Turpentine Dragons are named for the oil that covers their scales. This oil resembles turpentine in odor and is mildly toxic; it will not kill but it burns to the touch and will cause illness in anyone who ingests it. Turpentine Dragons roam in large packs, often stealing food from larger dragons, though they are able to hunt for themselves if necessary. Many other breeds consider Turpentine Dragons to be pests, so they primarily breed among themselves.

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.

When her first love rejected her, Xiiva Losvir despaired of ever having young to call her own. She left the group of other turpentines she had been traveling with and retreated to the forest, where she stayed for an unknown number of days. Sometime during those lonely days, she was spotted by a heartseeker dragon who had seen the whole breakup. He approached her, and they discovered that they had a lot in common. Soon after, they started courting, and not long after that they became life-mates. Xiiva Losvir was exceedingly happy that a heartseeker had chosen her as a life-mate, because heartseekers were so unheard of and rare, and Ripil Altiuiri was equally happy that his chosen mate was such a perfect match for him.