Pryanost Lindwyrms use their heightened sense of smell to search for their favorite foods, which range from roots to tree bark that share characteristic strong, warm flavors. Though generally elusive, they are often spotted in the winter when the scents of mulled cider and spiced cookies draw them into towns and villages. Kind folks who leave out a bowl of cider and a plate of pretty iced cookies overnight may wake to find the delectable gift gone and soft tufts of fur left in its place. Clothes woven of this fur carry the gentle scent of wintry spices and always keep those who wear them cozy no matter how cold it is. Pryanost Lindwyrms use their fast-shedding fur to line their nests, keeping their eggs safe and warm.

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.

The Parade of the Tin Soldiers insists that she was named after a "murder piece" about warriors in metal skins marching implacably and killing things in horrible ways, rather than a jaunty song about toys coming to life to have fun for a night. Since she was small, she was was teased, sniffed at, and dismissed by tougher peers and adults for being soft, easy to spook, and easily swayed by a promise of food, so she's tried to cultivate a tougher image. It's unclear whether she truly believes what she says about her namesake. Though she doesn't scare easily and is now seen by most of her students as strict but fair, she's still prone to turning into a kid at the prospect of cookies and cake. She's also unable to say no to people asking to brush her to get at some of her fur. She likes being brushed, especially with one of those square ones with the stiff bristles.