. Caligenes favor the seasons of summer and autumn, disappearing entirely from the forests they inhabit during winter and spring. These malevolent dragons are physically weak, though this is countered by their natural stealthiness and alarming speed—enabling them to close in on large targets quickly and silently to create ambushes from which prey cannot escape.

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.

Of all the Alpha Males of the Revenga, Drown has the worst reputation. He is lazy and disrespectful, and is often chased away from the Revengas' communal watering hole, which is near their closely arranged dens, when his attitude angers one of the other Alphas enough to lash out with a physical reprimand. Drown is less physically adept than his fellow Alphas, so he always runs from their attempts at pack discipline. Among the leaders of the tribe-pack he acts more like a scapegoat. With lesser Revenga, though, Drown doesn't allow himself to be treated the way he himself treats his fellow Alphas, and is quick with a cuff, nip, or swat to shut down any dissent. Drown is named for his crocodile-like habit of hiding in murky waters where animals (even humans, or other species of dragon) come to drink, then lunging out of the water to seize the victim and drag it in to its watery, toothy doom. He can wait motionless for hours, thanks to long practice.