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.

Workable is a perfumer. He is careful to thoroughly chew his food and never ingest skeletons. A century ago, he had a best friend, a water dragon. One day, she gulped down remains of a drowned pyralspite, and to this day, Workable is sure that's when the trouble began. Months later, she grumbled about a dull bellyache, and everyone figured it was no big deal, especially after Workable found some willow bark for her to chew. The dragon was found dead one day, floating near shore. Workable felt it was his duty as her friend to investigate the body, and after a thorough prodding, he found a ruptured intestine and a hard, rocky mass in the abdomen. It appeared that bits of horn and bone got stuck in his friend's digestive tract, formed a huge lump, and eventually killed her. He kept the mass in her memory, but as the years passed, he noticed that it developed a sweet odor. Done mourning, Workable decided to learn to make perfume and now uses the lump as a fixative. It's very long-lasting.