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.

One of the original Alpha Males of the tribe-pack of Revenga, Sandstorm's egg was found in the depths of a windswept, barren desert. Like the desert from which he came, Sandstorm is a gritty, hot-tempered individual, so most dragons dislike and avoid him, yet some see a kind of stark, primordial beauty in him, drawn to bask in the heat of his presence. He has no patience for politicking and complex schemes (though he is quite capable of understanding them and isn't easily victimized). A keen observer, Sandstorm chooses certain Revenga—mostly Caligenes, but also worthy tribe members of other species—to staff an elite corps of scouts, hunters, and assassins. The nameless corps hunts prey to feed the tribe, and patrols both Revenga territory and the greater Breedery territory's boundaries. If the Breedery is attacked by an organized force, the corps will try to assassinate the leaders of the enemy host before the Black dragons and other front line warrior species launch their assault.