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.

"Hawk" was a strange hatchling. He would stay away from most energetic hatchlings, scavenging for bugs. No one knew what he did with the frantic critters, because when he found enough, he would go into a dark corner where no one could see him. Today he is just as strange. But, as strange as he is, he is a tutor to the hatchlings, showing them how to hunt and how to fight. Because of the skills taught to the hatchlings, none of them have starved or died in battle.